#its silky...which i think is fitting for their non-physical nature

[x-adoringvoid-x]

In real life, I've been wearing a lot of black and pink for them.

Having that kind of visual connection to them would make them really happy...although it's a shame they don't have real clothes for me to steal.

[sauvonslesjambons]

What Paper Should You Pick?

Paper is among the most subjective topics in all of art, and there are a variety of opinions. Although some opinions might be more knowledgeable than others, there's no correct or incorrect choices in the choice of paper. Whites and blacks, definitely but there aren't any corrects or wrongs. Your choices are the ones that make you an artist. You are free to make use of or not to follow advice at any time. This is just a guideline from somebody who has looked at plenty of prints.

For a moment, I think of it like this. If we print Sunrise at Lake Louise purely for pleasure, purely for the art of making a beautiful thing and the subsequent reaction to the printed image is not of any importance, then the only questions are about aesthetics. Those are discussed below, of course. The most common situation is when we print a print for a reason, such as to go in an album , to be evaluated during an awards ceremony, or even to be a prized object on someone's walls.

Thus, we usually need to consider the physical needs and wants for the print prior to making a decision. As a first concern there's little point printing a beautiful image on a tissue-like material, in the event that the print is to be handled by friends and relatives for many years to come. It's just not going to remain in place or last for long. Let me begin at the beginning and create a third.

There are three papers from the print shop: Matte, Eco, and Pearl fine art papers. Mikko can use all the paper available in the shop. The most well-known print option is the Matte choice that is flexible and suitable for all walls thanks to its anti-reflective surface.

Matte-Hahnemuhlephoto Rag

This paper is perfect for difficult lighting conditions because of its reflective surface. This paper will look amazing with any image. It is versatile due to its stunning silky surface and soft feel.

Pearl - Hahnemuhle Pearl - Hahnemuhle Baryta

Baryta papers feature a reflective surface which is perfect for locations that have controlled light sources. It's a fantastic choice print for photography with stars. Fine Art Baryta papers offer a superior degree of color depth and image detail. Using barium sulfate in the high-end inkjet coating, it gives a glossy appearance.

Eco Hahnemuhle Bamboo

Bamboo prints have warmer tones and provides smooth, non-reflective surfaces. Bamboo is a symbol of spirituality, nature, and resource-saving photo print paper production.

People with a traditional , visual arts background, such as sketchers, painters, printmakers and others, generally be more knowledgeable of how the paper medium fits in to the larger artistic context than photographers. Paper is a subject that traditional visual artists consider in the beginning of their work and they delight in it, and get to be intimately familiar with it.

A lot of photographers' first exposure to the printing process and papers sunrise at lake Louise was an important turning point in their lives. The more unpleasant experience of the photo-finishing services offered by chemists and newsagents was even more unpleasant. If you're a little older, your experience of this experience was likely with some sort of chain store that does printing as a sideline.

[seksipomminpurkaja]

sharni/nayden and maz/moran?

Ay lets do this

Mushy gushers

Who is the most affectionate? In private they’re as much. In public it’s Nayden always wrapping his arm around her or kissing her cheek

Big spoon/Little spoon? Mooch off the warmth of the pyromancer, hold the elf furnace close to you Nayden

Most common argument? “I can’t believe you just ran off and endagered everyone Lukic” “There was an orphan being attacked by thieves!!”

Favorite non-sexual activity? Sparring, with wooden swords, otherwise Nayden has no chances

Who is most likely to carry the other? Nayden, it’s very easy for him to just hoist her up bridal style even if she’s not injured, just likes carrying her around

What is their favorite feature of their partner’s? Sharni’s hair and palms for Nayden, so silky and warm. Nayden’s personality and his fit body for Sharni, e teddy bear with muscles

What’s the first thing that changes when they realize they have feelings for the other? Nayden makes a fool of himself every chance he gets, not on purpose though. Sharni just seemed more interested in what he has to say and was more eager to join him on missions

Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate? Pearl for Sharni, she has so fair and perfect skin in his opinion and she’s just so precious for him. And Sharni doesn’t really have other than the general pet names for Nayden

