Knock, knock

[SassaFras]

Hi Franz,

Hope you're good today. Thanks for the advice regarding the optimization of my pc. I have read it and also copied and pasted it to Wordpad to study, as there's quite a lot of info there :thum:

Re: registry cleaner and chkdsk, yes, I understand they're both different, but just "threw it in" as a thought regarding possible increase in speed / efficiency side of things. To be honest, I never use 3rd party registry cleaners as I've had bad experiences with them in the past. I tend to treat such programs with the same regard as Defrag (when I was studying at college, the tutor warned us off defrag and I have to agree.

Re: GPU - I've tried setting Win7 (and other OS in the past) to run optimally for programs and also boosting virtual memory etc, but I find that I then lose the nice desktop layout ie; it reverts to the kind of basic "Win98" layout to save memory...know I'm being picky there, but like my own "themed" layout.

After doing some research, I've found that Core i3 is really the minimum for most good video production programs, so my fault - maybe a Corei5 upgrade is the way to go. My max RAM is 4gb too, which I have upped to the limit - a lot of the programs suggest a "bare minimum" of 4gb and recommend 6-8gb Anyway, enough pc talk!

Just listened to "Ladder" NOW WE'RE TALKING!! great tune - nice bit of power there - really like that one

Sorry to hear about the RPi2 problems - you have a lot more patience than me there.

Works only with Blu-Ray discs up to October 2014

that's no good also with Amazon asking to replace the .py file is a pain. I also know what you mean about having to register to another forum to sort it - that kind of thing really hacks me off - a lot of the time they seem to be after more info about yourself ie; email etc so they can bombard you with offers you don't want.

Anyway, hope you're still enjoying the Pi.

I've downloaded my song with your adjustments and will listen in a bit to it

Am now going to continue with THAT damned song lol...one day it'll be ready...maybe...I've got a bit further with it so may mix down later and upload it.

Take care my friend :thum:

 

[ararat]

Hi Kevin (and all)

Registry cleaners:

Re: registry cleaner and chkdsk, yes, I understand they're both different, but just "threw it in" as a thought regarding possible increase in speed / efficiency side of things. To be honest, I never use 3rd party registry cleaners as I've had bad experiences with them in the past. I tend to treat such programs with the same regard as Defrag (when I was studying at college, the tutor warned us off defrag and I have to agree.

Yes, in some cases Registry Cleaners can do severe damage and indeed they have to be handled with care. That´s why I would always backup a (Acronis/Paragon/etc.) system image. (Nearly always - last time I was lazy ...)
In most cases, the registry cleaners´automatic functions nowadays work okay, though.


Defrag:
Windows version is harmless.
If you have not changed your Windows 7/8 settings, Windows defrag gets executed regularly by default, without you noticing anything. It´s part of the automatic windows maintenance program that runs on a regular base. Chkdsk gets done by Windows 7 maintenance automatically, too.

But your tutor was right with defragmentation. There are some defrag tools on the market, that I used for a long time and that I wouldn´t recommend any more, because they really completely repeatedly ruined my file system on different harddrives and different pcs.
I´m talking about especially those defrag tools, that assort your harddrive´s files e.g. by size or by date, etc..
Oh, oh - then even chkdsk couldn´t repair the damage any more.
Hands off! They don´t even speed up pcs to a noteable degree.
-------



Speed up:

If you want to speed up a notebook remarkably - the easiest way is to replace hdd by ssd. (Won´t help much with video editing, I guess.)
Windows and programs on ssd instead of on hdd speed up the system, that you will think you got a new pc.
You won´t notice much difference (except with special RAM hungry programs), when you double your RAM from 4 to 8 GB, though.
(I even use 16 GB in my gaming PC - but new games are just hungry and need much RAM on graphics card + much RAM on the system.)

More RAM only makes sense with 64 Bit Windows, anyway. 32 Bit Windows won´t use more than 4 GB. If your Windows is 32 Bit, then don´t waste your money with buying more RAM.
(Is my Windows 32 Bit or 64? Quick look: Open Windows explorer/file manager and search for folder C:\programs (x86). If only folder C:\programs exists, then near to certainty you´re are using 32 Bit.)

know I'm being picky there, but like my own "themed" layout.

You´re not picky - I wouldn´t like to have the spartan nostalgic Windows look of the 90´s, too.
-------


sfc /scannow:

regarding the optimization of my pc. I have read it and also copied and pasted it to Wordpad to study

To tell you the truth - my explanations were not even complete.
Why?
Soon after I wrote about sfc / scannow, I used it on my old pc and to my astonishment my pc had faults that couldn´t get repaired by sfc /scannow any more.

I used this command on Saturday only, because I wanted to (Paragon) backup my pc, after I had installed a fixed version of my registry tool and because the backup program hung up during backup.
(My two day older Paragon backup still contained the killer registry cleaner version, that I shouldn´t use anymore and therefore I wanted a newer backup.)

Therfore I guessed, that my system files could be corrupt and indeed they were!

What does sfc do?
SFC scans for corrupt system files. If it finds some, there exists a (maybe hidden - depends on your settings) folder WinSxS that contains backups of all system files. SFC copies from there and replaces the corrupt system files it has found.
But sometimes - and this happened to me this week - even the files in folder WinSxS are corrupt.
So I needed to do more work.

