Tumgik
#Beginner-friendly investments
kc22invesmentsblog · 8 months
Text
Demystifying Brokerage Accounts: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
Written by Delvin Have you ever found yourself intrigued by the world of investing but unsure of where to start? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we will demystify brokerage accounts and provide beginner-friendly insights to help you embark on your investment journey with confidence. Whether you’re a complete novice or have dabbled in investing before, let’s dive into the…
View On WordPress
1 note · View note
thyandrawrites · 10 months
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media
I finally worked out a way to make smooth color transitions that work with half color changes without that annoying "step" that always bothered me. It's a fairly annoying thing to do every time tho so I think I'll only use it for this shouto amigurumi here and dabi's
7 notes · View notes
cryptoquantumleap · 1 year
Text
Tumblr media
Get rich with bitcoin (beginners course)
Your last chance. Take action, this is your last opportunity to learn about crypto. Think about your future and escape being an employee all your life. Click the link and start your journey!
3 notes · View notes
digistore-product620 · 21 hours
Text
From Seed to Serenity: How the Medicinal Garden Kit Cultivated Wellness in My Backyard
Tumblr media
For years, I'd dreamt of cultivating a personal haven dedicated to natural remedies. The idea of growing my own medicinal herbs always appealed to me, but the initial setup seemed daunting. Then, I stumbled upon the Medicinal Garden Kit – a complete solution for novice gardeners like myself. It has been a delightful journey, transforming my backyard into a source of both beauty and well-being.
Everything You Need to Get Growing
The Medicinal Garden Kit eliminates the guesswork for aspiring herbalists. It comes with a thoughtfully curated selection of popular medicinal herb seeds like chamomile, lavender, calendula, and echinacea. The kit also provides high-quality seed trays, organic potting mix, plant markers, and detailed instructions that guide you through every step of the planting process. The clear instructions, coupled with the well-organized kit, made setting up my medicinal haven surprisingly simple and enjoyable.
A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Growing Herbs
One of the most valuable aspects of the Medicinal Garden Kit is the comprehensive guide included. The guide provides detailed information on each herb, including its medicinal properties, preferred growing conditions, and basic care requirements. For someone like me, new to the world of herbal gardening, this information was invaluable. The guide also offers helpful tips on soil preparation, watering schedules, and troubleshooting common problems. With this guidance in hand, I felt confident and empowered to cultivate my medicinal haven.
A Flourishing Sanctuary
The joy of witnessing my tiny seeds transform into thriving plants has been truly rewarding. The kit provides the perfect balance of herbs, ensuring a vibrant and aromatic garden. Watching them bloom not only instilled a sense of accomplishment but also brought a touch of serenity to my outdoor space. The calming fragrance of lavender and the cheerful presence of calendula have created a tranquil haven where I can unwind and reconnect with nature.
Fresh, Homegrown Remedies at My Fingertips
The ultimate satisfaction comes from knowing I can now harvest fresh herbs for home remedies. The Medicinal Garden Kit allows me to create my own soothing chamomile tea or a cooling calendula salve. Having readily available natural remedies not only empowers me to take a more proactive approach to my well-being but also fosters a sense of self-sufficiency.
A Sustainable Investment in Wellness
The Medicinal Garden Kit is not just a one-time purchase – it's a sustainable investment in wellness. Many of the herbs in the kit readily self-seed, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh herbs for years to come. Additionally, caring for my medicinal haven has become a therapeutic pastime, promoting mindfulness and a connection to nature. The kit has not only provided me with access to natural remedies but has also created a little oasis of serenity right outside my door.
.
0 notes
beautyhealthsworld · 1 month
Text
Investor's Guide Free plus Shipping edit
Tumblr media
Dive into Investing with a Free Investor's Guide (Plus Shipping)
An "Investor's Guide: Free + Shipping" can be a springboard for your financial journey. Here's how it can benefit you:
Low-Cost Entry Point: Compared to traditional investment courses or financial advisors, this guide offers a budget-friendly way to gain basic investing knowledge.
Foundational Knowledge: The guide can equip you with core investing concepts. You might learn about different asset classes (stocks, bonds, etc.), investment strategies (growth vs. value), and essential financial terminology.
Spark Your Interest: A well-crafted guide can ignite your passion for investing. Clear explanations and potential success stories can motivate you to take the next step in building your financial future.
Convenience and Accessibility: Delivered straight to your door, the guide allows you to learn at your own pace and revisit sections for clarification. No commuting to classes or rigid schedules required.
Remember: While the guide can provide a solid foundation, it's likely not a substitute for in-depth research or professional financial advice. Consider it a stepping stone towards becoming a more informed investor.