Who worries the most? Both, but in different ways, Nayden worries Sharni’s wellbeing in the end, both physical and mental. Sharni worries Nayden will walk out on her when he finds a better bride for himself, which is not happening in million years

Who remembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant? Nayden

Who tops? At first Nayden let Sharni take the lead to keep her comfortable, later on it’s mostly Nayden topping

Who initiates kisses? Nayden in public, Sharni in private when she needs attention come here Nay lemme smooch

Who reaches for the other’s hand first? NAYDEN

Who kisses the hardest? Sharni, she’s pretty needy at times, Nayden fears he comes off too aggressive at time so he hold back until she gives the green light

Who wakes up first? Sharni

Who wants to stay in bed just a little longer? Nayden, more mooching off of warmth of the bedroll and the gf

Who says I love you first? Nayden, by accident, and tbh it made things bit awkward for a while until Sharni had the moment of realization of ‘oh shit he’s serious’

Who leaves little notes in the other’s one lunch? (Bonus: what does it usually say?) Nayden, bad doodles of flowers and hearts

Who tells their family/friends about their relationship first? The whole camp knew it before they did, and taking Sharni’s parent are wherever so Nayden introduced her to his cousins

What do their family/friends think of their relationship? Rooting for them, teasin occasionally

Who is more likely to start dancing with the other? Nayden, there’s a bard in a tavern singing a catchy tune and Nayden is dragging her along

Who cooks more/who is better at cooking? They both cook, Nayden is bit better, it is what happens when you raise yourself and three others and their kids

Who comes up with cheesy pick up lines? Nayden, half of the time Sharni doesn’t quite get them

Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear during inappropriate times? Nayden sometimes if he’s just way too horny

Who needs more assurance? Sharni, with her ptsd and insecurit, Nayden is patient 

What would be their theme song? Bring me the horizon - Follow you (go listen it fits so well, i’m kinda proud i found it)

Who would sing to their child back to sleep? Nayden, he’s done it to Sasa’s kids and has pretty smooth and calming voice and knows many folksongs of his people

What do they do when they’re away from each other? wait for the other to come back

one headcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart You know this already but imma rub some salt into the wounds: when Sharni died it didn’t take long for Nayden to follow, his physical form that is, because part of him died along with her

one headcanon about this OTP that mends it They lived a long fulfilling life of adventure, love and change, with their family and friends, they were loved by each other and others, and marrying Sharni changed the country’s view on elves too

then the space spouses (correct if i’m wrong pls ;; )

Who is the most affectionate? Maz at first, but I can see Moran warming up for it in private

Big spoon/Little spoon? Naturally Moran is the big spoon, but sometimes Maz would insist on being the big spoon “it feels like i’m carrying a backpack”

Most common argument? “YOU SOLD THE PART FOR HOW MUCH” Maz wouldn;t yell or even raise their voice, knowing Moran is already anxious. But sometimes the shop doesn’t do that well and they really need the full price, they’d be very careful and voicing this and reassuring in the end it’s ok wanna have some noodles tonight

Favorite non-sexual activity? Movie nights! Bc i think Moran being that introverted they really don’t like going out for no reason just to mingle about. So they’d get snack and lie down all comfy n shit 

Who is most likely to carry the other? Moran, Maz would try once, once, hoist the tiny spouse they love it

What is their favorite feature of their partner’s? Maz loves Moran’s hair, so soft and colorful, and their quiet and cool personality, it’s endearing for them. And i’m guessing Moran likes Maz’s patient and understanding vibe. I don’t know about the physical features tho

What’s the first thing that changes when they realize they have feelings for the other? Maz get determined and offers to help them our more often and just wants to get closer dammit. Moran? Awkward anxious noodle?

Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate? Cherry for Moran from Maz, bc they love the fruit and their hair reminds them of it. i don’t know about Moran, help

Who worries the most? Moran, again, anxious noodle thinking Maz will leave them any given moment for someone more like themself. No worries sweet noodle! They love you!

