Topics

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Off Topic / DIZZY: Mack's indie Pop Band Adventures (Single Released!)

« on: October 15, 2017, 04:32:37 AM »

Hey guys. It's unlikely that many of you remember me, I'm a bit of an old timer member from the earlier days of retail blockland. I figured I'd go full Blogland Forums here and give you an update on where the forget I've been for the past three odd years.



This is my band. We're called Dizzy, we started it back in 2015 as a sort of experiment that grew into something much greater. It consists of our singer Katie, my two brothers (guitar and drums/percussion/synth) and myself on bass/synth.

In late 2015 after lots of writing and gigging in our local city, we were picked up by Canadian label Royal Mountain Records (Alvvays, Mac Demarco, PUP) and were suddenly thrown into a record deal that included a 10 track album procured by Bjork's former producer Damian Taylor.

This year, we were offered a US record deal from Canvasback Records (Alt-J, Joy Formidable) which started with a two song contract and will eventually and hopefully grow into the full deal.

We hopped into our first tour across the US and Canada just two weeks ago. I'm currently laying in a weird motel in Billings, Montana, writing this post because I almost forgot you guys existed. We toured as direct support for an artist named Tei Shi, and on the 13th our first single finally released to the public!

You can listen to the single on YouTube here:

https://youtu.be/7K6WKkUIJSw

We're also available on Spotify, Apple Music and Google Play.

Album release schedule is looking like April or May of 2018. When I get back home next week we start principal photography for the music video which is pretty exciting.

So yeah! Give it a listen, let me know what you think. Trash talk it if you want. It might be your thing! Or not. But that's cool.

tl;dr I started a band with my brothers and now we're touring across the US and being thrown into the music industry and im becoming an acoholic pls send help

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Games / Elite: Dangerous Extremely Large 8K, 15K & 23K(!) Screenshots [5mb each]

« on: June 05, 2015, 05:00:52 AM »

I've been playing around with the High-Resolution Screenshot function in Elite: Dangerous, and it's produced some pretty awesome highres images.

8K:




15K:


23K Ultrawide: [Compressed to 5MB due to imagehost, quite a bit of loss :(]

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Off Topic / Moved

« on: June 05, 2015, 04:59:37 AM »

Wrong location

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Games / [Twitch] Streaming some Elite: Dangerous (Edit: eating then continuing)

« on: December 18, 2014, 05:54:19 PM »

http://www.twitch.tv/tothemacksimum

What is Elite: Dangerous?

Elite: Dangerous is a space adventure, trading, and combat simulator that is the fourth installment in the Elite video game series. Piloting a spaceship, the player explores a realistic 1:1 scale open world galaxy based on the real Milky Way, and the gameplay is open-ended. The game is the first in the series to feature massively multiplayer gameplay, with players' actions affecting the narrative story of the game's persistent universe, while also retaining single player options. It is the sequel to Frontier: First Encounters, the third game in the Elite series, released in 1995.

tl;dr its first person EVE online with a better learning curve and over 400 billion star systems to explore

The game is $60 and was released on the 16th. You can buy it here: https://www.elitedangerous.com/

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Games / Streaming Prepar3D: Practicing for my Private Pilot

« on: October 12, 2014, 09:36:10 PM »

So recently this happened. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn1u1QTBoU0

I've decided my career path is going to be in the Aviation industry.

I'm starting my training in November, I've already got my Transport Canada books, and I've been using a high-end flight simulator to get my practice in.

I'm streaming it with head tracking if you guys want to check it out.

http://www.twitch.tv/tothemacksimum

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Games / [TWITCH] ToTheMacksimum - 100% Whole Wheat Maple Syrup Canadian Gaming

« on: September 11, 2014, 03:05:59 AM »

twitch.tv/tothemacksimum

Stream Status: Online
Current Game: DayZ Experimental

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Games / Streaming some DayZ

« on: August 09, 2014, 02:11:31 AM »

http://www.twitch.tv/tothemacksimum

Boom, go there, wait 4stream to start yo

high as forget  

edit: bear with me while I fix it

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Off Topic / The Vinyl Megathread - Anything and Everything to do with Vinyl Records

« on: June 27, 2014, 03:19:40 AM »

Vinyl Megathread

Anything and Everything to do with vinyl records

"I was born in 2003, so..."
What are Vinyls?

A gramophone record or vinyl record, commonly known as "a record", is an brown townog sound storage medium in the form of a flat polyvinyl chloride (previously shellac) disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts near the periphery and ends near the center of the disc. Phonograph records are generally described by their diameter in inches (12", 10", 7"), the rotational speed in rpm at which they are played (331⁄3, 45, 78), and their time capacity resulting from a combination of those parameters (LP − long playing, SP − single, EP − 12" single or extended play); their reproductive quality or "fidelity" ("high fidelity", "orthophonic", "full-range", etc.), and the number of audio channels provided ("mono", "stereo", "quad", etc.).