0 notes
finance-planner · 1 month
Text
Ever wanted a pro to manage your investments? Mutual funds offer just that! Imagine a basket filled with stocks, bonds, or a mix of both. Investors like you contribute money to this basket, and a professional manager invests it for you. This diversification helps spread risk and potentially boost returns.
Mutual funds come in various flavors. Equity funds focus on stocks, offering higher potential gains (and losses) compared to debt funds which invest in bonds for steadier returns. Need something in between? Hybrid funds combine both.
There's more! Funds can target specific goals like growth (increasing share value) or income (regular payouts). Plus, some focus on specific sectors like technology or healthcare.
The best part? You don't need to be a stock market whiz. Mutual funds offer a convenient and professionally managed way to invest, making them a great option for beginners and seasoned investors alike.
0 notes
britannicaes · 9 months
Text
The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Simple and Effective Investments
The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Simple and Effective Investments
Tumblr media
Discover the best investments for beginners with our comprehensive guide. Learn essential beginner investment tips, explore simple investment strategies, and find out how to kick-start your investment journey today. Whether you're new to investing or looking for beginner-friendly options, this guide has you covered. Start building your financial future with confidence.
Read more >>
0 notes
kumar-pradeep · 10 months
Text
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬
Are you a beginner investor looking to dive into the world of cryptocurrencies? Look no further than "The Best Podcast for Beginner Investors." This podcast is your go-to resource for valuable insights, expert advice, and educational content tailored specifically for newcomers to the crypto space. Explore the fundamentals of cryptocurrencies, learn about blockchain technology, and discover investment strategies to kickstart your journey. Hosted by industry experts, each episode delves into essential topics in an engaging and accessible manner. From explaining key concepts to discussing market trends, this podcast provides the knowledge and confidence you need to navigate the exciting world of digital assets. Stay informed about the latest developments, receive tips to manage risks, and gain a solid understanding of crypto investment fundamentals. Tune in, level up your investment skills, and embark on your path to financial growth with "The Best Podcast for Beginner Investors."
0 notes
gadgets-ark · 10 months
Text
High-paying affiliate programs for beginners 2023
About Affiliate programsAmazon AssociatesClickBankCJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction)ShareASaleShopify Affiliate ProgramBluehost Affiliate ProgramUdemy Affiliate Program About Affiliate programs Affiliate programs are marketing arrangements where individuals or businesses, known as affiliates, promote products or services on behalf of another company, known as the merchant or…
Tumblr media
View On WordPress
0 notes
csuitebitches · 1 year
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media
On Being Well Spoken
I recently received a request about posting something regarding being well spoken.
Something you need to realise is that you’re not going to become well-spoken overnight. You need to practice on people. You need to SPEAK.
I used to stutter so badly that I could barely speak a whole sentence.
Flash forward a few years. I pitched my start up in front of a crowd, I joined Model United Nations in high school and college, I’ve been invited to speak on my entrepreneurial experience by some top universities in my country. It’s taken a lot to get here. And I’m still not where I want to be.
1. Apps to track progress and help you get better at public speaking
An app that you can use: “Speeko.”
I used to use this, it is beginner friendly and you can improve your public speaking skills as well.
2. Use topic generators
Go online and look up a topic generator. Generate a random topic, video yourself speaking on that topic. Don’t give yourself time to prepare anything - read the topic and start speaking. Set a time limit - you’ll realise that speaking for even 2 minutes can be quite difficult at times.
Not only does this make you realise that you may have limited language skills, but it will also make you realise exactly where you’re falling behind. Note down things in a journal.
- is grammar the issue?
- Lack of vocabulary?
- Too many filler sounds?
- Knowledge gap?
This is also a great idea if you’re at an intermediate level of learning a language/ polishing a language. Do this everyday and maintain a diary on your improvement.
3. Reading out loud
Select a news article or any article. Read out loud, slowly and steadily. Pronounce every syllable calmly.
A two minute read should take 5 minutes to read out loud. That’s how slow you should go. Not more than 4-5 words per breath.
Your tongue needs to get used to different syllables and sounds. Practice will help.
4. Talk in real life
Talk to anyone and everyone whenever you can.
Ask your barista how their day is going.
Ask your work or university security if they’ve had a good day and if they ate today.
Chat with your taxi driver about their life. I always start with asking them if they are from the city we’re travelling in. Even if you’re from that city, act like a tourist. Where are the best eateries? The conversation eventually goes to personal questions. How many children do they have, and what do they do? What do they like about the city?
You’ll learn the art of small talk only through practice. No book or guide can actually prepare you. You have to practice, practice and practice.
