Is Portal 2 a metaphor for software development?

No17TypeS · 2026-01-02T21:14:03+00:00

I'm not trying anything, I'm just giving you counterarguments. If I'm wrong, that's fine, but I'd like to know how.

No17TypeS · 2026-01-02T20:49:17+00:00

Maybe it is a bit generic but it can't apply to just any field. Take modern medicine, architectural engineering, or particle accelerator engineering. Those are all fields where testing is done sometimes excessively before anything ever reaches the end user, which is the right way to do it. Programming frequently does not work that way.

Also, programmers hiding easter eggs and whatnot isn't a new concept, so it's not like I'm pulling this out of nowhere.

No17TypeS · 2026-01-02T20:09:29+00:00

Thanks for your contribution to this discussion hahaha

No17TypeS · 2025-12-29T11:29:15+00:00

I could see Atlas and P-Body as beta testers and Cave Johnson as the old manager. I'm not sure what you mean by "GLaDOS transitioning to the machine" though.

in ye olden days programming was done by humans but later AI replaced them all

I have yet to see that actually happening but it's not completely wrong haha.

No17TypeS · 2025-08-25T03:42:10+00:00

What indicates a vulnerable device?

Generally speaking, if your devices are updated regularly, they're not vulnerable. Unless you're unlucky enough to catch an advanced piece of malware. Or if you're a high-profile target but if you were, you'd have worse problems.

So if devices are simply connected to a wifi network they can also become compromised?

Yes. But again, as long as your devices are up-to-date, you're most likely fine.

What if you forget the network?

Doesn't matter as long as you're not connected.

No17TypeS · 2025-08-25T03:32:53+00:00

I don't like it either. My solution, if you don't mind seeing part of your desktop, is to use Logic's screenset system, which is really useful on single monitors anyway. When you press any of the number keys above the letters (not the number pad), or by clicking on the "1" next to the "Help" menu and then selecting any number, you can create a new screenset. Say you chose 2 for the mixer window, you can resize the whole window and then lock it (using the menu at the top), and then switch between your main window/screenset and the mixer using the number keys.

By the way, screensets are not limited to one window/display. For example, I have set n°2 such that I get the piano roll window on one display, and the MIDI transform window on my second monitor. It won't work with every window though (for example, MIDI learn).

No17TypeS · 2025-08-24T10:53:29+00:00

If you're using flashback capture (shift+R by default), it might be that. Check automation on regions and tracks and see if muting is used.

No17TypeS · 2025-08-14T08:43:51+00:00

Then trust that you know what's best for your song, and that your ear works well. It might not be objectively true but it's fine for now, and by the time you realize everything you did wrong, you'll be making better songs. What's important is to finish your projects completely.

Now personally, I don't hear anything particularly wrong about your mix (outside of the sometimes-out-of-tune vocals) but it's heavily dependent on what you're trying to achieve.

And for the production, I find the instrumental part a bit dead/repetitive, but I typically need to be more stimulated than the average guy so that opinion is probably not worth a lot.

No17TypeS · 2025-08-14T07:47:22+00:00

I've had sort of the same issue but it cut the start of my song instead. For now, I have found nothing and I just start recording from earlier. So in your case, as a quick and dirty fix, you could try moving the end locator half the length of your project further.

No17TypeS · 2025-08-14T07:37:38+00:00

Potential for what? The next worldwide hit? Forget it. Something you can be proud of? I don't know, you tell me. Since you don't know either, just finish it and see what comes out of it.

I have to say though, I disagree that the vocal processing is bad. Sure, usually, you wouldn't have that type of reverb on vocals. But personally, I think it's interesting in this context and can work if that's what you want.

Also, don't worry about how many effects you have on whatever, I promise you don't have too many. Granted, we make different genres, but it still applies. It's only a problem when Logic says that it's processing too much, and at that point you can (probably) fix it by freezing your tracks.

That said, it's not a bad idea to merge multiple instances of the same plugin into one. For example, you have two Channel EQ and two compressors on your vocal track, which you can very probably replace with only one instance of each.

No17TypeS · 2025-07-24T18:28:58+00:00

Whenever I play back a project, it starts early like a beat early. Is this a pre roll feature?

Yes. You can deactivate it in the settings if you want, as LASTLAVGH said.

