Collin Donnell
@collin.social
Freelance software developer from Portland Oregon. Specializing in iOS and Ruby on Rails.
Blogger 🖋️ https://collin.blog
Film photographer 📸 https://collin.photo
Songwriter 🎸 https://collin.band
#ruby #rubyonrails #swift #iosdev #filmphotography
Blogger 🖋️ https://collin.blog
Film photographer 📸 https://collin.photo
Songwriter 🎸 https://collin.band
#ruby #rubyonrails #swift #iosdev #filmphotography
I recorded and mixed an entire song. I'm gonna call it good enough and not second-guess myself.
November 12, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I recorded and mixed an entire song. I'm gonna call it good enough and not second-guess myself.
I know when you are trying to create a good sleep schedule, waking up at the same time consistently is more important than when you go to sleep. The problem is that waking up fucking sucks.
November 9, 2025 at 3:07 AM
I know when you are trying to create a good sleep schedule, waking up at the same time consistently is more important than when you go to sleep. The problem is that waking up fucking sucks.
It is surprisingly challenging when recording really quiet acoustic guitar to not get mouth sounds. It's hard enough because when you're playing that slowly and quietly it picks up everything mistake on the guitar already, so having distracting sounds on top of that ruining your takes double sucks.
November 8, 2025 at 9:02 PM
It is surprisingly challenging when recording really quiet acoustic guitar to not get mouth sounds. It's hard enough because when you're playing that slowly and quietly it picks up everything mistake on the guitar already, so having distracting sounds on top of that ruining your takes double sucks.
I think a lot about how between Bell Labs and Xerox PARC, these two places basically invented the world we live in today. C, OOP, UNIX, GUIs. Some other acronyms. It's nuts.
November 6, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I think a lot about how between Bell Labs and Xerox PARC, these two places basically invented the world we live in today. C, OOP, UNIX, GUIs. Some other acronyms. It's nuts.
Yesterday I had an issue where nothing showed clipping while recording, but then did on playback. It turns out there's something called intersample clipping.
Since a sample is just a point in time that software connects to turn into a wave, you can have audio where none of the samples are clipped,
Since a sample is just a point in time that software connects to turn into a wave, you can have audio where none of the samples are clipped,
November 6, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Yesterday I had an issue where nothing showed clipping while recording, but then did on playback. It turns out there's something called intersample clipping.
Since a sample is just a point in time that software connects to turn into a wave, you can have audio where none of the samples are clipped,
Since a sample is just a point in time that software connects to turn into a wave, you can have audio where none of the samples are clipped,
I was proud of myself for making progress recording my EP today. It's a goal I've had for a long time. Then I got really sad. My dad is why I got into music, but because I waited too long, he won't ever see me finish and won't hear it.
November 5, 2025 at 5:02 AM
I was proud of myself for making progress recording my EP today. It's a goal I've had for a long time. Then I got really sad. My dad is why I got into music, but because I waited too long, he won't ever see me finish and won't hear it.
Recorded six takes of guitar for this song for the two tracks I need. Unless I screwed something up in the same place more than five times without noticing, this should give me what I need for editing later.
November 5, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Recorded six takes of guitar for this song for the two tracks I need. Unless I screwed something up in the same place more than five times without noticing, this should give me what I need for editing later.
Here's the basic layout I'm working with in Logic Pro. As I add more categories of things, I'll create summing stacks (busses) for those, as well with their own send tracks for global fx. This is a fairly good translation of how I'd set things up on a console, although it looks a lot different.
November 5, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Here's the basic layout I'm working with in Logic Pro. As I add more categories of things, I'll create summing stacks (busses) for those, as well with their own send tracks for global fx. This is a fairly good translation of how I'd set things up on a console, although it looks a lot different.
I've been playing this song for well over a year. Until I tried to record it today I never realized how much time I was spending in it just hanging out on the same chords. I cut those parts out or in half and the song moves a lot better now.
November 4, 2025 at 11:08 AM
I've been playing this song for well over a year. Until I tried to record it today I never realized how much time I was spending in it just hanging out on the same chords. I cut those parts out or in half and the song moves a lot better now.
Reposted by Collin Donnell
Congratulations, Andrew Cuomo!
I know how hard you worked for this.
I know how hard you worked for this.
![Red Trump-style graphic with images of Donald Trump and Andrew Cuomo.
At the top it says, "I'm going to pick [Cuomo]." - Donald Trump, 60 Minutes Interview, 11-2-25
Then beneath it
TRUMP ENDORSES CUOMO](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j5hrotody26iqi24hcusufxu/bafkreib7wnor7hl45ryvmifde4sov74rrnexa3iecbyu7zxjx6brrslsiy@jpeg)
November 3, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Congratulations, Andrew Cuomo!
I know how hard you worked for this.
I know how hard you worked for this.
I've got microphones set up and my guitar restrung. Going to try and lay down tracks for an EP this week. Wish me luck.
November 3, 2025 at 10:28 AM
I've got microphones set up and my guitar restrung. Going to try and lay down tracks for an EP this week. Wish me luck.
The thing that seems to be helping me the most in learning chess is just before every move asking "is this a blunder?" and then also asking the same after my opponents moves.
