Anticipating the sounds of summer
In anticipation of days (and nights) in the womb known as the family automobile, I’ve been preparing what used to be known as “mix tapes”. Technology has moved along, and the medium of choice will be CD with MP3, but the music selection is as important as ever. To provide a randomness, I’ve changed my source.
We pay for a music feed from Galaxie.ca as part of our enhanced cable package. For years now. I listen from time to time when I’m upstairs and in need of cheap entertainment, although I rarely get beyond the Celtic channel. Personal taste and all that. With the help of my digital recorder, I’ve decided to make a set of theme discs to go in the car. Each CD will provide eight hours of unknown content, since I’ve turned on the recorder and muted the output. No onscreen artist references, just a mix provided by someone else.
My first attempt was based on the recording of four straight hours, but after a bit of reflection, I’ve decided to divide the (huge) file into four 60 minute blocks. Using Audacity, I’ve brought the levels out of the mud and given myself some very satisfactory content. Apart from Celtic, I’ll go for a 70’s sampler, an 80’s sampler and then use my imagination for the rest.
But why, in a world where the FM radio band is full of similar content? Simply because I don’t need the advertising content to get me through the day. Ditto for repeated mini-news broadcasts. When in range, I’ll listen to CFIM-MF, but for the rest we’re on our own.
