Hi,

So much to learn. I'm currently having problems whilst wanting to record my violin practice sessions. I'm not a wiz kid understanding all this modern electronic technology; I dislike mobile phones which are now so often used. The microphone I bought is a cheap one and needs USB connection to my computer; trying to play the violin near my computer using this microphone is very difficult indeed and the mic is picking up lots of computer noise which I think is the fan. Space is OK to use the computer but a struggle whilst trying to use the violin.

I'm totally bewildered and have wasted lots of time looking at camcorders and sound recording equipment. I'd like to record violin playing in our studio being able to store it then bring the recording to the computer to play it back.

The Suzuki Violin School Volume 1 arrived yesterday so I'll spend time studying it and I'm still practicing playing my violin. Yesterday I decided to check my violin for tune and it had drifted quite a way off; Geoff set it up perfectly so the first thing I did on arriving home from Geoff's was to use the electronic tuner and I took careful note of where each string registered so now I can adjust the violin back to Geoff's settings and it appears to work fine; at the moment I'm struggling with so much and haven't yet enough practice to get my ears in tune so every little helps.

The dire weather is hampering everything I try to do; a short while ago a storm passed through putting a million homes out of power; yesterday the final homes were reconnected to power but now we have storm Barra coming through with outside temperature at 4.5C (40F) so more disruption; today is heavy rain and wind which is expected after all its winter. If I wander down to the workshop I get wet then once inside it takes a while for the fan heater to make an impression by which time it's a mealtime and unsafe to leave the fan heater home alone.

The new studio is excellent with central heating radiator and LED lighting but apart from practicing playing the violin I'm not yet geared up in the studio for my violin making project; I need to keep visiting the workshop for tools and materials also to use my big machinery.

I accept it's winter and I can hardly complain after al lI have both workshop and a studio; I tire of getting wet and being blown around; I've even tried using a brolly but the wind makes it difficult and in the workshop the wet brolly becomes a nuisance.

We've considered moving many times but in spite of the problems we love it here on the steep valley side with panoramic views also we've spent 35 years turning this detached bungalow into our dream home. I hope I'm not wingeing but I did add "Life's ups and down". During our short summer I'm always busy with maintenance around the bungalow and gardens hence my hobbies are carried out in poor or winter weather. Life however is good and basically I'm very happy with my lot; I can't control the weather but I can work when the bad weather lets up a bit so progress tends to be rather slow.

I've added these pictures to my violin making thread but here they are to show I'm making slow progress; five tools made to exact sizes as shown in my Stradivarius violin making book. Now aged 74 I don't want to risk flu or pneumonia so am keeping warm and dry as much as I can; it's a shame the weather is so poor otherwise I could really get stuck in.

I'll wander into the studio after dinner and enjoy a violin practice session also I've got two violin making books and a violin playing book to keep me busy.

UPDATE,

I've just enjoyed a soaking whilst visiting our local post office and now I'm at the keyboard drying out.

https://fiddlerman.com/forum/r.....he-violin/

I think I'll find what I'm looking for at the above link so I need to do a bit of browsing.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks for asking @JohnG and it's a good question.

Unfortunately it would cost a lot of money to cover in all the pathway from our rear door along the length of a double room extension then down the side of the bungalow; maintenance would be a problem but even worse is that here on the very steep exposed valley side we suffer from terrific winds at times; years ago the wind peeled away our neighbours roof from his double garage as if the roof were a bit of tissue paper. To the other side of the bungalow is even worse involving pathways and steps then the public pavement along the front of the bungalow.

I dug out using shovel for both these paths and patio when I first retired moving the dry stone away away from the rear extension adding the pathway and rebuilding the wall; to the bungalow side I removed all the steps to create the new pathway adding a bespoke home made fence due to the slope. The new stiudio is just behind the wall/window seen in the bottom picture. It's our dream bungalow but with very high maintenance. In icy weather we use the pathway and steps to the other side of the bungalow for safety.

It's surprising how wet I get wandering down to the workshop in the rain or snow  which is actually the garage beneath the bungalow; I can't make an entrance into the workshop from inside the bungalow so in bad weather the workshop is out of bounds which is a shame because the workshop is fully kitted out.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks Emily; yesterday I tried using Bron's smart phone to record a practice session but I'm not as smart as the phone and it was a waste of time; I dislike mobile phones or indeed any phone so it's not surprising I was unsuccessful but I do appreciate your useful suggestion; perhaps I'd be more successful with a smart phone if I knew a four year old child to explain it to me; I'm a true dinosaur remembering how I was taught in the dark ages using slate and chalk; these days kids have smart phones in my days food and clothes were a luxury.

The slabs aren't heated but I was definitely well heated and often rained on laying them; a job I wouldn't want to do again.

Thanks also Emily for the Fiddlerman link; I've actually been browsing the threads finding them interesting over the last couple of weeks. I found the Suzuki book virtually useless because it lacks the basics I wanted to learn but as @stringy kindly states there are lots of YouTube videos showing how to use these books so I'll browse YouTube which should help.