Who remembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant? Do they go out that much? If yes i think they’d both know what the other likes and would suggest dishes for each other

Who tops? Maz in lead at first for quite obvious reasons, but after a while they’ll find it more natural for Moran to top, i guess?

Who initiates kisses? Maz, climb on the counter, climb on the spouse, climb on the wall, anything for a kiss

Who reaches for the other’s hand first? Maz, there are four to choose from

Who kisses the hardest? Maz at first and later Moran would put more force into it after being together for a while

Who wakes up first? Maz with their sleep schedule, they’ll just lay next to Moran until they wake up

Who wants to stay in bed just a little longer? I bet Moran, a warm soft bed sure is good

Who says I love you first? Maz, show them how much they care and stuff

Who leaves little notes in the other’s one lunch? (Bonus: what does it usually say?) Maz packs food for Moran whenever they need to leave again, and write stuff in the lines of ‘remember to eat’ ‘remember to sleep!!!’ ‘waiting for you, stay safe!!!!!!’

Who tells their family/friends about their relationship first? Neither’s parents would approve of the relationship so i think neither? Although the possibility of showing off your love as a middle finger is an option for both

What do their family/friends think of their relationship? Jack is happy for them and is always ready to listen to Maz ramble abput how amazing their spouse is. Moran… i don’t know, again, help

Who is more likely to start dancing with the other? Maz stepping on Moran’s toes and just looking up :3 can you pick me up and twirl around a bit

Who cooks more/who is better at cooking? Given the information of Moran living off of junk and energy drinks, it’s safe to assume Maz? They put a lot of spices in so be sure to say if it’s too much, they’ll understand

Who comes up with cheesy pick up lines? Jack tried to make Moran say them to surprise Maz, i don’t know if he’s successful 

Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear during inappropriate times? Maz, not as an innuendo, but as a way to brighten Moran’s day, I don’t see Moran talking dirty that much but who know? not me

Who needs more assurance? Moran, you are loved and Maz will wait for years for you if it came to that

What would be their theme song? *browsing furiously though spotify romance playlists* Trey songz - Coming home (its has such a calm and nice beat too)

Who would sing to their child back to sleep? They can’t have children because genetical stuff but if they’d have one (or adopt) Maz, because when Moran is home they need the rest

What do they do when they’re away from each other? Maz is running errands on the shop, meeting business partners and chilling with Jack and probably Mirad at times too, Merryweather is a good place to unwind and meet new people. Moran working too, chatting with Maz if they find something amazing

one headcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart The fact that Moran is so insecure, even after many years of marriage and so. And that they’re apart so much

one headcanon about this OTP that mends it The fact that Moran always back for them, Maz always waits for them to come and back is just so happy?!? (and the fact that this oc blind date challenge ended up this good holy shit)

[taww]

Review: Role Audio Canoe loudspeakers

Role Audio Canoe

The Audiophile Weekend Warrior (TAWW)

TAWW Rating: 4.0 / 5

Boasting a unique TL design, the Canoe favors musical nuance and long-term listening satisfaction over sonic fireworks.

PROS: Natural tonality, seamless and articulate midrange, surprising bass extension and definition.

CONS: Errs on the polite side, treble and dynamics could be sharper.

Mea culpa: the Canoes (USD $1395-$1495 depending on finish) have been in and out of my possession since way back in 2014 when I was writing for another publication, so this review is a long time coming. Role Audio proprietor Erol Ricketts was kind enough to send them back to me for another go last year, and I regret it's taken me so long to get this out, because the Canoe is a uniquely enjoyable speaker that deserves more recognition. Here's why.

Design

The Canoe was designed for the computer music age, specifically desktop use. Erol Ricketts endeavored to create a compact speaker that was coherent and dynamic in a near-field environment, with precise imaging and meaningful bass extension. It sports the 5" carbon fiber woofer used throughout the Role lineup, crossing over to a 1" soft dome tweeter with a minimalist first order network. The woofer and tweeter are extremely close (only 8cm between their centers) and placed high up on the slim, tall cabinet to line up with the listener's ears in a desktop setup - no stands or wedges needed. What appears to be a run-of-the-mill front-firing bass reflex port is actually the end of a very short folded transmission line, a remarkable feature in such a small design.

