Computer uses

Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 7091 Location: Central CA

Just out of curiosity and based on whether or not anyone wants to share such info, I was just wondering what, besides straight communications such as forums, email, etc., you use your computer for?

I do my amateur writings and play various WWII strategy games but its main function for me concerns the fact that I have a fairly comprehensive set of music creation files and a virtual recording studio loaded into the thing where I create Midi/MP3/ Original Audio files.

I've been into computer music since the old Commodore/QuantumLink days and work mostly in old country, (relatively) current country and old (50s & 60s) rock although I've had to cut back quite a lot because transcriptions and sheet music prices are, like everything else, escalating out of my reach.

Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 1967

Games and catching up on the news, mainly. I can certainly play music on mine but I prefer a CD player so as to play whatever I want, when I want, and not be doing too many things on my computer at once. Smile

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject:

Anything and everything.

Mainly web development; it's running a web server and database server for developing and testing web apps and sites.

Programming; all the requisite editors, IDE's, compilers, GUI designers and such.

Lot's of scripting. Dumb little tools for automating tedious jobs like back-ups.

Graphic design; I've been doing a reasonable amount of advertising work recently so I've a few image editing and vector drawing apps.

It's my jukebox, my backing band when I feel like practicing, and sometimes my recording studio.

Games; once in while I'll load up some of my favorite FPS's and kill a few hours shooting demons in the face with a shotgun.

Movies and television; occasionally I'll download and watch DVD or TV rips.

Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 7091 Location: Central CA

FL Studio5 Producer Edition. My kids got Fruity Loops v3.4 for me back when I was trying to figure out a way to get beyond General Midi and they've updated it a couple times since.

I think I've finally settled on V5 as having all I needed for my simple little compositions. I like it because being a rank amateur, the interface is simple and that's important when you're as simple minded as I am. Wink

I usually make a working loop, copy to MP3 format and then when I'm ready to burn the CDs I use NeroMix to convert to standard audio files so they can be played on a regular stereo. Only my family ever listens to them (and I'm pretty sure they do it just to be nice) so it's strictly a hobby thing.

I've gone to some of the sites where the pro types hang out, thinking maybe I'd pick up some pointers but haven't understood more than a word or two out of ten so I just trial and error my way through until it sounds reasonably right to me. Mr. Green

Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 1457

Show offs, both of you.
But your fancy smacy computereze doesn't bother me. I'm married to one that talks like that too.

I use mine for business. And pictures. Lots of pictures.

And research. (For my kids. Yes, I help. I have the time - and they don't. Have you seen the kind of papers they're required to do these days?)

No games. No music.

I (we) use it for phone calls. Alot.

Joined: 13 May 2007 Posts: 7

I used to use it for testing software back when I worked in the computer field. Now it seems like I only use it for forums. Oh and IM and music. Rock on!

Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 7091 Location: Central CA

Music seems to be a common factor so far. Seems like most folks use it to enjoy music in one way or another, whether it's listening or editing.

Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 1236 Location: Ontario, Canada

Communications.....

email, IM, forums, news agencies...

My family is spread coast to coast, so this is a cheap medium to stay in touch.

Eventually, an upgrade is coming, and then it will be for storage... pictures, music, 'information'.

I used to have it connected to my stereo.

Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 1457

Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 7091 Location: Central CA

Okay, OKay... music seems to be a FAIRLY common factor in the list of uses, so far. There is always that one exception... Wink

Seriously and to be fair, listening to music is not one of my own uses for this thing either although the digital SS5 speakers I use with it sound a lot better than my little stereo in many cases. I don't download music, I don't buy CDs and I don't store music files on the computer. Heck, I seldom listen to music on the radio either since it's all gone so commercial and under control of the corporatistas.

There are a lot of better ways to LISTEN to music, including your little radio, all the e-hype not withstanding but it is a convenient way to collect and catalog and play back music if that's what you're into.

But it just seems that in any survey I've ever seen, on line or in print, that involves the reasons people use computers, an interest in music, in one form or another, seems to always be somewhere near the top.

Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 2:12 am Post subject:

Well I am registered on 5 retail forums and 5 various forums.

I also listen to music while surfing or in a chatroom. . . . . . .

http://www.clearchannelmusic.com/hdradio/#

http://www.accuradio.com

http://www.live365.com/index.live

http://phoenixrisingradio.com/links.html
This station you can request songs from the play list that they are currently using

I also listen to hockey games on the net and play games on the net.

And I even do some bar hopping too

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