I'm sorry to learn you and Kevin are no longer up to doing the heavy jobs needed around home and property now having to rely on getting someone in; fortunately I'm still fit enough to do such work; with Bron's help over the years we've done just about everything to our bungalow other than demolish and start over; from replacing the drains right up to replacing the roof with chimney and stack.

I love the cat pictures you keep posting Emily; I was looking for the cat in the Happy Holidays picture but it must be hiding behind the snowman.

Thanks @stringy for the string builder books information I'll certainly have a look and buy book one; I'm not impressed by the Suzuki volume 1; as a novice on my own it does little for me but as you kindly suggest perhaps also using this book with the aid of YouTube it might make more sense but it's not what I expected as a violin novice training book.

Good news though; I've found exactly what I was looking for regarding recording my violin practice sessions in the studio then being able to bring the recording to the computer in my office. I spent a lot of time browsing the web; YouTube and eBay etc but didn't know what correct questions to ask then during dinner time yesterday I came across a very useful video which grabbed my attention; I then browsed other video's of the same recorder; here's an example;

Now I was in with a chance; after dinner I browsed the web looking for Tascam suppliers and eventually on Gumtree hit the the jackpot; one of these Tascams was posted for sale the ad only one day old; the Tascam was second hand but in good condition priced at £100. I immediately sent an email to the seller enquiring if it was still for sale and offering £110 if he would accept PayPal and post it to me the extra £10 to offset the PayPal fees; I received a quick reply and after a couple more exchanged emails the seller sent me his email address allowing payment to be sent; he'd used PayPal for buying but not receiving payment; all went well and I received an email confirming the money had been received; the Tascam is being posted to me today so should be delivered shortly.

Incredibly no sooner had I bought this Tascam my luthier Geoff sent me an email suggesting I look at a Tascam and he kindly included a link to a supplier; opening the link I was looking at a brand new Tascam DP-03SD Digital Portastudio costing £263.50 so the Tascam I've bought is a genuine bargain; this new Tascam has a different model number; for once I've had good luck and hope it works when it arrives.

It's taken a lot of time and patience but I think I'm now sorted regarding recording and for my needs it's a one off payment because it's highly unlikely I'll use the Tascam I bought to its limit.

Whilst practicing playing my violin I can obviously hear what I'm playing but I'm interested to find out how it sounds to anyone else; I think the Tascam will prove very useful.

Whilst composing this post our lovely neighbour has just phoned to advise us her 6 year old son has just tested positive for the Omicron Covid virus; he's OK and possibly will feel unwell for a few days but their cat Aspros is a regular visitor to us so we'd better not stroke him until safe to do so; I wish the family all the very best. This is exactly why I won't consider violin lessons; it's too risky and now Omicron is very near; Bron and I are fully jabbed including booster but it's still worrying.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

The Tascam DP-008EX Digital multitrack recorder arrived yesterday and what an incredible piece of kit. I was too busy to play around with it but when I finally settled down and was concentrating on a YouTube tutorial a neighbour popped over with Christmas card and mince pies which was very decent of her but of course it stopped me watching the video; I hope I don't sound ungrateful but every time I try to concentrate there are interruptions.

I resumed watching the YouTube video's at 6 o'clock this morning whilst having breakfast welcoming the peace and quiet; as I now type tree surgeons are just across the street using a big chipper; it never lets up and I can't even hide in the workshop with the doors closed because of interruptions; the latest being our immediate neighbour locked out of her garden hut; I broke off what I was doing and sorted it out using my angle grinder; she blamed the magpies for stealing the keys? I'm the only one here on the street with a fully equipped workshop hence any problems our neighbours head our way; concentration shattered again. I can't really complain because so many live on their own and would welcome such company but I can't relax and concentrate on anything. I think I've gone deaf because the chipper has just been turned off? I've been fully retired for almost 21 years and still can't do what I'd like to do;.

It's dark wet and miserable with heavy rain forecast today; I've just put the heating on in the studio where I hope to hide practicing my violin playing and having a go at recording using the Tascam. Yesterday it was much milder at 13C so I was busy outdoors washing and polishing the car; I cleared the leaves off the grass and even spent a short while grinding the blades of the new knives I've made these still needing honing; I just keep plugging away and little by little move forward. My violin making project is on hold until the weather improves.

Sadly two of the phone calls received was from our lovely neighbour at the end of the street informing us her 6 year old son had Omicron so this was upsetting news; the little lad is OK but obviosly the family now are in isolation; the second call from her was with much better news it wasn't Omicron but actually the usual Covid but still bad enough; I phoned last night and the family are fine but we were very worried about the little lad. Looking at our local news this morning we're in a virus hotspot but we're used to this by now and seldom venture out other than supermarket shopping and when I take Bron for a spin in the country just the two of us to leave the bungalow for a while; we're happy to be home because we've both got so many interesting hobbies to occupy us.

Kind regards, Colin.