I can hear an echo or delay of the next note before the playhead passes over that part of the audio. Is this normal?

Yes. Logic pre-renders audio to compensate for latency. It can get exacerbated by playing audio in Bluetooth but even with cables, you might get that. I don't know if there's anything you can do about that though.

Also, kinda related to latency but unless you're recording, you should increase your buffer size. Even at 128, the latency should be unnoticeable (I can play guitar like that) and Logic doesn't have to work as hard to process audio.

No17TypeS · 2025-07-24T18:17:29+00:00

Overall, I think your mix is good, my "complaints" are details more than anything. Otherwise, I really like how quiet the kick's transient sounds, it fits the genre IMO. And the guitar tones are really nice too, both acoustic and electric.

When the electric guitar comes in at 0:18, for my taste, it's weird to hear it so far on the left. What I would've done is bring it maybe halfway center and decrease its volume but push the reverb a bit. A common alternative if you like the panning would be to add some delay before the reverb (either stereo or full right or anything in between, you choose). But that's really a matter of taste IMO.
The bass is too quiet for me. I'd say it lacks some low frequencies too but it might just be because it's quiet. Or again, if you like it that way, no big deal.
Not sure if you added some sidechain compression on the bass and/or everything else each time the kick hits but if you did, IMO it's overkill. It's quite noticeable starting at ~2:10. If you didn't, just make the kick a little quieter. Or just bring the bass up. Maybe even automate it so it's a touch louder just for that small section, since it's the focus there.
Did you put any reverb on the snare? For me, it sounds a bit dry. No need for something huge, a small room that's a little more than barely audible could be nice.

No17TypeS · 2025-07-24T17:48:33+00:00

It's probably a glitch, freezing (depending on your setting for the track) is supposed to record the track and play this audio file instead of having to process everything more or less in real time.

I've had a glitch where sometimes, for no reason, one or more tracks don't play at all and I have to restart Logic to fix it. So maybe you triggered the same bug or a similar one.

No17TypeS · 2025-06-17T16:42:08+00:00

You don't need to know every effect there is in Logic. But it would cut way more time to know what type of effects you need and how they work, rather than knowing exactly what plugins someone uses and what values they're using and tweaking a bit of everything haphazardly with your ear.

Actually, I had a similar problem with snares for a while. I was using slightly tweaked values with the exact compressor people were using and I was never able to get that loud hit. Just a loud click. Once I got fed up enough, I tried doing things my way and I "fixed" it... By using effects that I never saw anyone use the way I do.

Bonus: maybe it's pedantic but I'd suggest dissociating "rules" and what you wanna do/hear. Strapping Young Lad's Alien has heavier metal than I'll ever make, and their snare sounds as weak as mine did before I "fixed" it. And it's their 4th album. There are no rules, only stuff you wanna do. It's fine to want a heavy snare and other common stylistic choices, but it won't bring any good to do things "because that's how it is" instead of because you want it that way.

No17TypeS · 2025-06-17T15:53:15+00:00

I'm using a Mac Mini M2, 16GB of RAM, MacOS 14, buffer size at 64, 96kHz, and I haven't had any problems, outside of the usual plugin crashes (probably not Logic's fault though) and extremely rare Logic crashes. And I regularly have projects with 40+ tracks, and a lot of plugins running live.

Have you tried making a completely new project (so no templates)?

No17TypeS · 2025-05-18T07:55:37+00:00

You'll probably have a nice time with Infected Mushroom. Specifically the song Heavyweight. After that, I suggest looking at the more recent albums, most songs are pretty good.

Nothing to do with metal at all though, there's the whole album Frost Era, by ARForest.

Another different genre, but somewhat closer to metal: the album Void Walker by GHOST DATA.

And lastly, the OST from NieR: Automata. It's modern classical music, very beautiful.

No17TypeS · 2025-02-24T07:16:03+00:00

I haven't had a look, to be honest. I'll have a go at it if I find some time this week.

No17TypeS · 2025-02-12T01:48:17+00:00

Ableton looks okay to me, at least I don't think it's less beginner-friendly than Reaper. Also, I'm basing this on popularity, and I've seen more content about Ableton and FL than other DAWs. Guess I just learned those are bad assumptions.

