Video: voicing organ pipes

[vaneramos]

[Note: what follows is the entry I posted on Monday, then deleted, because I couldn't see the video. I'll re-post it, because you should be able to see it unless you use the same LJ style as me. In case you can't, the link to the video on YouTube is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0icYKmGfnw ]

For what it's worth, here is my first attempt at shooting a video (on the Canon PowerShot) and uploading to Youtube. The past few days in the shop I've been voicing some organ pipes that were too shrill. It took about 12 hours and was a particularly tedious task (usually, my job is not boring!), so I shot a demonstrational video to pass the time. The sound quality is better than the visual. I'll try larger subject matter in better light next time.

My boss flew home last night from 10 days away, partly business, partly pleasure. He had been planning to take today off, so I left a message for him that I would be going into the shop for a few hours to finish off these pipes, but there was no need for him to make an appearance.

He did anyway, just to take me out to lunch, and seemed very happy to see me. I can hardly explain how this moved me. Simply put, I've never really felt appreciated in a job before this. How many people would be so lucky to go to work for a friend and have it work out so well?

He had excellent news, too. One of the churches he visited may have a large job coming up for us. It is way off in Northwestern Ontario two hours from Winnipeg (closer to big wilderness than I've ever gone), so we're probably looking at travel fun for Van. Let's just hope it doesn't all happen in winter. It will be on a similar scale to the one we're working on now¹, which is already expected to keep me employed for the better part of 2007. So the future looks as promising as ever.

¹ Essentially building a new organ, incorporating a few old pipes.

Comments

[mhkrabat.livejournal.com]

Hah! This is great, Van! What a cool job you have. I don't watch television here at home but when visiting my brother (who watches all the time) I am amazed at the special niche programmes out there. Why not the Pipe Organ channel? It sounds like you are talking directly to the viewer instead of the camera, which as you know, is the way to do it. The only thing lacking for the viewer is an occassion pan on the narrator's face as he speaks. Looking forward to the next installment of "In the shop with Van" on the Pipe Organ Channel®.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

....which as you know, is the way to do it.

Funny thing is, I hadn't thought about it. I've never done anything like this before, but speaking to the viewer seemed the natural thing to do.

One of my problems with speaking to people is knowing what I want to say. This was fun because I had lots of time, and pipes to practice on, so I recorded and deleted three or four times until I remembered most of the things I wanted to do and say.

The only thing lacking for the viewer...

Yeah, good point. It was frustrating not being able to control the camera and conduct the demonstration at once.

Wow!

[djjo.livejournal.com]

That was amazing Van!

It's interesting how the sound changes that much with that bit of reshaping.

Must be hard to get them all 'just right' in the sound.

Good luck with finishing them all off! And keeping fingers crossed for the job out West. Hopefully it WON'T be in winter. [g]. And if you do out there, see if you can swing into Winnipeg for a bit.

Re: Wow!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the difference in sound came across!

That particular set of pipes is finished, but apparently there's another set to do before we make our little trip to Toronto, so that will keep me busy for a whole day.

And yeah, I hope I'll have a chance to visit Winnipeg. If we fly, that's probably where we would land.

[trachalio.livejournal.com]

Thank you for that! It was very informative and interesting. I'm beginning to suspect that you may have landed one of the coolest jobs on the planet :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it has it's moments (the task I demonstrated in the video was extremely repetitive and tedious!), but I agree it's an awfully cool. I'm amazed at this turn of good fortune.

How long does it take to do each one?

[weebax.livejournal.com]

Just curious

Re: How long does it take to do each one?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I did this one in less than three minutes, but on average about 10 to 15 per hour.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

Great to read Van,

Big wilderness eh? Camping on the weekends and working during the week?

Cheers
Love
MUnkey

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It's a pretty good life. :-)
Love,
Van

[hankdmoose.livejournal.com]

Great video! You seem a natural, whether it took a few takes or not. "In the Shop with Van" sounds like a great series, whether on television or just on the Internet. If you choose to keep it up, I'll certainly watch!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately my productivity would be drastically reduced if I tried to do this all the time, but I'll try once in a while.

[twillhead.livejournal.com]

Interesting, and unexpectedly hypnotic. I just wish we could see your wonderfully expressive face during the demonstration!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Haha, I was probably just frowning and concentrating!

[mattycub.livejournal.com]

Very cool, Van. It's interesting to see you at work - I enjoyed getting a peek into another facet of your life. And I always enjoy hearing your hypnotic, soothing voice. :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Funny thing is, in these two videos it sounds to me like I have cotton balls in my mouth. I think I'll work on my diction for the next video. ;-)