Being able to backup Octatrack banks is good - odd you can't restore to a different bank though. I also see they added the fast audition keystrokes I suggested yonks ago. Reckon I wasn't the only one though, ditto for the long file name views. All good stuff. Haven't played any more with looper, not necessary - making good use of all that extra flex memory instead. Finally I have a way to work I like. And songs are taking shape.

A number of Cirklon annoyances starting to build, some have been on my tits for about 2 years now!

Excellent day, agreed to do an article I'm rather looking forward to researching, a couple of reviews that look like fun too. Then got a call that my Vietnamese tracks are liked and will be used in the documentary, so I uploaded the wavs. Got contracts for my car ad tracks through so will sign and return.

All good! And a bloody hot day. More offers of Proteus 2000 but I should wait and see what the first guy comes back with as the price including postage. If he's too greedy I'll go with one of the others as one guy offered to do it inclusive. And I'm not exactly rich right now!

Hmmm so the good news is I can reserve no memory set it to be dynamically allocated and get a shed load of new flex memory. That'll do me! Still couldn't get overdub to work with ext sync. Wish I had become a beta tester but that would compromise my ability to review it at some point. Hey ho.

Worked on some tunes, mostly today I sunned myself. A bit more novel written too, sent off some extra Blade screendumps, what else? Proteus making strange noises, I really am going to have to take action. Bugger!

Nice work Elektron

Octatrack's latest OS update addresses most of the things I've asked them for, from small stuff (long file name handling) to the bigger design issues (you can now backup and restore at bank level rather than project. OK, still need a workaround as I work at individual pattern level but I can find a workaround at least, yay!).

The looper is still a bit odd - doesn't seem to overdub when in Ext sync mode (have asked to confirm if a bug) and still only offers 1 octave of transposition but not important right now. The Repeater is gonna remain my looper I think, just so easy and no limitations. I think I found a need for a "clear looper on new pattern/bank" too as otherwise any loops you've made in a session kick in on a new pattern/song, which is bad news!

Anyway, will let the dust settle. Read the PDF all the way through and a few more things to try today. They didn't do the one-handed volume thing (func double click) I asked for nor does muting a track work cleanly, still takes the effects (I think, never saw it mentioned anyway). And no word of any improvement to the chorus, but all these things I can live with. The new trig mode excellent, was looking for something like that the other night.

Sunny again today so how much work I gonna get done??!! :)

Last evening worked on two tunes and had no decent ideas for either. Gave up in the end and returned to the novel which has reached a fairly critical point and I'm struggling to think of anything else.
Not been seeking work today, went out in the garden in the sun after doing some cycling with Les. Now Pat's gone into work and I'm telling myself it's too early to pour a beer. The evening will either be more pottering with songs or more writing. Or just hanging out. Should look for reviewy things to do at least, maybe chase Doepfer for their upgraded Dark Time, or just review the original model and trash it! Nah, gotta do the good thing dude even if it's more effort!

I love the sunshine!

I took this pic last night.

Last night: Joolz - not bad. OK, didn't expect to enjoy it as I really ain't into boogie woogie. However he played some Squeeze stuff that I knew and apart from the excessive saxophones (5 is 5 too many!) and wonky trombones I thought it splendid, if overloud.

What today? A little more novel if poss and will try to assemble at least one other Octatrack piece. Almost out of flex memory so it's all static stuff now and making more creative use of the flex in there already. Note to self: don't load in loads of loops thinking you'll use them. Instead, load them as you go, as you need them. Always wise after the fact me.

Prodigy is great, Tony did a great job as usual. Not only does it track beautifully, the keyboard works great too and all the little glitches like the wonky LFO are gone.
The theremin mod wasn't quite as I expected. The zero beat part appears so minimal now I can barely find it - advised this is normal and that hanging the audio lead over the volume aerial is the way. Not sure I'd have had it done had I known but today I'll have another go at calibration and see if it's more playable. It feels like starting again...

Novel: I think I've resolved a couple of problems and can see a way forward that works. Am starting to make notes in chapters 20-onwards as places to head towards. I think it's just a matter of donkey work now, have an elegant way of doing the killing too, as long as it pans out.
12 tracks sent to Absolute for checking. I really must get more work rather than amusing myself with stuff that doesn't pay!

More noodles with that sir?

Spent the morning finishing off the studio tidy. Had to abandon idea of Proteus replacement as my World module only has 2 ROM slots. Let's hope the Prote doesn't let me down. May need visit to Tony but will I get chance before Glade? Ah well, could be no chance to play anyway, I know how these things usually pan out.

