Our beloved Christy is on a well-earned and overdue vacation. We appreciated her before, but we really appreciate all she does now that we’re trying to fill in! We’re doing our best, but in the end, we know what we’ve always known: there is only one Christy.


Fort Drum is October 8th!

Save the date!

Fort Drum, a drum and percussion concert hosted by our own Peter Knudson, is coming to Avogadro’s Number in Fort Collins on October 8th.

There will be eight percussion artists performing on instruments including hand pan, marimba, and an Afro-Cuban ensemble. In addition, there will also be world percussion instrument demonstrations by Peter between performances.

Fort Drum – October 8th, 2-4:00 PM
Avogadro’s – 605 South Mason Street
Admission – Totally free!


#DrumsWest #PeterKnudson #AvogadrosNumber #AvosForCollins #Percussion #FortDrum #FortCollinsMusic


https://youtu.be/48qnXKmZPPk

*AND*

Downloading the Undownloadable


Drew needed a clip from a YouTube video, but the site would not let him download it. No problem! VLC, the free media viewing software that can handle any file format, has a really useful feature that will allow you to download almost anything! In this video he breezes through using this feature.

DISCLAIMER – Do not steal other people’s stuff! Copyright is a great thing, as it encourages creativity and allows creators to benefit from their creations. When in doubt, ask for permission!

#YouTube #VLC #Downloading #ContentCreation


https://youtu.be/VARfATsFh7U


*ALSO*

Donuts and Pies? It’s The View from the Road.

This week we are in what Drew calls the “Donut Hole” where we’ve settled in on the school year but have not quite started performances. The kids are working hard and will be on stage soon, so stay tuned!

He also talked about the “Pie Rule”, which simply is the person slicing the pie does not get to choose their own slice. Confused? All will be explained in the video.

#TheViewFromTheRoad #BoomerMusic #BoomerMusicCompany
https://youtu.be/H2WPfo2rCuE

*Finally*
Excerpted from “’I Want This on PBS, not Exhibit A at My Trial’” as published in The Podcasting Store’s Medium Page

“…At our production meeting, the notes for “Do Re Mi” said the children would be wearing sailor suits, copying a scene from the movie. The contract we had with Rodgers & Hammerstein for the sheet music included permission for an unstaged, purely aural performance (commonly known as small rights). Putting the kids in costumes would, to my knowledge, require additional permission to stage the performance (grand rights). What we were proposing was closer to an opera than an orchestra concert.

After the meeting I raised these concerns and was told that Erich changed his mind, and the kids would wear their Youth Chorale outfits. Satisfied with that answer, I moved on and did not think on it further. Days later I saw the updated concert sheet which still indicated sailor suits.

Confused, I emailed Erich. His reply was non-specific and after much back and forth, I had gotten nowhere. A few weeks later he was back in town to conduct a pops show and I tracked him down to get some answers.

“Erich,” I asked, “what are the kids wearing for the PBS show?”
“Sailor suits,” he replied, “but don’t tell Rodgers & Hammerstein or they’ll charge more.”

Alarm bells were ringing in my head. Obviously, he did not fully understand the implications of what he was proposing. I tried not to betray my trepidation to Erich (he was the maestro, after all) but I knew this was a serious problem. Later that day I met with Chuck, the Orchestra Manager and expressed my concerns about future incarceration if I proceeded to sign the agreement…”

https://thepodcastingstore.medium.com/i-want-this-on-pbs-not-exhibit-a-at-my-trial-1ab446c0ea43

Read more essays like this at
https://thepodcastingstore.medium.com/

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Drew needed a clip from a YouTube video, but the site would not let him download it. No problem! VLC, the free media viewing software that can handle any file format, has a really useful feature that will allow you to download almost anything! In this video he breezes through using this feature.

DISCLAIMER – Do not steal other people’s stuff! Copyright is a great thing, as it encourages creativity and allows creators to benefit from their creations. When in doubt, ask for permission!

