Author Archives: bicyclemark

A Peel to Readers

I’ve been racking my brains. For the past few nights… racking my brains. I thought if I watched Anti’s most excellent movieclip in a bank, I would feel better about things. But the truth is, the problem remains: my computer is dying.

Thats right.. you’ve probably been there before; the gigs are drying out, about 8 left of the original 25, and going fast due to the demand and my love for podcasting. My soundcard is defective… I can’t skype or record audio live onto my system. The mic-in jack is jacked and HP doesn’t give a shit cause my baby is from 2002, and the computer experts on the internets have given up. Plus without the help of this under-the-laptop loud-ass cooling fan, my computer will overheat and crash. – By now you gotta be pitying me… bicyclemark; daily blogger, podcaster extraordinaire, and internaut, watching his machine fade.

I don’t have much of a salary, to say the least. But I’ve had important conversations with good bloggers and podcasters out there. From Madame L in France, to Anti in LA, to DucSloerie in the NL, etc… everyone has urged me to take action. After listening to the long podcasts from Madge Weinstein, where she skypes with the whole world, and then thinking of how I’d like to do that, and really just be able to skype with my own brother and NEPHEW, I am hereby starting a campaign.

Oh it’s a bit of a shot in the dark. A risk. But I have seen what you the readers and podcast listeners are capable of. You back me up when I need backing. Sending fantastic gifts from every corner of the planet. Like cash to pay for the hosting, music for my brain and soul, bumperstickers for my wall, and you’ve even bought wacky goods from my souvenir shop. Don’t think for a second I don’t feel so greatful for all that — but this is much bigger.

I will buy a MAC! Yes a MAC! An IBook I think, since it’s most affordable. BUT — I must appeal to all of you, as much as a lame-ass that it makes me feel. I’m appealing for some support. Tips if you will. I get around 140 conventional readers per day, and my subsribe stats say 600+. So I’m askin that, if you feel so empowered and capable, and want to keep me on the internets and doing what I love to do, while sharing with you… send me some money, whatever you think my work is worth to you. Click on the tipjar in the left hand column… the paypal.. it’s hassle free.. and toss me a few bucks. I’m hoping to raise at least half of the cost of a new IBook.

Man… I feel dirty talking about money. and even dirtier asking for it. But whatever, I’ve seen so much beauty and coolness in the blogosphere and podcast world… I forsee trouble ahead if I don’t do this. And of course, I loves you even if you don’t wanna throw some cash to help me out. Thanks friends, back to REAL blogging tomorrow.

Today’s Sounds: Charles Mingus – Moanin’

Icey Nights

Well it’s late, and I’m on the wine tonight. Encouraged by a new, young, and beautiful Australian, who I can only imagine is reading this right now. The beautiful Amsterdam snow has turned into scarey but funny ice, funny in that “hey Ive fallen and broken a bone” kind of way. Not that I have… I haven’t.. ever.

Some would say, in all my recent blabber, I’ve gone UNPOLITICAL? Check the archives.. the communiqu? was built on politics, and I can assure you we still feel strongly about shit going down in the world. I wanted to talk about the country with my favorite flag ever, Lebanon, but in fact, I’m more eager to talk about DR Congo. Funny, when you write it, it looks like Dr. Congo. Dr. Congo.. you have a telephone call at the front desk.

I’ve been watching the BBC footage. Sometimes I get captivated with their images, and the recent stories out of Bunia about the UN Peacekeepers getting aggressive and killing militia members, catches me like a deer in headlights. They keep showing these images of the peacekeepers, Bangladesh and Pakistani troops in blue helmets and green camouflage that doesn’t really conceal a person amidst the yellow and brown dryness. It looks as if their uniforms don’t fit, and they have no idea where they are. Fish out of water… swimming amongst the desperate people of the DRC.

