Questions on Something I Would Consider Fun
I do not know if anyone will be able to offer guidance on any of these questions or not. But, I am very interested in any advice related to this hoped for fun goal for me:
Basically I am hemming and hawing a bit about the new computer system I am planning to get (at the order of my wife). I like the basic design, so that is not the problem. But I have this new "pipe dream" hope for the system, that it will allow me to do something I have always wanted to be able to do and now see a potential pathway for it to happen.....
What I want to do is to play music, record it both audio and in video to show me playing..... I want to be able to do this for multiple parts (say like in a clarinet quartet, I would play one track for 1st clarinet, one for 2nd clarinet, one for alto clarinet, and one for bass clarinet.... but this could just as easily be for my saxes or even other things). AND, I want to be able to merge these files together into a watchable, audio/video product that would be akin to something akin to what this fellow has done:
An amazing Sample of John Wernega's work
Now, I am not hoping to be that amazing, of course, but I think it would be a whole helluva lot of fun to be able to do a simpler form of this and I think with the new computer system I am getting AND the iPad I ended up getting when my wife made us get new phones.... it just may be possible.
My end goals are two-fold:
1. With the iPad, I have access to a program called "Garage Band" that would allow me to MERGE multiple vocal (or vocal & video) tracks together. I have checked out "Garage Band for Dummies" from the library and have been reading it diligently and it appears this is the (free) tool I most certainly can use. THE GOAL here is to create a (greatly simplified) version of something akin to John Wernega's effort above, where I could perform each of the parts on a clarinet quartet or sax trio or some such thing and merge them together to be a (simplified) video like one of Wernega's.
2. I also want to set up on my (Windows PC) the current version of MuseScore (again free) that theoretically will allow me to compose whole wind band scores (sheet music for any and all instruments in a band for a song). I have used MuseScore a bit already, but did so by typing and mousing in the notes etc, which is HORRIBLY tedious. But, I have discovered that an option in MuseScore is that you can get music parts written considerably more easily by inputting information through a "MIDI" device (like the MIDI keyboard atop of this blog post). I could/can play a part I want to create on the keyboard and it will (in theory) write it onto the MuseScore sheet music for me! THE GOAL here is to a) first acquire a public domain song (meaning an OLD song) that I like, and to become an ARRANGER of that song with creating a complete wind band score that I can give my conductor to see if he might be willing to have our group perform it. I want to take a song and arrange the parts in a new and complementary way for our group (and sneakily make the low winds parts more exciting as well) and then b) I would like to mess around to create a NEW composition of a song myself, which I would then like to develop into a wind band score to again give my conductor to see if he might be willing to have our group perform it.
SO... what are my questions????? They are all computer-gizmoey questions that I do not know how to answer but would love to hear advice on:
1. The iPad is of course "Apple" based, but my computer system (by need & desire to be compatible with work at the U) is Windows PC based. What I would ultimately like to do though, is to feed my iPad onto one of my new (Windows PC) computer monitors so that a) I could have Garage Band from my iPad be on a MUCH BIGGER SCREEN and also hopefully b) be able to use my keyboard and mouse (of the Windows PC machine) to operate Garage Band while it is projected onto the big monitor.
I do not know if this is possible, but, I have read I CAN somehow with a cable connect my iPad to a Monitor, so I am thinking what I outline in 1 SHOULD be possible somehow, but I am at a loss on how to do this. I am kind of envisioning the need for some sort of "hub" of some sort that may allow me to switch (easily I hope) between using the monitor/keyboard/mouse for the Windows PC and the iPad. Is this possible, or is it only a pipe dream?
2. I am also wanting to know/understand if it is possible to (perhaps using the same "hub" I hope is possible for #1) have an easy way to attach my (to be purchased) MIDI keyboard to the Windows PC computer in a way that is EASY to also detach the cumbersome keyboard when I really do not want to use it? The MIDI keyboard would be used to run MuseScore and build sheet music and I have MuseScore easily available on my Windows PC.
So, those are the two things I would GREATLY appreciate ideas/opinions/advice about from all of you who may have ideas or understanding of what I am trying to accomplish. For example, if there is some sort of "hub" I can use for either (or hopefully both) of the ideas above, what would be one to use or consider getting? Or, if my ideas are balderdash, is there some other way I may be able to accomplish the above ideas (without having to buy an actual, separate Apple computer, which I do not want to do).
* * * *
- Running outside has been very nice. Sometimes I am too damn lazy, though, and sleep in until 7 or even 7:30 which is a bit challenging as we have been having extremely bright, sunny mornings and I worry about sunburn (yes, I burn rather easily, even in early morning light if it is bright enough). I have put sunscreen on the most exposed areas, but that is rather sticky and uncomfortable, so it would be far better if I would get up closer to or just before sunrise to run rather than the tawdry, decadent 7:30am.
- I am already looking forward to going to the Retiree's Cigar Group tomorrow! It will be wonderful to chat with everyone. I feel fortunate that my friend from Mass told me about it and invited me to come back when I first met him.
- I am still working on my photos (of my biological and academic fathers) that I want to hang in my office. I *think* I have picked the right pipe too to have hanging above the photos. At least, I think I know the one. I am going to gently clean it up some and polish it and see how it looks for display in that way.
4 Comments:
Garage Band is certainly capable of doing a lot of audio editing function, but might still be a bit much to learn for a beginner at recording. Another similar free audio recording/editing program is Reaper.
You might try a simpler program like Audacity for recording audio tracks, which can then be combined into one audio file.
For video editing, I found VSDC filled my needs well, allowing me to edit and place separately recorded videos, as well as line them up in time.
both are free programs, tho the "pro" version of VSDC ( which is still relatively inexpensive) is well worth it IMO for added features.
an example of my work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHT-oMWgBOE
David
I've seen Garage Band on my phone but had no clue what it did, so I'm no help there. In my experience, Apple and Windows don't play nicely with each other, even after all these years. I too had Windows at work and stuck with it at home although I do have an iPhone. Typical of me, nothing is compatible! :)
I don't know any of this, but you can, apparently, install iCloud for windows on a PC computer. I haven't done this. I did try once but ran into problems. I don't know if that would ultimately help you.
From DMP, above, it might be better to use PC Apps.
My one advice: don't cheap out on the computer. Make very sure that it will handle the load, now and into the future.
Is there a good music store nearby where you can get your questions answered? Is there a music dept at your Uni?
A wild idea concerning your photo/pipe memorial... As the pipe you choose for the memorial will never again be a potential "regular use" pipe, but instead will be set aside forever as a permanent symbol of the bond you share with your three "fathers", might it be most appropriate for you to smoke ONE bowl of tobacco in that pipe before you set it aside as part of the memorial? That strikes me as just about as "controlled" a circumstance as one could imagine, not likely to provoke other instances where you might repeat that special memorial act. And yet, in the highly unlikely event that the one bowl of pipe tobacco might cause you to reconsider your abstention overall, that would then be an objectively GOOD development, as it would connect your return to your bond with your three treasured role models. But most likely the one-time use of that pipe would remain as a memorable and important singular event adding heft to the emotions associated with your wonderful new photo/pipe memorial. Plausible, Professor?
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home