#YouTube #VLC #Downloading #ContentCreation

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Drew is sick and cannot speak. Despite the feasts and celebrations by some in honor of this auspicious event, the Weekend Update must go on!

This week’s installment is a reimagining of the weekly video and one answer to the question: If you cannot speak, how can you make a video? Watch judge the success of this attempt at doing more with less.


Three Sabian Cymbals You Need to Know About

Sabian makes some fantastic cymbals. This is known. But do you know about the Sick Hats, Click Hat, and Zen Effects?

Peter does!

In this demonstration he explains why the HHX Click Hat sounds like a clock track, how to use the AA Sick Hats like a sizzle, and how to get some un-zenlike sounds from the AAX Zen Effects. If you are looking for that extra punch to your drumming to stand out from the pack this demo will set you straight.

#DrumsWest #PeterKnudson #Sabian #SabianCymbals #Cymbals #SickHats #ClickHat #ZenEffects


https://youtu.be/9UbmHOjFCOM

*AND*

Make Better YouTube Thumbnails


One of the best ways to increase your clicks on YouTube is by having an inviting and engaging thumbnail. Marketing and branding expert Jason Stapleton will guide you through color grading, cropping, and overlaying to take your thumbnails from snapshot to money shot in no time!

#YouTube #Thumbnails #JasonStapleton #ContentCreation


https://youtu.be/vqoedtB0ddU


*ALSO*

Sometimes We Win and Sometimes We Learn. It’s The View from the Road.

This week Drew messed up. He was unable to meet the expectations of a teacher and, by extension, his own expectations. So what do we do? We do better.

There is always a lesson to learn, if we are willing to receive it. This was demonstrated in a conversation with another teacher where a student forgot their music and needed to figure out the solution to the problem. She figured it out, with a little guidance, but that’s what middle school is all about!

Also, Drew talks about the varied opportunities at the local schools for music making. Despite the relatively small size of our city, opportunities abound!

#TheViewFromTheRoad #BoomerMusic #BoomerMusicCompany
https://youtu.be/_IpR_M95r6g

*Finally*
Excerpted from “Getting Off the Floor to Face Vivaldi, Harpsichords, and a Train Derailment.” as published in The Podcasting Store’s Medium Page

“…I was promoted to sales, moved into a cubicle in the front, and began training. At first it was easy, answering emails and researching publications for librarians I already knew. After a couple of weeks, I started listening in on calls to learn the nuances of phone sales. Soon after I was cut loose to take calls and write orders.

It did not go smoothly.

The pace was faster than I had imagined and the questions more esoteric. On one memorable call, the customer asked me to please hold while he played the excerpt he needed on his harpsichord, since surely I would know the composer and title.

Another assured me that Vivaldi must have only written one violin concerto in A (there are at least 21 in A Major, and 5 in a minor, depending on how you count them). He got quite belligerent when I asked for further clarification, such as a catalog number, date, or instrumentation.

And one of my “favorite” customers of all, the conductor who yelled at me because the score he ordered was late due to a train derailment. This led to two (unspoken at the time) thoughts:
1. If I could control train derailments, I would not be working this job
2. We do not sell insulin; no one is dying because your score was a day later than you wanted.

I was drowning. Each night I returned to the apartment and laid face up on the floor just to release the built-up tension from the day. I missed my quiet warehouse job, now long gone due to a replacement having been hired. I thought back to my days working as a librarian when I was so self-conscious of talking on the phone, I would wait until the library was empty to return calls. What made me think I could do this job?…”

https://thepodcastingstore.medium.com/getting-off-the-floor-to-face-vivaldi-harpsichords-and-a-train-derailment-f705850dc852

Read more essays like this at
https://thepodcastingstore.medium.com/

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With a tryout night, instruments arriving, rentals going out the door, and the constant stream of repairs it felt like a traffic jam than lasted a week! We are thrilled to be so busy, though, so come out and see us if you need music gear!


