From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V11 #278 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Thursday, October 13 2005 Volume 11 : Number 278 Today's Subjects: ----------------- RE: Charlotte Martin ["Xenu's Sister" ] kate article [anna maria "stjärnell" ] Bush in YESTERDAY's Guardian [adamk@zoom.co.uk] KaTe - KotM video on UK Channel 4 this Friday [Ian Spain ] Re: Tape to computer [Profjava@aol.com] Re: Tape to computer [brian@mooman.com] re: Phillips cdr [kerrywhite@webtv.net (kerry white)] Re: Tape to computer [DanStark <2005.carnivore99@verizon.net>] Re: tape to computer [Dave ] Re: Dead Can Dance NYC, also about Noe V. [robert bristow-johnson ] Re: Phillips cdr [Profjava@aol.com] Re: Tape to computer [Profjava@aol.com] Dead Can Dance, Chicago [Christopher Gagnon ] Re: Dead Can Dance NYC, also about Noe V. [meredith ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 23:58:43 -0700 (PDT) From: "Xenu's Sister" Subject: RE: Charlotte Martin I do believe that Happy has influenced Charlotte a bit while she's been making this record. This is what Charlotte wrote on her forum (it sounds like a personal letter, but it's not, it was posted): She's talking about the Many Worlds Are Born Tonight that I gave her. ============ Hi Vickie, i have to say i am obsessed with that record right now. i can play it over and over. her voice is amazing, and the production very layered an innovative especially since it's not exactly a new album. the thing that really caught my attention was her creativity in her layered vocals. i am way into harmonic layers and blankets..and really using the voice as an instrument that might not necessarily just be used to sing words. one of the reasons i love the cocteau twins so much, and elizabeth's voice is she makes up her own language and the syllables communicate her emotion way more than a word i can pick out of the dictionary. i believe Happy does this on this album. thank you so much for giving me this music. charlotte x ============ I won't pass along the letter she wrote to me personally, but I can't resist passing along this snippet from it: ============= I am humbled that you thought of me and gave me her music. It is inspiring the next album and EP so much ============= *gleeful dance* And, she also wrote this on her forum, when I asked if she could cover a Happy song sometime. ============= i am learning 100 years by happy rhodes. you read my mind...xo ============= Charlotte's coming back to Chicago the 26th at Schubas. We already have our tickets. The chance to hear Charlotte cover Happy (and what a bizarre song to choose) makes me giddy with anticipation! She's so cool! Vickie - -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Music, all I hear is music, guaranteed to please... - -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ - -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 00:15:56 -0700 (PDT) From: anna maria "stjärnell" Subject: kate article Hi.. am doing a kate profile for a swedish mag..i hope i can do her justice. This is so my dream story. No interview of course..how could I have talked to her if I tried? Anna Maria, scribbling notes __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 09:00:00 +0100 From: adamk@zoom.co.uk Subject: Bush in YESTERDAY's Guardian Oops. Sorry, I forgot to include the link, which was what happens when heretics post this kind of thing: http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,,1589379,00.html adam k. np: the missing piece/gentle giant nr: cloud atlas/david mitchell - ----------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://webmail.zoom.co.uk ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:31:47 +0100 (BST) From: Ian Spain Subject: KaTe - KotM video on UK Channel 4 this Friday Thought the folks here might be interested in this bit of KaTe news from http://the-raft.com/news2848 Kate Bush is back! New single and album provoke Bush frenzy! Its hard to remember so much excitement about a release. After 12 years of waiting and many false reports of material being ready, Kate Bush  whose debut single, Wuthering Heights in 1978, began an unparalleled career  is set to launch her first album since 1992s Red Shoes. For weeks, the media have been running with stories and profiles about the elusive artist who is giving one solitary interview to Mojo about her double album Aerial, set for release on 7 November in CD, LP and download formats, the former two with a 24-page booklet. On CD1, called A Sea of Honey, there are seven brand new tracks, including the single King of the Mountain, while on CD2, A Sky of Honey, there are nine more. Its already been confirmed as a Radio 2 album of the week and will be accompanied by a slew of radio pieces. The video for King of the Mountain gets an exclusive airing on Channel 4 on Friday 14th October, while music stations are already preparing Kate Bush weekends to coincide with the release. Add to that a huge advertising campaign and its going to be all about Kate until Christmas and beyond. - --------- ~ Ian ~ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 11:31:01 EDT From: Profjava@aol.com Subject: Re: Tape to computer In a message dated 10/12/2005 