The Phonograph disc record was the primary medium used for music reproduction until late in the 20th century, replacing the phonograph cylinder record, with which it had co-existed, by the 1920s. By the late 1980s, digital media, in the form of the Compact Disc, had gained a larger market share, and the vinyl record left the mainstream in 1991. They continue to be manufactured and sold in the 21st century. In 2009, 3.5 million units shipped in the United States, including 3.2 million albums, the highest number since 1998, and the format retains a niche market. They are especially used by DJs and many audiophiles for numerous types of music.

Types & Sizes


                                    A horribly drawn size comparison

LP ( 12", 331⁄3 RPM, 45 RPM)

The LP (Long Play), or 33 1⁄3 rpm 12" microgroove vinyl record, is a format for phonograph (gramophone) records, an brown townog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry. Apart from relatively minor refinements and the important later addition of stereophonic sound capability, it has remained the standard format for vinyl albums.

EP (10", 331⁄3 RPM, 45 RPM)

An extended play (EP) is a musical recording that contains more music than a single, but is usually too short to qualify as a full studio album or LP. The term EP originally referred to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play (SP) records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact Discs and music downloads as well. Ricardo Baca of The Denver Post said, "EPs—originally extended-play 'single' releases that are shorter than traditional albums—have long been popular with punk and indie bands." In the United Kingdom, the Official Chart Company defines a boundary between EP and album classification at 25 minutes of length or four tracks (not counting alternative versions of featured songs, if present).

Single (7", 45 RPM)

The record single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album.The most common form of the vinyl single is the 45 or 7-inch, the names are derived from its play speed, 45 rpm and the standard diameter 7-inch (18 cm).

The 7-inch 45 rpm record was introduced in 1949 by RCA as a smaller, more durable and higher-fidelity replacement for the 78 rpm shellac discs. The first 45 rpm records were monaural, with recordings on both sides of the disc. As stereo recordings became popular in the 1960s, almost all 45 rpm records were produced in stereo by the early 1970s.

Although 7 inches remained the standard size for vinyl singles, 12-inch singles were introduced for use by DJs in discos in the 1970s. The longer playing time of these singles allowed the inclusion of extended dance mixes of tracks. In addition, the larger surface area of the 12-inch discs allowed for wider grooves (larger amplitude) and greater separation between grooves, the latter of which results in less cross-talk. Consequently, they "wore" better, and were less susceptible to scratches. The 12-inch single is still considered a standard format for dance music, though its popularity has declined in recent years.

Depending on its type, in addition to the song itself, a single may include remixes of the song, additional songs, a music video for promoting the single, and a collectible poster.

Why are records better?

"Hang on," you say. "I thought CDs and digital audio were WAY better than records."

You're sort of right, and sort of wrong. Here's why.

The Quality

It is a subject of debate whether brown townog audio is superior to digital audio or vice versa. The question is highly dependent on the quality of the systems (brown townog or digital) under review, and other factors which are not necessarily related to sound quality. Arguments for brown townog systems include the absence of fundamental error mechanisms which are present in digital audio systems, including aliasing, quantization noise, and the absolute limitation of dynamic range.



They sound "Warm"

Talk to any vinyl enthusiast and the common element at the heart of their affection is a tirelessly referenced but elusive description: “warm.”

But what, exactly, are we talking about when we say that vinyl sounds warm?

“The bottom line? As humans listening, we do not like square waves,” says renowned producer/mastering engineer Peter J. Moore, known for his legendary one-microphone recording of the Cowboy Junkies’ Trinity Sessions.

OK, so in layman’s terms, what is a square wave?

“It’s when you go from absolutely quiet to super loud with no time at all,” says Moore. “If I slap two pieces of wood right beside your ear, that’s about the only time in the real world that you would feel a square wave,” he says. “That would make you jump out of your skin.

“Digital, especially MP3s, reproduce square waves like crazy. That actually upsets people! You’re triggering your fear, which also triggers fatigue. It’s unnatural.
“Now, if I was across the room and slapped two sticks together, it would take time for that wave to travel to you and by then the square wave has rounded off.”
And what does that have to do with vinyl?

“A turntable playing a vinyl record could not reproduce a square wave if it tried.”

Why can’t it?

“If I have a wire that’s one-inch long, it takes no time for sound to travel over that wire. But in the coil in a turntable cartridge, that wire is very long and it’s wrapped around a magnet. So it takes a lot of time to get through that magnet and come out the other side. By the time it comes out, the sharpness, the ugliness has been rounded.

“That,” says Moore, “is what people mean by warm.”

Record Collecting


     This guy's wife probably left him because that is a stuff ton of records.