The Three Pieces of Gear You Need to Create an Unboxing Video

Making an unboxing video seems complicated and expensive. But Drew was able to make one with no crew using some simple gear, free software, and the phone(s) he already owns. It is easier than you think, and the results are fantastic.

#ThePodcastingStore #Unboxing #HowTo #RODEWirelessGOII #OBS #DG207B #DaVinciResolve #KnowYourGear


https://youtu.be/D0raAzvDXJM
See the finished video:
https://youtu.be/JZGwbjG7Auc


*AND*

Mark your calendar! November 19, 2022 is our fall Step-Up Day!

If you have been renting from us for a while, it is time to step up to a more professional instrument. Come in for our event where we will have the widest selection of the year and representatives from the manufacturers on site to answer all your questions.

If you have something in mind and want to be sure we will have it, let us know! We will do our best to accommodate all requests. Or if you just want to see what options there are, we are happy to help you explore.

Stay tuned for more details!

#BoomerMusic #StepUpDay #StepUpYourSound

https://www.facebook.com/BoomerMusic1976/posts/pfbid0FoWv1bNcJpiQGvfiAhenjcQuMEMjD6CpUoo36rpgjKkCQKAi4FC89dL3yGHdym8Ml

*ALSO*

The Universal Language is Spoken by Everyone. It’s The View from the Road.

This week Drew got to witness something awesome. At a before school rehearsal, a handful of kids stayed behind to jam. The teacher told him that the kids are from completely different social circles, one being more into “nerd” culture, another too cool, etc. But they were working together and making music! Music truly is a lifetime pursuit that bridges all perceived gaps between us.

And as an aside, why does every bass player play Nirvana’s “Come As You Are” as soon as the song is over?

#TheViewFromTheRoad #BoomerMusic #BoomerMusicCompany
https://youtu.be/zFdVAiLlwsk

*Finally*
Excerpted from “(Almost) Finding El Dorado. In Ohio.” as published in The Podcasting Store’s Medium Page

“…a bit of context for the Ohio fast-food scene in the late 1990’s. After more than a decade working for Harland Sanders (of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame), Dave Thomas founded Wendy’s in 1969. From that first location in Columbus, OH, Wendy’s expanded nationwide. However, being the “hometown” restaurant for the region the Ohio market was, to put it mildly, saturated.

As Wendy’s was virtually the only game in town, a week in Ohio had led to a thorough exploration of the menu. The trip had me figuratively and literally out of my comfort zone and though we occasionally dined at Wendy’s back in NJ, I was craving something more familiar.

We were somewhere in western Ohio when I spotted something not seen since entering the Buckeye State – McDonald’s! Like Coronado on his quest for the mythical cities of gold, the Golden Arches were calling to me, my El Dorado.

Pulling into the lot, parking proved a greater challenge than anticipated. The main entrance was half blocked with cones, so I pulled around to the other side of the building and found a spot. The taste of those perfectly salted fries (smaller and fluffier than Wendy’s) flooded my memories and my mouth started watering as I approached the building.

I pulled on the door and to my surprise found it locked. This was odd, as it was the middle of lunchtime, and the parking lot was packed full of cars. Peering inside the building I was met with the quizzical stares of a large crew of construction workers wearing hardhats, all sitting down with their lunch pails enjoying their noon meal.

That was when it dawned on me – this McDonald’s was not only closed for lunch, but it was also still under construction…”

https://thepodcastingstore.medium.com/almost-finding-el-dorado-in-ohio-20c2bd2e94de
Read more essays like this at
https://thepodcastingstore.medium.com/

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Making an unboxing video seems complicated and expensive. But Drew was able to make one with no crew using some simple gear, free software, and the phone(s) he already owns. It is easier than you think, and the results are fantastic.

#ThePodcastingStore #Unboxing #HowTo #RODEWirelessGOII #OBS #DG207B #DaVinciResolve #KnowYourGear


https://youtu.be/D0raAzvDXJM
See the finished video:
https://youtu.be/JZGwbjG7Auc

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After two early release days due to extreme heat, we finally have a break in the weather. With slightly less hot days ahead the cool-off was most welcome!



