Go Ahead – Take a Peek Behind the Curtain

Welcome. I took quite a break from blogging – but now I’m back. And I thought I’d have a bit of an open house, just to kick things off. (And yep, that’s my AKG mic peeking out from the curtain to welcome you in.)

So, what’s been going on lately? Well, my latest audiobook, Kaanapali Beach Paradise, is now available on Audible, Amazon and iTunes, so that’s some good news to share.

On the personal front, I’m on a quest to read all of P.D. James’s Adam Dalgleish books. I’ve read most of the later ones, but it occurred to me that I’d never read the earlier ones. So, I’ve circled back and read the first three, and now I’m on the fourth, Shroud for a Nightingale.

I’m taking good care of myself as I heal from some health challenges I faced over the fall and winter, including a three-day stay in the hospital in January. April is the first month I’ve felt completely back up to snuff, so that’s more good news.

And it’s spring cleaning time on the home front. I’ve been filing, tossing, donating, rearranging. Every week it looks a little better (and feels better) around here.

I took a mini-vacation this month to Northern California for my son’s graduation ceremony – he received his M.A. in English. Well done, Jason!

Before I get started on my next audiobook, I’m taking the opportunity to tweak and upgrade the home studio – like experimenting with some different mic positions and trying out new software.

I’ve been using Twisted Wave to record and edit for years and I love it. Here’s a screenshot from a recent audition, with the dynamics processor window open. (That’s part of my mastering chain.) But I’ve been hearing a lot about Reaper, so I’m testing it out. It’s a bit challenging making the switch but I’m getting more comfortable with Reaper the more I use it. And it will allow me to do punch-and-roll recording, which will save me time in the editing process. I’ll probably take the leap and purchase Reaper but I’m still evaluating.

And I’ve been upgrading my skills on Izotope Rx, a great software tool for getting rid of all those pesky little pops, clicks and mouth noises. When I purchased it last fall, I also purchased a video tutorial series from Ask Video. Finally, this spring, I’ve been able to watch those tutorials. And they are awesome – I definitely feel so much more confident using Rx now. And that’s a good thing!