Archers theme as you've never heard it before

Post by Sally Thompson
Hope the link works!
<https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08hrx5w>
Done by the cast at home. And before you all ask, "Brian and Jennifer"
apparently don't have a computer at home. However there are some long lost
cast members there:-)
I loved it.

Perks up... Blimey, is Kathy coming home ?

Chris McMillan

2020-06-24 15:38:27 UTC

Perks up... Blimey, is Kathy coming home ?

She’s obviously still part of ‘the team’ it seems.

Sincerely Chris

Mike

2020-06-24 17:28:31 UTC

Perks up... Blimey, is Kathy coming home ?

She’s obviously still part of ‘the team’ it seems.
Sincerely Chris

Of course she is - she runs large parts of Gay Grables doesn’t she?

--
Toodle Pip

Penny

2020-06-24 11:30:32 UTC

On 24 Jun 2020 10:19:52 GMT, Sally Thompson

Thanks for that. My mental picture of Phillip was about 20 years younger.

I see someone has recently added TA as a TV series in IMdb, possibly out of
frustration that actors appearances in it and writer's credits have not
previously been noted.
<https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12004060/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast>
A work in progress, I guess, some notable omissions.

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

Dumrat

2020-06-24 11:56:53 UTC

Thank you for that, Sally, I loved it, too! I missed Jill, Lizzie, and Ruth, though.
Looking at that, I still wonder why can't they manage to do proper 2 or 3 handers or more,
using the Zoom audio platform? The sound quality wouldn't matter so much as long as the
dialogue was a step up from the current dross we're being subjected to (to be fair, have
stopped listening but read friends' views about it still!).

--
Salaam Alaykum,
Anne, Exceptionally Traditionally-built Dumrat

BrritSki

2020-06-24 12:08:07 UTC

Thank you for that, Sally, I loved it, too! I missed Jill, Lizzie, and
Ruth, though. Looking at that, I still wonder why can't they manage to
do proper 2 or 3 handers or more, using the Zoom audio platform? The
sound quality wouldn't matter so much as long as the dialogue was a step
up from the current dross we're being subjected to (to be fair, have
stopped listening but read friends' views about it still!).

I agree that it was fun and languidly wave to your second point. Just
too much trouble for the older audience so the PTB CBA :(

Diversity only matters if you're young, black or LGBT+/- :(((

Last night's was particularly bad. Why would I want to listen to a dire
local radio station when I have 3CR available ? I have it (TACV19) on
while doing my daily Times Suduko Killer Deadly but not paying much
attention to TA.

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2020-06-24 12:41:43 UTC

Thank you for that, Sally, I loved it, too! I missed Jill, Lizzie,

Yes, thanks, I loved it too.

As well as the general novelty, they all looked happy - and just nice to
see them all!

Post by Dumrat
and Ruth, though. Looking at that, I still wonder why can't they
manage to do proper 2 or 3 handers or more, using the Zoom audio
platform? The sound quality wouldn't matter so much as long as the

For nerds and sound engineers among us: the clip is actually full
spectrum stereo audio! Not that I can hear anywhere near that high
anyway, but when I take something off (usually) YouTube, I like to play
with and look at the spectrum, and although nearly everything is at
44100 sampling rate (so could contain up to around 22 kHz), virtually
everything I've got recently has had a brickwall cutoff around 16 kHz,
for no obvious reason. So it was nice to see this didn't! [For those
interested: I use youtube-dl to download (despite its name, it works on
almost anything with a video on it), Pazera to extract the audio,
GoldWave/Lame (similar to Audigy I think; I'd bought GW before Audigy
appeared) to examine (and mp3) it, and an old WinAmp to insert the
metadata if I want to.]

Post by Dumrat
dialogue was a step up from the current dross we're being subjected
to (to be fair, have stopped listening but read friends' views about
it still!).

I'm listening, but more to keep up with storylines (if any) than for
pleasure; it does feel like duty. Not to put down the effort of SWs,
cast, and technical folk.

Post by BrritSki
I agree that it was fun and languidly wave to your second point. Just
too much trouble for the older audience so the PTB CBA :(
Diversity only matters if you're young, black or LGBT+/- :(((

Am I the only one to refer to "alphabet people"? I kept up as far as

Post by BrritSki
Last night's was particularly bad. Why would I want to listen to a dire
local radio station when I have 3CR available ? I have it (TACV19) on
while doing my daily Times Suduko Killer Deadly but not paying much
attention to TA.

They've been knocking it on uk.tech.broadcast (or was it here?) - not
technical aspects, but "local radio isn't like that".

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

The average US shareholding lasts 22 seconds. Nobody knows who invented the
fire hydrant: the patent records were destroyed in a fire. Sandcastles kill
more people than sharks. Your brain uses less power than the light in your
fridge. The Statue of Liberty wears size 879 shoes.
- John Lloyd, QI supremo (RT, 2014/9/27-10/3)

Nick Odell

2020-06-24 21:16:29 UTC

Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.

I notice that David Archer had not one, but two guitars and had been
wittering on about getting back to playing the guitar again during a
monologue. Comment the first: I have no recollection of young David,
the avid guitar enthusiast of the eighties. Are we being gaslit?
Comment the second: I see the real Lord Bentinck writes music and
plays in a band....

