LibriVox

[jbieber]

This project is complete. All audio files can be found on our catalog page:
http://librivox.org/the-master-key-by-l-frank-baum/


Seeing as the Baum canon is rapidly being snatched up, I thought I'd lay a claim to The Master Key. Published in 1901, it crosses the boundaries of fantasy and science fiction. The protagonist, Rob, accidentally summons up the Demon of Electricity, a fairy who gifts him with magical electrical devices including a flying contraption, a stun gun, and something resembling an omniscient portable TV set. It's great fun, despite the occasional racial stereotypes that pop up in Rob's journey around the world.

I am wrapping up Emerald City of Oz and hope to begin Master Key by the end of September. I've already discussed this with Rainer and I'm hoping he'll mc again.

If I start on schedule, I should be able to complete it by Dec. 1

Text is at http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/436



Edit me

Judy
_________________
"To please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward." L. Frank Baum

[raynr]

[jbieber]

Hi Rainer,

As I am working with a new computer and software, I was wondering if you could do a quick listen of some short files to give some feedback on volume levels, etc.

One was recorded with Garage Band which I find a little clumsy for editing but I supposed it's because I don't know how it works yet. However, I liked the quality of the sound of my voice. Regarding volume, I think I should reduce the input volume as I thought I heard a little distortion here and there. Let me know what you think.

The second is on audacity which I think is not as good for Mac as for Windows but I am familiar with it and comfortable with its editing features. Not my best recording, I caught a plosive or two but you can get the idea. Volume seemed about right, perhaps slightly softer than usual.

The third version is on Sound Studio 3 and I think I like the sound quality on it the best and the software is very intuitive to use.

Each file is a little over a minute long and I will send them to the Master Key project folder. The file names should make obvious which version they are. I inadvertently saved the Garage Band version at 256 bits because of the way I had the MP3 converter on I-tunes configured. I changed it to 128 for the other two files.

Thanks!
_________________
"To please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward." L. Frank Baum

[raynr]

Hello Judy,

I think I completely agree with you: the Sound Studio is the best, even if the differences are not very big. But I also think that there's something wrong with the Garage Band recording. You could really try to reduce the input level, but I'm not sure that the reason. And about Audacity: perhaps the good interface is only in Windows. I have also Linux on my computer and Audacity there is also not as good as on Windows.

I hope that helped and have fun with you new computer,

Rainer
_________________
"Everything in the world exists in order to end in a book." (Stéphane Mallarmé)

[jbieber]

Thanks! Now I can get to work. Master Key, here I come.
_________________
"To please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward." L. Frank Baum

[jbieber]

Hi Rainer,

Here is a post where I will indicate progress and provide MP3 tags, etc.

Files will be named xx_baum_masterkey

Title: Chapter xx
Artist: L. Frank Baum
Album: The Master Key
Genre: Speech

Chapter 1 - complete
Chapter 2 - complete
Chapter 3 - complete
Chapter 4 - complete
Chapter 5 - complete
Chapter 6 - complete
Chapter 7 - complete
Chapter 8 - complete
Chapter 9 - complete
Chapter 10 - complete
Chapter 11 - complete
Chapter 12 - complete
Chapter 13 - complete
Chapter 14 - complete
Chapter 15 - complete
Chapter 16 - recorded
Chapter 17 - recorded
Chapter 18 - recorded
Chapter 19 - complete
Chapter 20 - recorded

cheers, Judy
_________________
"To please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward." L. Frank Baum

[raynr]

Hello Judy,

your MP3 tags are fine and it's unbelievable that you already recorded 4 chapters.
Greetings,

Rainer
_________________
"Everything in the world exists in order to end in a book." (Stéphane Mallarmé)

[jbieber]

Hi Rainer,

A quick progress report. I'm halfway through the recording. Ten chapters remain and then all the editing!

cheers, Judy
_________________
"To please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward." L. Frank Baum

[raynr]

Oh great, I can't wait to listen to it
_________________
"Everything in the world exists in order to end in a book." (Stéphane Mallarmé)

[jbieber]

Hi Rainer,

Just checking in with a progress report. I signed on for a few chapters in collaborative projects (Nietzsche, Kant, etc.) and I've been busy with work and family so I let Master Key go for a few weeks. However, I am nearly done recording, lacking only two chapters. I put a post on the "help wanted" forum for some French pronunciation guidance for some names and phrases that appear in chapters 11 and 12. Once I complete those chapters I will be down to editing. Five chapters are currently complete and uploaded.

I hope you are doing well.

best, Judy
_________________
"To please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward." L. Frank Baum

[jbieber]

Hi Rainer,

In case you haven't noticed, chapters of the Master Key have once again been making their way to your uploader at the rate of about one a day. The mass mailing "March madness" email seems to have motivated me to finish this title. Additionally, I'd like to have it done before my one year anniversary as a librivoxer. I recorded the last two remaining chapters last week and you now have 11 of 20 edited chapters.

I have been keeping busy with some collaborative readings of Nietzsche and Kant. I also got braces a few weeks ago and am still trying to figure out how to narrate clearly around all the metal.

That aside, life in the form of work and family has kept me busy of late and has limited the amount of time I can devote to recording. But summer is coming soon!

best regards, Judy
_________________
"To please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward." L. Frank Baum

[raynr]

Hello Judy,

it's really nice to hear from you and it would really be great if you managed this in the March Madness (but no pressure - really!).
I just noticed that you had no box in the first post: in case you didn't see this yet, it's a connection to our new database and it also provides the links to my server, with which it is easy for everyone to prooflisten.

Greeting,
Rainer
_________________
"Everything in the world exists in order to end in a book." (Stéphane Mallarmé)

[jbieber]

Hi Rainer,

I'm done! The last file is being sent to you right now.

I will get a description for the catalogue later today or tomorrow, probably tomorrow.

One thing to watch out for, for at least the last 10 chapters, maybe more, I don't have MP3 tags because the Mac software I now use (Sound Studio) does not have a way to do this easily. I could import each file individually into I-tunes and then assign tags which don't exactly match up with Audacity format. Or Librivox categories, for that matter. So if you could take care of that on your end, I'd appreciate it.

Now back to Kant. And once I finish up with F.T.J's essay on the frontier, I'll have a few ideas for new projects.

I caught a few tiny errors but nothing that distorts meaning. If you find any significant mistakes, please let me know and I'll fix them.

best, Judy
_________________
"To please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward." L. Frank Baum

[raynr]

Hello Judy,

congratulation for finishing the project. I have already started to prooflisten, and I found no single mistake yet (see the note OK beneath each chapter). And don't worry about the mp3 tags, I'll take care of that.
Thanks for another wonderful book!

Rainer
_________________
"Everything in the world exists in order to end in a book." (Stéphane Mallarmé)

[jbieber]

Hi Rainer,

Here is a description for the catalogue.

L. Frank Baum, The Master Key.

The Master Key was one of Baum's earliest full length fantasy books for children, published in 1901 just one year after The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The protagonist, Rob, while experimenting in his electrical workshop, accidentally summons up an electrical fairy who presents him with electrical devices so advanced as to seem magical. His gifts include a flying contraption, a stun gun, and something resembling an omniscient portable TV set. Rob travels the world, rendering assistance to European heads of state and narrowly escaping disaster at the hands of “primitive” cannibals, Turks and Tatars, pirates, and evil scientists who try to steal his inventions. It's great fun, despite the occasional use of racial stereotypes that reflect the values of its time.
_________________
"To please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward." L. Frank Baum