Design touches make the Canoes sleek with the grills off.

The sturdy cabinet, crafted in their North Carolina facility, is made with sustainably-sourced, formaldehyde-free MDF, real wood veneers and non-toxic glues and coatings. The baffle is particularly sleek thanks to a tweeter with no visible flange - it's concealed underneath - and magnetically-attached grills. Fit and finish, as with all Role products, is superb.

When Erol and I discussed reevaluating the Canoes for TAWW, he mentioned that he still had my original review pair around, but with a modification that he wanted me to try out:

I have an accessory I call TL-ABC which is inserted into the port. It lowers the bass volume somewhat but lowers the bass response quite a bit and reduces pipe resonances in the transmission line which improves midrange clarity.

Setup

I used the Canoes in every possible setup you could imagine - on bookshelves, on a media console next to the TV, on a dining table while on vacation, on proper stands in the big rig, and of course on a desktop with the computer. It was remarkably flexible and sounded good in most any situation, but it particularly excelled in the TV and computer-based applications. With the TV, its midrange clarity made for clear, natural dialog, while the extra height of the speaker helped center the soundstage around the picture. With the computer on a desktop, it was impressively coherent, full and balanced, even when sitting just a couple feet away.

The Canoes worked well with modest amplification such as a Marantz NR1403 surround sound receiver ($400) or a Dayton Audio DTA-100 Class-T mini amp ($100), while still benefitting from audiophile wares like a modified Bryston B60 or April Music Stello Ai500. A friend with the sibling Kayak model reports terrific results with an inexpensive Cambridge Audio amp. I really wish my recently-acquired Ayre AX-7e integrated had been on hand while I had the Canoes, as I suspect that would have been a match made in heaven. Compared to the the Bryston, the Ayre's leaner tone and more incisive quality would have complimented the Canoe's natural warmth perfectly.

With speaker cable, I actually found the Canoes weren't big fans of the usual garden house audiophile stuff, instead preferring simpler stranded, twisted-pair or even zip cord-style fare. Role makes a basic twisted-pair cable that sounds great, and DH Labs Silver Sonic (used internally for the tweeter) also works like a charm. As with any high-quality component, careful system matching and tweaking will help get the Canoes really dialed-in, but like other Role models they're some of the most fuss-free speakers I've come across.

The TL-ABC plug fits into the front-firing port.

I used the Canoes both with and without the TL-ABC port plugs. In my video system, I preferred the sound without them - contrary to Erol's description, I felt the plug made the midrange a tad less open and articulate, particularly with dialog and vocals. In the computer system however, they did a better job balancing out the upper to mid bass transition while increasing perceived bass extension a smidgen. The effect is fairly subtle and it's a piece of cake to plug them in and out, so I recommend experimenting in your particular setup.

The Role House Sound

Speaker manufacturers typically have a character that permeates their offerings from top to bottom - their "voicing" or "house sound." Having auditioned much of the lineup over the years, I'd sum up the Role sound up as natural, a tad understated, but articulate and musical where it counts. Pick any model, and you can bet on excellent imaging, a detailed and nuanced midrange that's never hyped, and a silky smooth tonal balance that makes acoustic instruments and vocals just sound "right." I hesitate to ascribe a particular adjective to the tone quality, but it's most definitely not bright - I'd call it a shade on the warm side, but not anything close to the warmer stuff I've heard (Sonus Faber or Devore Fidelity comes to mind). Dynamically and rhythmically they are expressive, but with the wrong amplifier can sound somewhat subtle or reserved. They are very easy to drive, but will benefit from powerful solid-state amplification and work exceedingly well with moderately priced gear. Perhaps with the exception of the largest Enterprise model, they are unfussy of setup and will consistently disappear into the soundfield as effortlessly as anything I've used.

