I started learning programming about four years ago.
When I was living in Batumi, Georgia, the coronavirus pandemic hit and the city was locked down, so I was trapped inside. I thought, "If this continues, I'll become homeless, so I have to find a way to make money online," and started learning JavaScript on Dotinstall.
A while later, I learned about Git and Github, and have been using them as convenient services that allow you to keep your programs on the cloud while also publishing your source code.
However, I decided to delete the account I had been using for over four years.
The reason is that two-step authentication was made mandatory a while ago, and I left it alone because it was too much of a hassle, but when I tried to log in today, it said it wouldn't let me log in unless I set up two-step authentication.
Two-step authentication is very effective as a countermeasure against hackers, but it has troublesome aspects such as being stuck if you change your phone number or being very troublesome to verify your identity.
It would be so counterproductive if the person himself could not log in.
Using an authentication app like Microsoft Authenticator is safer than a phone number, but even so, if the device you register it on breaks, it's all over.
I use a random alphanumeric password of more than 20 characters so my account has never been hijacked, and I don't store any critical information on Github that would be a real problem if it were stolen, so it's really just meddling.
The same goes for two-end-to-end encryption, but I don't like the fact that it forces unnecessary functions, hassle, and risks on users.
If you don't like it, then don't use it.
So I don't use it.
The programming code itself is still on my PC, my personal website, and in cloud storage, so I don't need to be so attached to Github.
I'll continue programming as a hobby from time to time, so I might implement a feature to publish source code on my website at some point.
I'm currently using a desktop PC for my creative work, but recently I bought a laptop to do some work on the go.
It's a cheap, old model HP one.
I was able to install and authenticate most sound sources and plugins without any problems, including Reaper, but I had a problem authenticating some plugins that use iLok, so I'll leave the solution here as a memo.
For those who don't know, iLok is an authentication method used by some sound source and plugin manufacturers, and there are three authentication methods:
- PC authentication, which authenticates using the PC's serial number
- Cloud authentication, which authenticates by accessing the iLok server each time
- Dongle authentication, which authenticates using a dedicated dongle (something like a USB memory stick)
PC authentication can only be used on the PC that authenticated it.
Most of my iLok plugins are like this.
Cloud authentication is convenient because you can use it on any PC as long as you log in to the iLok License Manager, but it has the disadvantage of requiring a constant internet connection.
It's fine for working at home, but when you're out and about you have to tether or look for a Wi-Fi spot.
Dongle authentication can be used on any PC as long as you insert a dedicated USB dongle, but the dongle itself is quite expensive.
At the time of writing this article, it was 7,480 yen at Sound House.
If the dongle breaks, you can't just buy a new one, but you have to submit the broken dongle to iLok's headquarters in the US before you can register a new one.
According to this article, the total cost of replacing the dongle was 15,000 yen and it took 10 days.
It's too much of a hassle...
In the case of SoundToys, if you use PC authentication and your PC breaks, you can apply to have your license reset, so PC authentication might be better for SoundToys.
So, this time I installed the SoundToys plugin on my laptop and launched it on Reaper, and a screen like this appeared for me to enter a serial key.
It seems that the SoundToys plugin does not support cloud authentication, so even if I launch the iLok License Manager on my laptop and log in, I cannot use it.
Since I don't have a USB dongle, I have no choice but to use PC authentication, but I can't remember how I authenticated on my first PC.
But don't worry.
I have saved all the serial keys for all the plugins I've bought in a password management app, so they must be stored together with my SoundToys account information...
But instead, all I got was a short authentication number.
The number of digits is clearly different from the serial key required by iLok, and I tried to authenticate it, but of course it failed.
I looked at the installation manual that came with the purchase email, but all it said was how to register a short authentication number on the SoundToys website.
Hmm, what about the iLok serial number?
There must be a lot of people with the same problem, because Sleepfreaks also explained how to install it, and said that you can find the iLok serial key from the list of purchased products on SoundToys.
But when I checked the SoundToys website, it just said registered, and I couldn't find the serial key.
Hmm, what about the iLok serial number?
I didn't understand what was going on, so I complained about it on a Mastodon instance where Vocaloid producers gather, and an expert told me the solution.
When activating a plugin on a second PC, you drag and drop the license from the first PC like this.
What?!?!
I hadn't thought of that...
However, depending on the timing, it doesn't work, and it fails with other plugins, but then it works if you restart the PC or router, and various factors seem to be intricately intertwined, so sometimes the authentication works and sometimes an error occurs...
There are so many mysteries about iLok.
[ P.S. ]
I learned later that according to the SoundToys explanation, you can activate it by pressing Skip on the initial iLok serial input screen and logging in with your iLok account.
Happy New Year.
Thank you for your continued support this year.
First, an announcement.
The compilation album by Yuudachi-P, which includes my new song, was released yesterday.
This gorgeous album by a total of 14 artists is, wow, free...!
...But buyers can set the price freely, and you can also tip, so if you listen to the demo and feel that this album is valuable, I'd be so happy if you could throw in a little money.
I was thinking of spending the New Year listening to the compilation album, which was released on New Year's Eve, but I was feeling strangely exhausted, perhaps under some kind of curse, so I went to bed early to be on the safe side.