Nick

Vicky Ayech

2020-06-24 21:45:42 UTC

On Wed, 24 Jun 2020 18:16:29 -0300, Nick Odell

Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.
I notice that David Archer had not one, but two guitars and had been
wittering on about getting back to playing the guitar again during a
monologue. Comment the first: I have no recollection of young David,
the avid guitar enthusiast of the eighties. Are we being gaslit?
Comment the second: I see the real Lord Bentinck writes music and
plays in a band....
Nick

Is Lord B getting the band back together?

Mike

2020-06-25 08:05:40 UTC

Thank you for that, Sally, I loved it, too! I missed Jill, Lizzie, and Ruth, though.
Looking at that, I still wonder why can't they manage to do proper 2 or
3 handers or more,
using the Zoom audio platform? The sound quality
wouldn't matter so much as long as the
dialogue was a step up from the current dross we're being subjected to (to be fair, have
stopped listening but read friends' views about it still!).

Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.
I notice that David Archer had not one, but two guitars and had been
wittering on about getting back to playing the guitar again during a
monologue. Comment the first: I have no recollection of young David,
the avid guitar enthusiast of the eighties. Are we being gaslit?
Comment the second: I see the real Lord Bentinck writes music and
plays in a band....
Nick

I would imagine a little tweaking might well be necessary but, with
‘timecode’ locking, I would imagine that sections would have to be cut and
then spliced on the timeline. I think that though performers might well
perform in sync. with the click track, the various individual tracks might
well need ‘locking’ together as time delays might and probably would be
different from one performer to another - thus requiring them to be
assembled on the edited timeline ‘back at base’. If the contributions from
each performer are sent to one point for assembly or editing, they might
also integrate the clicktrack to aid alignment otherwise, the start points
would need a ‘clapper board’ type starting cue - or the editor might just
align start points by ear I suppose.

--
Toodle Pip

Dumrat

2020-06-25 08:22:46 UTC

Post by Nick Odell
Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.

Thank you for the info, Mike. How long do you think that process might take, per episode?
By your reckoning, would it be too expensive, arduous and time-consuming for the BBC,
using an expert (such as yourself), to undertake?

--
Salaam Alaykum,
Anne, Exceptionally Traditionally-built Dumrat

Mike

2020-06-25 09:05:22 UTC

Post by Nick Odell
Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.

It is rather like the distance between the ends of a piece of spun hemp
fibres... as I used to say to first-time clientswho enquired how long a job
might take; it very much deep ends on the performer’s level of
accomplishment. A performer who works through a piece well may perform well
and make few if any bloopers thus less production time will be required to,
edit, balance and mix (if required) the finished product. Whereas
proficiency in the performer dictates the amount of ‘post recording work’
that might be required - one who makes mistakes, mis-timings, off-pitch
moments, poor pronunciation, audible ‘off mic’ sounds including stomach
gurgles, creaking chairs, aircraft drones, coughs etc. will require far
more time-consuming production to repair.

Were engineers paid properly, the cost would be higher than it is -
likewise a good voice artist will make for few if any re-takes but... even
when the engineer thinks that the performance is good, occasionally, the
artist may stop, deprecate their own performance and repeat a section with
small nuances or phrasing. I have always reckoned that ‘anyone’ may read a
script.... but it takes skill to ‘lift it off the page’ as a true
professional will.

--
Toodle Pip

Penny

2020-06-25 09:30:19 UTC

On Thu, 25 Jun 2020 09:05:22 GMT, Mike <***@ntlworld.com> scrawled
in the dust...

Post by Nick Odell
Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.

The latest Gareth Malone 'Singing for Britain' apparently sent the backing
piano track to the two singers in Swansea and Manchester (I think I got the
places right BIMBAM) at different times to accommodate the delay as they
performed live to local audiences. Which boggles my brain.

Their duet was great though.

Many moons ago, for the release of his second hit, John Otway recorded fans
doing the responses to his 'There is a House in New Orleans' in two
sessions on different days, for one of the supporting tracks (or B side, as
we used to call it).

I was chatting to Richard Holgarth at Guilfest a couple of months later and
he had just spent a day or two bringing these two recordings into line with
each other. It didn't sound like fun.

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

Kate B

2020-06-25 14:20:26 UTC

Post by Penny
in the dust...

Post by Nick Odell
Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.

The latest Gareth Malone 'Singing for Britain' apparently sent the backing
piano track to the two singers in Swansea and Manchester (I think I got the
places right BIMBAM) at different times to accommodate the delay as they
performed live to local audiences. Which boggles my brain.
Their duet was great though.
Many moons ago, for the release of his second hit, John Otway recorded fans
doing the responses to his 'There is a House in New Orleans' in two
sessions on different days, for one of the supporting tracks (or B side, as
we used to call it).
I was chatting to Richard Holgarth at Guilfest a couple of months later and
he had just spent a day or two bringing these two recordings into line with
each other. It didn't sound like fun.

From the other end of the process: I've tried now with two online
choirs - one was singing along with The Sixteen, so no pressure.... and
found it an initially exhilarating but ultimately soul-destroying
experience. A singer quoted in the Guardian expressed it perfectly for me:

Performing to a click-track, with attendant technical issues, time lags
and wifi failure, may result in something joyful. It may, equally, be a
source of frustration and fury. One singer friend spent around nine
hours trying to record her part for a six-minute choral piece. “By the
end I hated the music. I hated singing. The lifeblood of performance –
responding to other musicians – was missing. What the hell was I doing
it for?”