November 3, 2025 at 10:27 AM
The thing that seems to be helping me the most in learning chess is just before every move asking "is this a blunder?" and then also asking the same after my opponents moves.
Everyone sees things from their own perspective. It's important to remember we're all making a lot of assumptions about other people's motivations and why they act how they do.
I really do try and approach people with kindness and empathy, even if from where they are, it might look different.
I really do try and approach people with kindness and empathy, even if from where they are, it might look different.
November 3, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Everyone sees things from their own perspective. It's important to remember we're all making a lot of assumptions about other people's motivations and why they act how they do.
I really do try and approach people with kindness and empathy, even if from where they are, it might look different.
I really do try and approach people with kindness and empathy, even if from where they are, it might look different.
It's pretty unbelievable Logic Pro 11 still doesn't have ARA support, considering how important it is to a lot of professional recording workflows.
November 3, 2025 at 12:15 AM
It's pretty unbelievable Logic Pro 11 still doesn't have ARA support, considering how important it is to a lot of professional recording workflows.
I watched Captain America: Brave New World. Not nearly as bad as I expected. A middle of the road Marvel movie. However, I kept asking myself "why isn't Sam strapped?" When he's out of the suit he's totally unarmed and keeps finding situations where it would've been useful to be carrying a sidearm.
November 1, 2025 at 1:04 AM
I watched Captain America: Brave New World. Not nearly as bad as I expected. A middle of the road Marvel movie. However, I kept asking myself "why isn't Sam strapped?" When he's out of the suit he's totally unarmed and keeps finding situations where it would've been useful to be carrying a sidearm.
Which I have done, although not in a while, so this isn't totally theoretical 😂
October 31, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Which I have done, although not in a while, so this isn't totally theoretical 😂
Messaged my doctor to see if I could get some Ambien. My sleep has been messed up since my dad died to the point where I'm not going to sleep until 5-7 am some days and then waking up way too late.
October 31, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Messaged my doctor to see if I could get some Ambien. My sleep has been messed up since my dad died to the point where I'm not going to sleep until 5-7 am some days and then waking up way too late.
I remember when getting into a real Pro Tools HD system started at $12,000. A Logic Pro license was $1000 and required a dongle. It also required a PhD to use effectively. I don't feel that old, but I guess I was around just early enough to witness that.
October 31, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I remember when getting into a real Pro Tools HD system started at $12,000. A Logic Pro license was $1000 and required a dongle. It also required a PhD to use effectively. I don't feel that old, but I guess I was around just early enough to witness that.
In some ways, making iOS apps is easier than ever. In others, less so. Different parts of the system use different patterns now. Before, if you mastered the target/action, delegate, and notification patterns, you kind of knew the whole system. Maybe throw responder chain and MVC in there too.
October 31, 2025 at 1:06 AM
In some ways, making iOS apps is easier than ever. In others, less so. Different parts of the system use different patterns now. Before, if you mastered the target/action, delegate, and notification patterns, you kind of knew the whole system. Maybe throw responder chain and MVC in there too.
Getting visa work references together is actually slightly challenging. Startups tend to shut down, people move a lot, and they want someone who still works at the company. For example, I don't think anyone I worked with eight years ago at Sonos is still there.
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Getting visa work references together is actually slightly challenging. Startups tend to shut down, people move a lot, and they want someone who still works at the company. For example, I don't think anyone I worked with eight years ago at Sonos is still there.
Getting visa work references together is actually slightly challenging. Startups tend to shut down, people move a lot, and they want someone who still works at the company. For example, I don't think anyone I worked with eight years ago at Sonos is still there.
October 30, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Getting visa work references together is actually slightly challenging. Startups tend to shut down, people move a lot, and they want someone who still works at the company. For example, I don't think anyone I worked with eight years ago at Sonos is still there.
Generalized anxiety hitting hard today.
October 30, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Generalized anxiety hitting hard today.
Universal Audio is pretty expensive. On the other hand, if you wait for a deal, I got almost all their plugins for $800 a couple of years ago, which they update and don't charge for upgrades on. They also keep sending me more free stuff every once in a while that I actually want and would pay for.
October 29, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Universal Audio is pretty expensive. On the other hand, if you wait for a deal, I got almost all their plugins for $800 a couple of years ago, which they update and don't charge for upgrades on. They also keep sending me more free stuff every once in a while that I actually want and would pay for.
It's a bummer to have to sell my guitar amps, but tube amps won't work internationally, and transporting them is fraught. I think I'm going to just sell them all and go for an ampless setup. Maybe one of the UA amp pedals, since I mostly only use a Vox, and they make a good one.
October 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
It's a bummer to have to sell my guitar amps, but tube amps won't work internationally, and transporting them is fraught. I think I'm going to just sell them all and go for an ampless setup. Maybe one of the UA amp pedals, since I mostly only use a Vox, and they make a good one.
I really like the Teenage Engineering EP-133, but it is limited in some pretty baffling ways. If I was doing it again, I might look at the SmplTrek. On the other hand it's so quick to get something going in it, maybe an inspiration machine is better for me.
October 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I really like the Teenage Engineering EP-133, but it is limited in some pretty baffling ways. If I was doing it again, I might look at the SmplTrek. On the other hand it's so quick to get something going in it, maybe an inspiration machine is better for me.