5. Diaphragm breathing
Diaphragm breathing is very important. Look up some YouTube videos for reference. You essentially breathe from your tummy (stomach goes in and out; not chest going up and down). This is a great calming exercise too.
6. Stuttering tongue/ jaw exercise videos
These are great because they really do prep your jaw and tongue well. The videos could include tongue stretches, placing your tongue on your palette correctly, etc. Search on YouTube.
7. Body posture
You really need to work on your posture too. Sit up straight. Back, STRAIGHT. Chin up, shoulders relaxed. Something as simple as posture can change your level of confidence.
8. Pranayama
A yoga exercise for breathing. You can find a guided video on YouTube for sure.
9. Vocabulary
Invest your time in expanding your vocabulary. There’s enough apps and games that can help you with that, if you aren’t fond of reading. A sign of being well spoken is having great vocabulary.
Start by looking up the synonyms of everyday words.
“I’m upset”
- how many different words can you find for upset?
“I had a crazy day today”
- one can easily use “hectic”, “chaotic” “lively” instead
10. Idioms
Idioms, phrases, sayings - look up common idioms in your language of choice. Aim to use at least 3 new idioms on 3 separate occasions in a week while you speak. You need to understand when and where you can use the idioms in your vocabulary.
11. Knowing when to switch
You can’t talk like a 50 year old heiress to a 10 year old child; you need to get down to their level.
If someone is clearly not a native speaker and is struggling to put words together, don’t use difficult words around them.
If you’re meeting with someone high profile, refrain from using slang.
The best speakers know when to switch their level of language.
You can’t use one singular type of speaking with everyone. You need to understand that there is a time and place for everything - and you’ll be able to switch like a pro only when you actually speak and start gaining experience.
5K notes · View notes
icypopz · 2 years
Text
with a physically flexible s/o ♡
Tumblr media
↬ from anon ; 👋 hello. i saw that you write for blue lock (thank u) and i was wondering if i could please request headcanons of meguru, hyoma and rin with a s/o who's physically flexible. it's ok if you don't write this, i hope you have a great day.
↬ notes ; bachira meguru, chigiri hyoma & itoshi rin x gn!reader
↬from ice ; had fun writing this bc ive always wanted to be flexible LOL living out my dreams in fiction
↬ warning(s) ; joking threats, spoilers for chigiri's backstory
please reblog ! it helps a lot :)
Tumblr media
[ bachira meguru ! ]
bachira would be very impressed the first time he sees you showcase your flexibility. actually, scratch that. bachira is impressed every single time you do even the simplest tricks because he can't seem to wrap his head around how a human can be so... stretchy?
he's your #1 fan! every time you're stretching even before you start contorting, bachira will be cheering for you like "go y/n! yeahhhh! you're awesome!" he lowkey likes seeing how you get embarrassed because of his enthusiasm. (he thinks it's adorable.)
definitely wants you to teach him how to do the most extreme stunt ever, but you convince him to start off with something more beginner-friendly like splits. bachira is super focused while you're teaching him, and after a few days of stretching, he finally gets it! he's so proud of himself and he just does it All The Time for no reason until raichi threatens to break his legs.
he also may or may not make some jokes about you putting your flexibility to good use with him but will never go too far. he just likes teasing you and seeing your reaction. tells everyone else in blue lock that his s/o is the most flexible and coolest person on the planet, they've all heard so much about you by now that they swear they already know you.
more content utc !
[ chigiri hyoma ! ]
chigiri, as we all know, is a prince who always manages to keep his cool. so even if you suddenly start performing crazy feats the most this man will react is probably just his eyes widening. don't worry, he's really impressed, he just doesn't show it on his features.
however, he makes up for it by asking you a million questions about your flexibility! nothing invasive, of course, just queries like "when did you start attempting stunts?" "why do you like it?" "how do you even do that?" it shows how invested and interested he is in your flexibility because it's something that makes you happy.
chigiri is also quite concerned about you though. he knows that contorting yourself into all these positions isn't going to be easy on your muscles and tendons, so he reminds you to warm up and cool down every time you start stunting. he just doesn't want you to experience the same pain he did of having his dream almost ripped from him when he tore his ACL. so he might come off as slightly overprotective, but he has good intentions at heart!
he likes stretching with you for sure. it's just a cute way for the two of you to spend more time together before he's rushing to football practice and you're heading to practice your stunts. you'll both look out for each other and wish each other luck during these little sessions, and it always has to end with you planting a soft kiss onto chigiri's cheek for luck. (he says it's for luck, but actually he just likes you kissing him.)
