Got Minimoog and V-Synth out of their flightcases...

 It felt like time, although I did almost immediately have loss pangs for the JD-XA. I have a feeling I should sell the Minimoog as it's wrong to hang onto it without really using it much. It did sound great of course but it's the great I've known for so long I don't know what else I can do with it. We'll see how it goes. 

Tried the MPC looper. It works fine, dunno how much use it'll get but I think that just leaves me to try and mod matrix and XY pad in detail and I've had a go at everything. Well, I've barely touched the effects bar the obvious ones so I guess I should do that, plus set up some more Q-Links in my template project. Then I need to make more of my own programs, use a ton of those Easel samples I made for a start, perhaps make some of them velocity-layered. 

Went to this last night but missed the EMOM, which I'd possibly have preferred. But it was nice going out with Pat and getting food and gawping upwards. Took a wrong turn on the way home, which is maybe excusable as it's been decades since I made the regular trip to Blackburn each day and some of the roads looked very different in the dark. It is NOT a sign I'm losing it. Anyway, cost us 10 mins heading towards Clitheroe before I admitted my mistake. 

New phone working well as a camera. 

Really enjoying Jon Hopkins' Music for Psychedelic Therapy (well, apart from the spoken word nonsense). Interestingly, it's a direction of minimalism I've been heading towards and which at least one recent Ideation track strayed into. The other one I got (Ritual) had some good moments but also a relentlessness in places that grated. Will see what I think on a second, more prepared, listen. Today, thursday, we paid for the kitchen and I plan to spent the afternoon doing a little studio pottering, perhaps on the V-Synth. I should maybe work on some MPC tunes/sounds but a day off that also appeals. 

Well, I did more MPC - made a new keygroup but it's tortuous and I must find a faster/slicker way. I then made real progress with my loop/clip problem and decided two tracks will cover it, one for regular drum loops and the other for the vintage drum machines, latin loops and other supporting stuff. As long as I leave gaps here and there I can stop them without going through and setting every one to toggle, which really should be possible as default. Did some basic jamming with my default song and using the KSP to bang in simple stuff and arps. Tried a few backing track songs but feel increasingly like those will be the minority of any live performance. One was truncated and I couldn't immediately see why. Also sorted the power situation so only setup 5 <g> is on with the mixer/speakers and nowt else. May bring in the R24 as recorder or get one of those wee L6 Max jobbies and leave the big mixer entirely off for setup 5. Could not suss the MIDI thru so it would drive the MIDICake Arp. Turned on soft thru on Sys8 so it at least lets me sequence it and the ML-xd if I want. Friday may be a solid jamming day. 

And it was. Getting slicker with the clip mode and recorded a basic song. 

Saturday we took Fred's recommandation desite getting up late. Full english breakfast for me - couldn't actually eat it all (left the hash browns, inevitably). Felt so bloated I didn't have lunch. Later on did a bit of MPC, basically the CV/Gate stuff, autosampling and the XY Pad. Autosampling proved easy once it dawned that you start from the track you're using as base (the field cannot be edited, which isn't clear from manual). Sampled System 8 and Minimoog - Mini was 7 semitones out for some reason so I just transposed it until I suss why. All worked smoothly. Only crash was when using the XY and just selecting presets to try them out. Probably not worth bothering reporting although I will do that bank select one sometime as it annoys me. 

I think there's only the mod matrix I really need to send time on now. And look for the CV adjust page, hopefully there is one as Cirklon could play the Minimoog in tune perfectly so the Mini can't be far out. 

A good day. Started a simple tune based on an old drum loop and using my Mini samples alongside the Mini plugin. Mine sounds more out of tune of course, 

Blimey. It's March. I ordered a 1Tb SATA drive for the MPC even though the L6 Max may have been wiser. 

