Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.

Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
FM Community Members meet-up !
BillyG meets Gary ( gwscheer and Karen on their holiday in Scotland )
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes) 
Avatar
BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
July 26, 2016 - 5:39 pm
Member Since: March 22, 2014
Forum Posts: 3744
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

  Yup here we go @gwscheer and @Fiddlerman and - well the whole FM community - this was just awesome -- Gary Scheer got in touch with me before his holiday - which happened to include a trip to Scotland - we managed to meet up - here's the low--down in gory detail.... LOL

------

  My friends - Gary ( gwscheer in the Fiddlerman.com forum ) and his wife Karen, from the USA, spent part of their summer vacation in Scotland.   We were fortunate enough to be able to meet up in Ullapool in the north-west of Scotland where we spent a couple of hours together, chatting, taking photos, eating, and fiddling !   

  I puzzled long and hard on what I could get as a gift for Americans visiting Scotland. Well, needless to say - I gave up on the idea of haggis, black pudding, malt whisky and knitted-woolen Loch Ness Monsters - and decided that a video of some fiddling, with an included photo-montage of our time together would fit the bill precisely!

Here is the end result....

 feature=youtu.be

And - just as an aside - some notes for the technically minded -

(1) It was a warm, sunny day - but a little bit blustery - so - there was a lot of wind-noise on the original recording - which you will clearly hear while folks are speaking.

(2) My FM Concert fiddle had drifted - and there was no way I would be able to re-tune it to A 440 with my tuner in the bright sunlight - fortunately though - by ear - all strings had drifted more or less in unison, so overall it was somewhat flat of A 440 - but "well-enough" in tune string to string - more or less fifths apart ( and I DO say more or less !  LOL  - but we lived with it )

(3) Because I kind of expected this, I sort of knew in advance it might be better to re-record my pieces back at home and overlay them into the original soundtrack - which is what I did - so read on.... 

(4) So - back home - I split out the audio from the video and took a sample of the wind-noise, and used Audacity to do a "reasonable" degree of noise removal.  Never gonna be perfect, but, trust me, it sounds a whole-lot better than the original....

(5) Then, I re-recorded my own pieces at home - but because the original was somewhat flat - I couldn't really "play along exactly to it while listening in my ear" - so - I did a "best-take" of Scotland the Brave and The Star Spangled Banner without listening to, or trying to follow, the original.

(6) On both of these re-takes - my playing was "out" in terms of time by about 2 to 3 seconds.   Audacity to the rescue once again - adjust tempo keeping pitch unchanged.  Awesome piece of free software.  I really cannot recommend it highly enough.

(7) I then pasted these re-recorded and re-timed clips over the original playing in the video - so - although it "fits" in terms of overall time in the video - you'll notice that my bowing is apparently "out-of-synch" to some degree with the sound - but - that's the best I could do.   And it covered the occasional "hunting for the note" on the somewhat de-tuned fiddle on the original out-doors take. ( hahahahaha wicked ! )

(8) Finally - for Gary's playing - this was recorded by Karen on her mobile phone, but - unfortunately I cant get a reasonable sample of the wind-noise alone to try to perform a noise cancellation.  I did however lift Gary's audio to come close to other levels.....

I only include these tech details in case someone else ever has a similar plan to record outside - it gives a good overview of the basic "limitations" you may encounter, and ways around them during post-processing.   I may invest in a directional stick-mic and one of these fluffy wind-sock-things for the camera for future projects.

^5s to you all, especially to Gary and Karen - it was a pleasure to meet you - AWESOME !

This is EXACTLY what the FM community is all about..... really it is ... playing music and friendship...   what can I say...  nothing more.....

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Avatar
damfino
my own little world
Members

Regulars
July 26, 2016 - 6:08 pm
Member Since: July 23, 2015
Forum Posts: 2113
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

So fun to watch, and great job with putting everything together for the video :)

☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
World's Okayest Fiddler
☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨* •☆•*¨*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆

Avatar
BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
July 26, 2016 - 8:11 pm
Member Since: March 22, 2014
Forum Posts: 3744
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thanks Mandy @damfino - it was - in the words of Lou Reed, indeed a "Perfect Day" - there is no way it could have been better...

