Micmacs

Great film, well chuffed to find the music so easily online too

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/4nvh

Funny day, sent in app review but main review needs another look this w/e, circumstances out of my control. Pat asleep most of day due to working nights. Somehow keep thinking it's Friday but it's Thurday. Fasted so that shoulda been a clue.

Got a brilliant email from a composer of a well-known US TV series. I was asking him about his beautiful production and specifically the reverbs he uses. Musicians really are the best people! I shall apply what I learnt next time I do something!

Hey, it's sunny today. Whoop.

Wrote an app review today or most of it. Didn't seem to get a whole lot else done except bits and pieces of ephemera.

Life seems to be hurtling by with little input from me.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
But then I stopped
It wasn't allowed

I wandered lonely as a bat
I stopped again
So that was that.

Old Stuff

Well, CDs from the 90s. I have not listened to any of them for a long time, wouldn't have today if not copying for someone. Jesus, every track is like Russian Roulette. I don't know if I'll fire a harmless blank or blow my own head off! I mean, I listened through a very painful workstation guitar solo and some out of time organ playing and wondered what the fuck I was thinking in those days. Working by yourself is all very well but I really needed someone to tell me when I was playing like a total twat. Nobody did! Thank heavens for later collaborations.

It makes me think.
If I knew so little then, how can I be sure I know anything now?

Evening didn't achieve much in review terms, confirmed a few things and started going through text looking for a nice flow. Kinda lazy, lager evening though. Listened to fab new track from Paul, only goes wrong towards the end but he knew that already.

Eaten By Pigs, must re-release that track. Waves stuff all working at last, no idea why the problems but related to them sending me two licenses I think. Fingers crossed we're sorted.

Childhood's End

I love that book.

This track is called Karellen.

http://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/karellen

My afternoon's work, using gear I'm currently reviewing and old faves too. Now, back to work!

Late night last night, grabbed a load of Phil's Repeater loops thinking I could do good stuff with them. Will certainly load a few into the Octatrack but there's a hell of a lot of delay on most, which makes it kinda hard. Good old chat into the early hours, think I crawled into my pit at around half one.

Had more novel feedback, not good news I'm afraid. If I'm gonna expect people to read it, it can't be based on plot alone. Nobody is gonna get to the end of a novel if they dislike the main character, which is something I really should've considered. Putting in a few clues of redemption after 60,000 words is clearly not enough. I'm trying to think how I can turn it around without a rewrite. Returning to an idea I've been nursing about adding a Foreword, suggesting a few of the things that are obviously way too subtle in the text, giving more explicit clues that the character telling the tale doesn't always tell the truth, suggesting the reader read between the lines, oh I dunno. It won't make it more engaging. Maybe I should just write the second one and make it the first in the series! Maybe I should give it up as a bad job. A lesson anyway in the old head/heart ratio. If you go entirely for the head maybe the only folks who'll read are nerds. Will hold off sending any more to agents for a while.

Plodded on with review today, mainly throwing text around, trying to work out if I'm saying everything I want to with no holes. I have this feeling a new upgrade will come next week and throw a lot of what I'm planning to say in the bin. In a sense I hope so. Anyway, with a week to go I'm happy I'm on course. Can look at that little app review too if I remember.

Last night did a fair bit of jamming on the Trout. Amazingly I can play it, not well but I'm developing some kind of technique, even for staccato notes. It already puts my theremin playing to shame, but then what doesn't?

LOL, funny how my blog entries are always the longest when I have the least to say! Overtly anyway. As you were.

Doesn't look like I'll get much work done today. Visitors in afternoon and evening, welcome visitors I hasten to add, but I have a few hours now to do some more review work, mostly typing up notes and putting them into some kind of coherent order.

I uploaded this to Soundcloud, just for shits and giggles, a track Tim and I did recently with a lot of Octatrack on it.

http://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/eternity-program

I thought I'd over-herbed last night's spag bol but it turned out to be OK, phew! Serves me right for looking at the ingredients online but taking no account of the amounts. Depeche Mode had it right!

