Dog attack

Bloody hell, once again I had to fight off a dog attacking Jasper. This time my sister's new dog, a 10 year old english bull terrier that looks (to me) like it's had a life either fighting or being abused. No indication it was going to happen either, dog was on lead and just launched himself at Jasper.
Fortunately I was right there and dived in (without thinking) and punched the dog repeatedly. English bull terriers have heads like bowling balls, trust me you don't want to punch one. Really hard to get him off, got him away briefly but he had the taste of blood and kept coming. I kept in between them, kept punching and eventually got it under control.
Fortunately he'd only grabbed Jasp's ear and not his throat but his ear now looks like raw meat and there's a hole right through it. My sister mortified and obviously seeing the reality of her "new man" like never before. Could have been so much worse. My mum struggling to breathe cos of the stress, so not quite our regular tranquil Sunday visit!

My plans for the day seem to be fizzling out, will try and do some work on review this evening but doubt I'll be in the mood to write music.

Pat's new PC has Windows 8 and my initial reactions are that it's bloody horrible. No easy option to make it look and handle like Windows 7 and the laptop is a bit shit too, keyboard bends in when you type. Will decide tomorrow if we're keeping it.

FlimflamFriday

Bade farewell to the guys on their way to Synth-DIY and regretting not going along. Turns out I do have a bit of spare cash right now but I guess my gut will be better without a weekend of solid beer and eating. Would've changed my mind at the last minute except Pat away all day Saturday and it's too long to leave Jasper. Ah well, gives me time to work on a review and the new music brief before the other package of review stuff arrives Monday.

It's been  glorious and rather than sweat it out in the studio, I got some books from the library. Read the first in one go, very short book by Ray Bradbury about getting old. Great, just what I needed!

I haven't touched novel for a fair while now, not properly anyway just to sketch a few scenes here and there that all seem to be leading to more and more work. Don't want this one to escape on me and become another faff, or FAF even, but it easily could. Have parked the one strand that will be the final story in the series and it can wait there until I get round to it in a year or so. Review stuff has to come first, music ticking in the background, then everything else.

Discovered that a plumber is another of those things I am not. Failed in my attempt to replace the pipe under the sink - couldn't get it to fit tight enough and water was pouring freely from it. In the end put the old one back but now that is leaking slightly more than it was when I started. Still less than the water leak under our new garage which I reported and poor neighbour has to fix (since it's his pipe that's leaking). Something very wrong and unfair about that and I feel quite bad about it. Had to be fixed though - can't build a new garage on top of it!

Margaret here tonight, they both off tomorrow so I'll have the day in peace. Lisa's pic to do, see how hot it is before I decide what else I'm up to. Next week the new dynamic me is unveiled. Definitely next week cos I've seen no sign of it this one.

Here's a pic I took of Pat's horse tucking in.

Sorry, no new synth pix. I should've taken one of Colin's MS20 mini but forgot. It sounded really good, wonder when mine will arrive! The keyboard's a bit shit though, very toy-like despite what some have said. Could see me making it into a module but getting some extra patch points added. VCO outputs at least and probably PWM inputs for phase 1. Maybe someone will bring out a decent little synth with a longer keyboard. Heard about possibility of a Mopho keyboard being fitted with a Mophox4 voice card and that seems a really interesting idea. Must investigate...

Mountain Lion whimpers

Well, I noticed that some patches in Omnisphere crackled, CPU seemed surprisingly high even in Logic 9. I think it might be the OS.

The new monitor arrived and looks really nice. Could not screw it into its base, the screw supplied didn't seem long enough. But it's very large and looks darn impressive - Logic X is almost bearable too. Not lovely, still dark (but with bright white pull-down menus) but it'll do.

SO I ordered another 4Gb of RAM. I know, so much money spent and I still think I'd have been better off staying with the old OS, the old Logic etc. I realised that Ctl-N thing only works from the arrange window - but gives no indication it's done anything. So another illogical thing - you are forced into the piano roll editor to make changes that should be done at arrange level, then to write the changes you have to do it at arrange level. Silly but there you go.

Got told I can't buy the review synth I liked cos they need it. Will be more towards the end of August. Ah well, hopefully I won't have blown my cash by then. Sold the Monowave and the money came through. Not really anything else I want, except my MS20 mini which is taking forever.

