BITS AND BYTES

Backup CDs

by KEVIN MCISAAC

Don’t throw out your CDs yet. If you, like me, have mostly made the switch over to online music, you may be thinking your days of keeping actual media around are over. However, one thing you may or may not be aware of is that often online music is tied to a subscription or account. End the subscription or account and you may no longer have access to the music.

So, before switching over you probably amassed a sizable CD collection that is now collecting dust. Maybe you’re still buying CDs from artists you see at music festivals. (Which by the way pays them better than from any streaming service.) Wouldn’t you love to have that CD on your phone to listen to whenever you want without incurring data costs and without worrying about subscriptions?

Some preamble: I am not a lawyer. I cannot give legal advice. It is my understanding that under Canadian law Bill C-32 and Section 80 of the Copyright Act, making private copies and “format shifting” of musical works that you legally own is allowed. I could be wrong. This is Mrs. Answer Guy’s default position. If in doubt contact a lawyer.

With that out of the way, here’s what you’re going to need to put those old CDs on your phone for your next road trip. You’ll need iTunes on your computer. You can download iTunes for Windows from support.apple.com/en-us/HT210384

First, let’s set your preferences. Open iTunes -> Edit -> Preferences -> General. Then next to ‘When you insert a CD:’ select ‘Ask to Import CD’ and in Import Settings choose Apple Lossless Encoder. Make sure ‘Use error correction when reading Audio CDs’ is checked. OK. Now check that ‘Automatically retrieve CD track names from Internet’ is checked.

I advocate using Apple Lossless Encoder. It makes a near-perfect copy of each track. It does, however, take up a lot of space. Most radio-length songs will run around 12 – 18 MB per song. If you’re planning on storing a lot of CDs on your phone you may not need or want to have the full lossless file on your phone.

In exchange for reducing quality slightly in favour of saving space, you may choose a lower quality setting for the actual copy on your phone. I think 256kpbs is a good setting. It reduces file size from lossless by about half and the quality is still high enough that unless you’re an actual music producer you probably won’t hear any difference.

When you plug your phone in it should appear in iTunes. At the top left, there’s a small icon that looks like a phone. Select that and a page should show the settings for your phone. Choose Summary. At the bottom of the Summary page, you’ll see a setting ‘Convert higher bit rate songs to’ with a drop-down dialogue box. Check the box and choose 256kbps.

Now choose Music under Settings on the left. Check the Sync Music box on the page. Now you can just leave Entire Music Library checked and then whenever you rip a CD it will be added to your phone on the next sync. Or choose ‘Select playlists, artists, albums, and genres’ and then select which ones you want. Your choice.

Now you’re ready. You shouldn’t have to change any of those settings again.

Insert a CD. You should see a dialogue box pop-up asking if you’d like to import the CD. The CD Name and track names should be displayed behind the dialogue box. Say Yes to import.

Ripping a CD takes time. A lot of time. It runs fine in the background, so stack up the CDs you want to copy and through one in whenever you think about it and eventually, you’ll have them all.

Just for fun, want to see if you can tell the difference between various levels of encoding? Try NPR’s “Do you have the ears of an audio producer” quiz - tinyurl. com/3zr2e7fc.

Stock Photo

“...often online music is tied to a subscription or account. End the subscription or account and you may no longer have access to the music.”

August 2022

by ASHLEY KRISTINA

August begins with the Sun and Mercury in Leo, Venus in Cancer and a conjunction of Mars, and Uranus and the north node of the moon at 18º Taurus. Major shifts may occur at the beginning of the month but trust the process. The north node of the moon pulls us towards our destiny and Mars, the planet that moves us. Uranus is electric and surprising so it might feel like a big and unexpected jump.

We are in yet another time with a number of planets and asteroids in retrograde including Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, and Uranus going retrograde August 24. Pholus, Vesta, Nessus, Juno and Chiron are also retrograde. Patience is the superpower to tune into. We are going through planetary patterns that have not been seen since biblical times. It’s amazing to watch, impossible to predict but we know it’s a time of change.

August 11 brings the full moon at 8pm with the Sun in Leo across the zodiac from the moon in Aquarius (19º). The moon is also conjunct retrograde Saturn so there may be feelings of emotional restriction but it’s otherwise a joyous and rewarding time. Venus enters Leo this same day and it’s a good day to celebrate.

Mars enters Gemini on 08/20 making life more social. The Sun enters Virgo on 08/22 this year and a new moon at 4º Virgo occurs 08/27 at 0300 while at the same time Venus opposes Saturn retrograde and Mercury opposes Neptune retrograde with a Yod between Pluto retrograde, Mars and Mercury. To say the least, the drama continues.

Aries

Mars, your ruling planet will go retrograde at the beginning of September so it’s an important month to get things done.

Taurus

It’s a month of surprising shifts in your life and it is refreshing. Trust the process. By mid-month your spirit feels quenched.

Gemini

Mercury, your ruling planet will go retrograde (again! 3-4 times per year) September 9. This is a great month to speak from your heart, write poetry, sing songs. Messages of love.

Cancer

It’s a bright and beautiful time for you. Follow your heart towards your nourishment and deeply trust your instincts. Lots of change can happen at this time in your life and it is toward your best place.

Leo

Happy birthday Leos. Many planets are in retrograde and soon more will be retrograde so be prepared for some possible stagnation or inwardness, and even some karma to come up.

Virgo

Birthday blessings to the early Virgos. This is one of the best months of the year to enjoy your time with your family and loved ones. As the sun moves into your sign, you’ll be motivated for fall clean up.