And Gary and karen - @gwscheer just so you get advised of the post - I assume you may just have got home by now !!!!!!!! LOL  

Thanks so much for your time with us!   Awesome !  drummerdrummerdrummer

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Avatar
Ripton
Vermont, Massachusetts or somewhere in between
Members

Regulars
July 26, 2016 - 8:19 pm
Member Since: November 2, 2014
Forum Posts: 595
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Awesome job Bill & Gary.. 

Avatar
KindaScratchy
Massachusetts
July 26, 2016 - 8:44 pm
Member Since: March 14, 2012
Forum Posts: 1760
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Very cool that you were able to meet. Nice job on the video. Looks like a beautiful place.

thumbs-up

When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,

I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.

Avatar
coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
July 26, 2016 - 8:51 pm
Member Since: January 11, 2012
Forum Posts: 4180
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Bill." Ihis warms my heart. I know how very special meet ups are.  What a special time. Thanks for all you have done to share this event. Thanks for being you ... Gary, lovely to see you and your wife. Bill How fantastic to see and "meet" Debbie. I am a sentimental person and my heart is aglow from this post

Much love to all. Toni

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

Avatar
damfino
my own little world
Members

Regulars
July 27, 2016 - 10:01 am
Member Since: July 23, 2015
Forum Posts: 2113
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

It does look like it was a perfect day :)  

☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
World's Okayest Fiddler
☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨* •☆•*¨*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆

Avatar
gwscheer
Pullman,WA, USA
Members

Regulars
July 27, 2016 - 4:34 pm
Member Since: May 12, 2013
Forum Posts: 197
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

image.jpegImage EnlargerWe had a great time !  Thanks for your northern Scotland hospitality and all that work editing. Very nice.  Gary

ps. We were supposed to be home on Tuesday am but now will be Thursday. Weather cancelled flight in NYC and delayed into leaving Wednesday in 2 hours so, there are worse places to be stuck. Spent morning at met (art museum) afternoon visited strawberry fields and took a nap.  Evening Broadway musical Beautiful (carol king story) . Attached pic is me with Harnett's still life "violin and music" 1888 in the met . 

sp_PlupAttachments Attachments

"Make every note beautiful", Ivan Galamian

“To play a wrong note is INSIGNIFICANT; To play without PASSION is INEXCUSABLE!” , Ludvig Van Beethovan

"It ain't rocket surgery"

Avatar
BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
July 28, 2016 - 1:42 am
Member Since: March 22, 2014
Forum Posts: 3744
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Unfortunate about the delay - but looks like you made the most of it ! thumbs-up

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Avatar
Schaick
Members

Regulars
July 28, 2016 - 8:54 am
Member Since: December 25, 2013
Forum Posts: 878
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

SO COOL!!!  Anytime any one wants to meet up in Indianapolis I am ready!! 

Violinist start date -  May 2013  

Fiddler start date - May 2014

FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius.  BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.

Avatar
damfino
my own little world
Members

Regulars
July 28, 2016 - 11:37 am
Member Since: July 23, 2015
Forum Posts: 2113
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
11sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

No better place to be delayed than NYC (IMO anyway, lol). 

☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
World's Okayest Fiddler
☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨* •☆•*¨*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆

Avatar
BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
November 18, 2016 - 8:04 am
Member Since: March 22, 2014
Forum Posts: 3744
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
12sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Someone asked about this - just a "bump" so they can find it...

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
November 18, 2016 - 9:27 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16430
13sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Nice bump. Any meet-ups coming up anywhere guys?

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
Georganne
Members

Regulars
November 19, 2016 - 12:57 pm
Member Since: August 28, 2013
Forum Posts: 993
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
14sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

So much fun to meet online friends.  You did a good job on Star Spangled Banner.  That's a difficult song to play (for me anyways).

 

Opportunity is often missed because it wears suspenders and looks like hard work.

 

Alaska, the Madness; Bloggity Stories of the North Country

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online: Mouse
Guest(s) 79
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today None
Upcoming Shell, Squiryl, GlassTownCur, mcassidy2004, Reptile Smile, MyMing, CarolineNH, JamesRSmithJr, SethroTull86
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 7828
ABitRusty: 3921
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
Gordon Shumway: 2435
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2154
damfino: 2113
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31673
Moderators: 0
Admins: 7
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 82
Topics: 10606
Posts: 134391
Newest Members:
alicedcoz258, Dres pirate, tonyluo, Terrence Terry Ruddy, andrea924breaux, pybring, stive4545, kevin498, Fiddlerjones, FidgetFrog
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16430, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3744, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 5359