Personal Art, Software Reviews... and Birds

LOL Emo TIEM.

2011-10-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

Beh. Right now I really need a hug. Nothing bad happened today... just a bit lonely is all heheh. Been kinda stressed out and stuff. Hopefully soon I will get a new job and get away from the hellhole I've been stuck with for years.

Fixed the monitor hinge fix

2011-08-31T00:21:00.000-07:00

Made the fix look a little more streamlined. Now, instead of sticking out at the sides of the screen, the sticks are pointing up and down. Might decorate the sticks or at least paint them silver so they don't look out of place. It's not the best fix, and I still gotta worry about the lid flipping closed, but at least I have a semi-workable solution for now.

Broken Laptop Hinges - Found Workaround!

2011-08-31T00:07:00.000-07:00

I found some craft sticks(aka popsicle sticks) and was playing around trying to find a way to keep the monitor up where I wanted it. First I tried hot-gluing them to the bottom of the lid to act like sort of a 'door stop' but it didn't work that great - popped the monitor out of the hinges a few times and the sticks just wouldn't stay in place. Right now I'm taking a different approach; I stuck two craft sticks on the sides of the console, and two on the top of the monitor... though I might change it because it looks a bit too odd still. But at least it works.

Sick - might be a bug or allergies

2011-08-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

So, last night I started getting the telltale post-nasal drip, and that was a clue that my nose was not going to let me sleep very well. Played around, tried to make some kind of jury-rigging that would make my computer's monitor stay up. Hinges are totally shot, which sucks but hey, it's still very good for a fifteen-buck computer.

Had to go to class today and managed to get there just in time despite the parking lot being full to the point where I had to compete with other drivers for a parking space. Finally, at around ten minutes until class, I found a parking space and the one who was trying to pull out was having trouble because I and another person were both vying for that space. Somehow I managed to claim that space for myself, and I was like, 'MINE! MINE!' 'cause I REALLY needed to get to class on time.

In class, I found out that my purse was far more reliable than the coathanger at supporting the monitor, though I am still working on an idea for making some metal support strips that will keep the lid from opening too far, as well as a pair of inner-supports that could be removed and keep it from swinging closed. The computer and display work - it's just the hinges that are shot. Also might do some drafting for the plans and maybe upload them to help others in a similar situation.

Also, I have a fiction blog here, and am currently working on an original story that I've been working on mostly in my head for years. Feel free to post a comment and any input you'd like.

Broken Laptop Hinges

2011-08-28T17:19:00.001-07:00

The hinges on my laptop are busted now. Guess if it ain't one thing, it's another. Ah well, at least I have a few work-arounds.

Finally... IT'S GONE! TDSKiller WORKED!

2011-08-28T03:42:00.000-07:00

After running TDSKiller, it found the culprit and cured the infected file. Then I used CCleaner and removed a lot of other crap. Might use it to do a registry scan later, but for now, it's nighty-night time. Been up for a LONG time doing the scan and now I need to sleep. Laterz!

Well... STOPZilla didn't work.

2011-08-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Something weird happened to my computer after I installed STOPzilla, and I had to roll it back to last known good setting. Stupid thing. I have GOT to get rid of that browser hijack!

I'm installng STOPzilla - the Google browser hijack virus has GOT TO GO!

2011-08-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

I love the computer that I was recently given. Great little laptop, very nice to have something I can use on the couch or in bed or on the floor without lugging around a big, heavy screen or fighting to get it to read an optical disk. However, it does have one annoying aspect: the Google browser hijack virus is a PAIN IN THE BUTT! Been trying everything to make it go away, and now I think I've found the solution: STOPzilla. Links to this and other Google hijack removal programs can be found on this page.

The Google redirect virus is able to hide by injecting itself into other processes and monkeying around with the registry, HOSTS file and DNS, which can make it difficult to find and remove. However, enough people have had this problem and were able to get a fix for it.

If you are having problems with getting redirected to some unrelated page half the time when you click on a link in Google, I would recommend downloading and installing STOPzilla antivirus, BITDefender Total Security, Spyware Doctor Antivirus or Webroot Spy Sweeper. This will get rid of the aggravation of redirects, as most other antivirus programs will not be able to detect this particular malware.

