T-40 Vermont

Just a trip to the bank today…

Thunderhill 2015-03-27 Photos

Thunderhill 2016-09-16 Photos

Thunderhill 2017-03-19 Video

Laguna Seca 2016-11-21 Photos

The Journey Contines

 

June 1, 2015

Had to get back for a CPA webcast or would have walked a little longer.20150601_dog_walk

One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections. The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment. His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

20150229_bike

 

20150529_dog_walk

Video Clips from Rory Snyder’s Retirement Party at Yoshis – May 27, 2013

[posted in show order]






Making an MP3 CD for My 2007 Subaru Outback Was Trickier Than I Expected!

So I have quite a bit of experience fiddling with audio and video files on my computers. I set out to make an mp3 CD for my wife’s 2013 Subaru Outback that included a number of “relaxing” albums for long journey in the car.

I built a great new computer recently, so I needed to install some of the necessary tools on this new whiz bang machine. I started out with a fresh install of my favorite ripping program, Exact Audio Copy (EAC), as well as a fresh, stable copy of lame, the encoder required for converting the .wav files that EAC extracts. Along the way, I consulted several pages to help with the configuration that I preferred: one here and another here.

I also discovered along the way that my new ASUS blu-ray drive is very slow during the extraction process, and an external Plextor drive operated at about ten times that speed. Somewhere on the weird wide net I read that blu-ray drives generally are not the best for extraction.

I got all my files ripped, and used CDBurnerXP to burn CDs full of dreamy, new age music. The pattern developing here is that I highly prefer simple, open source or similarly well-built, free software rather than bloatware for audio tasks, and these function really well.

I had made a sample of my burn last night and checked it out in the 2013 car, and it worked fine. The player reads the mp3 tags and displays them nicely and they play great. In order to have maximum randomness, I burned all files in the root and not in directories. So I headed out with today’s fully loaded CD only to find out that this CD would not play in my car, the 2007 Outback. I checked the auto manual, and there was no reference to the requirements for mp3 disks. I googled as all good researchers do, and found a few folks had been frustrated by the process of burning mp3 CDs for their cars, but few answers.

What I finally pieced together is that there are several variables, most of which depend on age of the car’s CD player. Some players require constant bit rate files, others will play variable bit rate files. Some require directories, others not. Some have limits on the number of directories and the numbers of files within those directories. And finally, older players will not recognize the new UDF file system, but require the earlier ISO 9660/Jolivet file system. And within the evolution of ISO 9660, there were three levels, that allowed for increasing file name lengths and maximum file sizes, among other differences.

My wife’s 2013 Outback would easily play a full CD of files burned on the UDF file system.

My car, however, requires the ISO 9660 file system, which fortunately is an option within CDBurnerXP! (Menu: Disc > Change File System)

Who would have thought. I burned through quite a few CD blanks using trial and error. Glad I narrowed it down.

Edit: 2013-11-19

I added one file to my earlier burn and the deck would no longer read any file except for the last one added. So it would appear as though the deck ignored the earlier “partition”.

I have now burned yet another test CD, with all files in the root. And finalized the CD. In ISO 9660 format. And it works just fine in my 2007 Subaru Outback!!!

 

 

 

ARTHS 197 Comparison Paper

 

need to credit web source

ORCHESTRAL ETIQUETTE

  1. Do not turn around and look at the people behind you while they are playing.
  2. Keep perfume and cologne to a minimum – many will appreciate none at all.
  3. Do not tap your foot or conduct along.
  4. Always help your colleagues count rests. (This is more complicated if you dont speak english)
  5. Do not tap/applaud/shuffle for every solo that section colleague plays. Save it for when it really means something or better yet… stay still and just give them your positive words afterwards.
  6. Do not tell someone he/she sounds good if he/she does not deserve the praise.
  7. Never complain about your reeds. (they might sound better than they feel)
  8. Do not cross you legs on stage in a concert.
  9. Swab out discreetly and not if the person next to you is playing a solo.
  10. Practice only your own parts… never play passages from another’s page or excerpts from different music.
  11. Be aware and sensitive to others’ lines of sight to the conductor.
  12. Leave your seat immediately when switching pieces or seats… swab out and pack up later. The next players want to play a few notes before tuning!
  13. Do not yawn or “buzz” your lips audibly if you are tired.
  14. When a conductor speaks to you, always acknowledge by making direct eye contact and possibly a nod “yes.” (this one became problematic as several students in my studio at CCM really enjoyed vigorous nodding with very loud “YES-MAESTRO” proclamations)
  15. Never ask questions about notes/rhythm during rehearsal – this wastes valuable rehearsal time. Check score during breaks or after rehearsal.
  16. Your pencil is your best friend…. Do not make the same mistake twice because you “forgot.”
  17. Write in cues before the first rehearsal… and after the second rehearsal…and after the third rehearsal
  18. Remember that every time you are in public, an impression is made, good or bad… This applies both to the music you play and the statements you make to your colleagues.
  19. Avoid nervous repetitive actions: Looking at reed, adjusting seat/stand, instrument adjustments.
  20. Do not turn a page during silence.
  21. At the end of a piece, do not finish playing and fling the clarinet out of your mouth before the conductor has concluded.
  22. Your non-musical accessories (phone, keys, etc.) belong in your case/purse/briefcase, not on the shelf of your stand waiting to tip over and clatter to the floor.
  23. Show up early to rehearsal to get your instruments together, reeds chosen and instrument warmed up to pitch at least 10 minutes before the “A” is given.
  24. Be direct and friendly about fixing pitches or rhythm. Do not be manipulative about your words.
  25. The only conversations should be about issues regarding the music and only at the appropriate times.
  26. Have good hygiene, keep your shoes on, wear appropriate clothing, etc.
  27. Do not pack up before the end of rehearsal…. you still might have more to play.
  28. Always double check rehearsal/performance times and locations.
  29. Never sight read in rehearsal. Prepare your part in advance