12:01:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time, neile@drizzle.com writes: I bought a patch cord that connects the left & right channels of my tape player to the sound input jack of my computer. I'm on a Mac but I'm sure it's similar on a PC. Sounds like you used an adaptor cable such as is likely available at Radio Shack that sent the RCA stereo out jacks to a Phono or mini phono input jack, which is something I probably own and have used for other situations or can get again easily. I didn't realize that would be all one would need to get it to be something you can import into software on the computer. I guess I thought that would merely play it through the speakers of the computer, but evidently that is the way to go to record it too, probably using Audacity or something. Thanks. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 08:51:21 -0700 (PDT) From: Neile Graham Subject: Re: Tape to computer On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 Profjava@aol.com wrote: > Sounds like you used an adaptor cable such as is likely available at Radio > Shack that sent the RCA stereo out jacks to a Phono or mini phono input jack, > which is something I probably own and have used for other situations or can get > again easily. I didn't realize that would be all one would need to get it to > be something you can import into software on the computer. Yes. > I guess I thought > that would merely play it through the speakers of the computer, but evidently > that is the way to go to record it too, probably using Audacity or something. There are plenty of similar programs out there. I use Sound Studio, recommended to me by Neal Copperman (again, it's a Mac program). - --Neile ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:27:15 EDT From: Profjava@aol.com Subject: Re: Tape to computer In a message dated 10/12/2005 12:03:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time, neile@drizzle.com writes: On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 Profjava@aol.com wrote: > Sounds like you used an adaptor cable such as is likely available at Radio > Shack that sent the RCA stereo out jacks to a Phono or mini phono input jack, > which is something I probably own and have used for other situations or can get > again easily. I didn't realize that would be all one would need to get it to > be something you can import into software on the computer. Yes. I wonder if this RCA to phono jack method direct to computer is as high quality a way to import the music tracks as connecting the source analog player to a standalone cd-rw machine with RCA jacks and then taking the resulting disc and popping it into your computer for any further editing later. (Guess it depends on whether the phono or miniphono jack is as good a connector as going RCA to RCA in a standalone). I guess it's only relevant for special things like when I have old live cassette tapes of personal things or vinyl I'm trying to archive. I have a Yamaha CDR-D651 for this purpose and need to try working with it again unless there is something better out there now. I'm sure pros use all kinds of fancy equipment. http://ecoustics.audioreview.com/cat/audioreview/digital-sources/cd-recorders- players/yamaha/PRD_126965_2740crx.aspx reviews of its probs from 2001, which is probably when I got it. I kept losing the manual and having trouble remembering how to use it too. Item: http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/DsplyModel?gCLD00010CDR-D651 Thanks for the info. I have Sound Studio and have used it so far once for something else other than importing analog. Good to know about its abilities. I'd rather go directly into my computer if that phono jack way is just as good as going into the standalone. If it's not as good then I could skip the hassle of the standalone or find a more capable standalone than what I have. Sorry if this is crazily off topic. I think over time I've learned of people's favorite methods of even recording live shows (for artists who don't mind, of which there actually are a few, plus some of my friends probably wish I would do that for them for their own listening after a show) via this list on occasion, or maybe that was another music board I was reading. There are all sorts of technology & gadgets fans use for things like archiving old things and also recording live shows that I'm not up on the details of yet like I should be. I have boxes of old cassettes I need to archive before they disintegrate. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 10:25:32 -0700 From: brian@mooman.com Subject: Re: Tape to computer Another option if you want some automation is a PlusDeck: http://www.plusdeck.com/ It's a tape deck that fits into the PC (just like a cd-rom drive) and comes with software to "rip" tapes direct to wav or MP3, including autoreverse and "gap" detection... I've heard decent reviews for it with the exception that it doesn't have dolby or settings for metal tapes. But if most of your stuff is normal bias, it could be a great tool for transfering the stuff... Unfortunately they don't have Mac or Linux drivers/software for it yet... Available through ebay or a few online distributers... I don't have one yet but have been sorely tempted given the 400 or so tapes I have that never get listened to anymore... moo. Brian ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 15:53:45 -0500 From: kerrywhite@webtv.net (kerry white) Subject: re: Phillips cdr Hi, I had one for 2 years that was great. It then acted crazy and I went to the net: other Phillips had same problems but were showing up earlier than mine. I gave it away and a month later it works 80% of the time. I have a HDD CDR now and am happy for him. bye, KrW I'm Peter Pan! I'm perpetually young!! OW!! What's wrong with my back? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 17:19:22 -0400 From: DanStark <2005.carnivore99@verizon.net> Subject: Re: Tape to computer The cheapest way to do it is to use a cable with a pair of RCA connectors at one end and a 1/8-inch stereo mini-connector at the other end. Plug the RCA connectors into the CD player, and plug the mini-connector into the Line In jack on your computer or sound card. The sound recording software programs were already discussed here - just watch your levels. If you go into the red even a little bit on a digital recording it can pop and sound bad. Cassette decks were much more forgiving. Using this method you should be able to get reasonable quality if your goal is just to convert the CD to MP3s to be played on your portable player. The sound should be comparable to FM radio or better. However, computer sound cards aren't usually designed with hi-fi specs, especially ones built into motherboards. Even if the frequency response is fairly wide and flat, they still tend to have a noise floor of not much better than -40 to -50 dB. That may be acceptable for casual listening, but if you're planning to do an important archiving project as you mentioned, it might be worth using something a little better, even if you're just archiving hissy cassettes. If you decide to upgrade, stay away from the mainstream computer brands like Creative / Soundblaster since those are made for kids. Instead, go with one targeted to musicians, as those ones have the accurate sound you'll want. You can get ones that plug into PCI slots, USB or firewire ports. They range from about $80 to hundreds of dollars. You don't need an expensive one to work well for your archiving needs, though. Just for fun here's a good place to browse many of them: http://www.bayviewproaudio.com/Audio_Interfaces-p-1-c-122.html If you find the selection at that link a little too bewildering, here are some specific recommendations: M-Audio Transit A pocket-size device that accepts a 1/8-inch stereo plug (same as the type on a normal sound card) or a digital input. Plugs into your USB port, PC or Mac, desktop or laptop. About 80 bucks at most music stores, or online at places like MusiciansFriend.com, Zzounds.com, B&H, maybe J&R, etc. Feels like a toy but it's actually good quality - - I use this on my laptop. http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Transit-main.html M-Audio Audiophile 2496 If you want to use a PCI card instead of USB, this is a nice card with a street price of about $100. http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile2496-main.html Echo MIA Also known as MIAMidi. If you want a PCI card instead of USB, this is another nice one, although it has way more features than you may need. Anything made by Echo is good and this one can be found for not much more than $100. http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/PCI/MiaMIDI/index.php There are many more but that should get you started. The cassette dubbing project should be fun and rewarding. It's always entertaining to resurrect those old tapes. Dan ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 20:52:00 -0400 From: Dave Subject: Re: tape to computer ah.. I forgot to mention, CDex will record wav files from the sound card analog input (under the Tools menu) which it can then convert to MP3 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 21:45:50 -0400 From: robert bristow-johnson Subject: Re: Dead Can Dance NYC, also about Noe V. on 10/11/2005 00:01, meredith at meth@smoe.org wrote: > Craig Gidney wrote: >> I was there, too. It was a fabulous show. > > Aw, I wish I'd known you'd be there ... not that it would've been easy > to find anyone in that crowd, but hey. :) Meth, i was there too (in the 3rd mezzanine, front row, extreme left) , but i never saw anyone i recognized. >> The last song Lisa sang had a Billie Holiday feel, with honest to God >> lyrics--in English. It was a nice touch, to hear her say a colloquial word >> like "OK", after all that angelic faux Latin. > > I thought it sounded like Billie Holiday, too! It was rather jarring > after everything else that had come before, but it was still cool. i didn't like it but the guy who came with me did (and didn't like the "New Age" DCD so much). i just want to say THANK YOU for posting about Noe Venable since i hadn't heard much of her except a little on ecto. SHE WAS WONDERFUL. she has a sardonic sense of humor and political insight like Happy and her music is fresh and very well composed and performed. i got her CD and could remember some differences (like percussion that didn't exist in the live shows, but that's okay) but for the most part, she and Todd (bassist) were just as tight live as the same music on CD. that says a lot! does anyone know what the name of the last song she performed before either quitting (Thursday) or encore (Friday)? could be something like "into the wild"? it's not on the CD and i was wondering about it. it's really good and i thought it might be a sorta signature piece. - -- r b-j rbj@audioimagination.com "Imagination is more important than knowledge." ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 20:49:03 -0400 From: Dave Subject: Re: tape to computer Like Neile said, I think you should be able to just use a patch cord from the line out of a regular tape deck to the line in of your audio card, should be a Y cable with 2 RCA Phono jacks going to an 1/8" stereo phone jack. Also, I just saw this thing called the PlusDeck the other day on thinkgeek.com Cost a bit more than a cable, but if you're a gadget freak.... http://www.thinkgeek.com/pcmods/cables/6908/ > From: Profjava@aol.com > I'm also busy these days trying to learn how to archive a lot of old live > music cassettes from years ago to CD before they crumble and am not sure what is > the best hardware/software to use for that on my computers. I know how to > transfer my VHS things to DVD on my computer via a Canopus bridge but nothing > about simple audio cassette tapes to CD. (You don't use an analog bridge for > audio, so I'm confused. Am trying to read over some of the suggestions a couple of > people made about using CD player audio output jacks and somehow connecting to > the computer sound card.) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:06:09 EDT From: Profjava@aol.com Subject: Re: Phillips cdr In a message dated 10/12/2005 5:20:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, kerrywhite@webtv.net writes: Hi, I had one for 2 years that was great. It then acted crazy and I went to the net: other Phillips had same problems but were showing up earlier than mine. I gave it away and a month later it works 80% of the time. I have a HDD CDR now and am happy for him. bye, For some reason the original post on the topic of Phillips cdr that Kerry is replying to hasn't shown up in my account, if someone wrote one on that topic. I'm interested in all that people tell me, and thanks to those who have tried to give me suggestions privately and publicly. One person mentioned getting a better sound card if I want good sound and said many computers don't have that great a sound card, then showed me this: http://www.bayviewproaudio.com/Audio_Interfaces-p-1-c-122.html I saw the above URL mentioned DIGI 002 stuff in one section, and I remembered I have a digi 001 and protools LE for recording instruments on my Mac; never did anything with that regarding archiving my tapes. I mostly used my old analog Yamaha 4-track for recording my own work, but I think I did do something to mix it with my DIGI 001 before I forgot how I did it. Anyway if this digi 001 also relates to my archiving of old analog tapes and vinyl, I will use it; I never thought of it as meant for that. I guess I have a lot of phoning to do to learn more. Thanks! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:11:18 EDT From: Profjava@aol.com Subject: Re: Tape to computer In a message dated 10/12/2005 6:30:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 2005.carnivore99@verizon.net writes: The cheapest way to do it is to use a cable with a pair of RCA connectors at one end and a 1/8-inch stereo mini-connector at the other end. Plug the RCA connectors into the CD player, and plug the mini-connector into the Line In jack on your computer or sound card. The sound recording software programs were already discussed here - just watch your levels. If you go into the red even a little bit on a digital recording it can pop and sound bad. Cassette decks were much more forgiving. Using this method you should be able to get reasonable quality if your goal is just to convert the CD to MP3s to be played on your portable player. The sound should be comparable to FM radio or better. However, computer sound cards aren't usually designed with hi-fi specs, especially ones built into motherboards. Even if the frequency response is fairly wide and flat, they still tend to have a noise floor of not much better than -40 to -50 dB. That may be acceptable for casual listening, but if you're planning to do an important archiving project as you mentioned, it might be worth using something a little better, even if you're just archiving hissy cassettes. If you decide to upgrade, stay away from the mainstream computer brands like Creative / Soundblaster since those are made for kids. Instead, go with one targeted to musicians, as those ones have the accurate sound you'll want. You can get ones that plug into PCI slots, USB or firewire ports. They range from about $80 to hundreds of dollars. You don't need an expensive one to work well for your archiving needs, though. Just for fun here's a good place to browse many of them: http://www.bayviewproaudio.com/Audio_Interfaces-p-1-c-122.html If you find the selection at that link a little too bewildering, here are some specific