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Author: Steve Duncan

  • Why the DJI Mic 2 doesn’t work as a standalone purchase

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    Steve Duncan
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    Just got the DJI Mic 2 to use as an everyday recorder, but after a short trial I determined it doesn’t really work without a receiver, which cannot be bought separately. The unit records fine, and sounds ok. But the date & time cannot be set. The unit cannot be formatted. Can’t turn the low…

  • Recording decent audio while cycling

    Recording decent audio while cycling

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    Steve Duncan
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    So I decided to try to figure out a way to record audio while riding a bike. And what I mean is, like, podcast style audio, not so much the sounds of the bicycle itself. I got to thinking about this watching YouTube videos by Tim Fitzwater and he’s got this great style where he…

  • Dear Bandcamp and musicians selling there

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    Steve Duncan
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    As I’ve gotten back into music, I’ve finally figured out why I got out of it. Streaming sucks. I’m not talking about the quality, or things that disappear, or that so little is paid to the artists, which are all additional reasons it sucks.No, I’m talking about how having everything at my fingertips means all…

  • Conservatory Ambience

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    Steve Duncan
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    My middle child had an audition at a music conservatory and as part of that was invited to a rehearsal of a quartet. I waited in the very reverbient lobby, but the quartet was audible so I recorded some of the session along with the lobby ambience. It was frustrating because they kept being stopped…

  • The case for handheld mics

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    Steve Duncan
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    Here’s why every field recording hobbiest should own a decent handheld dynamic omnidirectional interview mic: They’re inexpensive. A really good one might be $220 new if you go for the long-handled neodymium magnet high-output ones, but most are $100-160. For a mic that will outlast you. For comparison, an AT4022, a competent but mid-range condenser…

  • Some Newfoundland motivation

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    Steve Duncan
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    youtube.com/watch A bit drone-happy, but a lot of beautiful shots.

  • You’re just two tents

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    Steve Duncan
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    There’s an old joke about a guy who goes to see a psychiatrist and he’s complaining about the wild nightmares he’s having. “One night I dreamt I was a teepee!” He said. “The next night I dreamt I was a wigwam! What’s wrong with me doc?” The Dr. paused for a moment, and then said…

  • How Did You Digitize Your Journals?

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    Steve Duncan
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    Editor’s note: I also posted this on my other blog at RecordingThoughts.com, but my reboot of that blog is a bit further behind so I’m posting here as well. My apologies to those who follow both. I’ve got about 35 volumes of journals I’ve kept over the years, and I’d like to digitize them. The…

  • The fear of accomplishment

    The fear of accomplishment

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    Steve Duncan
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    I was listening to The Walk by Father Roderick, a podcast that I never thought I’d be listening to but is actually really good, and the episode was May 19, ’23, What Needs Pruning In Your Life? The episode talks about balancing the things others want you to do with the things you want to…

  • Which way forward? Fediverse integration with WordPress.com

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    Steve Duncan
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    Several days ago WordPress.com announced that blogs on their platform could now be integrated to the Fediverse via an ActivityPub plugin. Great news! After a few bumps it was fairly easy to get things connected, and sure enough posts end up in the Fediverse. Comments made in the Fediverse find their way back to the…