Hard Disk Cleanup and Possible Employment At Krispy Kream

2011-08-24T01:59:00.000-07:00

Today, I did some major cleaning up on my computer's hard drive, and deleted all the other accounts. Also deleted a bunch of home videos and photos that the original owner shot because they weren't mine and it just doesn't feel right to snoop. Can't get over what a good computer this is. Sure, it has a few faults like a couple wonky USB ports and a slightly loose monitor hinge, but it works like a dream. HP really made a hardy laptop. Might try helping other people fix their computers so they won't sell gems like this for so little. I could have fixed this computer for the original owners.

And this morning, I went to apply for a job at this Krispy Kream Factory that will be opening in about a month. It would be so nice to get out of my other job. Plus, if hired, I would pretty much be the IRL equivalent of an 'early adopter', so that would be cool.

I've installed Linux on another clunker laptop my mum bought, but the damn thing can't connect to the internet and the LAN port seems to be dead. At the very least, I will be able to get accustomed to working with Linux, though I would like to dual boot that operating system on a better computer.

My mum also is going to be getting a practically brand-new computer for free because the owner doesn't know how to work computers, apparently, and he thinks he ruined it. It just might be another treasure like the laptop I'm using right now. I might even be able to play around with that laptop and keep it, and give my old computers to Mum so she can use them for repairs. She's taking a computer repair class and I'm thinking of doing the same next semester. In this economy, we might be able to at least save some money or make a little by selling refurbished models.

I just can't believe how people will just give away such nice things.

Jeskola Buzz

2011-08-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

This is an old program, one which was around for around for over a decade, and was made to emulate the look and feel of the Amiga tracker. Upon first using Buzz, you might find it quite confusing especially in the older version as the user interface is very unfamiliar. In the machines view, which is the default, you will see a box that says 'Master' on it. That is the master volume unit, and you plug the other machines into it.

Right-click in that empty space and you'll get a pop-up menu with some options including "new" which will open a submenu when selected. You can choose a generator and it will be automatically plugged into the master unit. If you want to give it some effects like reverb, delay, filter or distort, then create a new effect unit the same way you made the generator. Then, holding , you click on the generator and drag your mouse to the effect unit. That will apply the effect in real time, and there are hundreds of cool generators and effects to download from the Buzzmachines site.

Navigating the program can be quite trying at first, but here's a walkthrough. You start in the machines view, which you can come back to by clicking on the button that has a picture of a square with a hole in its upper left corner. That and other buttons are located above the work area. The button for the pattern editor, which is where you create and edit your musical patterns, looks like an old punch-card and is at the left of the machines button, and the pattern sequencer, which is where you build your song, is at the right of the machines button and has a picture of what looks like a section of roof shingles.

The buttons to the right of that group look familiar: right-facing black triangle for 'play', red circle for 'record' and black square for 'stop'. There's also a button that has a curved-edge rectangle with one arrow on top and two on the bottom - that one can be selected or de-selected, and it controls whether your composition loops. Next to that group is a picture of a table with a zig-zag on it. This is the 'wave table', which is where you load and tweak the sound-samples you've recorded. Next button has the 'blah blah' written on it, and is just for writing notes about your composition. The last button in that group shows a zig-zag with a red 'x' over it, and is a 'panic' button that you can press to disable the audio device, which is useful if you need to free up the sound card or just stop some horrible noise gremlin.

If you need more help, there is a help file that comes with the program. I recommend playing around with this program and experimenting with the different machines that you can find on the site.

Go to Buzzmachines for more information and for some very cool electronic music. There's also a site for a new, updated version of Buzz - Jeskola.net, a message board that is supposed to be 'serious', known as Buzz Church and a Youtube video to help get you familiar with this fine program!

So, try it out, and if you've made a song with this program, send me a link because I would love to hear it!