A Simpler Way to Record Instruments and Speaking Using DaVinci Resolve and the Zoom F3

The Zoom F3 is a powerful and portable 32-bit float recorder. Davinci Resolve is a robust suite of video and audio editing software that is completely free. Combine the two and you get harmony not seen since chocolate and peanut butter combined to form the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.

Using the compression feature in DaVinci Resolve reduces the volume of the instrument audio (in this case drums) closer to the volume of speaking without sacrificing the sound quality of either. Sound complicated? It’s so simple you’ll be wishing you started using it months ago.

#ThePodcastingStore #F3 #ZoomF3 #32-bitFloat #Compression #Fairlight #DaVinciResolve #KnowYourGear


https://youtu.be/-ySsp5hsNCQ

*AND*

Unboxing the On-Stage ASB700 Podcast Bundle!

On-Stage and The Music People were gracious enough to send Drew an ASB700 Podcast Bundle, so he made an unboxing video. Inside was:
AS700 USB Microphone (with cable and table stand)
MBS500NC Clamp-on Boom Arm
ASVSM5-B Metal Pop Blocker

Drew explores each of these items and demonstrates how easy it is to set up and record. If you have delayed starting your podcast because you had not found a quality rig that won’t break the bank your wait is over.

Postscript – While breaking down the rig after recording the video, Drew dropped the AS700 microphone on the concrete patio. Great news – it still works great! Bad news – this durability test will not be the subject of a future video, as he knows he got lucky. But suffice to say, the mic passed this unscheduled rapid deceleration challenge with flying colors.

#ThePodcastingStore #On-Stage #TheMusicPeople #ASB700 #AS700 #MBS500NC #ASVSM5-B #Unboxing #Audacity #GearDemo #ItDidNotBreak

https://youtu.be/JZGwbjG7Auc

*ALSO*

No Classes? No Problem! It’s The View from the Road.

It’s an in-service day, which means students are at home and teachers are away from classrooms working on professional development. But there is stuff to deliver, so Drew is out delivering!

There is also an update with repair lead times, delivery of new stock, and a rare tryout night at an elementary school (which was postponed due to extreme heat after this was recorded).

#TheViewFromTheRoad #BoomerMusic #BoomerMusicCompany
https://youtu.be/aoRA6KhSjQI

*Finally*
Excerpted from “The Time We Played the Worst Possible Song for an Involuntary Audience” as published in The Podcasting Store’s Medium Page

“…”How would you all feel about rehearsing in Brockton?” I asked. “My dad is president of the Universalist Unitarian Church, and he offered us the sanctuary to rehearse for free.”

The group mulled this over. Brockton was a bit less convenient location-wise, but the price was significantly better than we were currently paying. Plus, since we had no other options, the choice was clear: the Elmwood Brass was leaving Elmwood.

Dad gave me the key and alarm code and warned me that other groups used the downstairs Fellowship Hall during the week for meetings and other gatherings. The sanctuary was upstairs, so though sound traveled throughout the building the disruption would be minimal…

…Warmed up and ready to rehearse we picked a song. Spirits were high, so the group settled on “Little Brown Jug”, a familiar arrangement we had practiced countless nights before. But somewhere in the back of my mind something did not seem right…

…Before I left for rehearsal, dad reminded me there would be a meeting downstairs. Why was that in my head now? Church. Meeting.

Then it dawned on me…”

https://thepodcastingstore.medium.com/the-time-we-played-the-worst-possible-song-for-an-involuntary-audience-676a05cfb11f

On-Stage and The Music People were gracious enough to send Drew an ASB700 Podcast Bundle, so he made an unboxing video. Inside was:
AS700 USB Microphone (with cable and table stand)
MBS500NC Clamp-on Boom Arm
ASVSM5-B Metal Pop Blocker

Drew explores each of these items and demonstrates how easy it is to set up and record. If you have delayed starting your podcast because you had not found a quality rig that won’t break the bank your wait is over.

