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Questions and Answers - Part 3

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Axolotl

16:07 / 01.04.06

Here is wikipedia on the dormouse, and here is mouse. Basically they're both rodents but dormice aren't actually mice. Their name cames from Dormeus, which means sleepy in anglo-norman apparently, which evolves into dormouse, on the false assumption that they are mice. I really hope wikipedia isn't wrong on that because it's the best fact ever, and one I plan to bring up on every possible occasion.

16:29 / 01.04.06

I thought dormice were so named because they are the bouncers at mouse discos.

Ex:

Bouncers? Von Mises would fire them on the spot!

Jack Denfeld

07:49 / 02.04.06

Computer question. How do I disable programs from starting up when I turn on my computer? My ex-roomie used to have me type msconfig or something like that in the run section on start, and then I could stop aim and realplayer from startingup. I have windowsxp right now, and I'm not sure how to do it.

Mistoffelees

08:19 / 02.04.06

Get the program regcleaner. It´s free!

After installing, click on the bar "startup list". There check the unwanted program. Then click "remove selected", restart your computer. The unwanted program should not start again. Sometimes those programs (quicktime, for example) can be a bit hard to get rid of. In that case, delete all files of that program by using regcleaner. regcleaner can find programs and files, that are hidden in the deepest recesses of the computer!

Baz Auckland

01:47 / 03.04.06

Or just go into the options and settings for each one, and check off the box that says "Start Realplayer at Startup"...

Mistoffelees

07:03 / 03.04.06

It´s weird, for a couple of days now, the time on Barbelith is exactly the same as here. I thought it´s supposed to be English time, and England is one time zone away.

So, when it´s 10.00 am now, it´s supposed to be 09.00 am in London.

Do we have the "same time" these days (because of daylight saving time or what it´s called maybe)?

Less searchable M0rd4nt

20:28 / 03.04.06

Okay. So say I was vaguely noodling around with the idea of how it might be kind of fun to make computer music, but am not necessarily effective enough to actually do it, but might like to have the wherewithall to do it if I happened to feel like it. What are good freeware music/noise-mucking-around-with programmes?

Less searchable M0rd4nt

20:29 / 03.04.06

And by 'good' I mean 'absurdly simple to use so I won't go off in a strop the first time something I don't understand happens.'

grant

20:38 / 03.04.06

What kind computer you have?

Do you have means of recording sounds from outside the machine?

Windows: I'd recommend a freeware version of ACID to play around with, from the Sonic Foundry people. I think you should be able to get loops to fiddle with (loops being short wav files) -- if not, just search around the net and see what happens, there are plenty of sound archives out there.

Some folks like FruityLoops, but I'm not that much into drum machines. It was pretty fun, but I never ante'd up for the version where you could export/save files.

On Mac, Garageband does what Acid does, only with added extra MIDI! So you can make synth sounds as well as looping wavs! And lots of effects, too!

So you might start there.

grant

20:45 / 03.04.06

Damn, I'm out of it -- Acid was sold to Sony three years ago.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

20:55 / 03.04.06

An allegedly portable laptop w/Windows XP.

grant

21:19 / 03.04.06

FruityLoops is absurdly simple, but if you can rustle through the Sony site, you might find the old freeware version of Acid. It's bound to be on the net -- they used to give it away with soundcards.

Mirror

21:55 / 03.04.06

As far as good open-source music software is concerned, audacity is quite powerful, although there's a bit of a steep learning curve before you can really get it to do what you want. It is, however, available for a variety of platforms, and if you're programmatically inclined you can hack it.

All Acting Regiment

22:22 / 03.04.06

Audacity's good, you can fiddle quite easily. Easy to understand help files too. Should warn you that there's a looooot of shite music packages out there, though.

lekvar

23:02 / 03.04.06

I'll third Audacity. Download it ad play around with it for a bit, it's a decent introduction to a lot of the principles and interfaces that you'll find in most any music production software (except MIDI). I've never gotten it to work especially well for recording or for loop-based composition but it has the distinction of being free so you've not lost anything if it's not for you.

grant

02:54 / 04.04.06

I was thinking Audacity might be a bit intimidating at first -- lots of bells and whistles.
But yeah, it's free. The main thing, though, is that I think you need other things to get the most of it -- microphone, headphones, whatever else. It seemed better at mixing than making new things. Then again, that's all that I was using it for. I never actually tried to do something new with it....

I suppose anything that manipulates sound could create something.

Saveloy

20:54 / 04.04.06

WALLPAPER!

I'm after some classic old blousey flower type wallpaper - proper chintz, with daliahs (sp?) and chrysanthemums and the like. Can anyone recommend a company or two that do that sort of thing? Preferably with examples on the web. I've already checked Sanderson, Romo, and Osborne & Little, but they didnae have what I was after.