Record collecting is the hobby of collecting sound recordings, usually of music. As of 2011, many pressing plants have been reactivated and new releases in vinyl are appearing on an increasing basis. The volume of product seems to confirm continuing niche interest in the format as formats such as CDs and cassette tapes fail to compete with digital downloads.

Turntables


  This is the best turntable in the world, the Technics SL-1200MK2. Every scratch DJ has one. Every record enthusiast has one. This photo makes my richard hard.

In order to play a record you're going to need a Turntable. often called a "record player". There are three main types of phonograph turntable drives still being manufactured today, the belt-drive, idler-wheel and direct-drive systems; the names are based upon the type of coupling used between the platter of the turntable and the motor. In a belt-drive turntable the motor is located off-center from the platter, either underneath it or entirely outside of it, and is connected to the platter or counter-platter by a drive belt made from elastomeric material.

Belt Drive VS Direct Drive

The design of the belt-drive turntable allows the use of a less expensive motor than the direct-drive turntable. The elastomeric belt also absorbs motor vibrations which would otherwise be picked up by the stylus.

Direct-drive turntables may suffer from vibration due to the motor. This is less of an issue for belt-drive turntables. However, in recent years, shock-absorbing (less dense) material, placed between the motor and platter, has been used to cut back on vibrations. The torque on direct-drive turntables is usually much higher than on belt drive models. This means the platter speed is less susceptible to outside forces (stylus, hand). Higher torque also means the platter will accelerate to its proper speed faster so less distortion is heard when the record begins to play.

The bottom line: If you purchase any direct drive turntable that was manufactured beyond the year 1980, you will not hear any rumble. Some direct drive turntables also include a "quartz lock", which is a mechanism that makes the motor speed extremely accurate and virtually removes any wow/flutter.

Cartridges and the Stylus


     Two examples of good cartridges. The Ortofon Omega, a MM Cartridge, and the Stanton L720-EE, a T4P Cartridge.

The most common cartridge system used in turntables is the standard-mount system. It converts mechanical vibrational energy from a stylus riding in a record groove into an electrical signal that is subsequently amplified and then converted back to sound by a loudspeaker system.

Another variant is the P-MOUNT or T4P cartridge. This system still works as a standard-mount cartridge, but requires a specific headshell (commonly included with lower-end mid 80s turntables). Specifically designed to be user-friendly, P-MOUNT makes changing and setting-up a phono cartridge very simple, easy and fast. It takes only two steps: (1) plug and (2) screw. That's it.

Now why is P-MOUNT desirable? Most users simply want to play and listen to records. To them a turntable is simply a means to an end. The half-inch mount turntable requires several steps to install the cartridge and several other steps to balance and align the cartridge. Balancing and aligning a cartridge are required for optimal tracking, groove retrieval and sound quality. The P-MOUNT design simplifies cartridge installation and eliminates the need for cartridge alignment.

There is one last awful kind of stylus. The one you'll find on cheap, affordable new record players that have been designed to eliminate the need of a counterweight or any sort of tracking force/anti-skate adjustment. These are not good long-term solutions for record players, they will wear out your records quickly and damage other records.


 If your turntable one of these, throw it out the window. Steer clear of this design.

Starting Your Record Collection

Buying a Turntable: Used VS/New

Used/Vintage Turntables

Buying an older turntable has plenty of benefits. They can be purchased for an affordable price, and a lot of older turntables were made of much heavier duty materials and built with more care. Older tables also support the most popular forms of cartridges, Moving Magnet and T4P.

                                                                     Good Budget Turntables ($25-200)

                                 Technics SL-D3                                                                                       Sony PS-LX2                                                                                  Dual CS-505

                                                               Higher end, audiophile turntables ($700-2000)
                                  
                                                                       Technics SL-1200MK2                                        Sony PS-8750                                                  Dual CS-5000

New Turntables

Buying new turntables can be hit and miss. The cheaper, more affordable department-store turntables (I'm talking to you, Crosley owners) have no counterweight or tracking force adjustment and a proprietary, cheaply built stylus. These turntables will track with very heavy force and will quickly wear out your records, which will make them sound awful. They also usually do not have an accurate motor speed, causing your music to be played at the incorrect pitch and speed.

Some Crosley models have built in speakers. loving BUILT IN SPEAKERS. The vibration from them just reverberates into the stylus and causes feedback (and more damage). Whoever thought this was a good design idea needs to be dragged to the street and shot.

On the other hand, if you're willing to spend a bit more cash, manufacturers like Pro-Ject, Rega, U-Turn, Marantz and Denon are still making some nice, high end turntables. Plus they all look so lovey. Oh so lovey.

