Building a Library - General Discussion

[Alison]

The logistics for new Building a Librarys wouldn’t seem that different to the review slots of new releases (Ed Seckerson today).

[Cockney Sparrow]

The logistics for new Building a Librarys wouldn’t seem that different to the review slots of new releases (Ed Seckerson today).

We can perhaps hope for some reasonable sound quality as he is a (full time?) reviewer and contributor etc in the media. Previous weeks have had contributors using their 'phones, and whilst no expert, seemingly little achieved in getting the best quality of sound even from them.

[DracoM]

Exactly.
'Discoverer' writes script / records at home, BBC engineers tag in specified excerpts as indicated in 'Discoverer's' script.
Don't see the problem at all!

[Cockney Sparrow]

Problem, surely, is that it lacks a R3 brand "presenter", its too serious, informative and authoritative - therefore elitist and "inaccessible". Comfortable thought though, fantasy "world of decent R3" - informing, entertaining and educating.

If only someone had an accessible stash of recordings of Discovering Music and Interpretations on Record. I'm sure I've got some on Minidisc, but I have little time and would have to find out (for the first time) how to convert to a computer audio file - there is a chance, if I could get the software and master it. Otherwise it would be transferring in real time. The only drawback is that despite lockdown I can't see when I will have the time......I seem to be just as busy as ever (e.g. major clearout, skip arrives next week....).

[visualnickmos]

We need to know what the plan is for a return to semi normality with BAL. Perhaps they feel remote technology misses the unique magic of a face to face encounter with the "face of Rec Review" which seems to be the all important factor these days? (I don't have a beef with Andrew McGregor himself - he serves the brief he's given, even if a willing participant - its with the policy of presenter being a most important factor, rather than the authority of the review and reviewer - and quality delivered to the listener.

Roll on AI and simultaneous translation - I assume the French equivalent programme (which I listened to without understanding a word when driving in France last year) remains a serious programme?

Yes it does. I'm guessing you are referring to 'La Tribune des Critiques de disques?' where some critics 'blind' listen to a selection of recordings of a particular piece, and discuss them in depth, and then each selects their own particular recommendation. A very absorbing programme.

[Bryn]

Exactly.
'Discoverer' writes script / records at home, BBC engineers tag in specified excerpts as indicated in 'Discoverer's' script.
Don't see the problem at all!

Quite!

[Count Boso]

If only someone had an accessible stash of recordings of Discovering Music

There are 97 episode of DM available on BBC Sounds

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006tn54

and about 300, I think on the Internet Archive

https://archive.org/details/BBCRadio3DiscoveringMusic/BachGoldbergVariations.mp3

[Barbirollians]

Andrew McGregor when asked on twitter said that was now how they were commissioned to make BAL and they could not make the old style BAL either - the first may well be true - the second does not seem to accord with the evidence.

[ucanseetheend]

There are 97 episode of DM available on BBC Sounds

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006tn54

and about 300, I think on the Internet Archive

https://archive.org/details/BBCRadio...Variations.mp3

Thanks Count , Thats a true library worth discovering

[kernelbogey]

The logistics for new Building a Librarys wouldn’t seem that different to the review slots of new releases (Ed Seckerson today).

...or,come to that, from Skellers presenting EC from home (though he had a serious glitch yesterday and Georgia had to hold the fort for the first hour. (So maybe that's the anxiety: a BAL is lots of extracts in the space of 45 minutes.)

[Bryn]

...or,come to that, from Skellers presenting EC from home (though he had a serious glitch yesterday and Georgia had to hold the fort for the first hour. (So maybe that's the anxiety: a BAL is lots of extracts in the space of 45 minutes.)

It does not need to be live. Record and edit it in the days leading up to broadcast.

[cloughie]

A perfect opportunity to relaunch Discovering Music, properly, unless people like Stephen Johnson are too busy right now.

Has he got a big garden?

No reason why BaL cannot be pre-recorded, most of the recordings, if the reviewer does not have access to can be listed to on download or streamed. I'm not a fan of these but maybe the programme should be subtitled 'Building a download library'.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Andrew McGregor when asked on twitter said that was now how they were commissioned to make BAL and they could not make the old style BAL either - the first may well be true - the second does not seem to accord with the evidence.

This implies the programme is made by an independent contractor? Is that so, does anyone know? (Perhaps its common knowledge hereabouts, and I've missed it).

It would explain the lack of resources to deliver BAL . This morning R4 "Broadcasting House" - with contributors/presenter dispersed - was able to deliver contributions in good quality - but then BBC News probably has the resources to provide that, if the contributor doesn't have their own.......

[antongould]

Thanks Count , Thats a true library worth discovering

Indeed it is thanks from me too Count .......

[Count Boso]

Indeed it is thanks from me too Count .......

My pleasure. The Internet Archive is a wonderful free resource but it was news to me that it had audio material too. I was actually looking for the BBC's archive which I knew used to exist, but if there are only 97 episodes a great deal has disappeared somewhere.