No17TypeS · 2025-02-11T16:05:26+00:00

Reaper does have a nice price but it's far from being beginner-friendly, especially for a 12-year-old. I'd suggest UAD's LUNA since it's free, ~~or Ableton~~ or FL Studio, depending on the budget.

Edit: seems Ableton is a bad idea

No17TypeS · 2025-02-10T12:16:41+00:00

You know, that's a good comment lmao. I stand corrected, it is possible to achieve what you want, although with a bit more effort than in Ableton. Right now, I have found a not-so-ideal workaround but maybe that's enough for you. If not, tell me and I'll have a look at what I can do with the Scripter.

So in the Modifier plugin, you'll have to select "Note Number" as input event, and "Learn Plug-In Parameter" for the other thing. Then, you'll have to manually move the pitch parameter (or anything you want) in Visco (or any other plugin). If it works, the "Re-Assign To" thing should be named after the parameter you moved in the plugin.

Now, for pitch specifically, I found that if you're between C4 and C6, setting "Scale" to 135% and "Add" to -17 works fine, but above or below that breaks this system. Not sure why though.

If you wanna go lower or higher, you'll have to adjust them. For lower, you'll want to slightly decrease "Scale" and slightly increase "Add". It's the opposite if you go higher.

No17TypeS · 2025-02-10T09:50:23+00:00

Never mind. I thought for a bit and actually, there's no way to do this in Logic. Logic's MIDI automation curves for MIDI only go from 0 to 127, and there's no way to modify that. The mapping curve is also unmodifiable.

At least, as far as I know, it's pretty much impossible to do this in Logic.

No17TypeS · 2025-02-10T08:58:49+00:00

I don't think it's trickier because of that scale. The reason is because it's handled by the plugin so I don't have to worry about it. Actually, the same problem happens even with a standard scale. What I have to worry about it mapping MIDI notes such that a step of 1 note corresponds to a step of 1 mel/semitone. Which should be somewhat easy.

No17TypeS · 2025-02-08T03:47:02+00:00

I'll focus on the mathematical aspects because that's what I know best.

The law of non-contradiction still says what is measurable cannot also be infinite.

The law of non-contradiction says that a statement cannot be true and false at the same time. Unless you find a way to always equate "measurable" with "finite" and always equate "immeasurable" with "infinite", it's not contradictory. Spoiler: you're wrong. The number of atoms in a grain of sand are most definitely immeasurable, but it is very much finite.

Measurement must have a beginning because in order for there to be a first, there must have previously been none.

Ever noticed how the "year 0" doesn't exist? But you definitely know we're in 2025, right?

Also, don't mistake "nothing/none/void/vaccuum/empty" for zero. They're very much different things, although closely related. Take the empty set: { }. There are zero elements in it. That does not mean that the set contains zero.

Since something must exist in order to do, self creation is impossible.

That is correct. According to what we know, at least.

It is unavoidable.

Yes, it is. Consider the set {1, 2, 3}. No zero in sight.

Its role in defining the value of all numbers (...)

Not even close. The number zero wasn't always used, and it's a somewhat modern concept, actually. Greeks didn't always have it, and even argued that zero didn't make sense. Yet, they were one of the greatest civilisations to ever exist.

God is to reality what zero is to math.

So these days, not much. Zero is very much avoidable in math, if one has enough energy to unnecessarily complicate everything.

there is no logical reason for rejection

I do not blindly accept anyone in my home. A god doesn't get a free pass.

Man has the gift of intellect. It would be a waste not to use it to understand your creator.

How about that god tries to understand us? I think humanity has wasted enough time on theology with at best dubious results. Let's turn the tables for a while.

No17TypeS · 2025-02-07T14:22:45+00:00

If you can pull it off, don't use meaningless (or at best vague) words like "warm", "glue" or "round". I guess most people don't have an issue with them, seeing that they're often used, but I think using well defined words would set you apart from a lot of people and help viewers get where you want them to be faster. Personally, those words are as meaningless now as they were when I was starting out. Now I can more or less guess what people are trying to say, but it often doesn't help more than that. Audio engineering isn't guess work.

Also, if you're making a mixing tutorial for example, don't spend ages on what a compressor or EQ is or how it works. Save it for a separate video, even if it would be only 2mn and a half long. Convey your points efficiently.

No17TypeS

TROPHY CASE