Missing my Prodigy already. Hoping Tony can replicate the LFO waveform I wanted. Turns out he thinks he knows how to do it, which reminds me how darn clever he is!

Didn't get much done today, hung around not starting owt all afternoon, bought the special offer Waves L1 but totally failed to get the licensing to work. Still unclear whether I've actually bought it or just borrowed it for 12 months. Sorta wish I'd not bothered now, reply from tech support ignored my email and just asked the standard questions which were irrelevant in this case. Sinking feeling. Don't like the software thing you have to install that gets it working, even less so cos it doesn't!

Interesting that so many of the things I wanted for Cirklon and felt important are starting to be requested. Coulda been ahead of the game I spose but I think a good push after this build cycle will get it going again.

Good plodding progress today. Have tried almost everything, made loads of notes, beginning to arrive at conclusions. Some better stuff at least.

Received the CD from Vic, haven't listened yet but I note I'm quoted as an "also" on the rear. Amazing really but reserving judgement until I hear.

Prodigy went to Tony for further mods. I still have to analyse the LFO waveform I want him to make for me. Got too busy today.

Fasting tomorrow, made a nice bolognese for breaking my fast. Remembered the mince swells up this time so it's a better mix. Paul has his Mini back. Had a bit of pining for mine but I'm actually happier with the Prodigy than I ever was with it, especially now it's being reshaped.

Tiddly pom, looks like I have nowt to say today. LOL just remembered I delivered 7 new KBB tracks, sorta forgotten cos they were done already, just uploaded. Still haven't quite got that lush, produced sound I'd like. Thinking that maybe a really good reverb is gonna prove essential....

Fixed something!

Yes, I fixed the cooker. Took it out, replaced the grill, got it back again with only a few screws missing. It works!
Concentrated on the review I'd touched least, lots of work to do and deadline 1st week December, which should be do-able. At least I've tried most things and am starting to get a good feel, have written copious notes so will work next few days going over and confirming before starting to type.

Now Pat's watching some program about a horse being castrated. So I'm fleeing - time for bed!

Got first rejection letter, actually a good one which was strange. It's basically all praise but they suggest I publish myself online - well cheers! Still, unusual in the sense they replied and only had positives, just confusing. I guess they need to gush, and I suspect I need male readers of a certain age for that. Hmmm, actually exactly the age that don't gush about owt. I may have spotted a flaw in my master plan here...

Nighty night!

Worked a bit

In theory was day off due to cruise, no not mine! Afternoon spent time with trouty and started writing up notes, asking questions. Later worked with other review kit, lots of crashes but making progress by looking at hardware not software. Some good answers back from previous questions, wrote a groovy sequence on it, tried out all parts not yet tried.

Chilling now as feel more on top of things. Some beer may have helped.

Jimmy Carr has a false and annoying laugh. A scary ventriloquist doll of a face. Watched some program about Hitler and ended up ordering a load of Wagner! Bonkers, not totally sure why, may have been the beer and shortbread. Heh. Tony Fecking Blair, the man everyone talks to about peace in the Middle East. I think I'm drowning in irony!! Had to flip channels.

Random memories: staying at Rich's, must've been sleeping downstairs, waking in the night for a drink of water, breaking the kitchen tap meaning it gushed all over the place, having to wake Rich and fix it in the early hours, drunk and stoned, felt guilty but Rich laughed.

Curry night

Excellent curry with friends and family, what else can I say? A great day, saw Mick, John and Simon for tea and cake then Lisa, Dawn, Danny and Carl for curry. Life is good and they do everything they can at the Sangham Balti. This is a dull blog entry but I'm gushingly happy with it. I'll go away now. :)

Headshock session

What a cracking day - saw John for tea and cake in the park, then walking by the river we saw a seal.

This afternoon it was a Headshock recording session, think we got some real good stuff done. Have made up a CD of all the recent material and I'm, well, hopeful...

Discovered something extra for review I'd almost finished. So glad and it'll be better for it. Yay!!