What has been an unexpected joy, though far from sophisticated, has been
the ad-hoc chorus of neighbours in our road singing a hymn every Sunday
morning since Easter. The road is consulted and a hymn is chosen, mostly
old favourites that people remember from school even if they don't go to
church much now. A copy of the words is circulated round the road email
list around Friday, so we are all singing from the same hymnsheet. We
don't have enough experienced singers and hymnbooks to do the harmonies,
though I have sung a descant now and then when I remembered it. Now
lockdown is easing, more local members of the church choir are beginning
to join us, and I hope by the time services are back, even if we can't
sing inside the church, we will be able to blast at least one hymn from
outside on the conveniently wide pavement.

And we have the blessing of the authorities, in the shape of two mounted
policewomen who trotted into the road just before 11am last Sunday,
enquired politely why we were all gathering, thought it was a lovely
idea, and stayed and sang with us. Apparently there is at least one
other road on their beat that sings hymns, but <Smugsy McSmugface> we
are much better :)

--
Kate B
London

Chris McMillan

2020-06-25 15:33:02 UTC

Post by Kate B

Post by Penny
in the dust...

Post by Nick Odell
Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.

The latest Gareth Malone 'Singing for Britain' apparently sent the backing
piano track to the two singers in Swansea and Manchester (I think I got the
places right BIMBAM) at different times to accommodate the delay as they
performed live to local audiences. Which boggles my brain.
Their duet was great though.
Many moons ago, for the release of his second hit, John Otway recorded fans
doing the responses to his 'There is a House in New Orleans' in two
sessions on different days, for one of the supporting tracks (or B side, as
we used to call it).
I was chatting to Richard Holgarth at Guilfest a couple of months later and
he had just spent a day or two bringing these two recordings into line with
each other. It didn't sound like fun.

From the other end of the process: I've tried now with two online
choirs - one was singing along with The Sixteen, so no pressure.... and
found it an initially exhilarating but ultimately soul-destroying
Performing to a click-track, with attendant technical issues, time lags
and wifi failure, may result in something joyful. It may, equally, be a
source of frustration and fury. One singer friend spent around nine
hours trying to record her part for a six-minute choral piece. “By the
end I hated the music. I hated singing. The lifeblood of performance –
responding to other musicians – was missing. What the hell was I doing
it for?”
What has been an unexpected joy, though far from sophisticated, has been
the ad-hoc chorus of neighbours in our road singing a hymn every Sunday
morning since Easter. The road is consulted and a hymn is chosen, mostly
old favourites that people remember from school even if they don't go to
church much now. A copy of the words is circulated round the road email
list around Friday, so we are all singing from the same hymnsheet. We
don't have enough experienced singers and hymnbooks to do the harmonies,
though I have sung a descant now and then when I remembered it. Now
lockdown is easing, more local members of the church choir are beginning
to join us, and I hope by the time services are back, even if we can't
sing inside the church, we will be able to blast at least one hymn from
outside on the conveniently wide pavement.
And we have the blessing of the authorities, in the shape of two mounted
policewomen who trotted into the road just before 11am last Sunday,
enquired politely why we were all gathering, thought it was a lovely
idea, and stayed and sang with us. Apparently there is at least one
other road on their beat that sings hymns, but <Smugsy McSmugface> we
are much better :)

From “Couch to Choir” anyone? As reported on R3 this morning.
https://www.northleedslifegroup.com/2020/06/25/from-couch-to-chorus-opera-north-launches-new-digital-choir/.
Will need a lot of work in between though. Thinking about it.

Sincerely Chris

Chris McMillan

2020-06-25 15:46:08 UTC

Post by Kate B

Post by Penny
in the dust...

Post by Nick Odell
Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.

The latest Gareth Malone 'Singing for Britain' apparently sent the backing
piano track to the two singers in Swansea and Manchester (I think I got the
places right BIMBAM) at different times to accommodate the delay as they
performed live to local audiences. Which boggles my brain.
Their duet was great though.
Many moons ago, for the release of his second hit, John Otway recorded fans
doing the responses to his 'There is a House in New Orleans' in two
sessions on different days, for one of the supporting tracks (or B side, as
we used to call it).
I was chatting to Richard Holgarth at Guilfest a couple of months later and
he had just spent a day or two bringing these two recordings into line with
each other. It didn't sound like fun.

From the other end of the process: I've tried now with two online
choirs - one was singing along with The Sixteen, so no pressure.... and
found it an initially exhilarating but ultimately soul-destroying
Performing to a click-track, with attendant technical issues, time lags
and wifi failure, may result in something joyful. It may, equally, be a
source of frustration and fury. One singer friend spent around nine
hours trying to record her part for a six-minute choral piece. “By the
end I hated the music. I hated singing. The lifeblood of performance –
responding to other musicians – was missing. What the hell was I doing
it for?”
What has been an unexpected joy, though far from sophisticated, has been
the ad-hoc chorus of neighbours in our road singing a hymn every Sunday
morning since Easter. The road is consulted and a hymn is chosen, mostly
old favourites that people remember from school even if they don't go to
church much now. A copy of the words is circulated round the road email
list around Friday, so we are all singing from the same hymnsheet. We
don't have enough experienced singers and hymnbooks to do the harmonies,
though I have sung a descant now and then when I remembered it. Now
lockdown is easing, more local members of the church choir are beginning
to join us, and I hope by the time services are back, even if we can't
sing inside the church, we will be able to blast at least one hymn from
outside on the conveniently wide pavement.
And we have the blessing of the authorities, in the shape of two mounted
policewomen who trotted into the road just before 11am last Sunday,
enquired politely why we were all gathering, thought it was a lovely
idea, and stayed and sang with us. Apparently there is at least one
other road on their beat that sings hymns, but <Smugsy McSmugface> we
are much better :)

“Couch to Chorus”, though I see no link to follow.

