Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Day 365 of year 21.

I felt that my last post as a 21-year old should be representative of all the ridiculous new experiences this year has brought me. Since I started my internship at Dallas Audio Post, I've had to do a surprising amount of work IN FRONT of the microphone for radio spots, instructional dvds and now, informational web videos. 

This particular session is for Gabble, HP's newest video conversational software. I can't really explain what it is, even thought I've attempted to explain it to the public (via this voiceover work) but you can learn more about it here.

This particular part of the narration, once I finally got it down, is supposed to sound like this:



However, apparently I was not so good at reading the script. Because here is what happened my first few times around:




Thanks Age 21, It truly has been a blast.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

this week's end.

I wish all my days could be like this, but I guess then I wouldn't be able to appreciate them as much. Baseball and blogging.

This weekend has been pretty decent. On Friday night, I went and saw the movie, "Away We Go" starring the ever-adorable John Krasinski. (Yes, I believe my friends and I were the only ones not seeing Transformers 2 that night.) The film was absolutely wonderful. I have been a JK fan since we all fell in love with him as Jim from "The Office" but unfortunately he hasn't had the best luck with his film career. This movie changes that notion, entirely. The story follows Bert and Verona, a couple who, after getting pregnant, find themselves alone in a town they didn't even want to live in. So they film follows their travels as they try to find a new place to call "home." Very much an 'indie-style' film, it has everything. A great story, wonderful acting, and a fabulous soundtrack. Added plus? The reel has really fantastic previews on it as well. Never have I gone to a movie and walked away, pleased with the movie I've just seen as well as excited for every single film that was advertised before it. Sam Mendes has done it again. SEE THIS MOVIE!

Yesterday morning was dedicated to attempting to troubleshoot my speakers (that have once again, broken.) Sadly I was unable to fix them, so the next step in the process is to email the manufacturer and try to get them to agree to fix them. Blue Sky has really great customer service, so I'm not too worried about their compliance with addressing the issue, but it's just such a hassle to pack everything up to ship out to Modesto, CA. Plus, it'll take longer now that I live in Texas. (As opposed to when I lived in Oakland, and could have driven the speakers down there myself.) Oh well, thus is life.

Today, however, has been quite lovely. Spent the morning taking care of different odds and ends, and now I'm watching baseball and blogging. I'm also rocking some fantastic knee-high socks, an early birthday present from my fabulous friend, Kaci. True friends are the ones that feed your ridiculous obsessions. (Currently, tank tops and knee-high socks.)


That being said, I'm back to updating my iPod, watching my Astros and repacking to drive back to Dallas. Coming soon: the day I turn 22, an interactive entry and baseball-oriented photos.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

checks and balances.

Work hard, play hard. Keep it all in balance - that's the name of this game.

What a week! It blew right by, but in a really, really good way. My lovely NYC ladies flew in for a quick, but absolutely fantastic visit on Tuesday, and even though I got about 4 hours of sleep, total, while they were here, I never felt more relaxed and rejuvenated. It's amazing how good friends and laughs can clear your head. Sadly, they had to leave far too soon, but it was still entirely worth it. 

Work has also been pretty crazy. We're wrapping up on the feature documentary that we've had for a couple weeks now, and I'm pretty excited to be getting my first film credit for it! I did most of the voiceover editorial, and also some of the re-recording. I also found out that I'll be receiving a credit in the video game "Borderlands" being released by a company called GearBox for voiceover recording and editing. Knowing me, I'll probably go out and buy both of these things just to watch my name scroll by for 5 seconds. Lame? Whatever. It's gonna be awesome.

52Q for this week, and I think my answer is pretty obvious. Something I don't understand, but I want to? Adobe Flash, mainly for web design. I want to re-do my website and make it legit (finally) and I'd like to accomplish this with Flash, but so far, no dice. Hopefully I'll get around to it eventually, but before the end of my internship? It doesn't look promising. They like to keep me pretty busy. 

I've also been having a very domestic weekend so far. Lots of cleaning this morning (we didn't bother much with it during the week while the girls were in town, and dishes, trash and other such items really started to build up.) Laundry is going as we speak, and I made a pretty delicious dinner for myself this evening.


Wild Samon (with dill) on sauteed mushrooms with rice Pilaf and corn. Needless to say, I am incredibly full, but satisfied. Sadly, I have lots of dishes to attend to after this. But worth it? Absolutely.

My addiction to Criminal Minds is about to go into withdrawals since I am nearing the end of season three, and season four (which was this last season) has not been released on DVD yet. Whatever will I do? I guess I'll just have to find something else to occupy my evenings and weekends. Don't suggest that I go outside. Today's high, I believe, was 102, and it's the kind of hot that makes you start dripping sweat 10 seconds after stepping outside...in the shade. My name is Eleanor and I do not like to sweat. Visa vie, indoor fun. 

I guess that's about it for me now. Time for another beer, and some Curious Cases of one Ben Button - the formula for a successful Saturday night.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

the weekend wrap.

With the highs of the entire weekend being up over 100, I don't think I need to explain myself when I say that I stayed inside as much as possible. However, just because I sheltered myself from what can only be described as "a Texas Summer," doesn't mean that I wasn't productive; on the contrary! 

I worked on my "22 Things to do while I'm 22" journal, and also made a bunch of 52Q cards for previous weeks. (I always answer the question during its week, but I don't always get to the card.) 


