Your Rights as a Consumer - A basic introduction

[barracad]

Your Rights as a Consumer - A basic introduction

 

Podcast contents:

 

• Basic requirements
  
• Faulty items
  
• Refunds
  
• Repair and replacement
  
• Unsafe goods

Please make your comments, post your responses or ask your questions in this thread.

 

Listen to the podcast and vote:-

 

www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/podcast/barracad01.mp3

[Robertxc]

Excellent Podcast! very professional. Well done!

[bottomburp]

I thought the information was excellent but found the music a tad distracting!

[7givenchy]

Excellent information, well done

[monkey_uk]

Very good. Clear, well structured and very informative.

 

The background music / voice balance wasn't quite perfect though, consider having the music volume set a tiny bit lower in the future.

 

Still a well earned *** from me though!

[bill-k]

Well done, Barracad. I like the idea of the background music - it helps thing along and you don't feel as though you're being lectured on a one-to-one basis.

 

You seem a quietly-spoken bloke, though, and as BB indicated, the backing occasionally swamps you. If you're able to re-mix with a slightly lower backing level, then that might be worth a try.

 

But we can all do someone's job better than they can, can't we ? That is, until we find ourselves in their shoes.

 

These podcasts are excellent, and I'm sure they will benefit lots of people who aren't too good with the keyboard, etc.

 

Well done, mate - and keep 'em coming you guys !!

[barracad]

I think if (when) I do another I'll lower the music some more - it was actually going to be louder than that then I changed it right at the last minute. Also, I'll try and speak a little slower - only realised after I'd finished editing that it sounded too quick in places.

 

Thanks for your positive comments and construcive criticism - this is the first time I've ever done anything like this so all feedback greatly appreciated.

 

 

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[bearo]

I really enjoyed it, I thought it was really informative, very well put together, I actually thought there was a good balance between music and voice, well done Adam.

[bill-k]

I think if (when) I do another I'll lower the music some more - it was actually going to be louder than that then I changed it right at the last minute. Also, I'll try and speak a little slower - only realised after I'd finished editing that it sounded too quick in places.

 

Thanks for your positive comments and construcive criticism - this is the first time I've ever done anything like this so all feedback greatly appreciated.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I didn't realise this is the first time you've done this, mate. Blimey - that is brilliant. If I'd realised that, I wouldn't have torn it to pieces !!

 

There's no way I could have got it as good as that until at least the 100th take !!

 

But yes, you've got to post it up for us lot to savage, in order to get the "Old Grey Whistle Test" carried out.

 

As regards doing any more of these - "If" is not an option - "When" is the only correct answer !!

 

And soon !

[meagain]

Interesting, and informative. A useful reminder for those who may not be aware of their rights. Content was very good, production was average. May be copyright issues if the music is not royalty-free or an original work. It is generally the case that unless you've paid for an appropriate licence to do so, including music in a podcast IIRC constitutes offering a copy for download.

 

I don't know what you did as regards the music, but when I put together trailers, etc. I get the level of the voice right first, then adjust the volume of the backing music accordingly before doing the final mix. It also seemed you were speaking a little quietly into the microphone - in future, turn the mic level down, and your voice box up

 

I was torn between 2/3 and 3/3, and went for 2 to make the result look less boring. Good job otherwise.

[Guest Battleaxe]

Brilliant.. I found the sound level good, I could understand everything, found the background music fine.

For a first time well done.

 

You gave the facts and the contacts, no waffling. Short, sharp and sweet.

[barracad]

Interesting, and informative. A useful reminder for those who may not be aware of their rights. Content was very good, production was average. May be copyright issues if the music is not royalty-free or an original work. It is generally the case that unless you've paid for an appropriate licence to do so, including music in a podcast IIRC constitutes offering a copy for download.

 

I don't know what you did as regards the music, but when I put together trailers, etc. I get the level of the voice right first, then adjust the volume of the backing music accordingly before doing the final mix. It also seemed you were speaking a little quietly into the microphone - in future, turn the mic level down, and your voice box up

 

I was torn between 2/3 and 3/3, and went for 2 to make the result look less boring. Good job otherwise.

 

Thanks for your comments.

 

As I said earlier it's the first time I've ever done anything like this or had any experiences of either recording my own voice or editing audio. I tried playing about with a couple of mics and different sound levels and went for the one which I thought sounded the best.

 

I edited the vocal part alone and got that into something which I thought sounded half decent, but then thought it sounded a little boring so I googled for some royalty free music which I purchased for a small fee and I personally feel it improved the overall podcast somewhat.