Sincerely Chris

Chris McMillan

2020-06-25 15:59:00 UTC

Post by Kate B

Post by Penny
in the dust...

Post by Nick Odell
Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.

The latest Gareth Malone 'Singing for Britain' apparently sent the backing
piano track to the two singers in Swansea and Manchester (I think I got the
places right BIMBAM) at different times to accommodate the delay as they
performed live to local audiences. Which boggles my brain.
Their duet was great though.
Many moons ago, for the release of his second hit, John Otway recorded fans
doing the responses to his 'There is a House in New Orleans' in two
sessions on different days, for one of the supporting tracks (or B side, as
we used to call it).
I was chatting to Richard Holgarth at Guilfest a couple of months later and
he had just spent a day or two bringing these two recordings into line with
each other. It didn't sound like fun.

From the other end of the process: I've tried now with two online
choirs - one was singing along with The Sixteen, so no pressure.... and
found it an initially exhilarating but ultimately soul-destroying
Performing to a click-track, with attendant technical issues, time lags
and wifi failure, may result in something joyful. It may, equally, be a
source of frustration and fury. One singer friend spent around nine
hours trying to record her part for a six-minute choral piece. “By the
end I hated the music. I hated singing. The lifeblood of performance –
responding to other musicians – was missing. What the hell was I doing
it for?”
What has been an unexpected joy, though far from sophisticated, has been
the ad-hoc chorus of neighbours in our road singing a hymn every Sunday
morning since Easter. The road is consulted and a hymn is chosen, mostly
old favourites that people remember from school even if they don't go to
church much now. A copy of the words is circulated round the road email
list around Friday, so we are all singing from the same hymnsheet. We
don't have enough experienced singers and hymnbooks to do the harmonies,
though I have sung a descant now and then when I remembered it. Now
lockdown is easing, more local members of the church choir are beginning
to join us, and I hope by the time services are back, even if we can't
sing inside the church, we will be able to blast at least one hymn from
outside on the conveniently wide pavement.
And we have the blessing of the authorities, in the shape of two mounted
policewomen who trotted into the road just before 11am last Sunday,
enquired politely why we were all gathering, thought it was a lovely
idea, and stayed and sang with us. Apparently there is at least one
other road on their beat that sings hymns, but <Smugsy McSmugface> we
are much better :)

“Couch to Chorus”, though I see no link to follow.
Sincerely Chris

https://www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/from-couch-to-chorus/

Sincerely Chris

Jim Easterbrook

2020-06-25 21:23:07 UTC

Post by Kate B
the shape of two mounted
policewomen

Six hours later and no reaction to this. Can someone check if Brritters
is OK?

--
Jim <http://www.jim-easterbrook.me.uk/>
1959/1985? M B+ G+ A L- I- S- P-- CH0(p) Ar++ T+ H0 Q--- Sh0

BrritSki

2020-06-26 07:29:27 UTC

Post by Kate B
the shape of two mounted
policewomen

Six hours later and no reaction to this. Can someone check if Brritters
is OK?

I'm fine thanks Jim, but I didn't spot it...

You miss one opportunity and you get it in the neck...

</BLM>

Sid Nuncius

2020-06-27 04:56:50 UTC

Post by Kate B
the shape of two mounted
policewomen

Six hours later and no reaction to this. Can someone check if Brritters
is OK?

I'm fine thanks Jim, but I didn't spot it...
You miss one opportunity and you get it in the neck...
</BLM>

Right. This one can't be allowed to escape unnominated. I've given it
a day and if no-one else is going to do it, I'll have to do it myself,
protocol or no protocol.

BTN.

Accepted.

--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)

John Ashby

2020-06-27 05:36:22 UTC

Post by Kate B
the shape of two mounted
policewomen

Six hours later and no reaction to this. Can someone check if Brritters
is OK?

I'm fine thanks Jim, but I didn't spot it...
You miss one opportunity and you get it in the neck...
</BLM>

Right. This one can't be allowed to escape unnominated. I've given it
a day and if no-one else is going to do it, I'll have to do it myself,
protocol or no protocol.
BTN.
Accepted.

We have clearly all lost our sense of taste and should self report to
NHS Test and Trace immediately.

john

BrritSki

2020-06-27 07:10:12 UTC

Post by John Ashby

Post by Kate B
the shape of two mounted
policewomen

Six hours later and no reaction to this. Can someone check if Brritters
is OK?

I'm fine thanks Jim, but I didn't spot it...
You miss one opportunity and you get it in the neck...
</BLM>

Right. This one can't be allowed to escape unnominated. I've given
it a day and if no-one else is going to do it, I'll have to do it
myself, protocol or no protocol.
BTN.
Accepted.

We have clearly all lost our sense of taste and should self report to
NHS Test and Trace immediately.

Mike

2020-06-27 07:54:36 UTC

Post by John Ashby

Post by Kate B
the shape of two mounted
policewomen

Six hours later and no reaction to this. Can someone check if Brritters
is OK?

