The spoken word

[camus]

Ok,

I've been messing around with creating an audio output for my poems (to put on my sadly neglected website) The main problem being I'm reading them! My voice is quite monotone, and I'm sure they do the poems no justice, but from a technical (some may say geekish) point I enjoyed creating it.

I'm still messing with the software, so there are certain aspects such as the way the poems skip too quickly to the next, and various bits and bobs that need ironing out.

You'll need the latest flash plugin and a decentish connection.

http://www.nelincspoetry.co.uk/audio/audio.html

Would appreciate some input as to whether It's a worthwhile project, or I'm making a fool of me old self.

cheers
Kris

[pseud]

Just one more way to remind me I don't have a British accent.

sigh....I hate you.



Really though, I liked it. You're not making a fool out of yourself at all, quite the contrary: you're showing you know how poetry actually works. I hear the poetry from its source.

Wish we could all read ours aloud.

Couldn't you let the recordings run on for about 5-10 seconds after you're done reading the poem? I'm sure you've already thought of that and discovered some reason that won't work, but it's my only suggestion.

- Caleb

[cameron]

Excellent Kris.

It's always good to hear the poet reading his own stuff as you get all the intended intonations.

Reminded me of Tony Harrison reading his poems.

Have you ever heard Larkin reading his? That's what I call a monotone.

You could go on tour; I'll carry your book.

Cam

[camus]

Thanks guys,

That's encouraging, whenever I've attempted to read in public before I've received a luke warm reception to say the least, bad crowd, lol.

Pseud there's no cooler accent than the New Jaysee/New York whatever accent, so the feelings mutual.

Also its actually not that difficult to record yourself from your PC. There's plenty of freebee voice recording software out there, just Google "Voice recording software." A quick download then it's a case of plugging in your 5$ microphone and away you go.

If anyone has recordings, or can record themselves then I'd happily integrate their readings into a player similar to the one I used. Now I've sussed it, it's just a case of swapping out a few file names and re-using the format.

Cam, perhaps something to ponder ?

Have a page each for the regulars and I can create a player for anyone who requires it. Obviously depends on your web space and Bandwidth, but twould be fun.

[Bombadil]

The pox on you and your monotone voice.

I covet the British accent as well. If you're monotone, I've got to sound fucking comatose.

How did you acchieve the audio...I think it'd be fun to try.

Cheers,

Keith

[camus]

Keith,

http://www.nch.com.au/recordpad/index.html

This is the software I used. I bought it, but at $24.00 around £14.00 you can't go wrong.

There are freebies, but its finding them.

I also use another of their products to convert from wav - mp3.

Instructions are included and all you need to do is basically plug a microphone in and away you go.

There are certain settings, I recorded mine in Mono but you can record in stereo etc, for better quality but larger file sizes.

Then of course they have to be incorporated into the audio player. My dept I believe.

Any way any help required just give me a shout.

cheers
Kris

[rasputin]

camus,

i especially enjoyed 'to write a poem', and 'new life'

though your regional accent did make me giggle..just as you'd probably laugh at my london twinge!

i think you've hit upon a really good idea..

atb..


rasp.

[pseud]

If it were a CD I'd certainly buy it.

I might try it myself, if I can get hold of a microphone. I've got a face for radio. Not the voice though. I talk through my nose, basically.

If anyone has recordings, or can record themselves then I'd happily integrate their readings into a player similar to the one I used. Now I've sussed it, it's just a case of swapping out a few file names and re-using the format.

Cam, perhaps something to ponder ?

Have a page each for the regulars and I can create a player for anyone who requires it. Obviously depends on your web space and Bandwidth, but twould be fun.

Nice idea. It might convince Sarah to return, who knows...

- Caleb

[that girl]

What makes you say something like that, pseud?

[camus]

Great idea,

Each of us contribute to a CD - The official Poets Grave CD collection.

Now we're cooking.

[Bombadil]

I'd like to see that...

You know that Californians have the closest thing to no accent? A very flat, atonal and bland tone. I shall have to record something for the general mock of the group.

[pseud]

Really? Dewd... Thought Californians had more of a punkish surfer thing happenin. Maybe that's just Hollywood.

Where I am presently it is great fun to talk to people from ShickAWwgoe. And yes Jersey accents rock, unfortunately I was born and raised most of my life in the midwest. We all have burdens to bear and that one's mine.

- Caleb

[camus]

Cam,

I'd love to hear Larkin, are there any audio CD's available?

[cameron]

Great idea assuming Kris is prepared to do the spade work.

We probably haven't got enough web space to post the recordings on the forum.

If the CD's any good we can try flogging it in the PG shop.

Cheers
Cam

ps there are Larkin audio tapes available from the Larkin Society
http://www.philiplarkin.com/publctns.htm
However, the best Larkin thing I've seen was the BBC documentary. Great pictures of him on his bike. Also featured input from John Betjeman.

[pb]

This was great fun, good to put a voice to the, erm, poetic Voice. For some reason I never imagined you having a Hull accent camus! Dumb. These poems sound great when read aloud, especially 'Here's to the Moon'. The members listening booths sounds like a good idea, although the 'spoken word' of pb would sound far less impressively Northern and far more monotonal I fear.

pb

[camus]

Thanks all,

It went down better than I'd presumed.

I would be very interested to hear you guys read, from a technical point it's not difficult to do, get recording.

Hull Accent! LOL, I'm posh compared to the Hull Accent. Now Barnsley, that's another matter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/content/art ... sary.shtml

Reading through the above link, shit yeh I speak Hully Gully.

E's for O's. Stop Merning.

[pseud]

Speekinada New Yawk axint, I meant to add it varies too. I know some people who pronounce "the hot water will burn you" as "da hat woodda 'l boynya" while others pronounce it a bit slower - "tha hut woo-a ul born ya."

Then there's a clumsy foreigner like me - "thuh hawt waw-der ill bern yoo."

How does everyone else pronounce it?

[Bombadil]

thu hot watr 'll bern ya

[pb]

that hot water will burn you. Or possibly tha' ho' wa'er'll bern ya.

'axint'? that sounds like u're from sath erfrica!