                                                                       Good new turntables

          Pro-Ject Debut Carbon                          Rega RP3                                          U-Turn Orbit Plus

                                                                       Bad new turntables
                  
                                                      Crosley Cruiser                                             Sony PS-LX300USB                                             Jensen Piece Of stuff

Receivers, PreAmps and Speakers

You'll need a stereo receiver if you want to hear your turntable.


                   A Marantz 2230, one of the most popular older stereo receivers.

Your turntable will also require a Phono Pre-Amp. The regular output on a turntable is extremely quiet, and the phono pre-amp simply amplifies the sound to make it audible.


                   The NAD PP 2, one of the more popular phono pre-amps.

Some turntables, like the AudioTechnica LP120 (a good new clone of the SL-1200MK2) have a built in phono pre-amp, so you won't need one.



You'll need a set of speakers too. They must be stereo (2 speakers) because vinyls are only two channel, and only output in stereo (or mono split). You'll need standard passive (two copper wire connection) speakers in order to get sound from your receiver.

As long as they're the right connection, you can use bookshelf speakers, floor standing speakers and even PA systems. A good, affordable way to get good stereo speakers is to look on websites like Craigslist or eBay.

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Off Topic / [RADIO BROADCAST] HEFTY. V2. - VINYL NIGHT

« on: May 30, 2014, 01:38:36 AM »

http://heftyradio.org/

Status: Online
Genre: Indie/Alternative/Rock
Now Playing: VINYL NIGHT
Schedule:∞

About

HEFTY is a non-profit radio stream created by Mack Spencer and Thomas Bolbat.
We stream for a small audience to simply show off some cool music.

https://www.facebook.com/heftyradio
https://twitter.com/HEFTYradio/

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Off Topic / [RADIO BROADCAST] HEFTY. - Name ideas. [ON AIR]

« on: March 28, 2014, 06:58:35 PM »

LISTEN HERE

What's Hefty?

Hefty is going to be an open radio station that you can listen to for free off of our website (which we're working on). It'll be 100% free with NO ads and will play VERY little top 40 music. The website will be divided into genres and moods. Each station is broadcasted live and if applicable, each station will have commentary and requests.

We're currently stress testing and building the website and systems, but we're streaming music while we can, so it's sort of like early-access. It won't be up all the time just yet but we'll keep you posted for when it goes up or down.

Can I broadcast my own station?

You can message Tom or Mack on our account forums to ask about broadcasting under Hefty with a genre or mood of your choice. If we like your ideas, pop into our Teamspeak and we'll get you set up!

Do you take requests?

Yes, 100%. We'll soon get a small message client that we can use to accept requests messages but for now you can post in the thread or PM us.

11

Off Topic / Mack's Streaming Vinyls (new and old)!

« on: March 27, 2014, 11:16:56 PM »

http://www.twitch.tv/ToTheMacksimum

Currently playing some Foo Fighters, Yes, and a bit of Earth Wind & Fire and Pink Floyd!

12

Off Topic / Oh right um I forgot my birthday and stuff

« on: March 01, 2014, 08:54:56 PM »

I turned 20 a couple of days ago

so

cake

13

Off Topic / Mack and Tom's Chicago Adventure

« on: February 09, 2014, 02:55:20 AM »

What's happening?

On April 29th, 2014, I will be taking a train from my hometown in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, to Toronto's Island Airport, flying 883 miles to Chicago's Midway Intl. Airport, and meeting my good friend that I met through Blockland and have now known for 6 years total, TomTheGeek.

What are you guys doing?

Tom will be staying at the Hilton with me.

We will be meeting up with a couple of our friends and going to a Bombay Bicycle Club concert at the House of Blues on the 30th.

After that, we're probably gonna richard around the city, eat lots of food, go swimming, do a few Ferris Bueller things like going up the Sears tower, maybe a museum, and we're probably going to visit a music store at some point.

I'll also be spending a lot of time with a girl that I met through Tom who lives in his area.

I'll be leaving on 3rd of may.

So why is this important

It's his birthday today, if you haven't already noticed, so go wish him a happy birthday

Also it's going to be pretty neat, it's an official blocklander meetup. Previously I think Khorde and Valen met up once, so yeah, this is the next one.

14

Off Topic / [LIVE][MUSIC][REQUESTS] Streaming music - Fixed audio! [high as forget]

« on: January 19, 2014, 10:42:23 PM »

http://twitch.tv/mackthehunter

Info:

I have JIA (a type of arthritis) and have to take a huge injection of Methotrexate weekly. It makes me feel very sick and nauseous. To combat it, I have been approved for medicinal cannabis.

AKA Pineapple express, motherforgeters.

CHOO CHOO!


Requests are also open!

15

Off Topic / [STREAMING] Red Mario VS Greened Luigi - a battle of richards [TOM VS MACK]

« on: January 06, 2014, 08:16:40 PM »

http://twitch.tv/tomthegeek

Do it up for some hilarious stuff!