Postscript – While breaking down the rig after recording the video, Drew dropped the AS700 microphone on the concrete patio. Great news – it still works great! Bad news – this durability test will not be the subject of a future video, as he knows he got lucky. But suffice to say, the mic passed this unscheduled rapid deceleration challenge with flying colors.

#ThePodcastingStore #On-Stage #TheMusicPeople #ASB700 #AS700 #MBS500NC #ASVSM5-B #Unboxing #Audacity #GearDemo #ItDidNotBreak

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The Zoom F3 is a powerful and portable 32-bit float recorder. Davinci Resolve is a robust suite of video and audio editing software that is completely free. Combine the two and you get harmony not seen since chocolate and peanut butter combined to form the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.

Using the compression feature in DaVinci Resolve reduces the volume of the instrument audio (in this case drums) closer to the volume of speaking without sacrificing the sound quality of either. Sound complicated? It’s so simple you’ll be wishing you started using it months ago.

#ThePodcastingStore #F3 #ZoomF3 #32-bitFloat #Compression #Fairlight #DaVinciResolve #KnowYourGear

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As we take a well earned breather this long weekend, we thank you all for your support not just during back to school but all year long. We could not do what we do without the amazing community we are privileged to serve.


The RODE Wireless GOII Feature You’re Probably Not Using but Will Eventually Need

While recording his weekly View from the Road video, Drew’s audio did not record from the ROSE Wireless GOII into the iPhone as usual. The resulting audio was weak and virtually drowned out by road noise.

Fortunately, the RODE has a feature that preserved the audio and allowed the video to happen as usual with great sound. The best part? This feature was already active with no additional effort.

#ThePodcastingStore #RODE #RODEWirelessGOII #RODECentral #DaVinciResolve #KnowYourGear


https://youtu.be/fQMeU8Lvd_M

*AND*

Free Drum Lesson! Bass Drum & Hi Hat Technique

Peter is at it again and this time he’s taking it to the floor with a deep dive into bass drum and hi hat technique. He discusses foot position, muscles to focus on, and a fantastic book that helped get him where he is today.

#DrumsWest #FreeDrumLesson #PeterKnudson #BassDrum #HiHat #Technique #ColinBailey #BassDrumControl

https://youtu.be/Fe145YlWKgY


*ALSO*
Educating Educators! It’s The View From the Road

This week Drew got to do something really cool: teach a teacher. The teacher had a problem with some brass instruments, which happens to be his area of expertise and there was plenty of time to go over how to fix what was wrong in depth. If you’re needing some refreshers about common, easy fixes for instruments in your class let us know! We’re happy to help.

#TheViewFromTheRoad #BoomerMusic #BoomerMusicCompany
https://youtu.be/JFYLF07x9cs

*Finally*
Excerpted from “I Went to Kentucky for My Birthday and All I Got Was This Stupid COVID” as published in The Podcasting Store’s Medium Page
“…Positive test in hand, I texted my general manager to let her know I would not be in-store the next day. I sent a Telegram message to my Ed Reps to bring them in the loop, assuring any deliveries I had scheduled would be covered. I contacted my business partner to let him know of the delay.

Then I took stock of what Plan B looked like for my unplanned extended stay. Paperwork in my inbox would be scanned and saved to the shared folder on the server, which I could easily access that evening. I had remote access to the store computer server, which includes our point-of-sale system and internal message system. Store email accounts are always on my phone and laptop, so I would stay caught up. This was proof of concept for what I had been trying to achieve since January 2020 – I can do most of my job from anywhere in the world that has WiFi.

Tallying the ledger of assets versus liabilities, the only minus was the inability to manage my staff and serve my customers in person. In a COVID-era world where things can turn on a dime, I seamlessly pivoted into in-place systems and strategies. I doubt many folks outside even noticed the difference…”
https://thepodcastingstore.medium.com/i-went-to-kentucky-for-my-birthday-and-all-i-got-was-this-stupid-covid-da50205b74af

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