Tumblr media
[ itoshi rin ! ]
rin acts like he couldn't care less about everyone else but you're the exception: you're his entire world and one of the few times itoshi rin has been stunned was when you showed him how flexible you were for the first time. no joke his jaw was on the floor.
he thinks it's an awesome skill, and will kinda gush about it to you at first. he gets shy if you tease him about how many compliments he's showering you with and then gets grumpy. the conversation after that is something along the lines of: "aww, rin, you're so cute!" "no. shut up. i'm never being nice again." "nooo, i was just messing with you!" "too much praise will inflate your ego." "aren't you the biggest egoist here?! hypocrite!!!"
to be honest, he's more impressed by the amount of work you've put in to become this limber. he knows how hard it can be to maintain a specific physique in terms of muscle and flexibility, so he genuinely admires your hard work and effort. rin also likes inviting you to the gym so he can work out/train while you stretch and do your own thing.
rin actually doesn't think about the fact that you're flexible that much. he just thinks it's an added bonus to how amazing you are as a whole already, though he'd never admit that to you for the life of him. (he loves you but he Cannot handle your playfulness.)
✧ thank you for reading ! if you have a request, feel free to send it in 🌠
© icypopz 2022. do not repost or modify in any way.
2K notes · View notes
theambitiouswoman · 1 year
Text
How To Get Started Investing In The Stock Market
Educate yourself: Before investing in the stock market, it's important to educate yourself about the basics of investing, including the different types of investments, the risks involved, and how to build a diversified portfolio. There are many resources available, including books, online courses, and investment blogs.
Determine your investment goals: It's important to have clear investment goals before investing in the stock market. Are you investing for retirement, a down payment on a house, or to generate passive income? Your investment goals will help determine the types of investments that are appropriate for you.
Open a brokerage account: To invest in the stock market, you'll need to open a brokerage account with a reputable brokerage firm. Some popular options include Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, and Charles Schwab. When choosing a brokerage firm, consider factors such as fees, investment options, and customer service.
Build a diversified portfolio: Diversification is key to successful investing. By investing in a mix of stocks, bonds, and other assets, you can reduce your risk and increase your chances of long-term success. Consider investing in a mix of large-cap and small-cap stocks, domestic and international investments, and bonds with varying maturities.
Start investing: Once you have a brokerage account and have determined your investment strategy, it's time to start investing. Consider starting with a small amount of money and gradually increasing your investments over time.
WAYS TO INVEST
There are several ways to invest in the stock market, including:
Individual Stocks: This involves buying shares of individual companies on the stock market. You can buy shares through a broker or an online trading platform.
Mutual Funds: Mutual funds pool money from multiple investors and invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks. This allows you to invest in a variety of companies with a single investment.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): ETFs are similar to mutual funds, but they trade like individual stocks on an exchange. This allows you to buy and sell ETFs throughout the trading day.
Index Funds: Index funds track the performance of a specific index, such as the S&P 500. This provides exposure to a broad range of companies and can be a good option for long-term investors.
TOOLS TO START INVESTING
Online Trading Platforms: Many brokers offer online trading platforms that allow you to buy and sell stocks and funds. These platforms typically provide research tools and stock charts to help you make informed investment decisions.
Robo-Advisors: Robo-advisors are digital platforms that use algorithms to create and manage investment portfolios for you. They can be a good option for beginner investors who want a hands-off approach.
Investment Apps: There are several investment apps available that allow you to buy and sell stocks and funds from your mobile device. These apps are often designed for beginner investors and offer low fees and user-friendly interfaces.
PLATFORMS
A few popular options:
Robinhood: Robinhood is a commission-free trading app that offers stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrency trading. It’s designed for beginner investors and offers a user-friendly interface.
Acorns: Acorns is an investment app that automatically invests your spare change. It rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference in a diversified portfolio of ETFs.
TD Ameritrade: TD Ameritrade is a popular trading platform that offers stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, futures, and forex trading. It offers a variety of trading tools and research resources.
ETRADE: ETRADE is a popular online broker that offers stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, and futures trading. It offers a variety of trading tools and resources, including a mobile app.
Fidelity: Fidelity is a full-service broker that offers stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, and futures trading. It offers a variety of investment tools and research resources, including a mobile app.
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Value Investing: Value investing involves buying stocks that are undervalued by the market and holding them for the long term. This approach requires patience and a thorough analysis of a company’s financial statements and growth potential.
Growth Investing: Growth investing involves buying stocks in companies that are expected to grow faster than the market average. This approach often involves investing in companies that are at the cutting edge of technology or have innovative business models.
Dividend Investing: Dividend investing involves buying stocks in companies that pay a dividend. This can provide a steady stream of income for investors and can be a good option for those looking for more conservative investments.
Passive Investing: Passive investing involves investing in a diversified portfolio of low-cost index funds or ETFs. This approach is designed to match the performance of the overall market and requires minimal effort on the part of the investor.
