Roon version 1.7 launched today and I’m liking the curations and faster search. And being to play either by artist or composer is pretty sweet.
Category: Music
Everything music, from Rock to Jazz to whatever ….
Giving RoonLabs a run
Doing the trial of Roon by RoonLabs. A very fine audio media controller. A wonderful interface and well thought out on the display and designed specifically for audiophiles and music lovers. I’ve got a few days left on the trial but I think I’m going to subscribe in spite of the severe network limitations on configuration.
Ugh, everything must reside on the same subnet. The server, the audio output devices, the controller. You don’t get an option to manually enter addresses, it just does a discovery on the local subnet. That’s actually a problem for people multiple subnets like myself. Everything that’s wired is static with the 192.168.1.0 network. All wireless devices are on the Google Mesh network which is 192.168.86.1 such as the Sonos Connect, the Oppo and AppleTV. Oh, the Synology NAS is wired too.
I wanted to run the server on a Centos7 VM on ESXi like I do with Plex and my other systems but I then couldn’t discover the Sonos or Oppo well because, ESXi doesn’t support wireless devices. (Which leads to a whole other question for VMware’s edge strategy but that’s for another post) Next up, I had to put the Roon server on an old MacMini and enable wifi, there have been pauses, not optimal. My thought is to purchase another Intel NUC, and using it for Plex and Roon, enabling wired and wireless and not virtualizing. That’s a weird feeling.
Back in the day….
In the not a good idea category…
You get out alive and your Amex is unscathed but you set up an appointment for a half day smpling in January so it doesn’t hit your fiscal year 2018 budget….
The Ultimate Protest Song Playlist from the 30’s to today.
Starting back up
It’s been so long since playing the drums and my shoulder is doing better with therapy for the partial tear in the tendon. I’m left handed and play lefthanded so it’s my lead and power arm. Weird as when I fist played as kid, I played right handed but just didn’t feel natural enough.
Upon playing, I came to the realizationt hat using pads are annoying, doesn’t give the same feel and action and drums are LOUD in a residental neighborhood, and not in the mood to hear that grumpy ol’ lady behind me complain or call the police. Yup, I said that. So anyway, taking the pads off and yup, they’re really loud, louder thatn I can remember but the action off the heads felt great. So I’m thinking, maybe an electronic set using those new mesh heads would help, so off to the drum store and saw these.
Ignore the price because I wasn’t getting this model What interested me was the mesh heads and the drum meister asked why not just use the new Remo mesh heads made for acoustic shells? They’re up to 90% quieter. Sounds pretty cool to the point that I said that I’d still have the problem with the cymbals. To which he says, why not look at the quiet cymbals? Silent Cymbals? Yes, both Sabian ans Zildgian make them now. Me: how come I didnt get the memo? So after doing some review, watching youtube reviews and demos, decided on the Sabian Quiettone cymbals and the Remo heads.
Went over to the mecca of Drums, 2112 in Raleigh to work with them but first, drooled over that Pearl kit and for a brief moment and almost did something stupid.
So the new Sabians are in and the Sabian B8 Pro’s replaced along with the heads. I have to say, they react just like regular heads, great action and response. I can actually play and speak, hearing myself without any ear protection, but of course, will still use them. Demo video coming soon. These are great, loving them. Not to continue to do the motion exercises for my shoulder and retrain my memory muscles, especially my left wrist.
John Coltrane’s Lost Album
Found and will be released in nine days. Preordered but couldn’t decide on CD or vinyl, so got both. Looking to hear the difference from Project>>Rotel>>B&W vs. Oppo>>Rotel>>B&W. Hoping the CD is AAD format.
The Ultimate Protest Song
Rush Drummer Neil Peart Retires
As in “Loosing It”, we all knew this day would come and we all knew we were witnessing it on this last tour. Just glad that I got to see him play one more time. Just like Rush is a band’s band, Neil is a drummer’s drummer. Loved to watch, listen, learn and mimic. Bittersweet day indeed.
Neil was (is) the quintessential progressive power drummer. Complexities, time signatures and the infamous 7/8th beat. It was Neil that got me into drumming, listening to 2112, Permanent Waves and A Farewell to Kings. It got me that five piece Ludwig that ended up being a double bass eight piece kit over time. Carmine Appice once wrote in a drum magazine that the perfect rock drummer would have the power of Neil Peart, the complexity of Stewart Copeland and the simplicity of Charlie Watts. Couldn’t agree more. I remember first seeing the Exit Stage Left concert video. Broones Bane/The Trees/Xanadu portion. Watching Neil getting up and playing teh tubular bells. As a kit, that was just magical for some real. What’s a drummer doing with full tubular bells behind him, and wind chimes, and every other conceivable sound making metal.
But let’s not forget the other half of the equation. What a fantastic lyricist. Writing the words for Hemispheres (obviously my favorite song), Loosing It, Freewill, Tom Sawyer, The Trees, Different Strings, Natural Science, the list goes on and on. Seems like there’s a set of lyrics for every part of life, the ups, the downs, the good and the bad, the motivations and dare I say the spiritual. Neil reminded me that it’s OK to be a nerd, and to dream. For that, thank you very, very much. Well, off to watch R40 again…
In an interview with Drumhead Magazine, Peart spoke about his retirement.
Source: Rush Drummer Neil Peart Says He’s Retired | Billboard
A clear example of how copyrights harm music
There’s a rare recording of Bob Marley doing an acapella cover of “Chances Are”, the Johnny Mathis classic. I could only imagine that it was a superb recording. So with wanting to hear it, I immediately head over to the page while thinking how great this will sound eagerly ready to press the play button.
Listen To Bob Marley Sing Chances Are Acapella In This Super Rare Audio – IReggaeNation.
But at this point I paused to get my morning coffee as I think out loud… “what better way to hear Bob Marley sing Chances Are on a Sunday morning but with a nice cup of coffee”. I return with my coffee and click the link only to find out that the content is blocked, based on what country you’re in.
Seriously….this happens. My coffee now tastes bitter. I’m wondering why this is so. Why block what has to be a great piece of recording. I can’t imaging that it is actively still being pressed and sold, it’s just sitting somewhere in an archive. So apparently the Harry Fox Agency, the same copyright company that actually claimed copyrights over the public domain works of Johann Strauss, somehow owns this copyright. I ask myself what’s the point in blocking this recording. Wouldn’t publicly sharing just lend to people wanting to buy the recording? I would.
You see, this is what frustrates folks who love music, and leads them to use nefarious measures to attain what they love. So I just want to thank the Harry Fox Agency for helping me keep my skills sharp. You see, digital copyright is an exercise in futility. Those who restrict access on the basis of money will always eventually loose to those who have the love for all forms of art. Our passions for the arts are greater than your passion for money.
“I can only imagine” that the recording is just so beautiful….yes, yes it is….
L u k e n . o r g 