In my zeal to attempt this new career, it seems the Universe has aligned against me. Right after my last blog entry, the plague came to wreak its havoc on our household. I'm still not 100 percent. I can hear a rumble, and I must clear my throat at least 40 times each morning. If you think it's annoying to listen to, I assure you it's at least as annoying to do. Laryngitis was the biggest culprit, though a nasty cold and stomach virus attended as well.
As I started to think I could speak again, my computer quit working. Specifically, the speakers and audio decided to crap out. Fortunately, the top case was still under warranty! Yay! Alas, that was another 9 days gone.
It's taken the better part of 6 weeks to actually have the time and energy to get to where I am today, sitting in a quiet (enough?) room in the library. I recorded a few tracks just to get an idea of the levels and, honestly, to familiarize myself with the equipment and software I'm using.
Next step: get help. I'm not kidding, I am not sure these are good enough to submit to anyone or anything. I need a trained ear to listen and critique.
The good news is that the terror I had been feeling over all of this has subsided into a dull, ongoing anxiety. I'm not sleeping well, and I'm eating a lot (and I mean, a LOT) of chocolate. I can't decide if it's the fear of failure or the fear of trying that has me tied in knots. Maybe they're the same thing.
Above is the room where all of the magic happens. I'm choosing to frame this as my humble beginnings.
Funny observations about today:
The room I'm recording in shares a wall with the bathroom here at the library. So, when someone flushes, that's an automatic take 2.
I have forgotten how to annunciate. To me, I sound like I have marbles in my mouth. All the time.
I had forgotten how painful it is to listen to myself. I do not sound like this in my head. This disembodied voice is thin, wretched.
South Carolina LOVES leaf blowers. I do not understand this obsession, and I've never seen it anywhere else we've traveled. But, and I'm not exaggerating, I hear a leaf blower every single day here. There are not this many leaves in the world, much less on any particular rectangle of sidewalk. The sound from that leaks into this room occasionally, so that's an automatic take 3.
It's dark in here. I can't turn the overhead light on, because it's neon. It makes a low, humming noise. ...I need a studio.
So there you have it, my - ahem - dubious progress in this new venture. Thanks for reading, and I'll try to include some questionable audio takes next time!