I'm fine thanks Jim, but I didn't spot it...
You miss one opportunity and you get it in the neck...
</BLM>

Right. This one can't be allowed to escape unnominated. I've given it
a day and if no-one else is going to do it, I'll have to do it myself,
protocol or no protocol.
BTN.
Accepted.

We have clearly all lost our sense of taste and should self report to
NHS Test and Trace immediately.
john

Or we are all too busy adjusting our garters.

--
Toodle Pip

BrritSki

2020-06-27 07:09:55 UTC

Post by Kate B
the shape of two mounted
policewomen

Six hours later and no reaction to this. Can someone check if Brritters
is OK?

I'm fine thanks Jim, but I didn't spot it...
You miss one opportunity and you get it in the neck...
</BLM>

Right. This one can't be allowed to escape unnominated. I've given it
a day and if no-one else is going to do it, I'll have to do it myself,
protocol or no protocol.
BTN.
Accepted.

Hurrah !

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2020-06-27 13:06:37 UTC

Post by Kate B
the shape of two mounted
policewomen

Six hours later and no reaction to this. Can someone check if Brritters
is OK?

I'm fine thanks Jim, but I didn't spot it...
You miss one opportunity and you get it in the neck...
</BLM>

Right. This one can't be allowed to escape unnominated. I've given
it a day and if no-one else is going to do it, I'll have to do it
myself, protocol or no protocol.
BTN.
Accepted.

Hurrah !

I too was waiting: plus I felt, just in _case_ it wasn't intentional
(though I thought that unlikely), the making of such a BTN might itself
qualify for a BTN. (Yes, I know a lot of the best BTA candidates _are_
unintentional, but in this case ...!)

So +1.

(_Has_ a BTN ever been nominated for a BTN?)

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

... the pleasure of the mind is an amazing thing. My life has been driven by
the satisfaction of curiosity. - Jeremy Paxman (being interviewed by Anne
Widdecombe), Radio Times, 2-8 July 2011.

BrritSki

2020-06-25 10:09:20 UTC

Post by Nick Odell
Rumour has it - and maybe Mike McT could confirm or deny - that
synchronising performances on Zoom or similar is almost an
impossiblity without post-production tweaks.

It is rather like the distance between the ends of a piece of spun hemp
fibres... as I used to say to first-time clientswho enquired how long a job
might take; it very much deep ends on the performer’s level of
accomplishment. A performer who works through a piece well may perform well
and make few if any bloopers thus less production time will be required to,
edit, balance and mix (if required) the finished product. Whereas
proficiency in the performer dictates the amount of ‘post recording work’
that might be required - one who makes mistakes, mis-timings, off-pitch
moments, poor pronunciation, audible ‘off mic’ sounds including stomach
gurgles, creaking chairs, aircraft drones, coughs etc. will require far
more time-consuming production to repair.
Were engineers paid properly, the cost would be higher than it is -
likewise a good voice artist will make for few if any re-takes but... even
when the engineer thinks that the performance is good, occasionally, the
artist may stop, deprecate their own performance and repeat a section with
small nuances or phrasing. I have always reckoned that ‘anyone’ may read a
script.... but it takes skill to ‘lift it off the page’ as a true
professional will.

Understood, but that is the counsel of perfection, which in these
current times is not really needed. The "mistakes" you mention at the
end of yr first para could all be left in as "normal" ambience for a FOTWD.

I'd rather have a poor sound quality daily episode with people
interacting rather than the drivel we're being served up with now. Would
it really take more than a couple of hours to cobble something
acceptable together given that these are all very experienced radio
performers ?

The Beeb can certainly serve up poor sound quality stuff when they want
to as in Jamaica Inn. :/

Dumrat

2020-06-25 14:21:46 UTC

Post by Mike
It is rather like the distance between the ends of a piece of spun hemp
fibres... as I used to say to first-time clientswho enquired how long a job
might take; it very much deep ends on the performer’s level of
accomplishment. A performer who works through a piece well may perform well
and make few if any bloopers thus less production time will be required to,
edit, balance and mix (if required) the finished product. Whereas
proficiency in the performer dictates the amount of ‘post recording work’
that might be required - one who makes mistakes, mis-timings, off-pitch
moments, poor pronunciation, audible ‘off mic’ sounds including stomach
gurgles, creaking chairs, aircraft drones, coughs etc. will require far
more time-consuming production to repair.
Were engineers paid properly, the cost would be higher than it is -
likewise a good voice artist will make for few if any re-takes but... even
when the engineer thinks that the performance is good, occasionally, the
artist may stop, deprecate their own performance and repeat a section with
small nuances or phrasing. I have always reckoned that ‘anyone’ may read a
script.... but it takes skill to ‘lift it off the page’ as a true
professional will.

Thank you for the explanation, Mike. I was assuming the performers would be the Archers'
actors we know, who presumably are used to reading their lines without fluffing too much,
so that would be your first problem eliminated.

Understood, but that is the counsel of perfection, which in these current times is not
really needed. The "mistakes" you mention at the end of yr first para could all be left in
as "normal" ambience for a FOTWD.
I'd rather have a poor sound quality daily episode with people interacting rather than the
drivel we're being served up with now. Would it really take more than a couple of hours to
cobble something acceptable together given that these are all very experienced radio
performers ?
The Beeb can certainly serve up poor sound quality stuff when they want to as in Jamaica
Inn. :/

<not so languid wave>
It is rare that I whole-heartedly agree with you, Roger, what a special day it is for me!

