September 6, 2008

Pegasus II  coming in 2014
Shadows coming in 2013

Soggy autumn

img_0659.JPGIt’s been a good day for staying indoors and wrestling with your new composing software.*  But we had to get out into the countryside today after splashing dismally around town yesterday, so we did.  This is one of the fields Connie and I blasted across last Wednesday.   Today the hellhounds and I were sinking in at every step.

*I’m losing.  Sigh.  I tell myself my first Word for Windows nearly killed me too.

comments

Please join the discussion at Robin McKinley's Web Forum.

Comment by jmeadows

It’s hard to see the sogginess with all the grass there, but I can imagine. It looks like a great field, though. Perfect for blasting across. :D

You will beat the composing software! You will you will you will!

Comment by Robin

I have to! I made poor Peter BUY it for me!!! :) Besides, I WANT lovely beautiful clean sheet music!!! And playback!!!!!!!

(Comments won't nest below this level)

 
 
Comment by b_twin_1

And playback!!!!!!!

Oh???!!! ::chuckles evilly::
I guess it would get you out of playing the piano for the webcam …… ;)

Comment by Robin

Jodi’s tales of snarky remarks about her flute playing has kinda put me off, yes. She plays the flute a lot more presentably than I play the piano. Although I STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT YOUTUBE so I can hang Bell Ringing Woman. (And I think I can lick **composing software** . . . )

(Comments won't nest below this level)

Comment by jmeadows

If you want a quick YouTube tutorial, I will email you. It’s easy peasy. If you can upload pictures to WordPress, you can get videos on YouTube. :)

Comment by Robin

THAT’S WHAT EVERYONE KEEPS TELLING ME. WAAAAAAAH.

(It’s terrible to be old and STUPID. :()

Easy peasy, huh? And while we’re at it, how do you tape your flute stuff? I can see you reaching out to turn on and off. Is it a camera or a phone or a dedicated video doohickey? And do you prop it up or do you have an itty bitty tripod and HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT ANGLE TO SET IT UP AT? How many times do you ahve to tape yourself with the top of your head missing before you get it right???

 
 
Comment by jmeadows

(It’s terrible to be old and STUPID. :()

You are not. Now don’t make me get out the skein of yarn! (For bopping you on the head, of course.)

And while we’re at it, how do you tape your flute stuff?

Well, *before* I used my cell phone and propped it up and there was this horrible tinny shrill sound whenever I played a high note. Then I got a Mac. ;)

Bambi the iMac has a built in webcam and microphone, and there’s this nifty thing called iMovie that’s really complicated, so I feel lucky to know how to record myself. I just tilt the thing until it aims at me. (There’s a screen where I can see myself. It’s kind of creepy. This is why I stare at the wall while I play.)

*That* is easy peasy. And so is getting the file to YouTube. I don’t know what software you have on your computer, or whether your webcam has a mic built into it. (You did say your new monitor has a webcam built into it, right? You should be able to angle the screen (as long as you don’t want to record anything too low) and see what it’ll be recording.) If you don’t have a webcam built into your monitor, you can get one at the store. Have Computer Man pick out one with a mic for you. You just need it *basic*, not anything fancy. (There are some *really* fancy ones for three digits. Oi.)

Comment by Robin

The fancy monitor at the cottage has a webcam. I can use it . . . but I don’t know what to do with the file. Also, I have trouble filming myself, in the *uuuuuuungh* category.

No, no! Not the . . . skein of yarn!!!!!

 
 
 
 
Comment by Southdowner

****** This is one of the fields Connie and I blasted across last Wednesday

Although a strong horse in heavy going starts to listen much more quickly! But it can be difficult to see if someone ahead of you is throwing up scads of mud. You forget the mud-mask, and then wonder why you’re scaring cats and passersby :)

Look at how proficient the bells are now – I’m sure the composing software will be cornered, harnessed and only occasionally throw a spraddle jump – sending you a big glass of champagne to celebrate the new software and your future proficiency. You are the hellgoddess – you WILL overcome!

Comment by Robin

Thank you for your vote of confidence! Now do you have the resolve-stiffening broomstick to stick up my t shirt? :)

(Comments won't nest below this level)

Comment by Robin

In that case I’ll ahve to keep it out where I can LOOK at it . . . :)

 
 
 
Please join the discussion at Robin McKinley's Web Forum.