VST Planet

2011-08-21T03:02:00.000-07:00

This website mostly showcases and provides links to Virtual Studio Technology or VST plugins, but there's a lot more interesting things you can find there. There's a section for Audio Tools which is divided into Multitrack, Sound Editor, Sequencer and Other, and each one has links to some very useful programs, including the ones I have listed in This Entry. There's a section with Links to many fine websites including KVRAudio, another great directory for VST plugins and hosts, a Music page for compositions made from showcased programs, a search engine and an Archive so you can find what you're looking for easily and even get the latest news in the world of free and cheap music software. Each day, you'll find news about free and cheap music software, plugins and even sample packs. You can make your own studio with these downloads, a PC or laptop, a pair of headphones and ideally, a microphone.

I would recommend uploading your compositions to Youtube and possibly to some radio websites like Acidplanet. You can make some money by advertising your music and signing with an independent label or selling them in an online store, though I would recommend starting by posting links to your songs and videos in a blog that you are monetizing with advertisements from Google or Yahoo.

Links to Awesome Music Freeware!

2011-08-20T04:35:00.000-07:00

I want to spread the word about my favourite freeware programs and stuff, because in an economy like this, few can afford programs like FL Studio, Reason or Record. There are oodles of free programs out there that work just as well as the commercial models, and sometimes they're just more user-friendly.

Here are my favourites, and you may notice that they all work on Windows, since it is the operating system I primarily use. I may put in a list of Linux programs sometime in the future, when I've had the chance to test them.

I will be putting in more links in the future.

If you are a programmer and want your creation featured here, or if you would like to see your favourite software on this blog, just post a request in the comment section or email me.

***

Samplers

Tuareg, Tu2, Tunafish, PUMP and Moonfish

Classic sequencer programs
Useful for pretty much any type of music
Tunafish has support for Virtual Studio Technology(VST) plugins
All are now free as of 2010

Linux Multimedia Studio

Great alternative to FL Studio
Lots of great instrument units
Plenty of samples
Support for VSTs
Opens FL Studio projects
Lots of LADSPA effects and LFOs for making your compositions sound just right!

Sequitur

Freeware MIDI sequencer
VST support
Audio record function
MIDI event support

JackBeat

Drum machine
Great for live performances
Connects to other programs using Jack and OSC

Hammerhead

Sample-based drum machine
Lots of different sounds to choose from
Realistic hihat muting(closed hihat mutes open hihat)
Userbank creation
Supports the raw file format for importing sound

Drumbox Beta

Loads wav files
No user banks required
Can apply distortion, pitch change and overdrive to individual channels

LeafDrums

Lenient shareware

No crippling
Nagscreen at beginning, never interrupts use of program

Humanize feature
Distortion, gate, delay, reverb and many other features
Other features like beat-nudging and accenting
Great for trance, not so much for drum & bass

Trackers

Jeskola Buzz

One of the BEST trackers ever, with LOADS of supported plugins
Has synth and effect units that are plugged into the output
Create patterns in pattern editor
Sequence patterns in sequencer
Has simple sound editor
A bit of a steep learning curve, but fun to use
Comes in two different sizes

Stealth for portability
Massive for loads of plugins

New version available after the sourcecode was thought to be lost forever

Psycle

Cross between Jeskola Buzz and Modplug tracker
Has synth and effect units
Multitrack pattern strip
Any one note can be placed on any track
Each track strip has its own number or letter

Modplug Tracker

Has sample and MIDI units
VST instrument and effect support
Very compact - installation may not even be required
Multitrack pattern strip
Any sample can be assigned to any track

Darkwave Studio

A Buzz-like tracker
Has support for VST Plugins
Pattern editor
Pattern sequencer
Can add and edit MIDI events

Aodix

Create your own sounds in the sample window
Edit sample attributes
Can tweak note length by mouse or typing

Sunvox

Super compact
A few small synth units, but with BIG sound
Great for those who want to travel light

Nice, compact tracker
Two synth oscillators
Two LFO units
Simple effects unit

Mono
Portamenteau
Reverb
Delay

Modulation units

Pitch
Filter
Amplitude

Sampler
Storage for lots of instruments
MIDI event recording and manual sequencing

Softsynths

RubberDuck

Powerful TB-303 style sequencer
Lots of cool settings
Can link with other programs like DrumStation and MJStudio

DrumStation

Drum Machine emulator
Can tweak the sound settings
Linkable with other d-lusion products like RubberDuck