Real Estate Investing: Real estate investing involves buying and holding real estate assets for the purpose of generating income or appreciation. This can include investing in rental properties, real estate investment trusts (REITs), or crowdfunding platforms.
Options trading: is a type of trading strategy that involves buying and selling options contracts, which are financial instruments that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset, such as stocks, at a specific price within a certain time frame. Options trading can be used to generate income, hedge against risk, or speculate on market movements.
Swing trading is a type of trading strategy that aims to capture short- to medium-term gains in a financial asset, such as stocks, currencies, or commodities. Swing traders typically hold their positions for a few days to several weeks, taking advantage of price swings or "swings" in the market. Swing traders use technical analysis to identify trends and patterns in the market, and they often employ a combination of charting tools and indicators to help them make trading decisions. They look for stocks or other assets that have a clear trend, either up or down, and then try to enter and exit positions at opportune times to capture profits.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS TOOLS
There are many technical analysis resources available for traders to use in their analysis of financial markets. Here are some popular options:
TradingView: TradingView is a web-based charting and technical analysis platform that provides users with real-time data, customizable charts, and a variety of technical indicators and drawing tools.
StockCharts: StockCharts is another web-based platform that provides a wide range of technical analysis tools, including charting capabilities, technical indicators, and scanning tools to help traders identify potential trading opportunities.
Thinkorswim: Thinkorswim is a trading platform provided by TD Ameritrade that offers advanced charting and technical analysis tools, as well as a wide range of other features for traders, including paper trading, news and research, and risk management tools.
MetaTrader 4/5: MetaTrader is a popular trading platform used by many traders around the world. It provides a range of technical analysis tools, including customizable charts, indicators, and automated trading strategies.
Investing.com: Investing.com is a website that provides real-time quotes, charts, news, and analysis for a wide range of financial markets, including stocks, currencies, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
Yahoo Finance: Yahoo Finance is a website that provides real-time stock quotes, news, and analysis, as well as customizable charts and a variety of other tools for traders and investors.
Finviz: is a popular web-based platform for traders and investors that provides a wide range of tools and information to help them analyze financial markets. The platform offers real-time quotes, customizable charts, news and analysis, and a variety of other features.
430 notes · View notes
pudgybun · 4 months
Text
I've been hand sewing my own clothes for a while now just to make things fit better, but now I'm at the point where I'd rather just make my clothes from scratch! I'm working on some pieces rn, but I'm still hand sewing. I'd love to invest in a good (but beginner friendly, and reasonably small) sewing machine! If anyone has any good recommendations I'd love to hear them (: also if u have sewing advice for augmenting too small clothes lmk!!!
61 notes · View notes
inkichan · 6 months
Text
Human Japanese Lite · app review
(⁠。⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧ review
Tumblr media
For those looking to embark on the path of mastering Japanese, Human Japanese Lite offers a solid starting point. This review delves into the pros and cons of the app, highlighting its structured approach, but also addressing its limitations.
Pros:
Structured Learning: Human Japanese Lite impresses with its well-structured approach to teaching the Japanese language. The app divides its content into chapters that alternate between grammar, vocabulary and useful informations. This structured approach ensures a balanced understanding of the language and helps learners progress systematically.
Thorough Explanations: One of the standout features of this app is its thorough explanations of Japanese grammar and vocabulary. Each subject is carefully explained, making it accessible to learners at various levels, from beginners to intermediate students. You'll find detailed insights into the intricacies of the Japanese language.
Comprehensive Basis: Human Japanese Lite provides a comprehensive foundation for learning Japanese. It's an excellent choice for those starting their Japanese language journey, as it covers fundamental concepts thoroughly. The clear explanations help build a strong linguistic base.
Textbook-Like Experience: The app offers a textbook-like learning experience on your mobile device. It's as if you have a Japanese language textbook at your fingertips. The content is well-organized, making it easy to navigate and find specific topics.
Chapter-End Tests: Human Japanese Lite enhances the learning process with tests at the end of each chapter. These tests allow learners to assess their understanding and retention of the material, reinforcing what they've learned. This interactive approach keeps learners engaged and accountable.
Cons:
Limited Free Version: While Human Japanese Lite is an excellent resource, the free version has limitations. If you're already familiar with kana (Hiragana and Katakana), you might find the free content less useful.
Expensive Pro Version: The pro version of the app comes at a relatively high cost, which can be a deterrent for some learners. The price might not be budget-friendly for those looking for an economical language learning solution.