Thing is, I admire them like crazy. The UN Peacekeepers, who come from places like Jordan or Uruguay… who don’t fit that overused profile of the big and strong soldier from a wealthy nation, who fights to promote democracy or freedom, or whatever this year’s bullshit cause is. These guys just look like they’re there. Maybe a bit scared and lost, but always dedicated. I wonder if they call home and say “Hi hon, Im promoting freedom.” I doubt it. I bet they call home, to Dhaka and Islamabad, and they say “yes.. the congo is interesting… we’re doing what we can…I’m tired.. soon I will come home. love you wife/child/friend.” (is the UN taking female troops, cause theyre not in the images?)

That’s it.. I just wanted to share that. And then tell you that Ms Thingk is starting to make waves in DC and has now secured a place with the National Organization for Women. Or is it of Women? Too tired and buzzed to check.

And cheers to the man I call friend, Lloyd from Perfect Path. Not only does he do great podwalks, and podcurry, but he gave me a Flickr pro account as a gift! Thanks Lloyd! No more limit problems per month… I promise Soundseeing choc full of photos of Amsterdam in the Snow this weekend.

Today’s Sounds: Slackers – The Question

How to bake a podcast

There’s no one right way to do a podcast. And all of us who are doing it, are no doubt changing and adjusting things as we go along. Preparing a podcast is as complex and yet simple as your grandma recipe for ummm.. baked Alaska. Why anyone would BAKE alaska, I have no idea, but baking a podcast can produce delicious results, and it’s VEGAN.

Therefore, by popular demand, especially from certain residents in France, I present my very own family secret (me being a family of one)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BAKING A PODCAST:

Ingredients –

  • Computer with audio-in jack.
  • PC microphone, whatever you can afford and maybe looks nice on your desk.(mine cost 8 euros)
  • OR – you can splurge on a professional mic and a mixer, if you like that sort of thing, and connect that to your audio-in. I will do it someday… when I have a real salary. Or celery, YUM.
  • (note: if you’re me and your soundcard is defective, you can record audio using your portable mp3 player, either an IPOD (for those with the cash) or IRIVER, which I swear by. Mine cost 120 USdollars when I was in the USA in January (256MB IFP-790). IT’s perfect, and the new one’s are even more perfecter. (note-firmware upgrades are available)
  • Audio recording software: Audacity is freeware and good enough. Mac’s come with Garageland, which reminds me of Garage-sales. I swear by Adobe Audition (expensive if you don’t know the right people), I love its endless list of options memory sucking habit. Some like Soundforge, which sounds medieval.
  • Your voice, or if you’ve lost yours, a program on your computer that generates a voice. Or a robot… hire a robot.
  • A pinch of soundeffects.
  • A tablespoon of MP3s
  • Hopefully an original concept, but then again, that’s not required.

Directions –

Step 1 – I first decide what audio, besides my voice, I’m going to use in the show. I import the audio, which is usually in mp3 format, into a new Audition file. These usually include music mp3’s and other audio clips I want to use.

Step 2 – I then lay it out.. side by side… til it stretches about 18 minutes long. I also import my previously made intro and slap it in the beginning of the track.

Step 2.5 – Usually by this time, I’ve jotted some notes; chicken scratch that I won’t even look at once I start talking. But hey, some might actually need a guide.

Step 3 – I then adjust the volume, also called “envelope” in most audio programs. I usually reduce the background music volume to about 6 percent of its original, occasionally letting it play at full volume if I want to just hear music. I also take the time to fade in and out at the beginning and end of songs.

Step 4 – Now comes the vital part. My lil ol voice. Normal humans with normal computers could just play the layed out tracks and record a new track at the same time. But both me and the computer are defective, so I stick in headphones and record my voice audio (in sync hopefully)on my IRIVER mp3 player.

Still with me? Wake up!

Step 5 – Now say goodbye to your social life, cause after making your voice tracks, you’ll be editing for hours and hours. Cutting useless bits, especially if you’re trying to keep it under 20 minutes. I tend to add voice effects here and there… sometimes.

Step 6 – Save this big-ass audio file in its entirety. If your computer is old, it will moan in pain at this point. (mine does)

Step 7 – Find the “Export Audio” option and export it as an mp3. I strongly recommend 64kbps at 24,000 or 20,050 mhz. You’re not producing a CD, I hope, so 128 is overkill and too dam big a file for downloading. Anything above 80kbps better be excerpts from the London philharmonic or something.