Found a Microsoft HowTo for SFC.
SFC instruction

From the explanation from my link above, I got the last result:
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.

There were so many results in CBS.log, that I didn´t want to replace all files manually.
So I used an easier way, that nowadays exists (especially easy for Win 8 users).

I entered (in same admin command window, where sfc /scannow was done)

dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth

This checks, if your system can get restored online - sytem files can get downloaded from Microsoft server if your internet connection still works)

(answer was - YES - restauration possible - then I entered)

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Download was done successfully, which means that files in folder WinSxS got restored.
Afterwards sfc /scannow had to be executed once more and this time it could repair the pc.

If internet connection doesn´t work anymore or if you´re not using win8:
DISM instruction

So sometimes sfc /scannow needs help from dism - but this doesn´t happen often.
(First time I used it.)

Well afterwards, I made a new Paragon backup and latest version of my registry cleaning tool now works well and backup is up to date and has no corrupted system files.
-------

Music:

listened to "Ladder" NOW WE'RE TALKING!!

Flushing
Nice, you liked it.

I've downloaded my song with your adjustments and will listen in a bit to it

Only a demo that export/effects worked. Not really a proposal.
(StudioOne complains if export is oversteered and asks if you not rather want to delete the export file. So I´m happy not to have got asked that question.)

Am now going to continue with THAT damned song lol

Of course you should! :thum:

RPi2:

that's no good also with Amazon asking to replace the .py file is a pain

Misunderstanding: Amazon changed something in April. Afterwards the open source community´s plugin for Amazon Prime Instant Video didn´t work correctly anymore. Some guy fixed this, by correcting the .py file in the open source plugin. To get the file (download) I must register on that board where he posted it.
So I guess, whenever s.th. is not running any more on RPi2, I have to go to a board and read - and I´m reading/writing too much every day, already.

by the way ..... my post is getting too long ...

Have a nice time (all)

 

[ararat]

Must correct one thing about the command: Dism /online
that I misunderstood when I read about DISM command for repairing my pc.

"Online" has nothing to do with internet connection or Microsoft server. Explaining takes a bit long and I may still understand the method wrong, because it doesn´t get explained very detailed on the MS website.
In short "online" seems to mean an internal repairing method by use of image file. Sorry :mecry: for wrong explanation.
As I wrote above "I used this command for the first time".)

Why I write now?
Had to repair my new pc No.1 this afternoon the same way (with DISM) like my older pc No.2 before. Both had the same problems with system file corruption.
Will have to report to the programmers of the new version of my registry cleaner about this.
(Yes - registry cleaners can be dangerous. Hope the problem get´s fixed, because the older versions worked well and were often very useful.)

Have a nice time, all :thum:

 

[SassaFras]

Hi Franz,
Sorry for the long time before response - currently dealing with a lot this end regarding my parents.

Thankyou for the tutorials on SFC and DISM - I have to admit I have not heard of these methods (not taught in my class - I have made a note of it Also, have listened to your additions to my song. Love that second sound effect in there...why didn't I think of that? lol

Anyway, thought I would drop you a line - didn't want you to think I have disappeared! Really enjoy our chats but for now, having to concentrate on getting my father better.

I WILL RETURN SOON!!

All the very best my friend (and cat) - appreciate your messages. Take care.

Kev

 

[ararat]

Hi Kevin (and all)

don´t worry - your father comes first, of course.
-------

Seems, I´may have got my pc problems fixed, now:

Sfc and dism commands helped me keep my windows 8.1 stable the last days, although I didn´t really get rid of my problem.

Yesterday, I tried a "Windows 8.1 Inplace Upgrade" using an original MS Windows 8.1 setup cd.
But even this failed.

After I had typed in my license key, Windows started its installation routine, but when done, on pc restart I saw a short BSOD (bluescreen of death). After a second restart I got a message of the kind:
"Windows 8.1 couldn´t get installed. Your system was reset to its previous state. Error: 0x101-0x20017"
I googled and found that such a message is a hint for hardware problems.

Experiencing the same problem (corrupted Windows system files) with two different pcs and with this hint (hardware problem) in mind, I asked myself:
What same hardware changes could I have made the last days with two pcs, that always worked well before?

Answer: I had bought two 4 port USB 3.0 hubs of the same brand and had connected one to each pc, keeping USB slots empty, when not needed.

You may remember: The first USB Hub I bought for the new AudioBox, because recordings had distorted sound, if no hub was used.
The second hub for second pc I bought, because I had bought a new USB 3.0 Blu-ray disc writer with a very short USB cable. I better only had bought an extension cable.

I disconnected the hubs from both pcs, yesterday.
Since then I haven´t found any corrupted files with sfc /scannow any more on both pcs.

I hope the trouble is over now. (Some more tests needed to be certain, though.).
-------

New version Presonus StudioOne 3 is out!

Live stream with music and explanation/demos.


I may update. ( ~ 49 €)
Sound quality is said to be better and the program to run faster. In addition lots of new sounds and effects.

The only stupid thing: sometimes my fingers work acceptably, but often I can just quit recording, because I can play only rubbish that day.
So maybe I`ll wait a bit, because at the moment some household devices got broke at a time and I have to replace them all.

