I’m experimenting a bit with recording, and thought I’d post a result. The poem, “If We Burn,” first appeared on the blog in December 2014, was included in my chapbook, If Your Matter Could Reform, and was also featured on Imperfect Life, an online Australian magazine, in July 2016.
Good deal, Bob. How”s it feel for you, and are you planning to do more?
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I think this version’s okay. I’d like to do more, perhaps incorporating other sounds, including music, etc. But that requires taking the time to learn how to do so, which takes time away from writing. So we’ll see. 🙂
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Oh, laying tracks isn’t too tough if all you’re doing is layering this on a music track. I learned trial & error in a short time. Though to do it well …
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Well, I’ve downloaded Audacity, which should be a good starting point. Still, I’m a Luddite when it comes to dealing with software. But little by little.
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Perfect. Ken uses that one, rivrlogr, raves. Good luck.
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Aha! Then I have a source for help.
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One last word, well, two: YouTube videos
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Yep. I watched a few before downloading.
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Google mixing software and play around with some freebies a bit. One I used was as easy as File, Open of the music mp3, drag n drop the voice recording on the screen, the interface for the software, then tweaking the position a bit. All GUI.
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I’d like to use some original music, but haven’t been able to get a decent recording. Oh, I could (and may) break down and spend a few bucks to do it properly.
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Oh yeah, horse of a different color, that. Good luck.
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At the least I’ll have to buy a pickup for the guitar and mandolin. Since I’m not a musician and don’t have much interest in recording music, I’ve not done so. But a few little instrumental filler pieces might be a nice touch. Or not. 🙂
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I wrestled with the decision when I recorded the Raven. Quite a project. In the end I went no music because I think my voice is the most important instrument music or no. I’m not exactly monotone in it, but it lacks the dramatic effect I was going for.
Like anything else, but particularly with art, practice makes …
And I don’t like my voice enough.
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I think it’ll depend upon the poem. I’ve recorded enough to where I feel comfortable recording, but like you, I don’t like my voice all that much. But it’s what I have.
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I wouldn’t mind mine if I did a better job of modulating it for dramatic effect, but it looks like your followers like it, so … Ya gotta give your fans what they clamor for. ☺
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Really liked it, Bob! Your voice has a lovely tone to it – good pacing and inflection. It didn’t matter I couldn’t see the words – they were breathed in.
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Thanks, Lynne. I’m trying to learn a few new tricks, to keep the blog interesting.
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Bob, you’re always interesting!
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Ha!
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Very nice. Not only good words but good tone and pacing.
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Thanks, Kevin. I’ve done a handful of recordings for various publications, but would like to improve.
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Your voice held every word and gave it the right weight. Enjoyed it so much!
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Thanks, Sabrina. You’ve boosted my confidence!
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Exceptional
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You are very kind. Thank you!
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I cheated, went over and read the words first. Both versions compelling, the combination wonderful. I welcomed hearing your intended pauses. And I liked the absence of interference from background, your voice alone filling on its own.
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This piece doesn’t have much space for background sound, but I have a few that might be able to make good use of other sounds (nature, music). There’s never enough time!
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And yet … stirring around in new territory inevitably feeds creativity, whether as intended or in some other manner … one day an Okaji poem on the layering of sound tracks perhaps? That might be a metaphor for ….
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One never knows what’ll result from these exercises!
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As someone who has been experimenting with spoken word myself, this is wonderful
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Thank you, Claire. With the equipment and software available to us for little or no cost, it seems now is a great time to learn and take advantage of that.
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Well done, Bob. As much as I enjoy reading poetry,you’ve sown that the author’s voice truly brings it to life.
However… Back in the day – more than ten years ago, when I first started posting poetry videos on YouTube – someone contacted me and asked if I would do a voice-over for a poem by an author he was communicating with, Judith Furedi. She in turn contacted me and asked if would record all of the poems (45) in her book on the life of John Lennon – Dear John, Letters from a Fan in New York City. She liked it enough to include a CD of the audio with each book. In fact, a video she made using one of those is still on her YouTube account: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg0U015X584 She even has the video from my original demo (Since then, I’ve learned some tricks about cleaning up hiss & background noise, including a better mic.)
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Great reading, Ken. Thanks for sharing it. My first recordings were pretty “hissy,” but I fixed that problem with a better mic. Amazing what decent equipment will do for you. Of course I knew that, but tried to get by with crap. 🙂
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Believe it or not, one of my cameras records pretty decent audio. I just convert the file to an mp3, then edit it in Audacity by deleting background noise, which is done by using a dead air space in the recording to use as the sample for noise to be removed.
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Learn something every day… Once I fiddle around with Audacity and suffer enormous failures, I may contact you for advice. But only after those enormous failures. I learn so much through trial and error. 🙂
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So nice! Reading adds a new dimension. Imagine being able to hear every poem you love read aloud by its author. Please do more…
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Thanks, Joan. I’m sure I’ll be doing more, especially now that I’ve downloaded Audacity and have to experiment with layered sounds. At some point people may start saying “no more.” Ha!
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No one can read a poem like the poet himself! Good job! Dwight
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Thanks, Dwight!
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I enjoyed this a lot. Have you seen my Open Mic page? You should check it out.
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Thanks, C. I have seen your Open Mic page. What a wonderful idea.
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Ah, it’s been awhile since you’ve recorded. Enjoyed this
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Thanks, P.S. I hope to do more in the near future.
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Good job!
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Thank you!
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This is wonderful to hear, particularly as many of my efforts are done with a specific voice, rhythm and pace in mind as spoken pieces. I currently lack the confidence (and quite probably the ability) to hold the interest of an audience but it’s great to listen to a writer’s own interpretation, especially when it is done as well as this.
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I read the poems aloud as I write, so I have a good idea of how they should sound when they’re complete. But the recordings often veer off the intended path. 😊
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Our voice, literally and figuratively, is also often not received how we might wish or intend. Though I find that part of the fun, particularly when an ambiguity has been created deliberately to allow multiple interpretations. And discovering those I hadn’t considered myself whilst writing is a bonus!
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I relish those ambiguities and differing interpretations!
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Very much enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing it.
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Thanks very much, Tony.
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Well read
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Thanks very much, Derrick.
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I thoroughly enjoyed hearing your voice, hearing the pauses between your words, being aurally lead through your images. 🙂
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Thank you, Carrie. I believe that this poem, more than many others I’ve written, is truly meant to be heard.
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I listened out of curiosity as I do prefer reading – but loved the recording. You have a great voice.
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Thank you, Susi.
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I really enjoyed this, Bob: not only the quality of your voice, but your interpretation of your own work, with the pauses and emphasis where you intended. I did, miss, though, the written version, as I still want to be able to look at the words, re-read and consider them. Perhaps you could include them in an initially hidden or embedded manner that would allow the listener to read the poem afterward?
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Thanks, Cate. I’m debating on whether to include the written version under the recording. There are so many possibilities!
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