Really weird project

[miroslav]

Something you got for Christmas?

Are you finally "coming out" for the new year?

Head for Times Square... you will feel at home.

 

[kcearl]

coming out? from where?


Im in the open dude..."attention all orifices...incoming!"

 

[Shadow_7]

When you watch Youtube, ever notice that lots of things are split into 'part 1 or 9', 'part 2 of 9' etc etc. That is because it takes way too long to do it as one continuous file and yeah, nobody wants to spend that much time downloading a bunch of dudes racking their brains for creativity 8 hours straight.

No, that is because youtube only LETS you upload ten minutes clips. Recently upped to 15 minutes (< 1 year). So even if you had an hour plus of continuous media, Youtube wont post it (without a business account), unless you segment it to their criteria. And given that it's internet based, there are server loads and network connectivity issues that come into play if you don't refresh every so often. Independent of the human condition.

It is possible to record for that duration. If you have the space for it. ((16 bits * 48000 samples * 60 seconds * 60 minutes * 6 hours) / 8 bits per byte = 4GB / plus headers and meta data and file system space). Most modern filesystems can handle files that large. Except for flash cards that are still on Fat32 for some reason (4GB limit). NTFS is fine with it, Ext3 with 4K blocks (default) can handle 1TB+ files.

One option would be to use something like arecord (in *nix) and save the content to the HDD as you go in a headerless / raw format. And then split and convert to usable chunks in post. For us linux types anyway. Sox can auto-split and add usable headers. Split can also split it up at regular intervals, just be sure to break at the right byte counts, since 16 bits equals 2 byte segments. Adjust the math if you use 24 bit which is 3 byte segments.

 

[secret_families]

The more I think about it, the more I think analog might actually be the best bet. Just have two tape recorders, have them overlap a little bit, and then sync everything up with a computer afterward. I know I could easily have it broken up into chunks, but I really wanted it to be continuous. Also, for those asking before, bathroom/food breaks will work because there's probably going to be about 8-10 musicians rotating in and out

I'm not saying you guys can't discuss the merits of this type of project, I'm just saying I won't really be participating it. I hate defending myself on the internet, especially when it comes to aesthetics. And yes, of course I know that people won't really want to listen to an 8 hour piece of music. I quite frankly don't care though. People don't really listen to my music when it's 2 minutes so I don't think the length is going to turn them off anymore than they already are.

 

[grimtraveller]

You can't hurt a masochist !


Also, one person's "defend" is another person's "explanation". If people have a pop at you for explaining or defending your raison d'etre, well, sometimes, that's the way the stomach pumps and that's their problem. Sure, we can PM you but your background explanation would not only be interesting, it could lead to some great and rounded debate with a variety of views and approaches for those interested.
Sometimes, someone will use mine or someone elses's quote to make a point right out of left field. Seeing this many times has shown me that our posts {and thus the content of those posts} are bigger than our individual selves and thoughts, once they're shared.

 

[stevieb]

CD quality (16/41.1) audio WAV files will get you around 6 hours...

Geech, NOBODY will be listening after even 6 hours, and it certainly won't be poor sound quality that will cause folks to wander off, so CD quality is NOT needed.

 

[Lt. Bob]

And yes, of course I know that people won't really want to listen to an 8 hour piece of music. I quite frankly don't care though. People don't really listen to my music when it's 2 minutes so I don't think the length is going to turn them off anymore than they already are.

Well there ya' go ..... you've got a vision and you're gonna make it happen.

That's definitely cool so I hope it goes well.
I'd be curious to hear a few excerpts from it when you're done. Kinda curious what music structure or styles you're gonna use to do this.

 

[moresound]

I played at biker party a lot. Once for three days but not straight through, the band would play for a few hours take a short break then a few more then around four in the AM we went to bed then started up about 11:00 and went for it again ..... ah the memories. It was like the end of the world.

 

[Shadow_7]

Well if you have memories, you obviously weren't there. What's the other quote? If you remember the 60's, you weren't actually there.

I'm a more methodical / technical type. Proving that something can be done, outweighs the reasons for doing it in the first place. Fortunately I work (or at least used to) in computer software, and not anything bio related. What you want can be done. Although existing software and filesystems and general philosophy's tend to avoid it. If only because Q/A testing would be a little moot and time consuming.

In linux it'd be something like.

$ arecord -c 2 -r 44100 -t raw -f S16_LE -D usb_audio OUTPUT_FILE.raw

$ sox -2 -s -c 2 -r 44100 OUTPUT_FILE.raw -2 -s -c 2 -r 44100 -t wav ONCE_AN_HOUR.wav trim 00:00:00 01:00:00 : newfile : restart

You could also pipe the rec part of sox directly into sox. Which should be files to length, but perhaps a risk of missing a sample or two on the transition. The arecord above should not miss any samples, but if file I/O is done by offset of a 32 bit address (I doubt it), it could still have filesize issues. It's best to run a test case before doing it for real, if only to prove that it can be done. Put a mic in front of a noisy clock or TV or something. And don't run out of HDD space.