Final Thoughts ★★★★☆
Human Japanese Lite is a valuable tool for anyone interested in learning Japanese. Its structured approach, thorough explanations, and chapter-end tests make it a fantastic resource. However, the limited free version, especially for those already familiar with kana, and the high cost of the pro version are downsides. If you're willing to invest in your Japanese language education, Human Japanese Lite can be a great choice.
Let me know what do you think about the app if you did try it and let's share experiences and resources!
またね~@inkichan
꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴﹕꒰ ᐢ。- ༝ -。ᐢ ꒱﹕╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱
52 notes · View notes
hmslusitania · 16 days
Note
Hello! Long time lurker (I mean follower), I have been inspired by your recent bat family fics to get learn more about that universe but don't know where to start! I was wondering if you had a place to start?
Hello! Thank you for asking! I definitely have an answer, but I don’t know if it’s a universal answer so we’ll see!
Batfam Et Al are part of what I would call a “supermedia” (there’s probably a proper media term for it but I don’t know it) by which I mean: it exists in basically any form of media you could want, be it the original comics, animated series, live action series, live action movies, animated movies, books, video games, and — I presume — antique radio dramas. Getting involved in that is super daunting and understandably so.
The best advice I can offer for breaking in is to figure out what type of media works best for you, and then start there. (Other people reading this who might be diehards, I am about to name check three pieces of media that tend to get heavily side-eyed by comics purists but which I think are all very beginner-friendly, so look away)
For me, the form of media that tends to give me the most effective brain worms is video games. Although I had already started my DC entry somewhat against my will, the thing that actually fully dragged me into caring intensely about the Batfam was Gotham Knights, which lets you spend intense amounts of time with Gotham as a nightmare city, Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake.
If you’re not so much into video games, the first thing in the non-Arrowverse/non-Nolanverse/non-Snyderverse DC world I spent time with was the animated Young Justice series. It does not have a focus on the Batfam in particular, but they do all make appearances at one point or another. It also has the benefit of introducing you to bunches of other characters within the DC universe, and even if some of those characterisations differ largely from their standard characterisation in other media (Kon), it does give you a good faces-to-names-to-soundbytes introduction to quite a broad yearbook of folks.
If your interest in particular is the Batfam, honestly the easiest way to get a toehold on that group is Wayne Family Adventures on webtoon. It is free to read and it’s fun and even though it does tend to actually resolve these conflicts and tensions unlike the prime universe comics, it does a decent job of naming what a lot of the interpersonal conflicts and tensions between the characters are so you can get a sense.
At which point we reach step two of “how to get involved with a supermedia” which is to identify a particular character (or two, or three) you can become unwell about, and then dig in to see what media is available for them. And as you consume said media, their adjacent characters will also clarify and you may find yourself becoming invested in them, at which point you may dig in and find more about them, and rinse and repeat.
The other thing I find particularly helpful to think about as I continue on my expedition into the jungles here (extended DC canon iterations) is that Batman (and Superman, and Wonder Woman) has existed as a character for nearly 100 years. By this point, they are all so entrenched in the cultural landscape that they are basically American folklore. And as with folklore, everyone and their mother has their own localised version of it, and they’re all correct.
15 notes · View notes
shimmerloid-ai · 2 months
Text
Preliminary Considerations - Which Vocal Synthesizer Software is Right for You? - Free Softwares
Although this blog puts a major emphasis on the VOCALOID 4 editor, it, or VOCALOID in general, is not the only vocal synthesizer that exists. There are tons of other software that have the same function and a variety of different voicebanks, with some being cheaper and of higher quality than VOCALOID, or even free! That’s right, there are quite a few free vocal synthesizers out there (however the lack of frills may come at the expense of some missing features or difficulty of usage), which I recommend trying out before pouring your hard-earned savings on a program that you may not even use. What if you learn that you do not enjoy tuning or do not have the time to use the software? It would be a huge waste of money that could be invested in other stuff, such as basic necessities (GOOD FOOD) or other leisurely items, like video games, clothing from your favourite bands, art supplies, or merchandise. In addition, there has been a rise of a lot of smaller companies coming out with vocal synthesizers with incredible UIs that not only look appealing but are easy to navigate, and voicebanks that sound far too human and advanced than hATsUnE mIKU (don’t worry, I love Miku with all my heart, I am just trying to prove a point here). There are also some really sick features that you may not find in the franchises with bigger names.
In this post, I will be describing the features of different free vocal synthesizers and their advantages and disadvantages so you can find the one that meets your vocalo-p needs. Please note, I do not own all of these synthesizers, some of these are from reviews on Reddit and VocaVerse Network. In addition, some cons like lag could just be a me problem and better computers may not experience such issues. Also , I will not be covering every single singing synthesizer in existence, just the well known ones and those with proper UIs because there are so many. I am omitting NEUTRINO because it does not have a UI despite having such high-quality vocals, along with ALTER/EGO, as it does not have a piano roll.
