USING DIGITISED MUSIC FOR SQUARE DANCING
JUNE 2006 ACF CALLER CONFERNCE
Jeff Garbutt

I, like several others, have started using a computer for taking my music to the dance. But this has been an evolutionary process rather than an overnight decision. I have gone from Vinyl - to Minidisc to iPod to Portable computer. Along the way I anticipated that I would eventually use a computer - so I took steps to make the changeover easier whilst I was still using minidisk.

MY SYSTEM

Home - 
Windows Desktop computer with external 120GB Hard Disk Drive for storage of my music masters.
GOLDWAVE software for digitising music to computer
Stanton T80 turntable, with "Line Out" socket
I digitise my music from vinyls using Goldwave, copy any CDs and convert them all the CD quality WAV files for storing on my external HDD. I also make MP3 copies and transfer them onto my Apple laptop

At Dance -
Apple iBook G4 computer
Hilton MA150 amplifier
The Laptop carries all my music in MP3 format to use at the dance

WHY APPLE?

Apple has a more stable operating system than Windows and doesn't mind leaving home. I found that Windows gets a bit upset when it leaves its Internet connection and is always working in the background trying to re-establish a connection. The Apple operating system is also more suited to music use - go to any recording studio and you will find Windows computers are definitely in the minority.

Nowadays Windows and Apple computers talk to each other so easily and file transfers are a breeze. When I got mine I simply turned it on and it immediately recognised and started sharing with every other computer in the house. This is a sign of the times to come, computer technologies are starting to converge rather than diverge. Even software will soon be available which will work "cross platform". 

But of course Apple laptops cost more than an equivalent Windows laptop, but not that much more. For instance - at around $1500 my Apple cost more than the very popular Acers that sell around $1200 - but still less than a Toshiba which go for over $2000

ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER

For me:
Ability to have all my music available
Ability to find any tune I want within seconds
To program my nights better - by organising a play list of music I intend to use.
To have several play lists of music types to select from. For instance hoedowns, contras, gospel, rock, country, love songs, new additions etc.

But one can also have:
Lyrics, choreography, dance night statistics

SOFTWARE FOR DIGITISING MUSIC:

GOLDWAVE - Windows only. You can download and use it for free - but it operates a toll system which allows 150 commands per session. When the limit is reached, a toll message will appear whenever you use a control in the Device Controls window. Exiting and restarting GoldWave will let you use another 150 commands without interruption. This toll can be removed by registering at a cost of $US40. But for $US40 you get a good value program. Available at http://www.goldwave.com/

AUDACITY - Windows and MAC. Comes free. I have only recently start using it and although I haven't used it as much as I have Goldwave, It looks just as good. Available at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/


SOFTWARE FOR PLAYING MUSIC:

ITUNES - Windows and MAC. Cost - free. Basically the same front end as used on iPod so is very user friendly. Supports play lists, doesn't have variable tempo adjustment. I adjust my music tempo at the recording stage anyway - so that is no disadvantage to me.

Digital Music Magician - Windows. $US149. Designed especially for callers - specifications look impressive but have had no personal experience with it. But is Nev getting commission to have his face used in their advertising.

SqView - Windows - Available from Thomas Bernhed. Works well although it takes a bit of setting up to use it to it's full potential. It is free but you have to request it directly from Thomas - he likes to keep track of who has a copy. He can be contacted at t.bernhed@telia.com

Ceder Square Dance System - Windows - Available from Vic and Debbie Ceder at http://www.ceder.net/ for $US200. Designed especially for callers - specifications look impressive but have had no personal experience with it.

CREATING MUSIC FILES FROM VINYL

How do I get started? Hanhursts have a complete set of instructions available on their website at:
http://www.dosado.com/images/Vinyl2MP3.doc in WORD format
http://www.dosado.com/images/Vinyl2MP3.pdf in PDF format

I don't recommend you follow their instructions completely and recommend the following changes:

(1) Under "Quick Start Insructions", (3), They have "Set Channel = Mono". 
I recommend "Set Channel = Stereo". Your Hilton may be mono but it should be fed with the best possible music.

(2) Remove all reference to recording from a Hilton. You really need to get the best music master possible. Use a proper Hi-Fi or DJ turntable. 

If your turntable only has "Phono Out" remember that you cannot go directly from turntable directly to your computer. The sequence of connections will be:
Turntable to "Phono In" on HiFi Amp to "Line In" on Computer.

If your turntable has "Line Out" you can plug it directly into"Line In" on your computer.

Hanhursts also have instructions for adjusting tempo on their website at www.dosado.com/music on the right hand side of the screen about halfway down just underneath "Digital Music Index".

Another useful tool to have is a metronome or tempo or BPM meter such that you can check and set the tempo of your music masters. There are several different types of meters, but make sure it has a resolution of 1 BPM. I have seen meters that only have resolution of 5 BPM - not good enough. I also recommend getting one with "Tap Tempo" option, you simply tap a finger on a button in rhythm to the beat of the music.

I use a software one available from Richard Reel's website at http://www.all8.com/tools/bpm.htm I like this one because it is easy to use and gives a "moving average" which smooths out the variations in your tapping.

YOU'VE GOT A HOME COMPUTER AND WILL GET A LAPTOP ONE DAY?

In my opening paragraph I said ". Along the way I anticipated that I would eventually use a computer - so I took steps to make the changeover easier whilst I was still using minidisk". All the steps about getting the music digitised, cleaned up and tempo step can be used to make useful masters even for CDs, minidisks and iPods. And it makes it easier to change when changeover day came. When I used minidisk I simply copied from CD masters I use to have rather than re-recording from records. When I changed to iPod I simply converted all my music to mp3 and then onto the iPod. And when I got my laptop I simply loaded all the mp3 files into the laptop. If you have any inclination of that you might one day use digital music - start now - if you don't have a computer at home - get your grandchildren to do it for you.