Have recorded another drum skeleton. Starting to think that an excellent way of using Octatrack - for long, arranged drum parts with a few extras such as fills, whooshes and crashes. Can the improvise sequencer stuff over the top, add bass parts etc. Sounding good. Done one at 120BPM based on a library piece I rather liked.

Now, smokes and making it into something!!!!

Pat back tomorrow with my fixed Prodigy and upgraded theremin. Happiness is!

Shroomy day

Ugh, gag reflex. No honey, oops!
Today was spent working on a song with three long static tracks I could choose from plus live sequencing. Using some of the new Cirklon knob modes plus the scene mute hold function, some nice morphs and transitions.

http://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/sometimes

a week to myself!

Pat heading north for the week leaving me home alone.
Plans include testing latest Cirklon OS (this afternoon) with the mute holds etc. in it.
Later I'll tackle that middle room, could take all evening but worth doing. After that plenty of time to get hammered and work on my novel, work on tunes for Glade and Shamania, maybe do another house tune or two for Absolute (must ask how many they want), listen through the latest Ideation and Headshock material and see what's good and what needs doing.
Curry, pizza, probably not much fresh air. :)
With luck the Prodigy ready so Pat can pick up and bring back with her on Friday along with bass-modded theremin. Promises to be a good week.

A good couple of days except for losing a really cool Octatrack pattern. I realised it was good then panicked which, in turn, caused its destruction! Oh woe. In trying to quickly save the part I managed to reload the part, losing all the samples and changes to each track I'd made. How bloody annoying.

Not sure I totally recreated it either. I lost a groovy/spooky indian chick voice with a nice transposition thing going on but did my best to capture its essence again. Keeping it simple now working for me - much simpler than I'm used to which is probably better musically! So no longer considering Octatrack as an audio looper or effects unit, nor am I sendings its cue out to external effects or doing any complicated stuff at all except trigger loops and samples. Then doing simple scenes that just fade from one loop mix to another, with or without effects changes etc. but usually with. Not even triggering from Cirklon anymore except for long ambient static patches and the longer drum loops, again static, that contain breaks and fills already built-in ready to add live sequences to.

I really must remind myself how you clear a sample slot. The shift and clear has to be in the right screen and so far I've succeeded in clearing the trigs and the pattern but not the bloody slot! Ran out of flex memory too and had to save the project as new then purge unused, gave me a bit back.  Deep breath Paul!

Workwise, did one complete house track today (very jolly and "Holiday Program") and started another quite dynamic one. May give myself the day off tomorrow - then again planning to give myself next week off while Pat and Dawn are away! Gosh, work Fridays??!!!! Half day perhaps...

Heading north tomorrow with theremin and Prodigy. With luck I might get them brought back next week by Pat and Dawn as they're up there. Could work out well.

Spent today doing more house tracks and changing all my Vermona bass to Proteus. Found some surprisingly useable basses which, with Cirklon's track values to personalise them, will do nicely for my minimal rig. Must get some new drum loops but starting to fix a few of the crappier songs I have lying around and trying to love those I can't fix. New Ck OS with some useful stuff, especially in terms of preventing accidental MIDI thru to selected track.

I think my novel's next step is starting to become clear. Not sure it's the direction I was expecting though.

lol, didn't realise folks read this sometimes, doh! Too late to make it interesting.

Today I thought about my little rig for Glade (Cirklon, Octatrack, Radias, Proteus 2000, keyboard) and started doing little jams. Keeping the Octatrack to real simple stuff so far, essentially lots of loop variations, fx stuff but nowt complex to cock up.
http://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/everlast2

OK, my Vietnamese track went down well with the client, all good. They'd like another version too with a more military, dark feel - so that's tomorrow's work. :)
Agreed to do Glade, did I say that already? No idea what form it will take but improvised and messy with ambience rather than beats I think. Will think about it more sometime but not today.

Off to see Tony to get the Prody sorted. The click doesn't happen when you bypass the keyboard. Wondering whether to take the Monowave too and have its envelope sorted. Reminds me, let's book synth-diy!

Very interesting day. Prodigy arrived, a few faults so booked in with Tony. Sounds lovely. Also got offered a chance to play at Glade, might do it! Heck, why not! Had a call from Synctracks wanting some vietnamese music for a documentary, which I have started. So a good day all in all.