The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

Menu

Navigation

ATM: PC graphics card installation help

by 12 Comments

Possibly one for Foxy.

With his birthday cash, my lad has bought a whizzo graphics card for his PC.

When installed, it boots and the screen says “PLEASE POWER DOWN AND CONNECT THE PCIe POWER CABLE(S) FOR ALL GRAPHICS CARDS”

The card has an 8-pin Molex power connector. A short Y adaptor cable is supplied, 8 pin Molex going to two 6-pin Molex, one with 6 wires and one with only 5 wires.

The ATX PSU has only one 6-pin Molex connector (and no 8-pin connectors).

Connecting the PSU to the 6-pin connector (with 6 wires including the sense wire) on the adapator turns on the 12V on the 8-way. Connecting the PSU 6-way to the other 6-way (5 wires, no sense wire) adaptor does not turn on the 12V to the 8-way. So I know to connect to the one with 6 wires. And then the 8-way on the other end to the card.

Both have the same boot-up message, and effect, though.

Does this message really mean “Your PSU is not man enough, guv”?

There are spare Molex 4-pin power connectors on the PSU wiring harness. Would a 4-pin to 6-pin adaptor connected to the other 6-pin of » Continue Reading.

ATM: Bluetooth speaker

by 33 Comments

My lad would like to spend some of his birthday cash on a BT soundbar. It really isn’t my area of expertise.

Budget up to 50 quid.

He’s identified these as an options: ENACFIRE SoundBar or Anker SoundCore.

Thanks in advance.

RSD2020

by 71 Comments

It’s Record Store Day, part 1 of 3. Just collected my purchases from a rather subdued local shop.

Previous RSDs have seen blazing sunshine, shopkeeper Ian’s grandkids spinning singles on two Dansette record players, tables under awnings bursting with bargains, and much jollity.

This one saw me collecting my pre-ordered, pre-paid purchases, from outside Ian’s kitchen, someone in the tiny shop having a time-limited (10-minute!) browse and me pleased to see Ian (and his shop still open).

It’s 12 degrees C and windy. At least the rain held off until I got home.

Since you ask: Pretenders live LP, The Who Odd & Sods, and Ben Watt/Robert Wyatt EP (both of which triggered my Abbey Road Half-Speed Mastered whistle).

https://recordstoreday.co.uk/home/

new from A Certain Ratio

by 1 Comment

New single Yo Yo Gi, out today, sounds like a modern rework of 1990’s Spirit Dance with a bonkers video set in Japan.

New album, ACR LOCO, out on 25th September. Their first album for 12 years. A lovely birthday treat for Mrs F.

Following last year’s fantastic gigs, my hopes are high.

On telly tonight klaxon: Soul Boy

by 4 Comments

This might appeal to many of the overgrown teenagers on the AW, including me.

“I had a look at myself when I started to get into my 50s and I knew something was missing,” he says. “I suddenly realised I was getting a little bit depressed.”

“Within minutes I’d got on the dancefloor myself then and something just clicked and I realised, I’m in my happiest days again, I’m dancing to Northern.”

Soul Boy will be broadcast on BBC One at 19:30 BST on 27 May

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-52502198

Help me spend £250

by 88 Comments

I’ve just served 10 years time with my current employer and they’ve given me £250 to spend on (or put towards to) a special gift to myself. I have to hand in a receipt (via an expense claim) to get the dosh, so I can’t go to my local drug dealer/lady of leisure, or up in a balloon and throw fivers onto the plebs below.

Any ideas? Box sets? A better Fiio? Some decent in-ear cans?

I’m a bit stumped as I can easily spend a lot more (new car/bike) or a lot less (records… lots of records).

Jane Siberry free downloads

by 30 Comments

Canadian artist Jane Siberry (think kd lang without the success) is making her entire discography free to download during the lunar phase, ending 22nd April. Lossless is an option. Sorry I’m a bit late, but you still have 48 hours.

I once saw her fill the Royal Festival Hall and it was amazing. I then went to the front of the stage and bought as many CDs as I could carry.

If you’re not sure where to start, 1983’s No Borders Here to 1995’s jazzy Maria is an excellent run by anyone’s standards.

https://magic-the-dog.com/collections/siberry-music/siberry-music

Free Bandcamp today

by 18 Comments

Bandcamp are today* waiving their fees so that the artists get all the money from sales. You can buy downloads, or CDs & vinyl (which come with free instant downloads in the format of your choice) and even t-shirts, coasters, mouse mats, and so on.

If you are of the jazz persuasion, I can recommend youngsters the Kansas Smitty’s house band. (https://kansassmittys.bandcamp.com/). They are also playing a live streaming gig at 5pm every day: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxCy6D_qKAEFunK0YEMG2Lg and look for ‘Live at 5’.

Cambridge folky-influenced indie-pop band Model Village (https://modelvillage.bandcamp.com/), for whom I do live sound and engineer their recordings, are doing a name-your-price today (they all have day jobs). My favourite is second album You Chose These Woes (https://modelvillage.bandcamp.com/album/you-chose-these-woes)

Fill your boots and support the artists.

(*) Until 12 midnight PST, whatever that is in old money

https://bandcamp.com/

ATM: creating a pod/webcast

by 21 Comments

Since I can’t do the usual Sunday afternoon vinyl afternoons in the local cafe, I’m thinking of doing it by podcast or Youtube live or something similar. There are quite a few disabled living in the village who don’t get out on a Sunday at the best of times.

I’ve only ever downloaded podcasts or contributed to AW pods while Twang did the heavy lifting.

I am familiar with recording hardware and editing software like Audacity. But where do I start with the rest of it?