Love that second sound effect in there...why didn't I think of that? lol

The second effect I applied to your song is called "3D mangler". It´s adjustable, but I let it exaggerate a bit on purpose.
-------

(and cat)

She´s very tired sometimes. Yesterday, I found her having a nap on the lawn and on using my dog whistle (she usually comes, when she hears it) she didn´t wake up. I had to come very close to her, before she opened her eyes. The old girl (17) is a real grandma now.
-------

For those doing online-banking/online-shopping, who haven´t heard:
New threat for pcs "LogJam".
You can test your browser safety here:
https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/viewMyClient.html
https://www.howsmyssl.com/
-------

Had one drink too many (sparkling wine), yesterday, as always when watching Eurovision Songcontest.
Songs sounded all very boring to me the day before, when I listend to a preview (music videos) of them.
The preview: I was sober and the sound came from tv loudspeakers.
The ESC final: Drinks + high quality headphones (this really makes a difference!:dance2
-------

Really enjoy our chats

Me, too.

Will be lazy today. (Curing my hangover.)

The best for you, Kevin and for your father, of course.
Hope you and family have pleasant holidays on Pentecost.:thum:

Have a good time, (all). :thum:

 

[ararat]

Hi Kevin (and all)

Some remarks.
- Presonus Studio One 3 Artist - I just found - should I upgrade (~49 € from my version Studio One 2 Artist), the new version can then be supplied with VST2, VST3, AudioUnit and Rewire support (support addon costs ~89 € - seems not to work with my older version 2 - so upgrade to version 3 would be necessary).

Maybe I´ll buy that later in july.
If I do, lots of free plugins can be used with Studio One.
(will cost me ~138 €, though - but then, I´ll will have really nice software)

By the way:
I seem to have been lucky with the purchase of my Presonus Audio Box - getting it for 89 € - found it at Amazon for 129 €, yesterday. Software still seems to be version 2.).
-------

sfc /scannow

My USB 3.0 hubs were not responsible for corrupted files on my pcs.
After disconnect of the hubs, the problem returned.

But:
many of you may find the same corrupted files, if you excercise the sfc /scannow command.
If you try to repair them with dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth, (as i mentioned above) you´ll get a message that all was reapaired, but in this case it´s not true.
The problem will return, in case you have it, like I have.

Responsible is Windows Update (KB3022345) - that was installed onto my pcs on May 13th, 2015.
It´s a known issue that should get fixed by Microsoft later.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3022345

If sfc /scannow finds

CORRUPT:  C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-u..ed-telemetry-client_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17807_none_910ac2c6daa01c43\[B]utc.app.json[/B]
CORRUPT:  C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-u..ed-telemetry-client_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17807_none_910ac2c6daa01c43\[B]telemetry.ASM-WindowsDefault.json[/B]

on your pc, these files are not corrupt at all and the problem cannot be fixed by all home users.
You may just ignore this. (There exists a fix file - didn´t work on my pc, but seems to work for some - you may ask in the recommended board * below.

Therefore it would be of no use to restore an old backup of yours (Windows/Acronis/Paragon/etc. system image) to get rid of these faults. After Windows Update, due to (KB3022345) the "problem" will return.

If sfc / scannow finds different corrupted files than the ones mentioned above, you may of course try to repair them with the procedure in my post above, though.

A recommendable board for help in difficult cases is * sysnative.com.
They offer you a SFCFix.exe file which in most cases can do repairs and if not, you vist them for help.
-------

Enough pc!
-------

Hope all of your family are well, friend Kevin and maybe you find some time for "Mover of Shadows".
Now that I probably don´t have to repair my pcs any more, I should find some time for playing my guitar, too.

Have a nice time, all. :thum:

 

[SassaFras]

Hi Franz,

Thought I'd post you a line as don't want you to think I've totally disappeared. Just a lot going on at the moment with my parents health and "trying" to get things seen to here in England ie; treatment requires a lot of letters to various places I've been sending.

Anyway, have taken a break this weekend and finally finished Mover of Shadows...well, the tune at least! Still have a lot of add-ins to do ie; effects, cymbals, guitar and vocals but the main song is complete - thought I'd post it to you

Glad you're doing well with Presonus :thum: sorry, didn't realise your cat was 17 - good age though and I'm sure she appreciates you being there.

Will speak more soon but in the meantime, see what you make of the song.

Take care my friend

 

[ararat]

Hi Kevin (and all)

only short message today.
Only had one short listen to mover of shadows2 (well done )

Still have a lot of add-ins to do ie; effects, cymbals, guitar and vocals but the main song is complete

Some additions should be and won´t do damage, but not too many.
Think, the song reflects on what you´re going through at the moment and gives it a voice.
By the way "voice": Do you intend to add lyrics? May be hard to do, I guess.
Perhaps you´re not in the mood, anyway and much too busy and concerned.

Only one thing struck me (3.15 - 3:30).
S.th. disturbs me with the high hat (percussion) there. Still guessing, what.
(Maybe treble low, or whatever?)
If it was a MIDI instrument, I´d try to replace it by another one.