Tony/Colin here Thursday, same day as Mick's gig. Must tidy up cos it's a total tip. Will mean no proper work that day - and I doubt we'll get to the gig once we're full of curry. Have pressed on with current review, wrote a lot in one session. I've been using it a lot so know it pretty well. Sent off short review this morning, need to get showreel up to date and start new dynamic push for more work - assuming I get time. Still have not done Lisa's painting, or practised it even. Feeling quite bad about that.

The guy never wrote back about the CS30. May be dodgy or he may have sold it to the first comer. Doesn't matter.

Studio rejig

I've been putting it off since getting the little Alesis submixer but have finally plumbed it in, using a similar trick to Tim's extended connection to the main desk - i.e. using the Behringer as a junction box. At the moment only two 303 clones in it plus the Pitch Factor (used as a delay). Some work to do yet but it's getting there.

Also worked on review stuff for a bit.

This morning I looked at Logic's Scale Quantize in more detail - but there is no more detail. It's another turkey - a superficial box ticker rather than a functional, useful addition to the program. Sadly typical of Apple these days, what happened to the concept of delight? So really all I've got out of Logic X is having to upgrade my OS, buy the software and replace my monitor to try and live with the overwhelming and non-customisable gloom. WTF??

I'm an idiot. Never assume Apple will get it right. They didn't even catch up with transpose to scale as seen on Cubase for Atari ST.

OK, I'm calmer now. Still kicking myself for not reading manual before leaping in. You'll laugh but I leapt in because people were not complaining it was falling on its arse all the time (memories of Logic 9.0 will never go away). I wonder if that'll start when I start using it in earnest? So more money and time wasted, warnings from BT about my broadband useage for the massive download of content, none of which I seem to be able to trace or at least identify as new or, gasp, worthwhile.

no wonder I went back to pulling wires and moving mixers around to relax!

Have been listening to lots of my old albums. Great stuff from Roedelius, Bo Hansson, Cluster, Kraftwerk, Vangelis etc. Then I put on TD's Exit and am reminded what a pile of dreary, dead-sounding shite that album is. It really could have been created by a computer rather than played by three musicians. At the time I thought they were bowing out - and that might have been a good time. Even though it;s light years beyond what they're doing now, it's still abysmal.  And here was me promising myself recently I'd only post positive stuff. Ah well.

Got contracts for thai tracks, must fill in and return. Next week, start new hard work regime next week. Or else!

Gasp...

If this amazing weather continues I really am considering one of those expensive Dyson cold air blowers - otherwise I'm gonna get no work done!

Happily and rather strangely, my three thai sketches were taken up and approved by the client with almost indecent haste. I hadn't thought them finished, which perhaps throws new light on how I should approach future commissions.

Review sent off, having done so now contemplating keeping thing since I've filled it full of patches I like. Hey ho. Seem to have a seller for my Monowave, not that I need the cash now but sure I'll find a use for it.

Too hot to continue current review, gonna take a day off. Another, I know!

This is my afternoon choice. Some albums I haven't played for 30 years...

Vinyl

Such a pleasure to play my records again - so far the ones I've tried have been in reasonable condition and now I've faffed around to set up  the balance and anti-skate, seems fine. Could even see myself buying new vinyl!

Review went in this morning. I think I'd have liked another day to sweeten the word flow but it has the essence of what I wanted to say. At least it was done quickly.

Thai tracks progressing, weather not totally helping me stay in a stifling studio, may need to consider something better than my fan. Will send a few in for comment in a day or so. Then will write to that other library I've been meaning to contact.

Reading lots of PG Wodehouse. Some is starting to drift into my other writing...

Blimey (2)

Well well, PRS statement showed no mistake. Even now getting payments from some very old tracks from the small library in Wigan, including those with the "this won't work" voice samples. Someone in Australia likes 'em, bless.

Good day but Pat tired and stressed. Horse is Camilla.

Evening did a sesh with review gear as I wanted to be sure I could use it creatively, make a track with it. Did so. http://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/shroomathon
May need a sub to hear it right, laptop speakers not doing it for me. You'll notice I didn't say which synth, I guess that just is how it should be.Also worked on the three thai tracks I started today. Yep, three. Each starting to become club-type rather than my original idea but I think there's remix possibilities to cover the brief with the same music presented in different ways.