MJStudio

Two turntables - you supply the microphone
Linkable with other d-lusion products like RubberDuck and DrumStation
Loads mp3s

ReBirth

Set of four Emulators

Two TB-303's, one TR808, and one 909

Lots of cool, tweakable settings
Samples can be added for program MODs
User account required but easy to set up

TS-404

Good for creating simple basslines
Saves only to RAW wave format
Saved RAW waves can be used in the Hammerhead drum machine

Sound Editors

Sampled

A much-overlooked classic
Old but nice to have
Lots of cool features

Cool Edit 96

Shareware, but old and no longer supported
Lots of great features
Use as you wish - product is discontinued

Multitrack Recorders

Audacity

A staple for starving musicians
Very convenient for recording and mixing
Lots of plugins and effects
Supports VST effect plugins

Traverso

Simple to use
Low learning curve
Support for MP3 and other popular file formats

VST Plugins

Instruments

VSTPlanet

Effects

VSTPlanet

Sound Generators

DrumSynth2

Make drum sounds
Sweeps
Instruments
Ambient noises

Simsynth

Subtractive Synthesizer
Non-realtime
Create, test and render samples

Stomper Hyperion

Drum Synth
Works as stand-alone or plugin
Very easy to use
Create drums, instruments and more
Lots of different functions
Hours of fun
Must-have if you get a sampler program

Soundforum Synthesizer

Standalone synthesizer
Several oscillator, LFO and effects units
Great for MIDI sequencer programs

Coagula

Create sounds from pictures
Draw or import bitmaps, gifs or jpegs
A must-have if you want to make these cool sweeps

Webcam Works!

2011-08-19T23:47:00.000-07:00

I just got my old rocketfish webcam working again. Yup, I missed being able to take snapshots of my ugly face and put them online. But anyway, lots of things have changed and hopefully I am less ugly now. One can only hope. Feel free to goatse me.

Might do some videos of myself singing, and hope that it won't make your ears bleed hahaha!

Just Installed Linux Multimedia Studio

2011-08-19T02:07:00.000-07:00

Yup, I don't think I can rave enough about how awesome LMMS is, but I almost forgot that I had already made an entry about it. Still, you guys have to download this fine program and see how good it really is!

Also, get Weird Al's latest CD. He has totally outdone himself with this one!

New Layout

2011-08-17T22:31:00.000-07:00

Because the circles template was boring and I felt that after a year or so of inactivity, it was time for some change. I've gone through a lot of change, including getting a used computer that doesn't need to be hooked up to a big fat monitor, though I might try it out just for ducks. It'd be kinda cool to have a duel monitor setup even if the other monitor is rather bulky.

Anyway, here are some designs I put on Zazzle:

Shop for a personalized gift at Zazzle.

Getting Settled Into Laptop

2011-08-16T00:45:00.000-07:00

Got some more stuff onto it and already I feel at home. It's wonderful, but maybe that's because for so long I have done without a working monitor backlight. Today, I took the computer to McDonalds for the heck of it, and used their lovely free wifi. There, I met a really nice guy. He has some tattoos but they look totally cool on him, and he told me he couldn't believe I was 30. Man, that is refreshing.

Still got some kinks to work out with this laptop so I can stream the Alpocalypse album some more.

Very Happy

2011-08-15T04:15:00.000-07:00

Yup, I'm up rather late and stuff but man I cannot get over how awesome a bargain this is. And... I saw a rather strange music video on youtube. Are all of Beck's videos this whacked-out? Because man, I am starting to really love his music, even though I think he's kinda stupid for getting into the whole Scientology thing. Hope he doesn't end up dying mysteriously or even just 'disappearing'. Dude should totally switch to the Freezone.

Used Laptop - $15 Real Bargain!

2011-08-15T02:10:00.000-07:00

My Toshiba laptop is getting closer and closer to dying. Dunno if I'll be able to fix it but my mum bought some old laptops at a garage sale. And she's letting me have one that she got for $15. It's an HP and not as flashy as the Toshiba was in its prime, but the monitor backlight works, and so does the CD/DVD-RW. And it has wifi and three USB ports, two of which work(one more than the Toshiba), and it isn't shutting down randomly.