(But, I should listen more often. Sometimes melodies or parts oft them, that I like too much on first listening, I may early get fed up with, whereas the ones that didn´t catch me the first time may stay much longer in my favourites list.
Should mean: Maybe tomorrow, I´ll love the high hat part 3:15 - 3:30.)
---

Glad you're doing well with Presonus

Whenever I write, that I´m getting forward with it, I take my guitar and play worse than ever.
Sometimes my abilities change very quickly.
I play around with my guitar a bit and it sounds well enough for a recording. I connect cables, start Studio One, click the Record button and then my hands refuse to work. ...


Sometimes I think they will never work well again.
(May be then I could instead at least import my old tape recordings and try to edit and improve them.)
-------

I´m still hassling with my pc.
I ruined it to some degree. (It´s still running and all programs, too, but has a kind of irrepairable fault.)
I didn´t damage it with sfc /scannow or DISM, but by removing and reinstalling a Windows Update package (KB3022345).
Too long and boring to explain.

The stupid thing now is, that my existing Acronis backup (only 3 days old) is mocking me, too.
When I want to recover it, the program doesn´t want to set my C: drive (with Windows on it) "active", but my D: drive (with games on it).
The program won´t let me change this and the Acronis support wasn´t too helpful.
With C: not being "active" my pc wouldn´t start.

Maybe tomorrow I´ll recover the Acronis backup, anyway. (Only drive C
I could try to set C: "active" manually with Windows setup DVD by using "diskpart" commands in commandline.

Perhaps I should better wait and do nothing, though:
Windows 10 will come on July 29th.
It may repair the fault. If not, I intend to do a clean install of that OS.
(Getting rid of unnecessary programs and hardware, at the same time then.)
-------

Summer has come, yesterday and is being told to maybe leave next week again, already.
Hot outside.
My cat lying in the shadows somewhere outside in the garden and probably dozing.
17 - yes, good age for an outdoor cat that always only lives outside - summer and winter. She´s sleeping deeper and doing things more slowly, but still looking good.

---

Add one old (tame) keyboard song of mine.
Too exhausted today for more. (Too busy the last days.)
It´s already late now, anyway and I have been sitting in front of my pc monitor for nearly the whole day now.

The best for you and family (and all reading here) :thum:

 

[SassaFras]

Hi Franz,
Hope you're well. Sorry I've been off a while, but as you know, lots going on this end.

Only one thing struck me (3.15 - 3:30).

Yes, it is a bit different, but there on purpose to break the mood of the song - will be a guitar solo there too.
As for "voice" I've already written lyrics so there will be vocals

Sometimes my abilities change very quickly.

Sorry to hear that my friend - I'm sure that one of these times everything will click into place and you'll get a good "session" in

I´m still hassling with my pc.

Lol I know how that feels - I've had the odd one fly across the room in the past due to frustration! Yes, Windows 10 is being made available as a free upgrade, so may clear the problems up.
What a lovely pic - she's a great looking cat! thanks for that
I will download the song and listen in a bit to it.
All the best my friend

 

[SassaFras]

Hey Franz, just heard "Spring" - sounds good to me Is it Spring ie; the season? if so, it's spot on

 

[ararat]

Hi Kevin (and all).
Hope, you and family are well.

Was busy and then lazy again the last days, because it was hot.
(Now colder again.)

I´m still hassling with my pc.
...
Lol I know how that feels - I've had the odd one fly across the room in the past due to frustration!

LOL!

Sometimes I´d like to do this too, but especially with my Macbook Air.
I don´t like MacOS too much - especially on this 1300 € device with only 2 GB of RAM (no upgrade possible). If I installed Maverick or Yosemite on it, the laptop predictably wouldn´t work any more. So I have to stay with Mountain Lion. (I only still use it sometimes to order pizza.)
Maybe my iMac 27 with core2Duo and 16 GB RAM would still work with latest MacOS, but I won´t try. Won´t buy Apple again. They are selling devices + OS that fit together well at date of purchase, but when the OS gets updated next, (which they give away for free) the "older" hardware from last year already is a bit weak, or some new OS functions only work on the latest devices. Then you have a lot of stylish and expensive aluminium at home. Even some of your bought additional software of course will only get updates, if you use the latest OS. (My "Apperture" photo program has updates - but only if I update my MacOS, too.)
... My iMac27 is already stored in the cellar.
(Don´t like the wireless mouse with glass surface, anyway and don´t like the extra touchpad, that I bought. Don´t like new MacOS (and therfore never installed it) with my private data stored in the cloud.
I´ll stay with Windows as long as it runs on machines that I may build/upgrade myself. Otherwise I´ll install Linux instead. (Already tried it. If there were more Linux 3D games ... but there are only few.)



My windows pcs are both gaming MIDI towers. I won´t let them fly across the room too easily, especially not with all (keyboard, mouse, printer, usb, ...) cables attached.

Restored my old Acronis windows 8.1 backup, although I knew my pc wouldn´t start. Couldn´t use the diskpart "active" command that I mentioned in my last post.
Had to use [FONT=Liberation Serif, serif]bootrec /fixmbr[/FONT]
[FONT=Liberation Serif, serif]bootrec /fixboot[/FONT]
[FONT=Liberation Serif, serif]bootrec /scanos[/FONT]
[FONT=Liberation Serif, serif]bootrec /rebuildbcd[/FONT]
commands in commandline after starting my pc from bootable Windows 8.1 setup dvd.