Review pretty much done and how much easier it is to write when you've actually made music with the gear concerned. Worked from recent memory of the evening's sesh and the flow seems fine. Can take another day too I think.

Ordered anti-skate weight for deck. Finally might I be able to play a record? Am all a-quiver. Have finished work early, feeling good. Pat turned up home early, she's working longer tomorrow. Learnt they gave the job I was after to the woman who was in our group - she was really good.

Pruneskin rides!

Ah, the sun, ain't it great? A very full day today, or as full as they get now. Fairly long walk over the hills, nothing to note except there was a LOT of dead sheep. Reckon the weather is doing them in. Came home a little early partly to work but also cos Jasper doesn't do so well in the heat and even though early morning, I don't want him to do too much.

Worked on synth all afternoon, have tried everything now and it's an easy one to write up. In fact I sat and wrote almost 3,000 words this evening in a single sitting. Would've done more but Pat managed to get home early from the overtime she'd been landed with (again!). Yesterday promised myself I'd not drink the two cans in the fridge. Just finishing the second now. Writing fuel you see? Excuses you see? In Yoda mode you are?

I also installed and auditioned those thai samples I got yesterday. Frankly they're underwhelming. Looks like this one is gonna be a hard slog as I listened to a fair few and none were inspiring, except possibly some of the female vocal ones. Too hot to do much more though so once again had a few hours reading my book. As it's a Blandings novel, I feel this may have polluted my review as I'm pretty sure I used the word "bally" in it somewhere. Ah well, lots to do at it yet, this being not even draft #1 really.

I think I took some pix. Digs for phone...finds it, can't find lead, gives up... :)

Blimey

Yep, a strange day. The hot weather continues and I am the proud owner of a parasol. However the real stinger today is my PRS payments are dramatically up. Assuming it's not a cockup (and with PRS you never know), this suggests I should not have let two disappointing quarters put me off. So blimey really sums it up.

No sign of the review keyboard, they only sent the "authorisation" link today so it will arrive tomorrow. Nowt I can do though. The alesis mixer arrived, beautifully packed. Must give it a try later I suppose.

Will look into getting some thai samples and plod on with the music, perhaps put in more effort to get more tracks out there with more and better libraries. The PRS statement will provide guidance.

A close call considering the job thing. Surreal really but that's how it all works... :)

Result of continuing good mood http://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/barn-dance

Glorious Sunday

And so it was. Jasper got attacked - again - by a staffie, which I kicked, conscious of the fact I was only wearing sandals. The bloke was a short thuggish type who didn't look me in the eye but did put his dog on a lead after I booted it.

Had a nice walk then went to check the wall where I'm doing a painting. Got a good idea what I'm doing and it's an easy image so should be OK. Will get paint in the week and organise a time, this is the type of thing:

Sweet huh?
Worked out I can't have got that job as didn't hear anything. Slightly surprised but maybe my age against me, but whatever, I'm remarkably chilled about it, which makes me worry whether I really want to work or not. If not I need to find a way to stop the rot and get into doing something. Not while it's sunny though. :)

The question now is: should I go to the More-Ohr-Less festival? I'd really like to as it's exactly the sort of place Headshock should play. Something to ponder in the week, check flights, hotels etc. Or shall I worship the great god Intertia, as always?

Right, beer and maybe some novel.

Brill word!

Well, I like it anyway. It's rannygazoo, a century-old term, now rare, for a deceptive story or scheme, pranks, tricks or other irritating or foolish carryings-on. So now you know. Went to the library today, got three PG Wodehouses and dug into the first. 

Sunshine, burnt my neck a bit on the morning's hill walk. Broke the lawn mower, honest I wasn't just trying to have yet another easy afternoon. What else happened today? Well, I got a music request for some thai music for a documentary, will try and do some if I get chance but I did tell them I had to do something for real money. Review seems to have descended into farce. Dealing with 4 different folks from same company, one about the video thing which I'd hoped might fizzle out. The other three about the supposedly urgent review gear which I thought was on the way but now may require me to authorise via a link in an email I didn't receive yet. Sigh. Had hoped to make a start this weekend but no. Unless it shows up tomorrow. 