Dunno if anyone coming tonight, curry to book for tomorrow, just need to know how many for...

Fasting today which maps well to sitting and working with a piece of review gear, going over everything I can find, reading the manual. Realised I'd missed something from an earlier review of similar gear but probably too late to include. I hate it when that happens! Edit: Phew wasn't too late!

Today I bought a new iPad app I'll probably not use much. Does look fab though: Samplr. Reminds me of the Op1 a little. Very easy to use but good so far. Maybe I will use it!

Still lots of chatter about new Elektron analogue synth. Arturia, Elektron, who's next? And why are Korg lagging behind now having started so well? Hope I'll get my hands on it for review.

Started to work on new review even thought not written up old completely. Wanted the new thing to bed in over time so the sooner I put on all software, look at it, try things, think about it, the better.

Very happy with the opening thing I wrote tonight. It'd been a bit empty and characterless until then.

Have planned out my new Prodigy mods, Paul going up to get his Mini so he will take it for me, save the drive. I will go up whenever ready, may be able to get his SH-1 if Tony has done it. I mentioned the FM mod.

My new mods, in case anyone's interested in this shit:

LFO Destination 3-way switch above the mod wheel. Left means VCO1, Middle both, Right means VCO2.

I've been trying to analyse the weird waveform I sometimes get from the LFO when the switch is misbehaving and reckon it's something very like a triangle but with very inwardly curving exponential shape, like a very thin unstable blip. An LFO that does that please. Will record example.

LFO speed switch - I've seen some Prodigies with a switch to give the LFO a much faster speed. Not essential but would be nice.

Momentary switch to defeat keyboard triggering of envelopes. Just something like the button on the Digisound EG (not in function), When you release it the envelopes are triggered normally but when held down they just drift away in the release phase. Would really like much longer releases. I know, I know.

Green LED instead of red.

That's enough. Combined with previous mods (anyone interested? I'll note down if so) these will make the Prodigy my perfect solo synth, searched for for many years.

Magic shortbread kicking in, back to writing stuff... :)

Good progress, took break to post this, Tim supplied incredible haunting picture

http://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/something-comes

Mmmm a wet Monday, let's see, what's up? Saw Agitation Free in Manchester on Friday night, very enjoyable even if they didn't play an encore. Michael seemed to indicate they weren't allowed but seemed a shame to me. Drank too much, missed the train I'd intended and ended up on the last one to Preston so poor Pat had to come fetch me. Felt rough Sat morning, that last Monkey's Shoulder hitting me hard...

Worked on stuff over weekend, reviews coming along nicely but itching to get to do some of my own stuff. Read the new Culture novel (Hydrogen Sonata), which was OK, a bit routine perhaps. Feels like he's very comfortable with the limits he's set and doesn't want to be too adventurous. A good read though but has made me keen to go back over classic Culture novels again.

I plotted out the second novel in my own current series, switching back to more character-focused rather than plot-driven stuff as I think my plot will hold for the full three novels anyway. Must do more agent letters even if it all feels a bit futile.

I like the video for Elektron's new synth/sequencer. If it's the right price it could be very exciting. Aware that the Perfourmer is a bit large for any international stuff I might do so a small four voice analogue could be really useful. I wonder if they'll do something that's 80% brilliant 10% wacky and 10% downright hair-pullingly frustrating? All part of the fun!

Right, domestics day. Taking Les to hospital, then shopping, back to writing in the evening. Waiting for feedback on updated KBB tracks, fingers crossed. May also need to look at that Izotope Ozone mastering thing I installed but didn't immediately like... have 10 days to try it out.

Some guy called Bolok won the big US popularity contest. Still don't know why he didn't just wipe out his opponent with a drone strike. I think he won cos he's really starting to look like he hates his job. Folks can associate with that. I don't think the other guy lost purely cos he's a rabid businessman and nutter.

New reviews to start today, fortunately have used the kit already and have a feel for it. Should not be too hard.

Ah, that was Tuesday? Mum got bad cold, wanted me to take Ally for two days then changed her mind. Said I'd happily take her. Janet in dog house for taking cold round. Gotta all be careful from now.

