Cat's Cradle

[blamebrampton]

I realised why the childhood string game is called cat's cradle today.

Last night Cookie was prancing about with a ball of perle cotton in her mouth, feeling very proud of herself for finding such a treasure.

This evening, when I arrived home, there was a network of threads strung about the living room, around pieces of furniture, through the cat tunnel (in three separate passes), and out into the kitchen. In the middle of the mess were two kitties happily chewing on the threads. I don't think I want to weave anything with that thread anymore ... kitty saliva is a bit manky.

In other kitty news, I have worked out how to podcast! So far all of my test pieces end after a few minutes with "Oof! Monster! You cannot eat the headset, and get off my diaphragm!"
"Mroaw?"
"There are no cats in Sansa's fic!"
"MROAWWWW?"
"You are no help."

Comments

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Theoretically. What I am actually doing is reading a few lines and then telling the cat to stop jumping on me. Aside from the occasion when J comes out and asks me how the recording is going, when I tell him off instead ;-)

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

So how exactly did you get involved? Raitala mentioned she'd hoped a few of the Brits on her flist might do some readings, but is it being coordinated somehow? Who knows who's reading what? Are you using a microphone and how does all that work? I don't have one - can I do it without?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

AH! My techocologicality, let me show it to you!

It was a spur of the moment thing, which came about when Sansa, I think, said "I want more podcasts!"

Being me, I went away and researched microphones, sound programs, editing suites, etc.

Raitala, being her, just actually started making them.

After faffing about with Garageband and being defeated by the sharp attack and its difficulty with silences, I looked further and found Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ which is dead easy and deeply cool, and also a very basic podfic tutorial: http://tanomono.net/podfic.html

I am so far only up to rehearsing and learning how to record rather than actually finishing and editing, but it is all quite simple and intuitive.

And after realising that I WANT the RODE Podcaster microphone, I am actually using the Logitech headset that J already owns and uses for Skype. Watch me cave and buy the shiny new toy after I finish one or two actual podcasts ...

And Raitala's hosting service seems to be the easiest and best.

No coordination as yet, more chatting among friends and being hideously jealous of R's mad organisational skills.

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

I feel like a fish out of water. I'd like to do something but equally I'm kind of scared, in a technophobic kind of way.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's surprisingly easy, just requires time and patience. And the ability to get past the fact that I sound like a twelve year old half the time.

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

At least you haven't got a nasally drone like me.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Audacity can Judi Denchify anyone, bless!

[violetage.livejournal.com]

Oh Audacity rocks exceedingly hard. Go you. I doubt I could do it, I am not a good reader alouder. :)

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

I've heard Raitala's reading podfic, but I don't think there's a coordinated effort to do so, as such. Thinking of reading yours? ;D That would make my day.

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

TBH what I'm thinking about reading isn't exactly your thing.

:D

And as I type this I've suddenly realised that if I did read the Mudhoney fics that all my work at limiting their accessibility would disappear, making it all a bit pointless.

:-/

But being an horrendous snob, Ive realised that if I were to listen to HP fics, I'd want to listen to a BRitish accent reading them.

Shall I stand still so you can shoot me?

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

I've read and enjoyed MH; I've told you that before. But you're right about the accessibility issue. As for the the British accent, I wholeheartedly agree.

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

I suddenly feel diminished. I've been excited about this project in a back-burnerish kind of way, but now all the air's gone out of it.

:(

And I was so looking forward to making myself say 'daddy' in a meaningful way.

:D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You can have a podcast that is hosted on an flocked journal alone, you know!

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

But surely there's no more of an accessability issue to mp3 files than any other electronic format? If you only post them under flock on your journal and comm they're no more or less copiable than html. I say go for it!

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

I'm supposed to be doing the million and one things one does after returning home from vacation, and you're making me all hot and bothered.

[eeyore9990.livejournal.com]

Pffft, everything sounds better with a British accent. For instance, when y'all say, "Fuck off and die," I feel the urge to shuck my clothes.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I had an American boyfriend who ... oh, never mind.

[eeyore9990.livejournal.com]

Was there dirty talk involved? :D

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

When you coming to stay? I've got a dirty old mouth on me.

And your 'For A Price' is a fic that deserves Podcast immortality.

[eeyore9990.livejournal.com]

*blush blush blush*

I love you.

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see that. *plots*

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

*bounces* Are you really? Are you trying to make me flail like one of those silly fangirls?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I really am! It's good fun, though I fear for my sanity trying to record without interruption from J or cats. If it ends up with train noises in the background, you will know I am outside in the garden ...

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

I can only imagine how daunting it must be. I talked to one man about it. He doesn't interrupt his recordings. He simply pauses a few seconds whenever he's interrupted or makes a mistake, then splices that part out later. *shrug* I'll admit I know nothing about the process, but should it ever work out that you do read one of my stories, I'd consider myself one of the luckiest people around.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Give me another week or two and you can feel quite chuffed.

That a deranged person who sounds like a 12-year-old has decided to make a cast of one of your fics with unexpected kitty sound effects.