Erol has added some wrinkles to the traditional 2-way monitor formula that give the Role line some unique properties. In fact, I believe his exploration into single-driver, crossover-less speakers has driven him to set a higher sonic bar for his crossovered designs. The Canoe's integration between tweeter and woofer is as good as it's ever been from Role, and approaches the cohesiveness and naturalness of some of the best I've heard. It has the kind of buttery seamlessness through the midrange and treble that could lead one to confuse it for a single-driver speaker.

The other standout feature in a number of Role models is the folded transmission line (TL), a bit of a lost art in the industry. TL speakers utilize the back wave of the driver in a very different way from ubiquitous acoustic suspension (sealed) and bass reflex (ported) cabinets. Without getting into the science and art of it, a good TL speaker exhibits bass extension that comparable-size sealed designs could never dream of, with uniformity and definition that very few ported designs can achieve. When properly executed, TL's have a unique combination of natural power and dynamics with an openness through the upper bass and lower midrange that allows music to breath and bloom without the lumpiness often heard to varying degrees in other designs. The Canoe is still bound by the laws of physics and doesn't sound like a big speaker, but its TL design lets it sound bigger and more extended than one would expect from such a tiny package. In fact, when I used it in my video system with a Marantz surround receiver that has Audyssey speaker/room correction, the calibration process often picked up the Canoes as a "large" speaker (whereas a typical bookshelf gets classified as "small").

Listening Notes

With big stuff like Mahler's 5th Symphony (Benjamin Zander/Philharmonia Orchestra/Telarc), the Canoe was surprisingly satisfying, even in a close-proximity desktop setup. The soundstage is shrunken down as expected, but the sound is impressively full-bodied, with convincing imaging outside the bounds of the speakers - e.g. first violins had nice spread across stage left, never sounding stuck to the face of speaker. In the complex Scherzo (third movement), the contrasting colors and contrapuntal voices come across clearly, with lush string lines contrasting nicely with brilliant brass flourishes.

In Britten's solo sonatas for cello (Pieter Wispelwey/Channel Classics, 16/44 AIFF rip), the Canoe does a great job filling out the body of the cello on pizzicato notes; you can clearly make out both the ring of the string and the sympathetic resonance of the entire instrument. Most small speakers struggle with this, making the cello sound light, hollow or uneven.

The Canoe really shone on female vocals. Ella Fitzgerald in Moonlight in Vermont (Ella and Louis, Verve 24/96 FLAC) sounded appropriately chesty and full in her lower registers and silky smooth on top. With pop fare, vocalists from Adele to Sia to Pink to Carly Rae Jespen (hey, Emotion is a good pop album!) all sounded distinctive, human and expressive. The way Magdalena Kozena's mezzo-soprano voice (Mozart Arias, DG 16/44 AIFF rip) floated and soared evoked memories of hearing her live in Carnegie Hall.

Bass is rhythmic and tuneful. It has the kind of tautness reminiscent of a good sealed box design, with better uniformity and control than any similarly-sized ported design I've heard. On first listen it might not sound as deep as a competing bass reflex speaker, but listen more carefully: it's actually quite neutral and extended, with none of the boom that gives many small speakers a false sense of extension. You'd think this kind of subtlety wouldn't serve electronic music well, but on the contrary I found myself really enjoying some of my favorite pop tunes. Michael Jackson's Billy Jean had terrific focus and pulse, while the percussive opening to Carly Rae Jepsen's Let's Get Lost came across appropriately perky and plucky. When the chorus arrived in Let's Get Lost, the Canoe conveyed the descending bass line with exceptional clarity, pitch and precision, making the song addictively engaging.

Another standout quality of the Canoe is how engaging it sounds at quiet playback levels. Many speakers sound anemic or bland until they're cranked up to at least 4/10 or 5/10 on the volume dial, but the Canoe is so articulate and communicative that you can listen at 2/10 and feel totally engrossed in a performance. The fullness of the mid-bass helps, giving it a very subtle loudness switch-like contour that fleshes out the sound at low volumes, as does the minimal crossover that doesn't suck the air and life out of the signal the way higher-order or lesser-quality networks can. If you live in an apartment or have roommates, the Canoe is a great option.