UTAU
Tumblr media
(Song: Meltdown by iroha(sasaki); UST: Tanjiro Taidana)
UTAU was designed to be the free sister software to VOCALOID. Not only can you use it without spending a cent, but it allows you to make your own voicebank as well! There are tons of popular voicebanks out there, including the Vipperloids, Gahata Meiji, Kohaku Merry, Matsudappoiyo, Denatsu Sora, Shuu Mawaine, and my personal favourite, SUZU.
Pros: 
Almost every single voicebank is free to download
Different types of voicebanks (CV, VCV, CCVC; Monopitch vs. Multipitch; Power, Weak, Soft, Whisper, Growl, Screamo; tons of languages)
Can make your own voicebank right in the software
Pitch bending on the piano roll instead of a parameter box!
Variety of job plugins to make usage easier
Credited for its growl and vibrato handling
Cons:
EXTREMELY dated, UTAU has not been updated since 2013
Not friendly for beginners, especially due to its old UI
Need to change your system's locale, and installing voicebanks can be frustrating
Most voicebanks (namely Japanese) can only read Hiragana phonemes and not Romaji ones; but job plug-ins can fix this issue
youtube
Open Utau
Tumblr media
(Song: The Lost One's Weeping by neru; UST: Tanjiro Taidana)
If UTAU is the sister software to VOCALOID, then Open Utau is the younger sibling to normal UTAU. Open Utau is an open-sourced vocal synthesizer on GitHub with every feature in the original software while being easier to use.
Pros:
Dark mode with a sleek, easy-to-navigate UI!
Pitchbend with a click of a button; piano roll tuning is still consistent
Splice tool; useful for note-bending
No need to switch locale to Japanese
Easier to get the hang of
Frequent updates
Can use VSQXs and svps. without needing to convert them into USTs
Cons:
No Defoko…
Choppier and buggier than classic UTAU
Slow with rendering wav. files and launching the software
Phonemizers are tricky to work with, you don’t always get the same output as the same phonemizers in normal UTAU
External resamplers can cause overheating and slow down the software
Tuning is more dependent on job plugins than the original UTAU
Many users claim that otoing is easier in classic UTAU
youtube
SynthesizerV Studio Editor R1
Tumblr media
(Song: Tengaku by Yuuyu; VSQx by Adam Edmond)
This preliminary edition of SynthesizerV was a major breakthrough for the vocal synth community when it was first released. With its realistic-sounding voicebanks and minimalistic aesthetic, this software has changed the game by a landslide for synth users. Although it's quite limited, R1 was an amazing start for what will become a godly program in the future. Pros:
Pitch bending on the piano roll and in the parameter box (very smooth, I experienced no lag when using it nor did I have to make pitch points or pause while editing the parameters)!
Voicebanks sound quite human
MIND BLOWING GLOTTAL EFFECTS (nine different growls, two screams, and a vocal fry that do not sound robotic!)!
Really simple UI, easy to pick up, great for beginners!
Cons:
Outdated; is no longer being updated by Dreamtonics
Needs a recording license for commercial use (though I highly doubt it is still being upheld)
Only four voicebanks are available; Eleanor Forte, Yamine Renri, GENBU, and AiKO - who is paid and an outdated version of her R2 voicebank (R2 versions of the same voicebanks sound much cleaner and realistic)
A little too minimalistic; aside from the addition of glottal effects and the typical pitch deviation, loudness, tension, breathiness, voicing, gender, and vibrato parameters, there is not all that much you can do in this edition of the editor
youtube
SynthesizerV Studio Basic
Tumblr media
(Song: Antibeat by Deco* 27; UST: Mayu Sama Desu)
Also known as SynthV R2, this is the free edition of the software that is currently being updated, despite having fewer features than its complete, paid version. 
Pros:
Ready to play with as soon as it is installed
Twenty-five free voicebanks; sixteen Japanese, seven English, and two Chinese; all with unique sounds
AI voicebanks!
Instant mode; allows you to automatically tune the pitch of an entire track with the press of a button, although it may make the voice sound too pitchy
Waveform that allows you to see the volume and pronunciation of certain notes
Can use paid voicebanks in the free editor!
Just as easy to figure out as SynthV R1!