Had smoke and drink and improved last review. I'd been about to send it in and made a few final changes for the better, I hope. Will have morning sanity check but I think it's a good one. Never want to get where it ain't fun and I'm churning 'em out.

Plotted out the next two novels in the series. Had a good idea about the third one, at least I hope so. The second one is what it was always going to be but the third will work really well, given it's actually an alternative first. It's written in the third person this time, of course.

Good Monday

We managed to get the old printer going with CD printing, so a good morning. Afternoon did a few bits and pieces, sent off Vic's CDs and the Clouseau one for the guy in Germany. Not as good as I remembered it, maybe not a good idea to hear some of these old things.

Amusingly, copying "42" a cassette I did back when I still had the home organ. I can hear Peter's drum machine that I borrowed, that Ibanez phaser, the great british spring, Elka stringsynth, very unsubtle, Yamaha CS10. My bass pedal playing is so bad it's almost, but sadly not quite, ironic. The organ had a string synth too. It sounded terrible but I seemed not to have noticed.

The Headshock stuff we recorded on the 3rd. I did very little except boost the levels and trim a few peaks, even kept in the distortion although de-crackled in a couple of places where it was too annoying. Anyway, what was I saying, I think it sounds really good stuff. The Octatrack fiddling I was doing combined with Tim's Microsampler, Elka, SH1, Prodigy. Oops, just heard some more bad cheese on the tape that's currently being copied. What was I saying, oh shit I really didn't care about bum notes in those days either. Thank Heavens for Logic, LOL. Jeez that sounds dreadful, wonder if I should lose the tape? Heheh...portamento lead solos. Yowch, gotta get soloing out of your system early. Or learn to play. Hehe, took the path of least resistance...

Good day

Blimey, some guy wants to release some of my stuff from 1980-84 on LP. I've been digging but it seems he has cassettes. Only found one anyway (42) so will send him that. Would like to listen first though, think they're all a bit shite.

Tim and I recorded some stuff this afternoon. Two tracks were good, maybe very good. Three other tracks that weren't as good but I'm happy, had fun. Like the sound of those drum machines but MUST learn how to stop the feckers alternating between the two halves or pattern and fill.

Pat made lovely tea, so it's telly and early night. Life, I love you!
Yes, we had a smoke this afternoon. You can tell, can't you? :)

Small steps

Well, after a painful birth all is peachy with that one track. Hopefully will get more to do soon and the chance to do a few before holes are picked in them and I lose all joy! Spent yesterday waiting for a workman who never came. It gave me chance to sit and write my latest review but reading back half of it is woffly philosophy rather than good, readable text. Still better than FM though! Actually bought that mag for the first time in many years but there are slim pickings. I wanted to know about the Microkorg XL as I thought there were meant to be mellotron samples in it - but no mention of them in the "review". So I'm none the wiser. It looks nice but it's all style and little substance, which is weird cos I'm sure I read a review a year or so back in WH Smiths and thought they were getting a lot better. Ah well, way of the world I guess.

This afternoon think I'll take time off and have Tim round to make noises. Workman allegedly coming but Pat can deal with him. Don't like having loft open when workmen around and we'll have to keep the smoke down too. So won't be the usual relaxed atmos.

Was very pleasantly surprised by the number of people coming out of the woodwork to say they liked, really liked Future Art Factory. Makes me wonder if I have deviated too much from the style with the new one but let's see what feedback I get. Couldn't persuade Iain Banks to write even a one-liner for me. I guess that was a cheeky thing to ask but you have to try. I even offered to listen to his music. Hey ho.

Well well, another day that didn't go to plan. Workman dude was here all afternoon, no music was made, worked on review and agreed to do another - of a competing product. Having lots of good vibes about alternative workflows and am really starting to think of ditching Logic. May be worth looking at Ableton again with the new version out... the new door looks excellent. The guy did a brilliant job, can't deny it. As usual Pat was right and I was wrong. :)