But now the irreparable error has gone.
(The sfc /scannow error won´t go - needs a Microsoft fix.)
Enough pc!
-------

Played around with your song a little bit.
(Especially nice to listen to with headphones put on. Nice kind of "gothic" atmosphere with the wind whistling at the start of the song. )

Only one thing struck me (3.15 - 3:30).
...
Yes, it is a bit different, but there on purpose to break the mood of the song

In Mos-changed.zip (attached) I added one long single hihat beat at 3:12, before your own hihat sequence starts . This works kind of a "bridge" to me. But if you want the break as it is, you should keep it.
To show you, that playing around a bit with your hihat sound could make a difference, I added an effect (forgot its name) at 3:22. I didn´t do it perfectly - just selected some beats.
To show, that your song could get somehow "heavier", I added compressor between 3:35 - 3:44.

The second file I attach here (MoS_compressed.zip) is just your original song without added hihat, but with (only light) compressor effect. You may notice a small difference. Seems to have more treble.
In order to get the best quality, one would have to treat different parts of the song differently, but I applied the same light compressor effect for the whole song.
In order not to get clipping faults from louder parts of the song, I had to go down with overall volume. That´s why the difference to your original ist not that big.
The ten seconds of compressor in the MoS-changed.zip file, however show definitely much more difference, because I could adjust a higher compressor effect for a short selected sequence.

I couldn´t spend too much time on all this and therfore it´s far beyond being perfect. Only examples that you could change sound quality, if ever wanted.
Perhaps you may download a free version of StudioOne and may experiment a bit, too.

Nice to hear, you planned lyrics. I´m already curious.

-------

Sometimes my abilities change very quickly.
...
Sorry to hear that my friend - I'm sure that one of these times everything will click into place and you'll get a good "session" in

The stupid thing is: the more lightly I touch the guitar strings, the better I can play. So I can´t play as loud any more as I used to earlier, when my hands worked better.
But you´re right. Maybe one day it´s good enough for a short recording.
I´m rehearsing a song sometimes that I never recorded before. (Slow classical guitar finger picking - own composition, not too difficult.)

Is it Spring ie; the season? if so, it's spot on

Yes it was about spring 1996. My new medication had just begun to work, trees got fresh green leaves outside and for a while and I thought, I would get better. So I was in a good mood ... until I received my next report from medlab.
It was a time of erratic ups and downs. (Survive or not survive.)

-------

she's a great looking cat!

but seems to get weaker this year. I´m a bit worried, but I won´t catch her at her age any more and drive her to a doctor, who then tells me that she´s just old.
She may even die, if I do so. She´s not used to getting caught. Last time I lifted her up, she was ten years younger.
-------

OH - very late.
I should forget about playing a computergame as I had intended, before starting to write this post. It´s rather time to prepare supper.

Have a nice time (all) :thum:

 

[SassaFras]

Hi Franz,

Sorry about the late reply - not too good

last week, but ok now.
Hope you're doing ok

Sometimes I´d like to do this too, but especially with my Macbook Air.

Never used a Mac - I began with Windows and never bothered changing. Have tried Linux briefly - I should really get into it again, as there's lots of software out there for recording, apparently.
I'll download the MOS and have a listen shortly, thanks - haven't recorded this weekend as was too busy trying to fix my father's laptop!

iMac 27 with core2Duo and 16 GB RAM

That sounds tasty! I've just ordered Serif Video Editor x3 for £5 off ebay it's been used, but reviews are good for slower lappys like mine.

Nice to hear, you planned lyrics. I´m already curious

Lol yes they're all written - bit dark, but I'm happy with them. My video green screen and lighting is now set up in the spare room, so if this video software works, I'll mess about with that this weekend too...looking forward to that :thum:
So sad to hear the story behind "Spring"
Sorry to hear about your cat - she's having a great life with you - that's the main thing.
Take care my friend - speak soon

 

[SassaFras]

Morning Franz,
Just listened to MoS. I like that cymbal you introduced. Have to say I prefer the original "bassy" sound of the tune to the treble part you added. As for the version with light compression, sounds brilliant! Once I've recorded the words and finished it, would be very grateful if you could run over it again with that effect and add the cymbal again. Hope you're ok, my friend!

 

[ararat]

Hi Kevin (and all)

sorry for my late answer -
(due to a mixture of some days being too busy and then the others being too lazy).
Already wanted to post here earlier - especially to announce live rock festivals on german tv. But I found out myself bit late, anyway - if I had posted Saturday morning at 3 o´clock that a day filled with rock concerts would start at 5:55, I guess this would have been been useless.
(Didn´t even myself get the time to listen that day, although there were very interesting bands from morning to after midnight. (On 3SAT channel, germany)


I´m answering late, because I´m just often fed up with typing such a lot every day. (My novel, answers to emails, posts, etc.) and then having too few time for playing music, computergames, watching tv, etc..
I´m sitting much too much in front of my computer - typing and typing and typing.

In addition, should I have some spare time, I´m often lucky, getting rare computer problems.
Last week, e.g. my antivirus software caused BSOD, when I opened encrypted files (my novel). The company support remote-uninstalled my antivirus and then remote installed a newer english version (not available in my country) instead. I now have an english internet security suite and don´t get BSOD any more. ...

