VK HowTo - Hobbies

East Austin Studio Tour

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:48:56 -0700

With East Austin’s affordable housing prices and close proximity to downtown, it’s long been a hub for Austin’s musicians and artists. Over the years the different artists in East Austin started to work and collaborate with each other. Over time this has turned into an event called the East Austin Studio Tour. This allows for artists to see what other people are working on and a chance for people to purchase art directly from the creator, in addition to seeing the studio where the pieces are created. It also allows the artists to get their work viewed by a large audience of interested people and potential buyers. This kind of grass roots endeavor is one more way Austin attempts to keep true to its slogan of “Keep Austin Weird”.

Synthesizer Fundamentals: Bells

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:52:36 -0700

While many timbres, like those which come from bowed strings and woodwinds, are readily recreated with synthesizers, percussive instruments are some of the most tricky to create convincing emulations of. Piano and harpsichord are most easily dealt with through sampled instruments, but the enharmonic qualities of bells and xylophone instruments are relatively easier to create. In this context, enharmonic refers to the relative balance of harmonics in a given audio source being unrelated to the fundamental frequency of the instrument. Most instruments have harmonically related overtones (such as 2nd order) which add to their perceived harmonic richness and distinguish them more readily from other instruments. Yet even if this is true of the majority of melodically based instruments, many percussion instruments defy that rule.

Filmmaking in Austin

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:14:02 -0700

For a long time, Austin has been considered the “Third Coast” in the film industry, with more filmmakers on the rise in Austin, and more Hollywood types coming to Austin to shoot their movies.

The Live Theater Scene in Austin

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:55:29 -0800

With the different varieties and styles of live theaters in Austin, a night at the theater could be wild and rambunctious, or a beautiful and classy affair. On the east side of town, one can find small, arty theaters such as the Salvage Vanguard, while downtown patrons can take in the ballet, or a family-friendly show at the Zach Scott.

History of the SXSW Music Festival

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:53:43 -0800

The South by Southwest Music Festival has been running strong, and getting stronger, since it originated in 1987. Austin considers itself the live music capital of the world, and though cities would like to battle that claim, musicians and music industry types clamor to the capital of Texas every March from around the globe.

Synthesizer Fundamentals:Snare Drum

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:47:11 -0800

Analog synthesizers have regained some degree of popularity in recent years, as electronic dance music has become more widespread and successful. Although analog technology has become replaced by cheaper digital modeling technology with more features, the goal of VA (virtual analog) synthesis is to be able to recreate the warmth and nuances of the highly variable analog circuits of yesteryear. The ability of digital components to accurately model is the subject of great debate and beyond the scope of this article, but a general consensus is maintained that they are becoming more and more difficult to tell the difference between.

Texas Roller Derby

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:27:30 -0800

In 2001, what started as an idea at the smoky 6th street club Casino El Camino, quickly gained steam among like-minded women of Austin, and the roller derby was reborn. Though many of those who started up the comeback hadn’t skated for decades, the gung ho spirit spawned one of Austin’s favorite new events.

Caring for Your Bulbs Properly

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 18:51:34 -0700

Bulbs are generally among the easiest of all plants to care for, and this hardiness makes bulbs one of the most popular among all kinds of gardeners. Even though bulbs are easy to care for, however, it is still important to care for them properly to ensure you will have a garden full of dahlias, lilies, daffodils, tulips and other bulbs.

Popular Bulbs - Gladiolus And Hemerocallis

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 20:43:20 -0700

Gardening with bulbs has many advantages for the gardener. For one thing, most bulb plants are inexpensive, and bulbs are durable out of the ground and hardy in the ground. Shopping for the right bulbs is also easy; simply choosing firm, healthy looking bulbs, and avoiding those that are cracked, dry or soft is a good way to choose the best bulbs for your garden.

Preventing Disease in Your Garden

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 20:33:54 -0700

Preventing disease, and controlling any diseases that do occur, is a vital part of building a successful garden. Whether you are a casual weekend gardener or a grower of championship blooms, keeping your garden healthy is important.

The Importance of Proper Soil Chemistry to a Healthy Garden

Tue, 02 May 2006 20:49:15 -0700

Trying to grow healthy, vibrant flowers without proper soil chemistry is definitely a case of putting the cart before the horse. Good soil is the cornerstone of successful gardening, and it is important to make sure that your soil will meet the needs of your plants before the first seed is planted.

Pest Control in The Perennial Garden

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 14:27:28 -0700

One of the many advantages of growing perennials is the ability of these beautiful flowers to return to full bloom season after season. While this ability to bloom repeatedly is one of the things that makes perennials so special, it also introduces a number of important factors into your gardening plan. One of the most important of these is a proper pest control regimen.

Using Perennials in Your Garden

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 14:25:44 -0700

Perennials are favored by many gardeners, not only for their ability to bloom for several seasons, but for the wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes they come in as well.

Whereas annuals must be planted anew every season, perennials can be left in the ground to bloom for several seasons. This makes gardening with perennials less costly and means that the perennial garden can be easier to maintain.

Gardening With Bulbs

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 19:40:05 -0800

Bulbs are among the most popular of all flowering plants, due to their hardiness, low price and beauty. It is hard to beat the color variety of a garden bed full of bulbs, and planting bulbs that bloom in different seasons can guarantee a season full of beautiful flowers.

Understanding The Role Of Insects In Gardening

Thu, 02 Mar 2006 16:51:41 -0800

While many types of insects, birds and animals seen in the home are unwanted intruders, others play a vital role in pollinating plants and moving seeds from one place to another. In fact, without these animal and insect helpers, most plants would be unable to reproduce.