 

[Lt. Bob]

I played at biker party a lot. Once for three days but not straight through, the band would play for a few hours take a short break then a few more then around four in the AM we went to bed then started up about 11:00 and went for it again ..... ah the memories. It was like the end of the world.

I'm from Louisiana and so I played at Mardi Gras every year.
One year we were the house band for Storyville Jazz Hall and we had a Winnebago parked right outside the stage door. They had bands from 11am until 3 am every day and me, being a jamming fool and playing multiple instruments, I played with every band that was there ..... sometimes for fun and sometimes because one of their guys hadn't shown up.

I was on stage 32 1/2 hours in 3 days!

Finally Mon. morning I was leaving to go home and Luther Kent was grabbing me .... "Man .... there's this great band from Chicago you've got to play with!" " Nope .... I've had enough ..... I'm going home!"
Even the powder couldn't keep me going any longer.

 

[grimtraveller]

Lt, that's what you call "pulling it back and letting it go !".
just out of interest, was any of it recorded ?

 

[buzzard bass]

I've done 36 hours in 3 days, in the ER, 48 hours in 4 days. No powder.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Lt, that's what you call "pulling it back and letting it go !".
just out of interest, was any of it recorded ?

maybe but I would have no idea how to find any of it. This was in the late 70's.
At the time I wasn't thinking in terms of ....... well, ANYTHING!

lol

I've done 36 hours in 3 days, in the ER, 48 hours in 4 days. No powder.

holy crap!

Nice to know the guy that'll make a decision resulting in me living or dying is gonna be sleep deprived.

 

[mshilarious]

All the h8rs should STFU, I think this is a great idea. Streaming though, not as a DL

 

[Shadow_7]

Nice to know the guy that'll make a decision resulting in me living or dying is gonna be sleep deprived.

Well that's nothing new. I did 48 hours in 3 days in the Army Band during peace time. 24 hour CQ (making sure the phone doesn't run off) and a weekend and weekday rotation, where I got the joy of as back to back as they are allowed to do. Sucks when your unit only has 40 personnel and only 20 of them are eligible for that duty. * 48 weeks a year. It's a shame none of that involved music. On our off hours we went fishing. Why? It's quiet, and they can't find us to task us harder.

 

[grimtraveller]

All the h8rs should STFU, I think this is a great idea.

Isn't it funny how people see the same things in the world so differently. I didn't get the impression of any haters. Actually, on balance I'd say the responses were pretty encouraging and empathetic, except stevieb and he was his usual mysterious ambiguous self.
Anyway, I thought you thought recording anything was a fool's errand !

 

[mshilarious]

It is, but this isn't really recording, it's a performance idea. And you're a h8r

 

[buzzard bass]

maybe but I would have no idea how to find any of it. This was in the late 70's.
At the time I wasn't thinking in terms of ....... well, ANYTHING!

lol


holy crap!

Nice to know the guy that'll make a decision resulting in me living or dying is gonna be sleep deprived.

You should see what residents do, 12 on, 12 on call, 12 on. Internal Med res's get no rest when on call. 36 hours straight. In medicine this has been the norm for decades. 12 hour shifts (which I hate) save hospitals millions per year, even though they'll tell you it's the staff that want it.

 

[Shadow_7]

Well hopefully you're paid hourly. In the Army it's salary, and per hour at the time I was making less than $4 per hour, barely more than $3. I did the math. Kind of have to with 24 hours at a time of watching a phone that never rings. Minimum wage at the time was $5.25 (or was it $5.15). When I got out and got a real job, I was paying more per month in taxes than I was getting paid before taxes while in. While averaging only be employed six months a year.

But I know where you're coming from. It's hard to watch House, because I know damn well, that there's no hospital anywhere where you'll have six doctors on your case for weeks at a time, much less one doctor for more than ten minutes at a shot outside of the operating room. Unless you're a senator, the president, or a billionaire, aint gonna happen. You're more likely to die of dehydration or starvation while waiting to be seen. If your ailment doesn't get you first.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Well hopefully you're paid hourly. In the Army it's salary, and per hour at the time I was making less than $4 per hour, barely more than $3. I did the math. Kind of have to with 24 hours at a time of watching a phone that never rings. Minimum wage at the time was $5.25 (or was it $5.15). When I got out and got a real job, I was paying more per month in taxes than I was getting paid before taxes while in. While averaging only be employed six months a year.

But I know where you're coming from. It's hard to watch House, because I know damn well, that there's no hospital anywhere where you'll have six doctors on your case for weeks at a time, much less one doctor for more than ten minutes at a shot outside of the operating room. Unless you're a senator, the president, or a billionaire, aint gonna happen. You're more likely to die of dehydration or starvation while waiting to be seen. If your ailment doesn't get you first.

this is so encouraging now that I've reached the 'occasional surgery' age!