Views From The Loft Writing about music, film, gadgets, and life on the web.

I’ve had a renewed interest in videography and video blogging, so I once again went in search of an external mic suitable for doing simple interviews with my Panasonic PV-GS150 DV camera. The earlier mic setups I’d tried were either too noisy or too strong for the input resulting in oversaturated audio. My travels took me to Radio Shack, where I picked up a simple label mic with 1/8″ jack. And just like that, I had the solution. No noise, decent frequency response, and above all, a simple solution.

Tags: DV cameras, video blogging

I’ve had a renewed interest in videography and video blogging, so I once again went in search of an external mic suitable for doing simple interviews with my Panasonic PV-GS150 DV camera. The earlier mic setups I’d tried were either too noisy or too strong for the input resulting in oversaturated audio. My travels took me to Radio Shack, where I picked up a simple label mic with 1/8″ jack. And just like that, I had the solution. No noise, decent frequency response, and above all, a simple solution.

Tags: DV cameras, video blogging

Judging by this AP report, Barbaro’s surgery in nearly Kennett Square apparently went well, and it looks like he’d going to live.

Tags: barbaro

If you’re looking for live music tonight, might want to check out the Bastard Trio who’ll be playing at the Big Pink tonight in Philly. I had a chance to hear them on Friday night at The Green Line, and it was a real treat. If Paul (percussion) offers to talk about how they compose their music, or about the life of an experimental jazz band on tour, take him up on it. Check out their MySpace page for more tour info. Pictures and video to come.

Update: photo below, Paul on percussion.

Tags: bastard trio, experimental jazz, philadelphia

A few weeks ago I made this maple cutting board for my wife from leftover pieces I had used to make a countertop for the kitchen in our old house. It immediately became a permanent (and functional) fixture on our countertop. Sorry, none for sale. 🙂

Tags: none

There’s not much in the way of natural landscape in the city of Las Vegas itself. The natural beauty is beyond. This is a shot from my hotel room at the Flamingo last week.

Tags: las vegas, flamingo

Last night after drinks at Ocean Blue, I stopped to pick up some flyers for local events. Among them was one for a band called Mallon and Moore, a Reading-area cover band who has a page on MySpace. As a matter of fact, all the flyer/postcard really had was their MySpace URL and some abstract imagery. This is marketing in the age of new media: cheap postcard (if you can call it that); free page on MySpace.

Tags: mallon and moore

This spring the sunsets have been breathtaking. Here is one from last week as viewed from our deck.

Tags: sunset, berks county

If you’re looking to purchase some more movie music, consider the soundtrack from The Virgin Suicides. (I’m not talking about the original score by the French band Air; this is recommended but not as diverse.) Heart (Magic Man and Crazy on You), Todd Rundgren (Hello It’s Me and Dream Goes on Forever), Air (Ce Matin La and Playground Love)….the list goes on. It’s amazing how well the much newer Air tracks seem to fit with the 70’s soft rock of Heart, Rundgren, Styx, etc. The movie (Sophia Coppola directed) is a keeper, too.

Buy it on Amazon.com: The Virgin Suicides: Music From the Motion Picture

Tags: Virgin Suicides, Sophia Coppola, 70s rock, Heart, Styx, Rundgren

Look, we have some visitors from around the globe. When the town that became Reading, PA, was founded almost 300 years ago, imagine how much longer it took word to travel….

Tags: Reading PA