The 11th song, "Paradise War - End of End," is my new song.
I've introduced the production process in a previous article, so I'll skip that here.
Those who know it will know, but it's the exact title of my novel.
I've recreated that hellish worldview in heavy metal, so I hope you enjoy it.
As for the direction of my creative activities this year, I'll be focusing on music and video, just like last year.
Last year I was only able to release seven songs, so I'd like to release around 12 this year.
And so on.
Last night, I forced myself to finish my work and left work on time, then I was watching Boyfan while drinking at home.
Boyfan (short for Voice Fantasia) is a live performance by voice synthesis characters. I went on a short trip to Seika Town in September this year to see Seika's orchestra concert, but this time it was in the Kanto region, so it was too far away, so I decided to watch it online.
I've been watching Sasatsuzu (short for Sato Sasara and Suzuki Tsuzumi) live since the last Autumn, and they did a crowdfunding campaign this year too, so I paid for it, but maybe the number of supporters is increasing every year, because this time they invited three guest characters and it was even more lively.
A while ago, there was an even larger, completely online voice synthesis character live called VVV, but unfortunately I couldn't see that one.
I wonder if they'll stream it again.
Sato Sasara-chan.
She's the poster girl of CeVIO AI.
She has a bright, bouncy voice.
I like Tsuzumi-chan.
Suzuki Tsuzumi-chan.
The second poster girl for the CeVIO Project.
A mature, soft voice.
I like Sasara-chan.
Takahashi Amato-kun.
The only male character in the CeVIO Project.
A man who seems like he can sing but doesn't.
A man caught between the Sasatsuzu yuri girls...or maybe he's just a man watching over them.
Futaba Minatone-chan.
They call her Bami-chan and Seishun-chan. She's cute.
She did a mini solo live a while back and I watched that too.
She looks like a classic pure beauty but has a pretty powerful voice (from a composer's point of view).
Seika-san, the poster girl for Seika-cho, Kyoto Prefecture.
Her beautiful, clear high notes are impressive.
A hardworking woman who takes every opportunity to promote her hometown Seika-cho and encourage hometown tax donations.
She's apparently going to do another orchestra concert next year. I'm looking forward to it.
Kasukabe Tsumugi-chan.
A gal who is kind to otakus.
I thought she was a character approved by the local government like Seika-san, but it seems that's not the case.
The platform is VOICEVOX, so it's free to use.
I've already got all the characters except Takahashi-kun, but I might buy Takahashi-kun's song if he comes out.
There are a lot of female characters, so I'd like to add more male characters and try a musical-like song.
A combination unique to VOICE fans.
An unexpected B-Komachi.
It was a fun time.
I'd like to watch the next one again.
According to a document from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the voter turnout in the last House of Representatives election was 36% for those in their 20s and 71% for those in their 60s.
I'm a creator, and honestly, I don't like talking about politics, but I'm worried about the low voter turnout of my generation, so today I'd like to talk about the advantages of voting and the disadvantages of not voting.
I honestly don't care about things like the idea that voting is the responsibility of adults, or the duty of citizens in a democratic nation, or any other such argument or proof of correctness.
There are probably quite a few people who think that their one vote won't change anything, but that's not true.
For example, if two candidates are equally matched with 10,000 votes each, my one vote can change everything.
Also, if the voter turnout of your generation increases, politicians will be favored.
The current politics are tough on the working generation, and they talk straight out about increasing the social insurance taxes of the working generation to provide subsidies for measures against robberies by the elderly.
But this is a natural progression, and it makes sense if you think about it from a politician's perspective.
If I were a politician, who would I appeal to in order to gain a seat: the elderly, who have a high voter turnout, or the working generation, who have a low voter turnout?
It goes without saying that choosing the former would be overwhelmingly advantageous.
But what if a rival candidate is very popular with the elderly, and the voter turnout of the working generation is high?
If you can win over the working generation and then find fault with the rival candidate, you might be able to win.
In an election, the winner is the one who wins.
Individuals may have their own principles, but if a politician doesn't win, they go out of business.
If they don't win, no matter how lofty their ideals or effective policies that will make the country prosper, they're just pie in the sky.
If we're struggling with high prices and heavy taxes, we need to get politicians who appeal for reducing the burden to win.
Of course, even if the turnout rate of the working generation increases, it is true that they will still be outnumbered by the elderly, so they will be at a disadvantage.
However, there is no doubt that not voting is worse than going to vote.
Even if the candidate I voted for loses in this election, if the turnout rate of my generation increases, politicians who will target my vote will continue to appear.
Who in which party should I vote?
I wish someone would tell me that.
I don't know the right answer either.
A party that has generated record tax revenues yet still wants to raise taxes is out of the question.
Politicians who want to give voting rights to foreigners are also out of the question.
I think I'll vote for a conservative party or politician that will benefit Japanese people, won't raise taxes, and appeals to the interests of the working generation.
However, I can say with certainty that no matter who I vote for, it's better than abstaining or voting blank.
Let's go vote.
Let's complain after we've done what we can.
I'm getting tired from all this serious talk, so here's a picture of the ramen I had recently after work.