Cons:
Can only have a maximum of three vocal tracks in a single svp. file
Pitch bending is a lot more finicky compared to SynthV R1
Lite voicebanks sound mono-pitch
Lacks a ton of features that are available in SynthesizerV Pro; scripts, auto-pitch tuning, rap vocals, cross-lingual synthesis, vocal modes, alternate phoneme choices, and many other features are not included in the basic edition (even paid voicebanks can not use cross-lingual synthesis, vocal modes, etc)
The glottal effects parameter that was in SynthV R1 is sadly not included in both the Basic and Pro editions of the current program
youtube
VoiSona
Tumblr media
(Song: iNSaNiTY by Circus-P; VSQX: Cirty_09)
Previously named “CeVIO Pro”, VoiSona is a vocal synth that uses AI technology to create beautiful vocals with characters that originated from a variety of other vocal synthesizers (such as VOCALOID!) and are created with the recordings of talented singers and voice actors. CeVIO project has also launched a trial speech vocal synthesizer called “VoiSona Talk” for their first anniversary.
Pros:
Users get Chis-A’s full voicebank upon downloading the synthesizer!
The program itself is entirely free to download
AI technology makes tuning easier
Piano roll pitch-bending
Has some features that are missing in its sister software, CeVIO AI
The “husky” parameter is great for making whispers
Can be used as a VST plugin in most DAWs or a standalone editor
Cons:
All other voicebanks are paid; either you purchase the entire voicebank once, or get a subscription to use all of them
HEAVY LAG; the program is quite slow with processing commands
Free-hand pitch-bending is not as easy to perform compared to UTAU or SynthesizerV; can be quite sensitve and the AI may not always yield the desired result
youtube
DeepVocal
Tumblr media
(Song: New Darling by MARETU; UST: Mimisan15)
The successor to the Sharpkey Galaxy software, this vocal synthesizer was designed for Chinese voicebanks. Its UI is a combination of VOCALOID4 and UTAU, giving it a sense of comfort and familiarity. Speaking of which, you can create your own voicebank in DeepVocal as you can in UTAU and OpenUtau, and there are some pre-made voicebanks of popular UTAUs, including Namine Ritsu, Inari Akane, and Kuro Bousuka. In addition, there is also a Kiana voicebank commissioned by MiHOYO and based on the protagonist of Gun Girls Z and Honkai Impact 3rd!
Pros:
Ready to use as soon as its out of the box
Great engine for Chinese voicebanks
Can create your own voicebank
Runs smoothly
Has all of the necessary parameters needed to create songs and covers
Cons:
Voicebanks can be kind of shaky, choppy, and more sensitive to pitch changes compared to other engines like UTAU and VOCALOID
Pitch bending can be quite clunky
Voicebanks may have difficulty reading certain phenomes from converted USTs; you may need to edit them if you don’t want lyrics being read as “a” or “ra”
youtube
These were all of the major free softwares I found, but if I come across another vocal synthesizer in the future, even if it is not talked about in the vocal synth community much, I may make a post about it.
I know there are a ton of cons I found for much of the vocal synths on this list and they sound like nitpicks on my part, but as I stated at the start of this post, some of these issues could be a Shimmer Thing™ and they may not arise for you when using these softwares. I won't be surprised if you read through this post and are now feeling thrown off by the various features and pros and cons of these programs, so here's my two cents on what I think beginners should go for:
If you like realistic voicebanks and want a very simple software to start with, get either SynthesizerV Editot (R1) or SynthesizerV Studio Basic (R2). If you would like to experience them (spicy) glottal effects and very kind pitchbending (like it does not make you want to bash your head against the wall because Renri won't cooperate) along with unlimited vocal tracks, then try out R1, and if you want more features, voicebanks, and continous updates, go for R2. Or even better, try out both and decide which one suits your interests better.
If you have a preference for robotic voicebanks, would like a variety of vocals to play with, and find plug-ins interesting, then UTAU may be for you, especially if you want VOCALOID but you can not afford it at the moment. Although I shitted more on Open Utau than I did on regular UTAU, I recommend the former over the latter as it is still being updated and the UI is signifcantly easier to navigate, along with its phenomenal pitchbending function.
Finally, please take my words with a grain of salt. If you like the voicebanks or are interested in a specific software, or discover one that is even better than any of the listed vocal synthesizers, by all means, go for it! This is just a surface guide by an idiot who spends most of their time trying to make Fukase not sound like a computer dying, and I have not used any of these softwares as much as I have messed with VOCALOID. Plus, my computer is an absolute bitch, so you guys will probably have much better luck than me.
I hope this guide was of use and provided a better insight on the various engines out there. My next post will compare different paid vocal synthesizers, including CeVIO AI, Piapro Studio, and of course, the various VOCALOID softwares. Don't worry, I'll get to the actual tutorial bit very soon.
Also, feel free to ask any questions about vocal synthesizers, or... literally anything! I'm practically starved for asks-
Thanks for reading!
7 notes · View notes