Libra

Mercury, Venus and Mars will be going retrograde throughout September - March 2023 so it’s an important month to take advantage of doing what you want and need to do.

Scorpio

A month of openness, clarity and solar energy. Clarity in direction will occur this month and motivation is supplied via the planets in Leo. Attention to the tenth house is required, this includes work, father, traditions and it’s also a month of a lot of fun.

Sagittarius

A month to broaden your horizons and explore. This can include travel, people, foods and cultures. Expression of self is a refreshing way to feel alive and the Leo sun makes you shine.

Capricorn

It’s both a refreshing month to relax and enjoy, and also a powerful month on the work-front. Unexpected shifts may occur.

Aquarius

All the Leo energy is energizing and August is typically one of the best months of the year for Aquarians. The planets are supporting you on your endeavours so go do what you have wanted to do.

Pisces

It’s a month of sharing and learning to be extra vulnerable. Your expression and creativity are enhanced this month and brings opportunities for financial gains. An important time to also focus on your health.

Bring Life Back to Music, Through Your Lens

Vince Mo Photo

2022 is panning out to be a great year for the local skateboarding community with plans set in motion to redevelop the aging skate park. Fernie celebrated Go Skateboarding Day in style this year with free live music from Electric Blanket Band Club performing right in the middle of the action in the quarter pipe.

Vanessa Croome Photo

What I love and appreciate about live music, in particular music festivals is the connection between the artist and audience. It is nuanced, intimate and often emotional. Personal anecdotes are told allowing the listener a glimpse into the artist’s life or the meaning behind a song.

Recently at the Winnipeg Folk Festival we had the opportunity to listen and learn from Piqsiq, an Inuit-style throat singing duo from Northwest Territories. Sitting on the grass in front of the stage we fully immersered ourselves into their performance as they used contemporary technology and improvised sounds to create beautiful and haunting soundscapes.

Out in the Community:

How do you think music and cultural events have impacted and continue to impact our community?

Ange Magliocco

Music and cultural events are about sharing knowledge and expressing ideas and emotions through art. They can therefore expand our consciousness and teach us respect and tolerance which helps communities to learn and grow. Music especially brings people together and encourages expression through song and dance and gives us the ability to just let go of our stress which is something that we desperately need after 2+ years of COVID. Community only has meaning if we have a collective sense of purpose and direction. Music and cultural events allow us to shape that identity and to make everyone feel welcome. Take away these celebrations and you take away a community’s soul.

James Kingdon

For me, music has always been about bringing people together. Ever since moving here, I’ve been blown away by the sheer amount of talent that Fernie’s musicians and artists are capable of. That’s no accident- there’s a lot of people that work really hard to make sure we get to see that talent. It’s been a tough, divisive few years, but there’s one thing that brings us all together without a backward glance - music.

Brad Snell

Music impacts our community in a huge way and was by far one of the things I missed most during the “COVID Times.” For a small and fairly remote town, we are blessed to have an amazing community that attracts and supports live music. Whether it’s backyard fire pits, local jam nights, Wednesday Socials, Wapiti, or artists playing at almost every other establishment in town, it’s pretty easy to find music coming from somewhere.

Fortunately for us, these places are also occupied by our amazing local talent that just seems to keep growing and diversifying. Now, if someone would just let me front their band, things could be great!

Health. Beauty. Happiness. Confidence.

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Stock Photo BC Wildfire Service continues to update throughout the summer on fire bans and conditions. On June 30, larger Category 3 open fires were prohibited in the Southeast Fire Centres and on July 15, Category 2 open fires and activities were prohibited. This prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. These efforts are to help prevent humancaused wildfires and protect public safety. Stay up to date by following @BCForestFireInfo on social media, or by visiting bcwildfire.ca.

Mt Baldy at Island Lake Lodge / Facebook Photo

Island Lake Lodge’s summer season looks a little different this year, due to limited staff and many private functions on the calendar. The road is open to the public Sundays and Mondays all August, as well as Saturdays on long weekends, and on these days the Bear Bistro (11am5pm – walk in and waitlist only) and Spa (9am – 6pm by reservation) are open to the public. Their trail system is always open to public, but from the lower main lot on days the road is not available. Visit islandlakelodge.com/calendar prior to planning your trip and make sure to enjoy this magical setting during these beautiful months of the year.

The Sheepdogs / Facebook Photo August is teeming with music! The Wednesday Socials are in full force and the lineup is fantastic this year. Kick off the month with rock alternative band, Ten02 on Wednesday August 3, followed by some bluegrass with the Lonesome Ace Stringband August 10, The Hillties (Funk/Reggae/HipHop) August 17, Peach and Quiet August 24 (an indie folk duo) and finish off the season with Raine Hamilton, August 31 - a string trio playing chamber-folk. theartsstation.com Of course, August is also the month we celebrate Wapiti! August 5-6, enjoy this popular indie musical festival ‘in a park by a river at the foot of a mountain’ providing one of the most beautiful settings to enjoy music. And the lineup this year is sick! The Sheepdogs, Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer, Shred Kelly, My Son the Hurricane… we could go on, but just do yourself a favour and find a ticket if you don’t have one already. wapitimusicfestival.com

The TransRockies Race Series is back in Fernie this August with the inaugural Gravel Royale fourday gravel race consisting of roughly 400km and 7500 metres of climbing. Starting in Panorama, Transrockies Gravel Royale / Facebook BC this event utilizes Photo stunning backroads taking participants to some of the most beautiful locations and cutest small towns in BC including Nipika, the Cross River, Palliser River, Kootenay River, Canal Flats, the Bull River and finishing in FERNIE on August 25. transrockiesgravelroyale.com