recommendations: M-Audio Transit A pocket-size device that accepts a 1/8-inch stereo plug (same as the type on a normal sound card) or a digital input. Plugs into your USB port, PC or Mac, desktop or laptop. About 80 bucks at most music stores, or online at places like MusiciansFriend.com, Zzounds.com, B&H, maybe J&R, etc. Feels like a toy but it's actually good quality - - I use this on my laptop. http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Transit-main.html M-Audio Audiophile 2496 If you want to use a PCI card instead of USB, this is a nice card with a street price of about $100. http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile2496-main.html Echo MIA Also known as MIAMidi. If you want a PCI card instead of USB, this is another nice one, although it has way more features than you may need. Anything made by Echo is good and this one can be found for not much more than $100. http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/PCI/MiaMIDI/index.php There are many more but that should get you started. The cassette dubbing project should be fun and rewarding. It's always entertaining to resurrect those old tapes. Dan Will be archiving to external hard drive and cd, not MP3. I'll try to check into the above items in case my computer's sound card isn't good enough or if my old DIGI 001 isn't useful for this situation (now that I see one of your URLs above mentions the DIGI 002 for some sort of audio work). I will try to learn how the above gadgets work. Thanks! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 23:28:04 -0500 From: Christopher Gagnon Subject: Dead Can Dance, Chicago I just returned from the "first and only DCD appearance in the Midwest in 12 years" (or something like that). They performed at the Auditorium Theatre, which is on the south east side of the Loop. The acoustics of the theatre were great, and the show was recorded for future CD purchase. It seems almost pointless to state that their performance was flawless--do they give any other type? As they were not performing with an orchestra in Chicago, much of the sound was coming from machines, but it was richly textured, full-bodied and resonant, and was mixed carefully with the live musicians (lots of percussionists!). I recall seeing Siouxsie and the Banshees here in Chicago a couple years ago and being saddened by the degree to which Siouxsie Sioux's voice had deteriorated since Peepshow, when I thought she was at the top of her game vocally. That problem doesn't haunt DCD. Brendan and Lisa's voices have not diminished a bit. Lisa is definitely spending more time exploring her lower register, but it doesn't appear that age has robbed her of any of her uppermost range, which was also on full display tonight. As for Brendan's still nimble voice, it's an even more darkly, seductively burnished instrument than before, if that's possible, and he executed some terrific, spontaneous vocal leaps and glissandos, and used some falsetto I've not heard much of on their recordings. Lisa's voice is predictably studio-perfect when she sings live (or perhaps it's "live perfect" when she sings in the studio?); but Brendan's voice opens up in concert in a way that isn't captured in recordings. My DCD appreciation has evolved somewhat over the years: when I first started listening (eek, I was in high school in the late 80's), I was drawn much more to Lisa's voice and the songs that featured it, often skipping over the songs featuring Brendan. But over the last several years, I've drifted in the opposite direction. I'm sure it had nothing whatever to do with hearing that voice sing "I love slow, slow but deep" ;) Ahem, so anyhow, it was a great joy to hear songs like "Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove," "How Fortunate the Man with None," a poignant and timely "Severance" as one of the encore numbers, and one of my all time favorite DCD songs, "Black Sun," another encore. All in all, a superlative live music experience provided by one of my favorite bands. - --Chris ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 01:07:41 -0400 From: meredith Subject: Re: Dead Can Dance NYC, also about Noe V. Hi, robert bristow-johnson wrote: > Meth, i was there too (in the 3rd mezzanine, front row, extreme left) , but > i never saw anyone i recognized. Ah -- we were in the 3rd mezzanine, but just right of center. Sorry we missed each other! > does anyone know what the name of the last song she performed before either > quitting (Thursday) or encore (Friday)? could be something like "into the > wild"? it's not on the CD and i was wondering about it. it's really good > and i thought it might be a sorta signature piece. If it's the song I'm thinking of, it's as yet unrecorded. Noe's been working on a larger-scale work, and I think it's part of that. It's indeed beautiful. - -- =============================================== Meredith Tarr New Haven, CT USA mailto:meth@smoe.org http://www.smoe.org/meth =============================================== hear at the HOMe House Concert Series http://hom.smoe.org =============================================== ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V11 #278 ***************************