STEP 8 – ID3Tags, the little info that comes with your mp3 file: title, aritist, date, whatever. I use my musicmatch jukebox which has an option to edit the track tag. I figure whatever mp3 software you use should have it too, or else stop using that crap program. Then go an upload it to your server, which hopefully has plenty of bandwith for when you get all famous and mentioned on the daily source code or the sloeriesource! I use liberated syndication and they rock the house for 5 USclams per month. (donations in the tip jar appreciated to help fund all this!)

Optional STEP 8.5 – In your post where you include the link to the mp3, make sure to add the following bit of code within the link tag rel=”enclosure”. (within the brackets <>) Thats so it appears as an enclosure and all of us RSS users and more easily grab your podcast. Also from here you can make an OPML or an HTML file with shownotes. But thats up to you. I like when people say the length, quality, and file size too. Cause if its too big, my laptop will throw up.

OK friends… long list and very nerdy. But podcasting is taking the world by storm, and I guess as a podcaster, this is my contribution to all of you out there. Maybe I suck at explaining and you should head over to ipodder.org Anyway- Go forth, be fruitful, and multiply. Tell ’em bicyclemark sent you!

Today’s Sounds: Iron & Wine – Our Endless Numbered Days (thanks Chris Missick!)

EU Urbanites

I could, of course, bla bla bla for days about my trip to Paris. But really I think the weekend post and podcast give you some idea of what it was like. A wonderful mix of old friends, new friends, and adventure.

Paris itself, as you may have heard, is damn expensive. It’s no New York City, but it seems to take after la grande pomme; a super rich rot-your-teeth cup of hot cocoa will taste fantastically delicious, but it will also cost you a good 6 euros. (whats that.. 8 USdollars these days?) But hey, that’s what some hip and beloved cities are for.

Interesting as well are the young people, the 20 something internationals that are a intrical part of the parisien social fabric. Many of which are my friends, it’s quite exciting to be around these young and open-minded professionals who are making their lives in this city, whether it be for a few years or for life. I suppose every city, throughout history, has had these types of go-getters who migrate somewhere for a reason… a mission. Hell, I suspect you reading this might be or will be one of them. (or us) It’s just double fun to see it in Europe, where we have the traditionally well defined language and cultural differences.

Shakespeare and his girlfriend (sorry I have no nickname for her, yet.) have been residents for a few years now, almost like old pros, I bet they would say. And then BlueBerry Girl (pictured) has been in paris for the past 4 months, since leaving lil ol’ me and all her fans, in Amsterdam. She really seems to love or be falling in love with the city already, which makes it all the more cool to learn cool spots and facts from her. She helps handle the world’s bank money, which seems to be such a important and difference-making gig, compared to say — me a fishtank guardian. Someday I should probably work at fixing the world too, I could even podcast while I do it!

So as per request, in email and in person, tomorrow I shall include in my post, a step-by-step of how I podcast. Shit, I feel like I’m giving away grandma’s family recipe for oatmeal cookies. Ah well.. you guys deserve good cookies.

Today’s Sounds: The Brilliant RadioClash Podcast

AudioCommuniqu? 15: From Paris with Love

Dam its hard to find WIFI in Paris! Especially when you’re busy meeting with such wonderful people, eating fine food, and drinking the most heavenly hot choco in the world. Le weekend in Paris will require more then a podcast to explain, but this one is a start; it’s basically a chronological collection of audio I made during my journey. Photos must wait til Tuesday.. then my flickr will be renewed for the month.
Thanks to Madame L and Oldest daughter, who’s voices appear for a brief instance. Oh and I guess thanks to the people in the van who I recorded without permission…. haha.

AudioCommuniqu? #15 (mp3)

20min 23sec, 64kbps, 9.5Mb

Featuring:

  • Sounds from the Van ride
  • Some random French radio sounds and music
  • TV on the Radio
  • Me lost, me found again, me keeping quiet while my hosts are sleeping.