 

I'm glad the production was 'average' as I would have expected my first attempt to be below average.

 

I'm very pleased with all your comments so far and will be taking everything in for next time, so keep your tips and tricks coming.

[anon1]

Very informative Barracad

[meagain]

[...] I googled for some royalty free music which I purchased for a small fee and I personally feel it improved the overall podcast somewhat.

 

Good, good. It's bad enough that the banks would want to shut us down, no need to give anyone else any excuses. At some point, I'll put together some guidelines for people thinking of doing a sound recording.

 

Definitely a good first offering from you.

[freebird]

well done Barracad, for someone who's never done any recording before you did brilliant.

It takes a bit to get used to mic levels etc. but you gave it a go and it sounded great.

I'm going to give it a go, my ex and I used to be in a band together and he still has our 8 track in his , so when I decide what I'd like to cover I'll use some of our own music ( a mellow track, as we were rockers ! ) as a backing track and I'll ask you what you think.

[bill-k]

well done Barracad, for someone who's never done any recording before you did brilliant.

It takes a bit to get used to mic levels etc. but you gave it a go and it sounded great.

I'm going to give it a go, my ex and I used to be in a band together and he still has our 8 track in his , so when I decide what I'd like to cover I'll use some of our own music ( a mellow track, as we were rockers ! ) as a backing track and I'll ask you what you think.

Brilliant, Freebird - Yeah - do one.

 

And then some.

[freebird]

right I've got an idea sorted but what format would it have to be in to upload it on to here...I can record on to 2 tracks on the porta studio, my vocal track and 1 backing track, but we would mix that on to cassette, so what does it need to be on for the software on here? as you can see I have no technical knowledge what so ever..so where do I go from here ?

[bill-k]

right I've got an idea sorted but what format would it have to be in to upload it on to here...I can record on to 2 tracks on the porta studio, my vocal track and 1 backing track, but we would mix that on to cassette, so what does it need to be on for the software on here? as you can see I have no technical knowledge what so ever..so where do I go from here ?

 

Hey Freebird - you took the bait !!

 

Barracad's is an MP3 file (at 128 kbps) - if that means anything to you analogue rockers !! If you can mix down to a stereo (not dual mono, if possible) reel-to-reel on the portastudio ( I dunno what you guys use these days - it was TEAC or Revox A-77's in my day !!). I would then recommend you D.I. straight from the 1/4" into your PC., if the cassette you mention is standard audio cassette.

 

I assume here that this is your procedure for recording audio cassettes for sale/distribution at gigs. If your cassette output quality is better than that, then go with it.

 

This is the difficult bit, I think, between old Lynyrd Skynyrd rockers and the new MP3 boom-box generation (bless 'em) !! If you have some audio software (eg., High Criteria's Total Recorder) that allows this, then you're away, otherwise I'm not sure if you can do it. You need a program that takes the audio input from your PC's sound card (usually mic or line input), and converts it to a PC format (eg. MP3, WMA, WAV, etc). Total recorder does this, but you may have your own. If not, then PM me. If you have got one, then you're there. Save it as an MP3 file, then upload it.

 

As an aside, if you have a mod overlooking your project, then you might want to save it as a WAV file. This is an uncompressed file (as opposed to MP3), but can be uploaded to the CAG Ivory Tower for "further processing."

 

Either way - PM me - I used to play pub rock in a previous life - and boy do I miss it.

 

Regarding backing music - note Meagain's posts. You might like to shove some LS down at the back, but you may have to compromise, there. Also, you might find that Meagain has further input on this, anyway, in which case, I'd go with him - he's still doin' it. I handed my empty glass back over the bar 16 years ago !!!

 

Bless you, matey - go for it. Be a trouper again !!

[freebird]

lol..the last time I rocked live was 1993.......did a bit of charity stuff and continued to send tapes to A&R's but most of them were A&Rsoles and only signed up chart stuff..we compromised several times and did some county rock stuff for locl radio and charity but our heart was in our own material.

I have my PC in mine and the porta studio is still in my "ex's....so DI is out of the question!

Here's me with a phone that, dials out, receives incoming calls and sends texts....little black number, suits me fine but I'm laughed at by the kids who, bluetooth-MP3-and I Pod like mad.........that might as well be double dutch to me........

 

Right back to the drawing board..if Use a mic directly in to the PC and just play a low volume track of one of my songs on my CD player next to my PC that should do it, I think.....I know it's not the same but I've done it for my answerphone message in the past and it's worked.