---
One hour ago, I upgraded Presonus Studio One Artist V2 to V3.
Wanted to get rid of some uploaded old PP money.
Bit disappointed with new version 3 at first sight, because the new arrager tracks and the scratch pad don´t seem to be included (only in full Studio One Pro version, I guess).
So I rather only got a new look and improved gui and two new instruments (a sampler + a synthesizer - had no time, yet for testing them) and some new sounds for my 50 €.
Not such a difference as I had expected.

I like that cymbal you introduced.

Just a loop.
Thought it to be a nice bridge.

I prefer the original "bassy" sound of the tune to the treble part you added.

I added two different effects:
The one applied on the drum part (reducing treble) was just an equalizer setting. One could as well have done the oppostite and add more bass instead. The best effect may have been to vary the effect throughout this part.

The second effect was an adjustable compressor called Tricomp (later, on the rock guitar part).
I on purpose exaggerated there to make the difference more obvious. Of course this would be too much for a whole song, why I created the second song with only light compressor effect.

As far as I read about new Studio One Artist V3, there was added a

Native Fat Channel plug-in from StudioLive AI mixers includes low-pass filter, gate, compressor, parametric EQ, and limiter

.
Maybe with this it would even be easier to influence the sound of a song in a wanted manner.
(Still have to search and find it.)

I wonder, why I updated - my guitar playing abilities still vary from day to day. ...

As for the version with light compression, sounds brilliant!

Should be easy to repeat this, because I used predefined settings. Only on the "exaggerated" example part I changed them.

would be very grateful if you could run over it again with that effect and add the cymbal again.

But don´t just take these effects on your song from me to do me a favour
(only, if you really like them)
------

It´s getting hotter outside. Hope you´re not sweating too much when doing your job outside.
My cat is lucky - being lazy most of the time, just lying in the shadows waiting for food.

Never used a Mac - I began with Windows and never bothered changing.

You didn´t miss anything. MacOS is interesting (new) at the beginning, but some things really got on my nerves.
E.g. always having to use a waste paper basket instead of just deleting a file / e.g. getting big downloads because programs don´t get patched / e.g. having only one title bar for all programs (when using my Macbook Air with only 2 GB of RAM, MacOS may forget to switch the title bar - I open Firefox, but the title bar may still present the Thunderbird menu, whne Thunderbird had the focus before. Then I have to change windows and back to get the correct title bar.). So many little details that I don´t like. That´s why I stored my iMac27 in the cellar and why I´m using my second windows pc in its place.
(The MAC may perhaps return back to my office, if the pc gets busted unexpectedly.)

I've just ordered Serif Video Editor x3 for £5 off ebay it's been used, but reviews are good for slower lappys like mine.

Hope, you´re satisfied?
Youtube vids on it look good.

Does the free version X6 have too big hardware expectations?
Otherwise you may have done with it, not having to spend money.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q34FOpzvhMc)

Maybe, me too, I would only have tried the free version of StudioOne if the Artist 2 version hadn´t got delivered together with my new audio box.

they're all written - bit dark, but I'm happy with them

Hope you´re well and family (health) isn´t causing any trouble.
Nice to hear from you again, my friend.
Have a good time (all) :thum:

 

[SassaFras]

Hi Franz,
Hope you're having a nice weekend. I've seen there's some good bands touring Germany (and other parts of Europe) from time to time ie; legendary British bands that no longer play here - which is a shame. What bands are you into? I'm afraid I've only heard of Scorpions from Germany - excellent though

Wow, a novel? I keep saying one day I'll write one, but guess I never will. Hope you're successful with it :thum:

I upgraded Presonus Studio One Artist V2 to V3

Sorry to hear your disappointment there - I guess I'm lucky to have found Mixcraft 5 - been using it for a long time now.

Native Fat Channel plug-in from StudioLive AI mixers includes low-pass filter, gate, compressor, parametric EQ, and limiter

My Mixcraft has a lot of the fx you mention here, but I'll be honest, being a guitarist first, I only recognize "compressor" from them lol...low pass filters etc lose me, so I should really experiment more with these before mixing down ....maybe I'll leave that side to you lol

But don´t just take these effects on your song from me to do me a favour

No - wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it - sounded great. Now got to get a video recorded - all the lighting is ready and filmed some interesting "backdrops" to go behind me too. Using a trial of Cyberlink Powerdirector and it works great on my laptop so will buy I think. As for Serif, will not load on Win7...tried everything including tutorials from Google...so £5 wasted. At least I know Powerdirector works!

My father got the "all-clear" after his cancer op this week, which is good news too. Hopefully my parents and myself can move on now and put this awful year behind us.

Hope your cat is ok too :thum:

Take care my friend - speak soon

 

[ararat]

Hi Kevin (and all)

read the post above some days ago, already, but too many objects in the way for posting myself.
Too many mails, pc problems, toothache, etc. and ... 40 °C outside - hope you didn have to sweat much in the UK and hope youre (all) fine.

We had thunderstorm on tuesday evening and weather changed.
Yesterday only 24 °C - I grabbed the chance and went to town to do all the things that I had avoided when it was hot; supermarket, pharmacy, dentist, bank, etc. ... . Had two beer in the evening, but was so exhausted and tired that I fell asleep time and again while drinking. ...
Today its cold and windy with only 16 °C and I´m feeling much better now.
(Hot temperatures are always torturing me and my low blood pressure.)
-------

My father got the "all-clear" after his cancer op this week, which is good news too.