Asked a friend about doing me a cover for "The Last Day", which I've decided to release with two bonus tracks. Some bits still to finalise, mastering to do but it's there for what it's worth. Nowt is what I'm thinking.

Should really go see Tim at Jodrell tomorrow, not seen him in yonks. But I'll bask in the sunshine all afternoon, drink beer and be driving nowhere. Tony mentioned bringing his large telescope round so that'll do for my astronomy fix. I think £40 a bit much anyway as I don't really care about seeing a floyd tribute band. 

This is a rather cool pic and, apart from a few level tweaks, this is how it looked. 

Ah well

Watched some more of my Glastonbury recordings, more of the same though. Enjoyed Nile Rodgers but bored of Vampire Weekend now. I guess that shortbread may have been stronger than I suspected.

Didn't do a lot today except go for coffee and cake. Then spent the afternoon making tweaks to the new album, now have no idea what to call it but reinstated a few dropped tracks and dropped a few I'd been getting bored of. It could be a double but I really don't trust my own taste so may have thrown away good tracks. Same old. Will let a few folks hear it and tell me what they think. I really have no idea if it'll work as it's quite a mish-mash of in-the-box stuff and pure hardware improv. Needs mastering and a nice cover but I think I have a running order that works. Should ask Tim but I'm tempted to ask annamarie to do something cool.

Hey ho. I feel this is a pretty lame entry even for me so I'll pad it with a photo or something. Yes, that'll do...

Good but tiring day

Packed day, but later, though tired, got idea for a much improved way of passing my current sticking point in novel. It neatly puts everyone where I wanted them to be and with some elegant free gifts which will help keep the wheels turning.

Listening to Glastonbury. Thankfully out of the hours of recordings I heard some bands I may I like, remember the Hurts, Of Monsters and Men, Vampire Weekend, none of which I recall being much moved by ever before. Shortbread may have helped though cos quite a few things sounded good. Two chicks singing, great voices, more from Mail, there was another band too whose name I can't recall, had a very cute girl in shorts as singer. Should pay more attention.

Worked on review a bit, listened to new album and made mental notes for a few tweaks.

Not heard about job yet. Think it is about time I did something even if this doesn't work out. This hanging around home becomes too easy. Too dull. Brain turning to mush. Not quite ready for every day being the same yet.

Incidentally, one of the definites for album will be "Everything's the Same". May tweak the sample use slightly as I've heard it lots now and can tidy a couple of them.Was also going to tweak that note on one other tune, the one with the belly chimey sound.

Hope I sleep better tonight, may have been the bed turned up too high. Enjoying the Stephen King BTW, it's the one about a time travelling teacher.

The real world beckons

Well, first time in a while I've worn my suit when it hasn't been a funeral. Interview seemed to go well, at least I was happy enough with it - I can only hope they were happy with me. I do feel quite calm about the prospect of conventional employment, perhaps I'm just not pushy enough to keep looking for a decent library music company to work for, which is to say one that doesn't make me want to stand on a chair and scream each time I submit work for them to randomly disassemble or suggest pointless changes to, probably while pulling their tongues out at each other and racing each other around the office on chairs. I merely speculate of course, could have got entirely the wrong impression since I'm old and all that. :)

Submitted latest review this morning, seemed OK to me. Actually liked the thing and it's been darn useful while working on the software synth review I'm doing. Life is good, the sun is shining and I'm about a third of a way through the Stephen King I got. He's a darn good writer, seems to have infinite patience for faffy parts of story I'd never bother with but has a great way of making every word count, which is impressive given how many of the feckers he crams between the covers. I think it should've had a different title for UK audiences though as it's basically a date.

Now, should I catch up on my Glastonbury watching (I say "watching", I've skipped through most of it in quiet despair but did stop to watch Portishead, excellent) or plunge straight into Walking Dead? Must make sure the Returned records tonight as my Glasto pratting ended up cancelling the usual recording. Oops.

Off to see Phil in hosp tomorrow. All go. :)

Feel like making music too, have an urge to try and do a Man With No Name album since I totally love that stuff and the world needs more of it. If so I may need to dig out the Virus.

Those are my thoughts for this Monday, start of a new month and possibly start of something even bigger.

Another random phone photo (in case you were wondering)