 

I don't do written instructions too well as I'm dyslexic and it took me 27 hours to put this flat pack PC desk together from Ikea!!!!!!! I gave up on the bloody guide and guessed it..too many pieces all looking alike...too many holes..not enough screws and plugs.......

 

any "simple" instructions or ideas, guys would be most welcome

[bill-k]

lol..the last time I rocked live was 1993.......did a bit of charity stuff and continued to send tapes to A&R's but most of them were A&Rsoles and only signed up chart stuff..we compromised several times and did some county rock stuff for locl radio and charity but our heart was in our own material.

I have my PC in mine and the porta studio is still in my "ex's....so DI is out of the question!

Here's me with a phone that, dials out, receives incoming calls and sends texts....little black number, suits me fine but I'm laughed at by the kids who, bluetooth-MP3-and I Pod like mad.........that might as well be double dutch to me........

 

Right back to the drawing board..if Use a mic directly in to the PC and just play a low volume track of one of my songs on my CD player next to my PC that should do it, I think.....I know it's not the same but I've done it for my answerphone message in the past and it's worked.

 

I don't do written instructions too well as I'm dyslexic and it took me 27 hours to put this flat pack PC desk together from Ikea!!!!!!! I gave up on the bloody guide and guessed it..too many pieces all looking alike...too many holes..not enough screws and plugs.......

 

any "simple" instructions or ideas, guys would be most welcome

 

Know what you mean FB

 

- if it weren't for my 16-yr old kid,

 

I'd be likewise.

 

I've (reluctantly) learned a bit from her,

 

at least !!

 

Sorry -didn't realise dyslexia.

 

It must make my stuff look like utter cr@p !!

 

If it's any consolation,

 

the instructions for ANY flatback

 

are utter cr@p !!

 

 

If you can master your podcast

 

on the porta studio,

 

then put it on cassette,

 

as a stereo mix,

 

I think this would be better

 

than doing it on your PC,

 

with the mic & cassette player.

 

 

 

OK for answer phones, that,

 

but might be not quite for podcast.

 

 

Maybe you can then PM a mod

 

and send the cassette to a PO Box

 

or for collection at a PO.,

 

and they could put it on the forum

 

as an MP3.

 

 

Or send to me,

 

and I'd be honoured to do it.

 

I think you're a good guy

 

- but you'd have to trust me !!

 

Check mods first, though.

 

 

Hope my attempt at making

 

my post easier to read isn't insulting !!!

 

 

Don't know enough about dyslexia

 

(apart from the usual jokes)

 

- so please forgive if

 

it seems too condescending !!

 

Bill.

 

PS Yeah - OK., Glenn - my stuff doesn't just LOOK like utter cr@p !!!

[freebird]

hey Bill no sweat, I take my time reading everything twice or three times till it makes sense..I also have to check what I'm sending out as the typos are laughable. I have the text on my own PC quite large so that helps out too. It's only mild dyslexia and it's worse when I'm tired or run down, so night time posting can be tough but you kind of adjust and get on with it. It's a strange thing really and sometimes what I type with my fingers, isn't what appears on the screen, can't explain it really..it's a "brain" thing.. to complicated for me !

Right I'll get a recording done and take it from there....I'm almost sure that I can download an MP3 file converter too.

Thanks for your offer to sort the cassette. When it's done I'll come back on and take it from there.

[bill-k]

Yeah, good, mate -

 

Do the master first.

 

Not sure if Nero Wave Editor

 

will do the MP3 for you.

 

If not, don't spend any cash

 

as there are plenty out there.

 

You can probably use a

 

freebie trial version.

 

Hopefully, your cassette Line Out

 

will connect to Line or Mic In

 

on the PC.

 

Then you're nearly there !!

 

Go for it matey

 

- do your thing.

 

- and enjoy the smell

 

of the crowd once again !!

[meagain]

If it makes a difference, you can copy the CD to your computer (no legal issues if it is an original piece), record the voice track separately and use some editing software such as Audacity (quite easy to use, the documentation is good) to do the mix itself. My experience is that music playing in the background is difficult to pick up on a mic if the speakers are too far away.

 

I'll put up some info for potential 'casters in the near future.

[bill-k]

Thanks Meagain - I was hoping you'd look in on this one.

[bill-k]

Further to Meagain's help there, Freebird -

Yes, you could copy (record) your music track to computer,

then record your vox track as an entirely separate item.

Try and get the timing of the two approx. correct.

Hopefully, you could then mix them yourself on the PC,or send these 2 tracks out to anybody whocan do it for you.

 

Or to a mod, maybe.