--
Salaam Alaykum,
Anne, Exceptionally Traditionally-built Dumrat

BrritSki

2020-06-25 14:24:17 UTC

Post by Dumrat
It is rare that I whole-heartedly agree with you, Roger, what a special day it is for me!

Buy a Lottery ticket ! :)

Mike

2020-06-25 14:45:35 UTC

Post by Dumrat
Thank you for the explanation, Mike. I was assuming the performers would be the Archers'
actors we know, who presumably are used to reading their lines without fluffing too much,
so that would be your first problem eliminated.

This is true - up to a point (as the saying goes) but, quite often a line
is delivered with the wrong emphasis and though this could be corrected, it
hadn’t been so I presume that time constraints prevail over perfection.
And .... am I the only one to have noticed that occasionally an actor says
the wrong name to another? (Shock horror, I know.)

--
Toodle Pip

Sid Nuncius

2020-06-25 18:44:50 UTC

Post by BrritSki
I'd rather have a poor sound quality daily episode with people
interacting rather than the drivel we're being served up with now. Would
it really take more than a couple of hours to cobble something
acceptable together given that these are all very experienced radio
performers ?
The Beeb can certainly serve up poor sound quality stuff when they want
to as in Jamaica Inn. :/

Pardon?

--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)

Mike

2020-06-25 20:09:07 UTC

Pardon?

Aunty did a production of JI and much of the dialogue was
mumble-mumble-mumble; when slated by reviewers and the audience alike, they
made feeble excuses and did a re-mix. I know not whether the re-mix was any
improvement.

--
Toodle Pip

John Ashby

2020-06-25 21:07:43 UTC

Pardon?

ITYHBT, HTH, HAND.

john

BrritSki

2020-06-26 07:26:57 UTC

Pardon?

I think Sid was well aware of that, hence his excellent joke :/

Mike

2020-06-26 07:32:31 UTC

Pardon?

I think Sid was well aware of that, hence his excellent joke :/

SIGN

--
Toodle Pip

BrritSki

2020-06-26 07:35:56 UTC

Pardon?

I think Sid was well aware of that, hence his excellent joke :/

SIGN

<self-whoosh> ?

Mike

2020-06-26 07:44:34 UTC

Pardon?

I think Sid was well aware of that, hence his excellent joke :/

SIGN

<self-whoosh> ?

So I Gather Now

--
Toodle Pip

BrritSki

2020-06-26 09:03:45 UTC

Pardon?

I think Sid was well aware of that, hence his excellent joke :/

SIGN

<self-whoosh> ?

So I Gather Now

Mike

2020-06-26 09:42:22 UTC

Pardon?

I think Sid was well aware of that, hence his excellent joke :/

SIGN

<self-whoosh> ?

So I Gather Now

DMI

--
Toodle Pip

krw

2020-06-25 21:44:44 UTC

Post by BrritSki
The Beeb can certainly serve up poor sound quality stuff when they want
to as in Jamaica Inn.

But that was on the tellybox so is not relevant.

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

Chris J Dixon

2020-06-25 19:21:08 UTC

I have always reckoned that anyone may read a
script.... but it takes skill to lift it off the page as a true
professional will.

Does anybody remember Gerry Anderson? He was dropped into the R4
schedule about 15 years ago, and was not well received. I had
previously heard him on other unscripted programmes, where he was
perfectly fine, but given a script, and then expected to make it
sounds as if he was not reading it, he failed dismally.

Chris

--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
***@cdixon.me.uk @ChrisJDixon1
Plant amazing Acers.

Jim Easterbrook

2020-06-25 19:58:02 UTC

I have always reckoned that anyone may read a script.... but it takes
skill to lift it off the page as a true professional will.

Does anybody remember Gerry Anderson? He was dropped into the R4
schedule about 15 years ago, and was not well received. I had previously
heard him on other unscripted programmes, where he was perfectly fine,
but given a script, and then expected to make it sounds as if he was not
reading it, he failed dismally.

A similar problem afflicts Victoria Coren-Mitchell. When unscripted, e.g.
on HIGNFY, she's quite amusing but her scripted "jokes" on Only Connect
are painful to watch.

--
Jim <http://www.jim-easterbrook.me.uk/>
1959/1985? M B+ G+ A L- I- S- P-- CH0(p) Ar++ T+ H0 Q--- Sh0

Sid Nuncius

2020-06-26 06:49:10 UTC

I have always reckoned that anyone may read a script.... but it takes
skill to lift it off the page as a true professional will.

Does anybody remember Gerry Anderson? He was dropped into the R4
schedule about 15 years ago, and was not well received. I had previously
heard him on other unscripted programmes, where he was perfectly fine,
but given a script, and then expected to make it sounds as if he was not
reading it, he failed dismally.

A similar problem afflicts Victoria Coren-Mitchell. When unscripted, e.g.
on HIGNFY, she's quite amusing but her scripted "jokes" on Only Connect
are painful to watch.

Agreed. She's very good as the chair of the programme when she's just
spontaneously chatting to the contestants but I find her intros and
outros cringeworthy.

Mind you, on Would I Lie To You she brought along a bloke who injured
himself laughing at one of her intros, so not everyone feels the same.

