Steve Reads

Steve Reads

By Steve(n) MarraFiction
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Steve Reads episodes

  • Learning Moment: Go Big or Go Gnome - Chapter 1 - Arson - EQ applied

    Tools:

    - Audacity for macOS

    - SSL Vocalstrip 2 plugin

    Next step in working with my microphones is trying to see where I need to EQ them, apply the de-esser for sibilance, and use the de-ploser for plosives... and to use mild EQ to get rid of any boomy tone and smooth out the mid and upper end. 

    This was recorded with the original model USB Yeti set to cardioid pattern, mounted to a homemade mic arm (I have different mics now).

    I moved the low-end slope to about 80hz, pulled the tone down by about 4db at 200hz, and boosted around 5khz by 2.5db. I used the de-polser, but not the de-esser.

    Since I don't have the original multi-track Audacity file, I modified the mp3, just so I could go through with this experiment. I don't think most people will be able to tell.

    Curious how it sounds to others. Better than the original? Worse?

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    2 min
  • Audition blurb #1 - Reddit

    I wasn't sure where else to put this... so don't go a'listening thinking it's a story like the others [laughs].


    Just parking it here for the link.

    Stellar X2, for my own testing purposes.

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    1 min
  • Memories: Papaw's dirt

    Just a memory I wrote down as homework for the as-of-yet-unreleased Beautiful Malcontents project with Jen and Tracy.


    I'll be docking more pieces/homework here as time goes on.

    4 min
  • Journal: Chronic Pain - Just a side note...

    Recorded on my old Turtle Beach gaming headset at the PC in the basement, on a whim, more for someone else than for me. 

    Post-rpg testing session with the guys for Roleplay Geeks.

    I just needed to reflect for a little bit.


    For more information about Charcot Marie Tooth, check out www.cmtausa.org/understanding-cmt/what-is-cmt/

    (Oh, another side note, after listening to this... I know I said I didn't resort to medicating like others might. That's not a criticism. I *should* have done something, but, like a lot of people, I endure and suffer when I should just give in and make the pain go away. It's a crazy, crazy thing. And I in no way wanted anyone to think I was on a high horse bragging about putting up with it. Not - the - case.)

    6 min
  • Reading: The Masque of the Red Death

    Considering Pandemic Time, I thought this was an appropriate read.


    (This was the 1st reading I did in October of 2020 for this project. It took me a bit to get it published. I might do more like this in 2021.)

    And, of course, I found a glitch at the end. Somewhere in the edits to the final version, the ending got a pesky digital artifact that I couldn't take out. I had already changed my recording setup when I found it, so that tiny, 8 second section sounds different than everything else. Most of you won't notice, but I wanted those who would to know that I know [laughs].

    Music is via YouTube's royalty free selection.

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    Addendum 09/11/21

    Looking back on this. Happy with it, but I've learned a lot the past year. I think I'll choose another Poe story to do for this Halloween =)

    18 min
  • Fiction: Go Big or go Gnome - Chapter 3 - Anita - part 1

    We switch gears to a two-part origin story for our next character in this adventure.


    Originally written and recorded for Christmas.

    Kira made an interesting observation. As a kid on the spectrum, she liked that I didn't write a speaking part for Anita. She said the focus on environmental sounds and descriptions made her feel like it was more appropriate for a character I wrote with her in mind.

    7 min

About Steve Reads

From the publisher's feed

A place for me to put audio projects not related to my work on Game Mastery (anchor.fm/game-mastery), Roleplay Geeks (roleplaygeeks.buzzsprout.com), or whatever other podcast project I've got cooking…