Char Aina

21:35 / 04.04.06

audacity is greaty for making cut up beats, but they are really difficult to get the hang of.
i have been making simple hip hop beats with it for a while, sorta akai style stuff, and i find it totally doable.
i dont ike the way it organises information or the way it opens a new instance of the program every time you open a beat, but it is a great wee program.
simple and effective.
you will need an ear for timing (and possibly time signatures), but its totally doable.

i'd get a mike for recording from your records(way faster than trying to find samples on digital format) and the sounds you can make with various items.
i'd also make sure that you have more than one way of listening to the finsihed work.
headhphones should be one of those ways.

Mourne Kransky

21:37 / 04.04.06

Saveloy, William Morris wasn't blousy but could certainly be floral, even overblown, with bloom.

These chaps have a huge selection, amongst them many garish floral patterns, if you hunt about the site, that are almost brilliantly seventies. Bit pricey too, some of them, but looking fine.

Saveloy

07:50 / 05.04.06

Ooh, that second one looks great, cheers Xoc! I shall have a rummage...

Phex: Dorset Doom

22:35 / 05.04.06

Gaaah!
Okay, yesterday I got a pet rat from a friend who needed it taken care of while she's out of town. Today I woke up and it's gone. I am royally fucked if it doesn't turn up. Seeing as the Barb' is a particularly rodent-friendly discssionmotron, does anyone know how to lure a rat out of whatever dark hole it's crawled into? Are there humane rat-traps that can capture my furry friend without hurting it?

Less searchable M0rd4nt

22:40 / 05.04.06

Audacity is pretty much what I was looking for. Thanks guys!

Shrug

22:41 / 05.04.06

Yep, there are humane traps in existence. For example check here Phex. I assume they'd be readily available from a nearby petstore. If not ring your local governing body for animal welfare/control and they should be able to direct you somewhere near where you could purchase one.

Olulabelle

22:47 / 05.04.06

Phex, this is from from Mixmage:

Rats are really, really smart and pet rats are really, really precious. Your best bet is to use food, but watch the food. Be prepared to lure the rat out like a toddler from under a sofa, (which, by the way is where it might be.) Food and friendship are definitely your best options. Food: Anything that smells good to you is excellent food for luring, strong smells are hard to ignore.

I once had a pair of rats who would 'double team' for Margherita pizza; one would distract you by trying to grab the piece you had, while the other would drag a large piece off the table that they would then share under the sofa! Smart, I tells ya.

Mirror

22:50 / 05.04.06

For a simple and harmless but frequently effective rat trap, you might try a bit of food in the bottom of a 5-gallon paint bucket, with some sort of ramp (or a pile or books or something) leading up to the lip. Dog or cat food can work well.

It depends upon how large the rat is, really. Smaller rats can sometimes just jump out.

All Acting Regiment

19:56 / 06.04.06

Anyone know anything that might be of use for this essay I'm writing? I'm supposed to say how meaningful it is to talk about the difference between a novel and a short story. Are there any handy free texts out there talking about short stories, the various theories etcetera?

Shrug

20:07 / 06.04.06

The Wikipedia Short Story page although with little discussion of theory gives links to a number of classical short stories which could be used referentially. Also I presume you've checked books forum and found this. Ex links to something that might be of relevance about the impetus behind "The Yellow Wallpaper" and some stuff is linked later on, might be of help or at least of interest, maybe. Not exactly what you're looking for but.... as I say, maybe of some help. I don't know of any little guides, though.

Phex: Did you find that rat?
Sleep in the neighbours tonight or at least keep a shoe under your pillow.
filthy little beasts

All Acting Regiment

20:15 / 06.04.06

Cool, cheers chappies.

grant

20:43 / 06.04.06

Might also take a historical swipe at Poe, various criticisms thereof (he was taught to me as the inventor of the short story).

Shrug

21:13 / 06.04.06

If anyone is feeling helpful fancy giving me some pointers on psychoanalytic theory and how it might apply to courting relationships? (Also: the love impulse, attraction, fixation, marriage etc.)
'twould be of help.

All Acting Regiment

21:44 / 06.04.06

Aw, bashful, can't you just give her some nice flowers?

Shrug

21:50 / 06.04.06

But... her boyfriend... I know she likes me... that smile she gave... she touched my arm!!

Well, 'twould be a "he" in anycase but it's for a film essay I'm doing/should be doing/should have done. Anything really, psychological value of "gameplaying" in courting, pursuit, fleeing etc.

Shrug

21:54 / 06.04.06

I am mired in sickness, ambivalence, other work and worry at the moment. Go on.

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