A: grocery shopping, cleaning, going to the gym, finding new, healthier favorite foods. Sounds pretty exciting, huh?
A: "Conversations with a Fat Girl" by Liz Palmer. Entertaining, insightful, and honest. A light read with plenty of reasons to smile.
A: Tank-tops and t-shirts, Criminal Minds, making to-do lists, and file structure (as boring as that is, haha)
A: always in the direction my heart feels is right.
Note: these are going to remain private, because some of the content, I feel, is not only personal to me, but also pertaining to my interactions with those around me. But I encourage everyone to answer this question with some soul-searching. It's good for you :)


That's all I have for now. Season 1 of Criminal Minds ended in a cliff-hanger, and I couldn't handle the suspense, so I went out and bought season 2. Do not judge me, there are just some things I can deal with, and some I cannot. I hope everyone had a great weekend, and here's to positive energy entering into the next workweek! I have some pretty exciting things coming up this week, and I can't wait. 


Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Hero Takes

For those of you who are not total audio nerds, like myself, a "hero take" is what we refer to as the best version of a particular recording. This is today's hero take:


"Dallas Audio Post, this is Jeremiah,"

"Hi, I am wondering if you could help me, I have a couple high 8 tapes, you know the Sony ones? They can play in the Sony Cameras. (Pause: Whenever someone wants to sound like they know what they're talking about when they really don't, the scapegoat is always Sony. "Well, this should work best, I mean, it's a Sony." Right, got it.) Well, part of it got recorded over, and I was wondering if you knew any way to recover what was previously on there."

"I don't know of any way to do that, but this is an audio studio, we don't deal with video."

"I searched the internet and found a place that said they could do that, but it's in Massachusetts."

"Well, you could try calling them?"

"But they're in Massachusetts." (Pause: I understand, sir, I wouldn't want to call them either. Gross, Massachusetts.)

"Well, you could try a place in Richardson, TX called "You Edit Video," and see if they know." 

"Oh okay, do you have their number?"

"No, but you can find them on the internet." 

"Okay, I'll just search the internet. Thanks." 

FABULOUS. First off, High 8 tapes are analog. Even a Sony can't un-magnetize the tape to restore it to the original magnetization. I know, I didn't believe it either, but it's true.

Secondly, this "place" in Massachusetts, albeit foreign, is able to be reached by phone. Further proof that most people in Texas think that the New England area is really in Europe with Old England. Regardless, hypothetical Massachusetts-studio probably doesn't do what you think they do anyway, unless the owner happens to be Albus Dumbledore. And everyone knows, he's dead.

Lastly, please don't refer to the internet as a place you search as if you were forging for berries in the woods. It's not even a place, it's a thing. If there was a way to sound LESS hip by trying to sound MORE hip, this gentleman has discovered it. 


WINZ: Dallas Audio Post, Studio C - for fielding that call.

FAILZ: ...that guy.

Monday, June 8, 2009

"I talked to the guy at the place with the big fish."

"Okay, I have to go to the bathroom, but if the place with the big fish comes up again, I want to know, is it several big fish, or just one big fish?"

Texas has the strangest things to offer. 


FAILZ: clients who change their minds haphazardly, hour-long Monday morning meetings, and people who smell bad at the gym.

WINZ: productivity, free cookies, and short-story ideas.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

she's a weekender.

Saturday morning was my little brother's High School graduation. While I am incredibly proud of him for surviving all four years of high school, this graduation ceremony was pretty long. I guess that's what happened when your senior class is over 800 students. (Mine was only 756, so apparently I got off easy.) Nevertheless, a BIG high five to all the seniors of 2009, especially my brother. He'll be majoring in Civil Engineering at Georgia Institute for Technology, (i.e. Georgia Tech) following in our big brother's footsteps. (My older brother graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2006.)


Last weekend was the No Doubt concert, and can I just be up-front and honest? It was amazing. The opening bands were fabulous. (The Sounds, and Paramore.) Have I mentioned how much I love Gwen Stefani with No Doubt? Because I love her. I'm not much of a fan of her solo work, but when she is performing those songs with the band, it's unbeatable. If you can, try to catch a show on this tour. I promise you, you won't be disappointed. 


I ordered a handmade-journal kit from Elise to get started on my 22 Goals for the 22nd Year book. I'm still working on the list, but I'm really excited to get started accomplishing things. By now, you know how much I love lists, so this is like the ultimate project. I'll be sure to post the final list, and photos of my journal construction along the way.  I have put the bug in my parent's ear that I want this camera for my birthday this year. We shall see how that works out, but here's hoping!

Today's Agenda: 1:05 PM Astros v. Pirates game, and then my favorite drive back to Dallas. 


FAILZ: the horrific buzzing sound coming from my monitors, girls with fake laughs and drivers that make you break your cruise control.

WINZ: free beer, Iron Man on BluRay, and life-saving brakes. 

Thursday, June 4, 2009

auto[audio].

On my mind:

There’s a commercial for Texaco with Techron, where a guy is talking about all the changes he’s done to his car, and how people who KNOW cars, know to use Techron from Texaco. (Which, as a side note, I was under the impression was Chevron’s thing? Chevron with Techron? Talking cars? Anyone? No? Okay, moving on.)

Here’s my problem with this commercial. The guy is in a garage. Things are happening in said garage. Yet, the audio is as clean as if he were standing in one of those "no reflections” rooms that make people lose their marbles. What gives? Well, for those of you who don’t understand the process, what happened was that all of “guy’s” dialog was voiced-over in a studio, with what sounds like a one-mic set up. Issue: there is no distance in the recording, yet there is distance, and plenty of environmental noise depicted in the picture.

I thought the gas companies were okay, that it was only the car companies cutting their budgets? No Addie for you, post-production engineer. Consider this an example of ball dropped.


Today’s fails: people who take forever to make a simple right-hand turn, whoever is leaving time and the door open on the microwave (passive aggressive notes?), and the existence of the show “I’m a Celebrity, Get me out of here.”

Today’s wins: American Citizenship and how it applies to me, Green Day’s “East Jesus Nowhere,” and the quote, “Merlin was even said to do his best magic in an Oak Grove.”