September 2004
Tuesday, Sept. 28
Some broadcast production notes I found today, when clearing out papers:
23. clean in-point
06. in w/beat, or line
07. weather only, no WSM w/k, use traffic intro and sell line
08. clean up before people in hall. concentrate on Gorilla Glue
09. clean start to Anita Cock intro
25. clean before cocktails, hammered in the rain
start at weather pattern repeating itself. end at hammered and dusk
02. start at down, cut to Jamie (edit Lee)
01. start w/Jamie, caffeine bit, end at "retire"
11. start at AMA, into meat yux, end before cat meat
16. fishing tickets, "go where the guys are"
13. clean up - start at "Hey I just got a phone call" - out to song
24. start at "Admin Lunch" - to end of dress code stuff.
Folks, this is why I make the Big Bucks.
Tuesday, September 28
6:09 AM
I am trying to convince myself that I will have ample mental energy for today. Up at four o'clock, to give two family members a ride to the airport. The family members are flying to London, and scheduled it to arrive there at 10:30 PM GST. Makes sense, but is sort of hard on my ass. No point in trying to get more sleep; I returned home around 5:30, only a short while away from weekday wakeup time. And of course, I lay awake around 1:00 for an undetermined length of time, thereby incurring further sleep loss. For what it may be worth, I abstained from caffiene until I got back home.
Today I have to do some work that combines the familiar and unfamiliar. The objective and the work environment by themselves are familiar, but unfamiliar to each other.
I've got to record an advertising jingle, with drums, guitars and vocals, in a broadcast production studio. The common element among the factors that stymie such an event is insufficience. Lack of microphone variety, not enough audio inputs, inadequate equalization. It's a good thing they want to record their instruments in separate passes, because eight audio hardware inputs is not enough to record everyone together, although why they wish to record this way is a mystery. A key phrase I keep getting fed is "down and dirty." Whatever; it's still a slightly bizarre scenario. And they apparently don't realize that they could have bought exponentially more studio for half the price, if they'd only looked a little further.
It's early. I lack proper rest. I'm jaded and cynical. Hell, it's billable time.
--Addendum--
It's done. It's good. Nice guys, good performance, nothing taken too seriously.
All worked well, within the limitations. Yippee, skippee.
Thursday, Sept 16
Studio error log, Tuesday, September 14.
We're tracking a four piece band, thirteen recorded tracks.
Dual-engine G5, OS Panther, Pro Tools 6.1.
Client has supplied LaCie drive.
We've recorded five songs, only one or two individual punch-ins. We're using a template, each song creating its own folder. The band is well-rehearsed, and we're moving right along, only one complete take per song. All is well.
Near the middle of the sixth song, recording thirteen tracks with a stereo mix playing back as reference, transport stops. Error -9073: "disk may be full, can't deal with drive transfer rate, try this, try that, try this or that version of the other, blah-de-blah-de-bullshit-blah."
Re-attempt recording, transport freezes in the same place: Error -9073. Increased CPU usage to 75%, sample overhead to 1024, DAE buffer to Level 4. Re-attempt band punch before error spot, this time no glitches.
Following two attempts at opening song template crash and close Pro Tools. Restart system. Client's drive no longer recognized. Power-cycle drive. One of two partitions appear, but not the one with the recorded material. Investigation reveals a single soundfile from the first recorded song, in the wrong place. Power down drive for approximately two minutes, restart G5 and power up drive. Client's drive is now fully recognized.
Open template to create next song folder, and at launch of prompt window to save as a new folder, Pro Tools crashes. Attempts to force-quit PT are unsuccessful, resulting in the Spinning Rainbow of Death. Force shutdown of entire system.
Template file is now suspected as corrupt. Power up system, manually select previously completed song file, view properties and check "Stationery". This is our new template. Open, save as new session.
Using Digi's click plugin, the band is auditioning tempos. We're in record each time on principle, and at third record abort (Command-period), entire system freezes, and doesn't respond to hardware controller functions. Force power down of system.
Client and band are tolerant and understanding. Further smoke breaks are taken, and jokes are bandied about, offering 2-inch tape and recorder...a Real Man's way of recording. The mood remains congenial, and free of suspicion or blame.
Power up system, open same song file, audition tempos in Auto-Input without recording/aborting, choose tempo, record song. All goes well.
The evening continues, we record four more songs with no further mishaps.
We open some of the completed song files and play a bit of each, just to confirm their existence. Everything's there, and sounds great. We will assume that the client will promptly back up his data upon returning home.
So who was the client?
Max Vague. Great songs, great client. Max will overdub and mix the tracks himself, for an upcoming album release. He's working in a new drummer, as his current one has joined Bonepony. Go see Max live, and buy his music at iTunes.
Monday, Sept 13
In a couple of weeks, I will be housesitting for someone, for around nine days.
It is a spacious, nice home, with minimal responsibilities. There is also a well-stocked wine supply.
I have very definitely appreciated a non-alcoholic life since mid-July. Well, let's be more accurate: I have enjoyed mornings a lot, waking up with no misgivings and a clear head.
Just lately, there have been occasions when some shiraz or a large, cold lager would be just the ticket after a day of coffee binging. (That's bin-jeeng, not beeng-ing.) But I have maintained resolve, and the desire usually wanes after an hour or so.
And now, here comes this annual housesitting gig. Evenings of peace, the company of three good-natured pets, free food, cable television...and wine.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Tuesday Sept 7
Shame, shame, shame on me!!!
I consider myself among the percentage of cycle commuters who, when in the presence of others, always follows the rules, to the letter of the law. I signal every turn and lane change, never go hot-dogging around in traffic, and routinely confuse people when I take my turn at a stop sign. Let me clarify a key phrase: "when in the presence of others." If there's not another vehicle or person anywhere in sight, I'll blow through a stop sign, because I really don't see any point in stopping if I am the only biped anywhere within visibility range. Argue that one with me later if you want. If there's no one in sight whose safety you should respect, including domestic or wild animals, or someone who might call you out for it, would you ruin your momentum and create more effort for yourself in re-acceleration? If so, then maybe you're a better person than I.
Whatever.
So this morning, I had to leave an hour earlier than I usually do. I was cruising along nicely, when the light at Harding and Lynwood turned yellow. I assessed the situation, saw one car waiting in the turn lane who would cross my path if they turned at the last minute, and decided that although I might blow the red light, the cars directly ahead of me would buffer the left-turning car just enough for me to slip through...on red. So I did.
I thought to myself, "hmm...I never run red lights, oh well...", when suddenly, from behind and at top volume, the Big Cop P.A. Speaker says:
"Biker...you're supposed to stop at the red light, like everyone else does."
GAAACK!!! But, I AM like everyone else (no you're not), I virtually NEVER run red lights (well you did just now), I'm not the guy you need to yell at (yes you are because you ran the red light), I'm the most conscientious cycle commuter you'll ever see (you ran the red light, smartass), I'M NOT THE GUY...
Well, right now you are, schmuck, because YOU RAN THE RED LIGHT.
Sheeesh...the timing, the irony...
What the hell. I guess once in twenty years ain't bad.
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