That´s the most important and best news.
(Everything else is second.)
Good to hear.
:dance


---

Touched my guitar only few times (too lazy and not well because of the heat), but I bought a guitar tuner (Snark SN-2 - nice little thing - much better than what I used before)


Didn´t work with StudioOne too often - opened it once for a few minutes to be honest - but it´s still worth giving it a chance.

I upgraded Presonus Studio One Artist V2 to V3 Sorry to hear your disappointment there -

I guess I'm lucky to have found Mixcraft 5 - been using it for a long time now.

The reason why I was disappointed, was not, because the program wasn´t not good - it really is good - but I was disappointed that nice new functions in version 3, especially the new "arranger tracks with scratchpad", etc., that make working on a song easier, are not included in the Artist version, but only in the full version (which would cost me another 299 € if I updated ...).
I had expected to find the new scratchpad function, when I first opened the software, I really searched for it and was disappointed when after being unsuccessful, I read on the manufacturer´s homepage that it´s not included in "Artist" version.
-------

My Mixcraft has a lot of the fx you mention here, but I'll be honest, being a guitarist first, I only recognize "compressor" from them lol...low pass filters etc lose me, so I should really experiment more with these before mixing down ....maybe I'll leave that side to you lol

Must say, that I´ll have to experiment myself with this, too. Up to now, I only just tried some things, not knowing what they would do and then I kept those results which I thought might be interesting.
(But of course I will do my best, if you like me to.)

I guess that I´ll still have to learn, what can be done with "automation" in StudioOne.
The way I worked on your song before can´t be the intended one. Whenever I wanted to apply an effect to only a short part of it, I cut out that sequence, placed it in a new track and only there I applied the effect. Otherwise the effect would have lasted for the whole (uncut) track/song.
Maybe with automation (the tool that allows you to draw curves into the track) I can steer/vary the intensiveness of an effect throughout the whole song (Loudness or perhaps even different parameters.)

So many things to explore in the software - even in Artist version.
Haven´t even yet tested the new "MaiTai" synthesizer and the new Presence XT Sampler.

By the way: compressor (expander/equalizer) is avaialble even in the free version of StudioOne and you can use the software with your onboard soundcard. I tried it last week and set the software to work with the soundchip on my mainboard (instead of my USB AudioBox). Worked perfectly well.

StudioOne Free could be a software, you mighht be using in addition to Mixcraft 5.
Different way to work with, but could improve sound, if already used for recording a song and not only later for editing it.
Why?
Example: when I change anything in your song - e.g. use compressor on a few bars of your song - this always applies to all instruments playing. No way to separate guitar from drums, etc..
So if one wants to change drums only, that´s not possible if there´s only one "already mixed" stereo track available.
In Studio One you record each instrument into its own track and can later edit them separately.

But we once already talked about this.
It´s always a question of spare time one can possibly invest in such things. Sometimes we just don´t have it.

Using a trial of Cyberlink Powerdirector and it works great on my laptop so will buy I think.

Wishing you luck with the software. Hopefully some good Youtube vids to expect!

Wow, a novel?

That´s why I shouldn´t invest too much time into music. I neglect my novel too often playing around or repairing things. I started writing on it regularly ten years ago. Half of the story I finished within two years, but then I always found excuses. I should reserve some amount of time each day in order to finish the book.
(Some of my ideas nowadays I already find in Hollywood movies like "Interstellar" and others. My hero is travelling through space and through a black hole. I should have finished my book earlier. ...)
Half of my story only got finished and the amount of printed pages now already is 1,5 times of "Harry Potter and the order of the phoenix" and my hero hasn´t yet even begun his journey. He may leave his planet one or two chapters later. ...
If my fingers worked better, I wouldn´t mistype so often and then could do all things more easily - including writing my novel.
---

But in addition stupid things often keep me from writing:

Toothache, heat outside and my dentist on vacation. I ordered tooth cement at Amazon, did the filling of my tooth myself, went to (returned) dentist yesterday - he said "well done, we can keep it, I´ll only polish a bit".

Important external USB 3.0 harddrive (with my windows backups) didn´t get recognized by windows when it was plugged in. It always only got recognized when my pc got newly restarted.
Cannot always restart my pc only to access an hdd. Already wanted to buy a new hdd. Would have been useless, because other USB 3.0 hdds behaved the same way.
Hopefully I fixed the prob this morning by deleting "unused devices" in windows device manager.
All other solutions found on the internet hadn´t worked.
Tested the hdd two times - it worked. Hopefully the repair lasts for a long time. ...

etc. ...

But, nice surprise, yesterday:
sfc /scannow problem seems to have gone all by itself.
Microsoft must have fixed the problem via windows update. No more corrupt system files detected on my pc.


Have a good time (all) :thum:

 

[ararat]

Hi Kevin (and all)

just tried the above mentioned "automation" in my Studio One 3 Artist DAW for the first time. (Only used it on "volume" - two notes in a song were too loud and and caused "clipping". By use of automation, I lowered the volume of only these two notes, without affecting the rest of the song.

Hopefully I will later learn to "automate" FX effects the same way, too.

My own guitar play is terrible.
I recorded a short sample of an old composition of mine (that I never recorded before) this morning and I attach it here, although it´s faulty. :mecry:
It´s not an old recording like my other uploads.