Sure, it's older and its lid is a bit loose, but I don't need to hook it up to a second monitor that I have to lug around. It's got Windows XP, but it's fine - I don't need frills, and if I wanted to, I could duel boot the computer with Linux.

How did we get this lappy for $15? Well, the former owners said that the kids had put a virus on it and pretty much destroyed the thing. It works pretty well despite someone hiding most of the files, and it burned several backup CDs without a fuss. I've had to fight endlessly with my Toshiba just to get it to read a CD. And the Toshiba had previously refused to boot up even in safe mode and forced me to do a total system recovery. This time, it's being nice to me. Might be able to save all the stuff I need to this time.

Life can suck sometimes, but then there are little things like this that make everything right with the world for awhile.

Used Laptop and Big Fangirling Tangent... heh.

2011-08-14T01:16:00.000-07:00

Family went to a garage sale and got a laptop for ten bucks. Nice model, mind you - hp, with about seventy-five gigs. But whoever owned it was rather stupid. I don't know if it was just the kids who mucked it up but oh man it is messed up badly. I can use it a bit and even browse on internet explorer or firefox, but after a few minutes, the browser decides to just stop working and I have to restart said browser. And it seems the damn thing has some viruses thanks to the kiddies playing around with it... but that doesn't explain why the contents of almost the entire hard drive were hidden.

But other than that it is just an awesome computer. I feel like I've been given an expensive car for five bucks.

I might be getting that computer to use for when I would really love to be out and about instead of chained to the desk with my Toshiba(the display on the monitor works fine but the backlight is shot. Gotta learn how to fix that one without hosing the whole thing.

And tonight I listened to Weird Al's entire Alpocalypse album streamed online. Gotta get that album because man oh man this is the first Weird Al CD since "Running With Scissors" in which I've found every song as enjoyable as the last. On Poodle Hat, a lot of the parodies were kinda meh... as were quite a few of the originals, though honestly many of them have grown on me, especially "Wanna B UR Lover", thanks to seeing Al perform it live and oh man I wish I was in the audience. Would totally try to hug him again. And "Why Does This Always Happen To Me" is probably my favourite song from that album, because it helps put a lot of inconveniences and plain bad days in perspective. Straight Outta Lynwood is better, and has quite a few awesome songs including "Close, But No Cigar" which helped me through some relationships that went sour.

Alpocalypse has really amazed me though. I mean, at first I thought "Skipper Dan" would be filler but man it has helped me out when I've been all depressed over being underemployed and even harassed at work. I used to be on top but now I'm at the bottom. Sometimes I feel like I'm being hugged, and it ain't the first time this has happened - "One More Minute", "You Don't Love Me Anymore" and "I was Only Kidding" have given me that same feeling when I've been dealing with relationships that had gone sour. Original songs like the ones mentioned really show a lot of serious depth behind the funny lyrics. Even "If That Isn't Love" has helped me realize that I need to find someone else. Wish I could meet Al and tell him in person just how much his songs have helped and comforted me.

Also gotta tear myself away from Master of Orion and get to doing some more art. *is a dork*

Chatty Budgie

2011-08-12T00:05:00.000-07:00

Well, my budgie is sure in a talkative mood, and he's swinging on his little metal chain swing. When I look at him, he'll often stop tweeting, but he's usually quite a chatterbox. No, he doesn't speak human, but he does speak parakeet, and sometimes he'll answer when I chirp or warble at him. Yup, I can do a great imitation of the budgie warble.

Yucko.

2011-08-12T00:02:00.000-07:00

Got back from work rather late. Had to clean the bathrooms among other things, and one of the toilets was clogged. Someone used too much paper and it took forever to plunger it. Got some of the dirty water on my clothes too. Yuck. I sincerely hope that this will earn me some more hours and a raise. Working at a fast food place is so overrated. Wish that I could switch occupations with one of those rich celebrity twits who do nothing but get drunk and arrested and cause drama. Of course then the damn paparazzi would hafta look for someone else to bug.

Work

2011-08-11T15:04:00.001-07:00

Gonna be leaving for work soon, but as of late I've gotten rather chatty online. Hopefully I will stay this way and won't be distracted by the shiny. I really hate how I will get so interested in some activity for awhile and then lose interest and fade away. Gonna probably do another picture tonight. Hopefully I can get a few good crits here.