--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)

BrritSki

2020-06-26 07:30:58 UTC

Post by Jim Easterbrook
A similar problem afflicts Victoria Coren-Mitchell. When unscripted, e.g.
on HIGNFY, she's quite amusing but her scripted "jokes" on Only Connect
are painful to watch.

Agreed. She's very good as the chair of the programme when she's just
spontaneously chatting to the contestants but I find her intros and
outros cringeworthy.

<LW>

Vicky Ayech

2020-06-26 08:27:43 UTC

On Fri, 26 Jun 2020 07:49:10 +0100, Sid Nuncius

I have always reckoned that ?anyone? may read a script.... but it takes
skill to ?lift it off the page? as a true professional will.

Does anybody remember Gerry Anderson? He was dropped into the R4
schedule about 15 years ago, and was not well received. I had previously
heard him on other unscripted programmes, where he was perfectly fine,
but given a script, and then expected to make it sounds as if he was not
reading it, he failed dismally.

A similar problem afflicts Victoria Coren-Mitchell. When unscripted, e.g.
on HIGNFY, she's quite amusing but her scripted "jokes" on Only Connect
are painful to watch.

Agreed. She's very good as the chair of the programme when she's just
spontaneously chatting to the contestants but I find her intros and
outros cringeworthy.
Mind you, on Would I Lie To You she brought along a bloke who injured
himself laughing at one of her intros, so not everyone feels the same.

MTAAW
I thought it must be me being too picky as everyone knows she is
clever and funny. :)

Nick Odell

2020-06-25 23:30:47 UTC

I have always reckoned that anyone may read a
script.... but it takes skill to lift it off the page as a true
professional will.

I think it must have been rather longer ago than that: I remember
listening to it whilst driving between my music shop clients on
collection and delivery days. I used to like the programme though I
always wondered how he found time to do it whilst making all those
puppet shows.

Nick

Chris J Dixon

2020-06-26 07:03:42 UTC

Post by Chris J Dixon
Does anybody remember Gerry Anderson? He was dropped into the R4
schedule about 15 years ago, and was not well received. I had
previously heard him on other unscripted programmes, where he was
perfectly fine, but given a script, and then expected to make it
sounds as if he was not reading it, he failed dismally.

Oops! You are absolutely right. My mental arithmetic failed me.
Try "about 25 years ago"

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Anderson_(broadcaster)>

"In 1994, BBC Radio 4 contracted the broadcaster to present an
afternoon magazine programme running from 3 to 4 pm. The audience
reaction to Anderson Country was polarised with listeners divided
over its shift in tone from the rest of Radio 4. After a year
Anderson Country was dropped..."

Chris

--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
***@cdixon.me.uk @ChrisJDixon1
Plant amazing Acers.

Jenny M Benson

2020-06-26 08:51:33 UTC

Post by Chris J Dixon
After a year
Anderson Country was dropped..."

And I cheered!

--
Jenny M Benson
Wrexham, UK

Mike

2020-06-26 09:02:24 UTC

Post by Jenny M Benson

Post by Chris J Dixon
After a year
Anderson Country was dropped..."

And I cheered!

*Rubbish* didn’t start to do the description justice - the ‘off’ switch was
sought in milliseconds in Toodle villas.

--
Toodle Pip

Nick Odell

2020-06-26 21:31:59 UTC

Post by Jenny M Benson

Post by Chris J Dixon
After a year
Anderson Country was dropped..."

And I cheered!

*Rubbish* didnt start to do the description justice - the off switch was
sought in milliseconds in Toodle villas.

Obviously the Marmite of the airwaves in its day.

Nick

Chris McMillan

2020-06-27 09:35:14 UTC

Oops! You are absolutely right. My mental arithmetic failed me.
Try "about 25 years ago"
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Anderson_(broadcaster)>
"In 1994, BBC Radio 4 contracted the broadcaster to present an
afternoon magazine programme running from 3 to 4 pm. The audience
reaction to Anderson Country was polarised with listeners divided
over its shift in tone from the rest of Radio 4. After a year
Anderson Country was dropped..."
Chris

Um, yes. Fortunately I was spared in term time collecting a nine/ten year
old Wunderkind and friend from school

Sam Plusnet

2020-06-24 22:02:36 UTC

Thank you for that, Sally, I loved it, too! I missed Jill, Lizzie, and
Ruth, though. Looking at that, I still wonder why can't they manage to
do proper 2 or 3 handers or more, using the Zoom audio platform? The
sound quality wouldn't matter so much as long as the dialogue was a step
up from the current dross we're being subjected to (to be fair, have
stopped listening but read friends' views about it still!).

An ensemble piece can be done - like this

--
Sam Plusnet

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2020-06-25 00:21:10 UTC

Post by Sam Plusnet

Thank you for that, Sally, I loved it, too! I missed Jill, Lizzie,
and Ruth, though. Looking at that, I still wonder why can't they
manage to do proper 2 or 3 handers or more, using the Zoom audio
platform? The sound quality wouldn't matter so much as long as the
dialogue was a step up from the current dross we're being subjected
to (to be fair, have stopped listening but read friends' views about

An ensemble piece can be done - like this
http://youtu.be/yqbmZhd1ZFo

To be fair, that's music, with a fairly regular beat - so can be done to
a click track or similar. Dialogue doesn't lend itself to such.

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

DOS means never having to live hand-to-mouse.