The whole song should be flowing and not staggering that much. I always cut off too many notes, because my hands are numb. But to give you an example of my current guitar play (it presumably won´t ever get better than this), I thought I should upload it.

I´m already late.
Have a good time (all). :thum:

 

[SassaFras]

Hi Franz,
How are you doing? weather is pretty hot here at the moment, so being a gardener, getting tired now - glad it's Friday!

I downloaded your song - sounds great to me :thum: I must invest in an acoustic guitar at some point.

Hope you're feeling ok and the weather isn't too hot

Sorry about the late reply - parents still going through the healing process - not helped by ongoing infections on the operations

We'll get there eventually. I hope to get round to finishing THAT song this weekend, so will post it to you soon.

Take care my friend (and cat)

 

[ararat]

Hi Kevin (and all)

weather is pretty hot here at the moment, so being a gardener, getting tired now

40 °C the last days here, too.
Was tired, had headache all the time. Shut myself in and only went out for the unavoidable. (e.g. for feeding the cat, emptying two on vacation neighbour´s letterboxes and sometimes driving to town to get necessary things.)
-------

ongoing infections on the operations

Sorry to hear this.
I hope, the antibiotics they gave your dad, will work. Nowadays in hospital one may get infected with antibiotic resistant microbes, that can´t easily be dealt with.
(Luckily scientists just found a new class of antibiotics that can succussfully battle with those resistant germs that couldn´t get killed with old medicine any more. Hopefully available in time for all those, who need it.)
-------

No music at the moment. Can´t play guitar. Cut the little finger of my left hand very badly when pealing potatoes.
The knife´s blade had teeth like a saw. I therefore got a bad cut beside the fingernail that just didn´t want to stop bleeding for hours. Now I don´t want to risk pressing the finger firmly onto a guitar string. Don´t want it to start bleeding again. ...

Had to occupy myself with other stuff.
Played some new "The Dark Mod" missions. Impressive new ones:
Sir Talbot´s Collateral
and
Quinn Co. (much reading the first twelve minutes of the video)

Spent some time cutting recordings from my dreambox, did some pc maintenance, watched tv sometimes, but was too lazy for my novel.
(Too drowsy anyway.)

One not too hot day, I even went to town to send a humax sat receiver back, that was sent to me against my will by AIR (pay tv). Since Rupert Mordor bought AIR in my country, they started broadcasting more adverts and started urging customers to use their hardware which gets paired with their smartcard. Then you get all the new blessings of modern digital private tv.
Didn´t want to replace my dreamboxes with the crappy AIR hardware. Cancelled my subscription last year and soon I will get rid of pay tv.
(Only rarely used pay tv the last years - won´t miss it.)
-------

Ordered 24 liter Strongbow cider the other day. Should get delivered perhaps on tuesday. The danish Somersby cider that I had bought in spring is just too sweet and tastes a bit artificial for me. (I´ll dispose of that somehow.)
Not too refreshing, when it´s hot. Wrote a 2 stars amazon review on that one and surprisingly enough, just that evening for the first time I managed to drink more than one 0,33 l can of it, whereas before I always was fed up already, when I had finished only one little can. ...
(Maybe, because I rushed it - then it didnt´t taste so sweet.)

I hope to get round to finishing THAT song this weekend, so will post it to you soon.

Nice ..
Did you make a Youtube video for it already?

(Had to think of you and your song last week. "Power Director 13 Ultra" got offered online for only a few hours for nearly half of its usual price. But it wouldn´t have been useful for you.)

Attach an old keyboard song myself, today.
Just the boring stuff for hot days. Wouldn´t want to play one beat faster at the moment - so lazy and worn out am I.
(song finishes abruptly in the middle - was a tape recording at the and of a tape ...)

Wishing the best for you and family
and the best of all for all who read here.

 

[SassaFras]

Hi Franz,

Hope you're feeling ok after your knife accident. Also 40 Degrees? wow, that's HOT!

Been raining all day here - and just on the weekend when we have a music festival just down the road from me - was going to go, but decided to stay in the warm!

Thankyou for your kind comments for my parents - happy to say my dad is nearly fully recovered and my mum is now healing well. :thum:

One not too hot day, I even went to town to send a humax sat receiver back, that was sent to me against my will by AIR

Know all about him over here! (Rupert Murdoch) owns Sky TV...another load of rubbish that you have to pay to watch PLUS loads of adverts too. Used to have it and was a pain to get out of. Thanks to this site though, I now have a nice box with motorized dish and no horrible contracts.

Hope they paid the post for you returning the unwanted Humax box!!

Ordered 24 liter Strongbow cider the other day

Haha, glad you've got the Strongbow - always classed it as a great cider (although I only drink Carlsberg lager these days)

I have some disappointing news on the song....have now "shelved" it as was taking me over and couldn't get the lyrics right - just not my style...so now recording a blues song which is much better - and nice to be working on too.

I will be recording a video for it, but may take a few weeks. Very pleased so far with the song though. I'll send you it when I've completed a bit more.

I will probably go back to MoS sometime, but as I said, was getting me down, so much healthier to take a break I think.

Thanks for your latest song - I will listen to it soon.

All the best to you my friend (and cat)

Speak soon