AVA - Recording Music on CD and MD for Nationals

MUSIC

1. It is recommended that one person from each vaulting club be
responsible for that club's music.

2. Music must be delivered to the announcer's stands 30 minutes before
the start of the morning or afternoon session as appropriate.

3. Music will be accepted in the following formats: MD, CD-R, or
Cassette.  CD-R or MD (Minidisc) is recommended.  CD-RW's and Commerical
CD's will not be accepted.  CD-Rs should be labeled and tested on
standard music equipment prior to being handed in.

4. Music must be delivered in a case, clearly marked with the name of
the club and organized in the correct Order of Go.

5. Each tape must be clearly labeled on the side to be played with the
vaulting club, the vaulter's first name, and the event class.

6. Cassettes must be wound to the desired starting place. Staff will not
rewind or cue tapes.

7. If no music is provided, none will be played.

8. Music is to be retrieved at the end of the day. Staff is not
responsible for music left behind at the close of Competition.

9. Contact Paul Caskey at pcaskey@swcp.com for more information.

FAQ

Q: Can't I just take the commercial CD we've been practicing with for
   months, slip a torn-off piece of paper in the front of the jewel case
   that says "MANDY KUR #10", and be done with it?

A: No.

Q: What if I also write "MANDY #10" in black permanent marker on the
   top of the commercial CD itself, over the other writing?  Or how
   about masking tape??

A: No.

Q: Can I put MP3 files on CD-R as a data disc, instead of producing a
   real music CD?

A: No.

Q: How about DVD-R?  USB?  Sony Memory Stick?  High Density Holograph?
   C'mon man, get with the times!

A: No.

Q: Do you have a fool proof method of recording so that CD's are
   playable on all players?  We have had problems with kids (and
   coaches) making CD's that play on no players!  Suggestions???

A: Yes!

   1. Use CD-R, not CD-RW media.
   2. Record at 4x speed maximum.
   3. Do not record an MP3 CD.
   4. "Finalize" the CD when you're done.
   5. Test the entire CD on a regular, old audio CD player.  If there are
      any glitches, toss it and burn another one.

   Also, to make sure your club's CD-Rs are in good shape at Nationals:

   1. Keep each CD in a case.
   2. Keep them out of the sun, and out of the hot car.
   3. Stick a CD label on each one, and write on the label with a felt-tip
      pen like Sharpie, never a ball point pen.  The label helps protect
      the disc.  Never rip the label back off the CD.  Use a "CD label
      stomper" to apply the label evenly. 
   4. Use freshly recorded discs, not ones that are old or scratched.
   

Q: How do you want CDs and MDs labeled?

A: It's impossible to see what's written on a CD or MD once it's in the
   player.  On the other hand, we need to be able to match each disc with
   its case.  So it's important to label both.

You can put the whole club on one Minidisc (MD), but anything over 25
tracks (songs) gets hard to manage.  Label the tracks electronically
and in pen clearly on a big label on the case).  E.g.

1. WOODSIDE RUN-IN
2. WOODSIDE ALL COMPS
3. CASKEY H.KUR
4. CASKEY B.KUR
5. JANE/ANNA PADEUX
6. A-TEAM COMPS
7. A-TEAM KUR
8. etc.

Please use track 1 = RUN-IN (all/fallback), and
                 2 = COMPS (all/fallback)

For some reason, a CD usually just has one kid's stuff, but you could
put more.  Another sample:

HIGH TAIL VAULTERS
1. TROT RUN-IN
2. TROT COMPS
3. TROT KUR: JAMES
4. TROT KUR: JOY
5. TROT KUR: JEFF

Think about blue/red arena, and the safest is to make a clone of the
whole MD, one for each arena.  If you know, for example, only one event
for your club will possibly be in red, and the rest are in blue, you
could make a shorter red MD.  But it's also nice to have a backup,
anyway.  I realize it's a pain recording everything twice, because
dubbing MD->MD is difficult at best.  But burning two CD's from a
computer is easy.

It scares some club music coordinators to put all their music on one
disc, so don't drop that one disc in the mud!  You can break it up
however you want, but it's easier for me if it's all on one disc.
You could bring original CDs as backup.


Q: What's that music label mantra again?

A: CLUB, CLASS, KID!