Jenny M Benson

2020-06-25 09:24:30 UTC

Post by Sam Plusnet
An ensemble piece can be done - like this
http://youtu.be/yqbmZhd1ZFo

Ooh, thank you! That was brilliant - loved it!

--
Jenny M Benson
Wrexham, UK

Sam Plusnet

2020-06-25 22:09:24 UTC

Post by Sam Plusnet
An ensemble piece can be done - like this
http://youtu.be/yqbmZhd1ZFo

Ooh, thank you! That was brilliant - loved it!

Any excuse to share that!

--
Sam Plusnet

Vicky Ayech

2020-06-24 17:11:37 UTC

On 24 Jun 2020 10:19:52 GMT, Sally Thompson

I loved it too, thanks.

Sid Nuncius

2020-06-24 18:56:56 UTC

Thanks, Sally. Very amusing.

--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)

b***@gmail.com

2020-07-01 13:35:48 UTC

I saw this, and even pausing every 10 seconds and cross-referencing with https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3VLG6MxxfQpKXF2Chky4Fmh/characters - I cannot figure out the majority of the charactes/actors.

First page is Helen Archer, Harrison Burns and ???
Second page is Jazzer, ??? and ???
Third page is ??? Leonard, ??? and ???
Fourth page is ??? ??? Oliver Sterling, Susan Carter and ???

Can anyrat do better?

b***@gmail.com

2020-07-01 13:41:19 UTC

Post by b***@gmail.com
I saw this, and even pausing every 10 seconds and cross-referencing with https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3VLG6MxxfQpKXF2Chky4Fmh/characters - I cannot figure out the majority of the charactes/actors.

Hang on, I'm an idiot. I saw it on twitter which did not have the legend. I see now that I can just scroll down and see the answer. Illuminating.

Chris McMillan

2020-07-03 13:07:44 UTC

Someone wrote:

Here goes

Helen, Harrison, Fallon
Jazzer, Hannah Riley, Natasha (Tom’s wofe)
Pip, Leonard, Ben, Toby
Tracey, Roman Trench (Tracey’s boyfriend), Oliver, Susan

HTH

Sincerely Chris

Vicky Ayech

2020-07-03 13:13:58 UTC

On Fri, 03 Jul 2020 13:07:44 GMT, Chris McMillan

Post by Chris McMillan
Here goes
Helen, Harrison, Fallon
Jazzer, Hannah Riley, Natasha (Toms wofe)
Pip, Leonard, Ben, Toby
Tracey, Roman Trench (Traceys boyfriend), Oliver, Susan
HTH
Sincerely Chris

I don't know what this is referring to.

b***@gmail.com

2020-07-03 14:06:07 UTC

Post by Vicky Ayech
I don't know what this is referring to.

I am the stupidest person here! Chris is the kindest.

Chris McMillan

2020-07-04 12:37:48 UTC

Post by Vicky Ayech
On Fri, 03 Jul 2020 13:07:44 GMT, Chris McMillan

I don't know what this is referring to.

That’s because if I reply to a question and the attributes have been
removed or something, all I know is ‘somebody posted’. That’s what is in
my reply pane..I knew it was to Ben so I said so.

But I couldn’t retype his question with one finger.

Sincerely Chris

b***@gmail.com

2020-07-03 14:05:40 UTC

Post by Chris McMillan
Here goes
Helen, Harrison, Fallon
Jazzer, Hannah Riley, Natasha (Tom’s wofe)
Pip, Leonard, Ben, Toby
Tracey, Roman Trench (Tracey’s boyfriend), Oliver, Susan
HTH

It does! You're adorable, thank you.

Chris McMillan

2020-07-04 12:53:47 UTC

Post by b***@gmail.com

Post by Chris McMillan
Here goes
Helen, Harrison, Fallon
Jazzer, Hannah Riley, Natasha (Tom’s wofe)
Pip, Leonard, Ben, Toby
Tracey, Roman Trench (Tracey’s boyfriend), Oliver, Susan
HTH

It does! You're adorable, thank you.

LOL. Nicest thing said to me in the last ten minutes, flatterer!

Sincerely Chris

Mike

2020-07-04 13:35:31 UTC

Post by b***@gmail.com

Post by Chris McMillan
Here goes
Helen, Harrison, Fallon
Jazzer, Hannah Riley, Natasha (Tom’s wofe)
Pip, Leonard, Ben, Toby
Tracey, Roman Trench (Tracey’s boyfriend), Oliver, Susan
HTH

It does! You're adorable, thank you.

LOL. Nicest thing said to me in the last ten minutes, flatterer!
Sincerely Chris

But I do ply her with cups of coffee and tea, hot meals, get under her
feet, make a mess of the kitchen....

--
Toodle Pip

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2020-07-03 14:45:18 UTC

On Fri, 3 Jul 2020 at 13:07:44, Chris McMillan

Post by Chris McMillan
Here goes
Helen, Harrison, Fallon
Jazzer, Hannah Riley, Natasha (Tom’s wofe)
Pip, Leonard, Ben, Toby
Tracey, Roman Trench (Tracey’s boyfriend), Oliver, Susan
HTH
Sincerely Chris

Rubbish Haiku attempt (-:?

If this is answering "who's who in the cast dum-te-dum", the version on
(IIRR) Sounds has a third verse that identifies them all on screen; for
some reason the version that keeps getting tweeted has been truncated
after the quiet "take care".

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

If it jams - force it. If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.

DavidK

2020-07-03 16:28:15 UTC