I've pretty much taken this for granted with all Role speakers, but I'd be remiss for not mentioning: the Canoe's imaging is precise and holographic in the tradition of the best mini-monitors. Erol prizes time alignment and minimal phase shift in his designs, and careful driver selection and placement combined with a precisely tuned first order crossover deliver the kind of openness, seamlessness and palpability of imaging that's unique to painstakingly-crated minimalist design. Solo voices and instruments are always solidly anchored in center stage while layers of an orchestra are precisely placed in space.

A Few Nits

Across all my listening, the Canoes sounded slightly reserved and lacking a bit of dynamic sharpness and high-frequency sparkle. By comparison, my reference Merlin TSM's better conveyed the breathless excitement of more agitated passages in Kozena's Mozart arias, the snappiness of Rondo a la Turk from Dave Brubeck's Take Five, and the pluckiness of pizzicato in the Britten cello sonatas. The soft dome tweeter makes the right tradeoffs in my opinion, favoring naturalness and lack of ringing over sizzle, but if you're coming from a metal tweeter (B&W aluminum and Focal beryllium domes come to mind) it may strike you as a bit soft.

At times, I picked up on what sounded like a bit of cabinet or port resonance in the mid-bass which added a touch of "boxiness" to the sound. By comparison, the Canoe's excellent little sibling, the Kayak, sounds a bit airier and less chesty in the baritone range. It's hardly pervasive and can be mitigated by tweaking placement, but every once in a while I hit a part of the frequency range which brought out this resonance a hair.

Lastly, this isn't a big-sounding speaker. While it had a remarkably full tonal balance for its size, it won't give the scale of a larger, more powerful speaker - e.g. the Merlin TSM 2-ways will play much bigger, but I also think some other small speakers like the Silverline Minuet or Elac UB5 can more convincingly impersonate a big speaker. The Canoe is at its best at moderate listening levels where its charms are readily apparent and it can play reasonably loudly, but it does strain and compress if you crank it hard, so e.g. metal heads and party throwers will want to look elsewhere.

None of these detracted significantly from my listening experience, but your priorities may differ. In terms of competition, I admittedly haven't auditioned much recently (suggestions welcome!). At a much lower price point I'm familiar with a few options: the Silverline Minuet Supreme Plus ($700), B&W 686 S2 ($550) and Elac Uni-Fi UB5 ($500). The B&W and Elac offer flashier, more overtly powerful sound, but IMO aren't in the same league when it comes to imaging, musical nuance and certainly craftsmanship. The Silverline is a lovely little speaker; the version I heard many years ago had big heart, but wasn't as refined as the Canoe. (I haven't heard the most recent Plus version, though.)

Conclusion

The Canoes aren't flashy on first listen, but give them time and they'll grow on you - their natural, nuanced presentation, superb imaging and surprising bass fidelity makes them uniquely rewarding for the long haul. This is an unfailingly musical and satisfying speaker, and I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Associated Gear

Sources: Monarchy Audio NM24 DAC, Cambridge Stream Magic 6 v2, Onkyo C-7030, Raspberry Pi 2 + Hifiberry Digi+ Pro, Roon music server Amplification: Bryston B60 (2005, lightly modded), Dayton Audio DTA-100, Marantz NR1403 Speakers: Merlin TSM-MXe, Master RC networks, Osiris stands; REL T-9 subwoofer Cables: DH Labs Air Matrix, Role twisted pair, Cardas Clear Light, Audience PowerChord, Monarchy Audio BL1 coaxial, glass fiber toslink

Specs & Info

Description: 2-way, transmission-line bookshelf/desktop loudspeaker. 1" (25mm) fabric dome tweeter, 5" (13cm) woven carbon fiber woofer, first order crossover. Rated frequency response: 47 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 3.5dB Dimensions: 16" X 5.5" X 7.25" (H X W X D). Satin black with Spanish cedar finish. Price: USD $1395 in red birch, $1495 in Spanish cedar. Sold direct from manufacturer.

Role Audio P.O. Box 13396, Research Triangle Park North Carolina, USA 27709-3396 Phone: 919-886-7057