The Proms 2007

uffeviking · July 14, 2007, 08:25:53 AM

I thought there already was a Proms thread but can't find it. Let me know if you started one and I'll add this one to it.

Anyhow: They just started with a William Walton piece Overture Portsmouth Point

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2007/

Then the Elgar Cello Concerto and end with Beethoven's 9th.

Harry · July 14, 2007, 08:28:16 AM

Quote from: uffeviking on July 14, 2007, 08:25:53 AM
I thought there already was a Proms thread but can't find it. Let me know if you started one and I'll add this one to it.

Anyhow: They just started with a William Walton piece Overture Portsmouth Point

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2007/

Then the Elgar Cello Concerto and end with Beethoven's 9th.

Are you going my dear?

uffeviking · July 14, 2007, 08:34:49 AM

Sure, Dear Harry! Going right into my study where I connected the webcast on my computer, to my stereo system via another under-the-house cable!

Mark · July 14, 2007, 09:16:40 AM

Quote from: uffeviking on July 14, 2007, 08:25:53 AM
I thought there already was a Proms thread but can't find it. Let me know if you started one and I'll add this one to it.

Anyhow: They just started with a William Walton piece Overture Portsmouth Point

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2007/

Then the Elgar Cello Concerto and end with Beethoven's 9th.

I said elsewhere on the forum that I caught this on my new PVR last night, so if I figure out how to do something clever with it (or extract the audio track), I'll upload it somewhere.

uffeviking · July 14, 2007, 09:26:56 AM

PVR? = Private Video Receiver?

See, Dear Mark, that techno-talk goes right past my ears, and brain too! Please, enlighten me!

Thank you!

Greta · July 14, 2007, 10:04:04 AM

Well, I have a DVR, so I guess the P does stand for Personal? The other two are Video Recorder.

Mark, do you have a DVD recorder? I transferred some stuff off my DVR to DVDs and eventually to computer, using some long process and several free programs. I bookmarked the guide that led me through it.

Mark · July 14, 2007, 10:14:00 AM

Lis, Greta is right: PVR = Personal Video Recorder. Basically, a hard disk drive, twin tuners, and an operating system to make it all work. Plus a USB 2.0 port to get stuff onto my PC.

Greta, I've not experimented with the transfer process as yet. I'll keep you posted.

uffeviking · July 14, 2007, 10:18:47 AM

Quote from: Mark on July 14, 2007, 10:14:00 AM
Lis, Greta is right: PVR = Personal Video Recorder. Basically, a hard disk drive, twin tuners, and an operating system to make it all work. Plus a USB 2.0 port to get stuff onto my PC.

Thank you, Mark! I really was just kidding, making it all up. I think I leave this procedure to your expertise!

uffeviking · July 14, 2007, 10:23:00 AM

To get back to the Proms: René Pape is super in the Ninth! I thought I'd skip this one, avoiding 'Beethoven 9 plethora', but changed my mind!

Don Giovanni · July 14, 2007, 12:45:22 PM

I was at the Proms last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not terribly familiar with the Elgar Cello Concerto and so it was nice to hear it. Of course, the 9th was the highlight of the evening and, as uffeviking said, Pape was great. As the Ode to Joy theme was introduced in the lower strings the audience seemed amazingly quiet. As expected, it ended gloriously.

uffeviking · July 14, 2007, 01:34:16 PM

Wonderful to have you here telling us how it all sounded, live, as a member of the audience. Thank you, Don Giovanni!

Will you also be in attendance for other performances like the matinee with Mendelssohn, Korngold etc? Was it this afternoon? Those time differences and the listings on the web site have me all confused!

M forever · July 14, 2007, 02:53:01 PM

Quote from: Mark on July 14, 2007, 10:14:00 AM
Lis, Greta is right: PVR = Personal Video Recorder. Basically, a hard disk drive, twin tuners, and an operating system to make it all work. Plus a USB 2.0 port to get stuff onto my PC.

Greta, I've not experimented with the transfer process as yet. I'll keep you posted.

Chances are you will find out that USB 2.0 port won't allow you direct connectivity to your PC. It may just be for an additional hard drive to expand your storage space. Maybe, maybe you can simply load stuff onto the hard drive and from there even to the PC. AFAIK, most DVR types can't do that, the only option is to record it on your PC via an analog video connection because the file format on the DVr hard disks is different. Or maybe you can even transfer directly to your PC, it depends on your type of recorder. Or maybe not. Or if you have a TV tuner card, it should be possible to feed the signal directly to it and record it on the PC via the coax connection (if you have one). If all that fails, transferring the audio should be no biggie anyway since you can simply tap into the analog out signal path.

Mark · July 14, 2007, 03:17:42 PM

M, the unit we bought (British-made by Topfield, basically our equivalent of TiVO) allows direct transfers from the PVR to the PC via USB 2.0 - no messing, no fuss. The only thing I'm unclear on is what format the recording is in ... and, if it's some obscure file type, how to convert it. Time will tell ...

M forever · July 15, 2007, 04:52:58 AM

My DVR does not make it that convenient. If you have the option of transferring the files conveniently to the PC, converting them is no biggie. Getting them there is usually the problem, or in your lucky case, it isn't. They are probably in the .rec format often used for such applications, and there are software tools to convert these to other video formats and author DVDs once you have them on the PC.

uffeviking · July 15, 2007, 05:39:46 AM

Campra and Rameau!

This should be a truly fascinating day at the Proms for any lover of baroque music and any fan of John Eliot Gardiner.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2007/whatson/1507.shtml#prom3

uffeviking · July 15, 2007, 06:04:26 AM

Of course if you want to listen to the Proms right now, by all means, go there and enjoy the collection of British Film Music! Right now it's William Walton's work to The Battle of Britain!

Mark · July 15, 2007, 11:10:37 AM

Quote from: M forever on July 15, 2007, 04:52:58 AM
They are probably in the .rec format often used for such applications, and there are software tools to convert these to other video formats and author DVDs once you have them on the PC.

Sorry to rub it in, but yes, my PVR and PC are happily (if lengthily) 'talking' to one another over USB 2.0 as I type this.

Now, as to converting .rec files to make them useable (i.e. playable in WMP or similar, or burnable to DVD), that's a whole other mission. Check this out (and recommend alternative routes, if you know of any): Converting .rec

EDIT: Mind you, this might do the trick much more simply: MPEG StreamClip

uffeviking · July 15, 2007, 11:40:50 AM

Sounds - or looks - as if you missed a lot of good music, Korngold being just one of the great film music composers. How about the baroque music part of the Proms right now? No? Rameau not your cup of tea either. Too bad!

M forever · July 15, 2007, 12:31:52 PM

Quote from: Mark on July 15, 2007, 11:10:37 AM
Sorry to rub it in, but yes, my PVR and PC are happily (if lengthily) 'talking' to one another over USB 2.0 as I type this.

Now, as to converting .rec files to make them useable (i.e. playable in WMP or similar, or burnable to DVD), that's a whole other mission. Check this out (and recommend alternative routes, if you know of any): Converting .rec

EDIT: Mind you, this might do the trick much more simply: MPEG StreamClip

Since my hardware doesn't do that, I have never played with that myself. But googling and reading around a little bit should make you find the best solution for you easily.

uffeviking · July 15, 2007, 12:55:56 PM

Truly sorry I have run out of things to say about today's Proms to insert between the OT tech-talk of you two charming gentlemen!

This is no complaint! I enjoyed it all, laughing at what you two can bring up next, not comprehending a word of your exchange, but, who knows, it might come in handy some day when I want to do more with my system than just listen and watch and manipulate the On-Off button!