Paparazzi Amuses Me Sometimes

2011-08-11T15:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Paparazzi,

You will likely never find any dirt on Weird Al because he is so squeaky clean he doesn't even use my mum's favourite swear words in his music or his unbelievably awesome UHF movie. 'Bout all you'll get of interest is an unauthorized peek at his daughter's face, which I bet he is non-too-pleased about. Cut it out. Go bother Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton instead. They're probably savvy enough to know what makes you give them all this attention.

Besides that, the worst drug-related thing Weird Al has done was puff a clove cigarette in order to make a smoke-effect for his UHF video, and he has a rather upbeat outlook of life - so upbeat in fact that his other girlfriends often wondered why he was so darned happy all the time. Stop it. Just find someone else to bug.

(Yeah, I know, this is coming from someone who walked up to Al, and hugged and kissed him while he was performing. Shaddup.)

- Jenna da Capo

(yup, I know it may be old hat but it just amazes me at how these people are just trying to snoop around in the personal lives of celebrities who tend to be low key and don't do anything stupid.)

I'm Up For Requests!

2011-08-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

What should I draw next? I'm thinking of doing a picture of a swan because one of the characters in a roleplay I'm doing is a swan and I love them, as well as geese and ducks. Even raised a few goslings and had a couple that imprinted upon me. I was even able to talk to them while they hatched, and they answered.

Also thinking of drawing a cockatoo or a lovebird. Lovebirds are so colourful, and they look super sweet when they're cuddling on the perch. Though I am quite interested in drawing owls as well. They are related to hawks and eagles, and many of them screech like the redtailed hawk, while others sound more like the bald eagle(and no, the bald eagle screech you are so familiar with is not really from the bald eagle, but from the redtailed hawk).

I will take requests for other things like portraits or fanart but nothing that wouldn't be safe for work - this is a clean blog. I am keeping it this way so I can use google adsense and they don't allow sites with adult content to use their ads. Sowwy. Which means if I do put any adult-ish pics here I'll have to blockatiel parts of them. Might even draw my own blockatiel. Haha!

Underemployed

2011-08-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

I doubt I'm alone - there's got to be a lot of people who are working for a piddly 2-4 hours per week due to their jobs hoarding labor. These places go and hire a bunch of people they don't even need in case the economy bounces back and then everyone suffers. It's like there's too many hungry mouths and not enough food to go around. Why not just hire only the people you flippin' need? It's illogical to do that! It's like saying, "It's way too hot in here, so let's turn the heater up further!".

But at least I'm getting called in today despite practically being made the persona non grata by the landlord there. That genius of a landlord has been harassing me, calling me an idiot and apparently reporting me for ridiculous crap like using a fake accent when talking(when I can do a pretty authentic-sounding Brit accent). Yup. Blame it on me binging on Doctor Who.

Well, hopefully I can either get a job at Fry's Electronics or Target, or even Bestbuy(got my wonderful laptop there three years ago and the monitor backlight is out possibly due to me handling it a bit roughly). These places gave me such great service, though it would be a dream come true to just find a workplace that treated its employees as kindly and respectfully as it does its customers. It seems like these days it's okay to treat workers like dirt, especially in a bad economy when beggars can't be choosers.

I'll also be going back to school soon and be quite busy, but hopefully I'll be able to post some nice things still. It's really time I got back to posting here instead of just wallowing. Besides, I've gone on a Weird Al binge and I think his music is again serving as a side-effect free antidepressant.

And yup, I'm asking for tips and stuff, but only in posts where I actually do something entertaining - so instead of e-begging I'm e-busking. You know... like the performer on the street, standing next to an upside-down hat that people throw coins into. Just lookin' for some tips for people whose days I brighten, but I'm also looking for some critiques and friends. So don't be a stranger! Comment and crit my art, rip it apart, correct my grammar, help me get better at what I'm doing!

Also, if you have a product you'd like me to pitch, I'd be glad to! I'd love to get a free product to demonstrate on video to give you guys some much-needed customers.