A fab few days with Pete jamming and recording

 An effortless and pleasurable Saturday and Sunday afternoon's music-making. We recorded lots and have a good idea of how the gig should go. I particularly enjoyed the mellow ending pieces of each day, very chilled and blissful. Will probably get together again once a bit nearer to the time but all will be well. The MPC was good in that environment too - we both synced to the Octatrack to get around the issue of other data being sent. As I didn't need to record any audio into MPC there was no problem with that. May do similar at gig. Will set up some MPC projects with sounds and FX prepared ready to jam and improvise into, the whole clip structure working really well for this sort of thing. Just need to decide what other synth should complement the MPC/KSP/System 8 setup. Can go into Sys8 input whatever it is, maybe something simple and analogue combined with S-4, if I dare trust it. Will see. If I can't decide I'll stick with the Minilogue xd as it's nice enough. 

Had a look around and decided to put the JD-XA in a flightcase and get the V-Synth out. It'll go nicely in setup 1 feeding the 505 with the Osmose. I've also made some room in the Light Studio for the Minimoog so that's coming out too. This year I'll decide whether to part with it, maybe get an Easel in its place as it would lead me down different avenues. Course as soon as I start playing it again all those thoughts may well go out of the window.

Raised more tickets but still making progress

 Pencilled in a possible festival for July with Oojami. Hope the MPC more stable by then. Raised tickets about its shitty autosave (necessary due to the crashes) and about it interrupting playback when copying clip rows. Even so, did an alternate mix into a different sequence in the same project and this time did overdubs and mix automation etc. Very successful so far, can definitely work this way. Hope I didn't come across as a superior cunt in my tickets asking for what I consider basic stuff for a realtime 'live' thing.

Had to do a video today to demonstrate the fact the assignable slider doesn't work for MIDI tracks. I really tried not to be condescending and hope I managed it. They wanted a video of the whole thing from powering on the synth I was controlling - I explained that the MPC sends its MIDI without even knowing if a synth is connected but in my video I demonstrated the issue with, I hope, patience.

Monday and I was mostly concerned with drum programs and setting each note through different FX. I think I may be confusing Delay Pro already with multiple instances, maybe 5-6 on different pads, each with different delay settings. What seems to happen is the feedbacks accumulate, which leads to a pervading ringing tone after hitting a few notes that go through the delays. These never stop until I hit stop twice. Will investigate though as I need to be sure I'm not sending anything to the MIDI input that it's interpreting. Used Q links for some FX on the whole drum program but need to know how to make them accessible in the project in a way that makes sense with everything else. Nice you can easily do stuff like modulate attack time with velocity and do fine tune between pads. Set up a 5-6 voice vocal pad playing the same sample but at different intervals and detunes. Sounded lush with Multiple Delay Pros. Yeah, possibly I'm pushing how many you're meant to use simultaneously - but didn't see any warning about that. And I don't have lots of great FX. 

More progress. My video worked and they're raising the slider/track level thing as a bug. Also put in a request for meaningful error messages so that's two positives. Today I plan to do more with drum programs and the various Q-Link options that I started exploring yesterday. Will probably remove some of those Delay Pro instances and put through a bus, see if they behave better if there are fewer of them.

I think I solved my preferences not saved issue today. Fingers crossed. As I wasn't getting anywhere with support, I reset all the preferences to their defaults and started again. I typed in my port names and MIDI sync settings as well as other stuff and powered off and on - all still there. Obviously early days but could be sorted, I bloody hope so. Also looked at the pad articulations for a drum program I'd made and realised some of the feedback on the Delay Pro might have been related to the KSP's hidden Control Track which sends weird shit in some of my projects. Wiped all that and so far no feedback. Tried again to find a way to make a pad loop without me holding a finger on it...

Akai support got their wires crossed a bit today but back on track now as two agents were dealing with the same issue, one more switched on than the other. Looks a decent day for walking but instead we're picking up Izzy and getting rid of some stuff at mum's. Actually even as I type the weather seems to be going off. Hopefully more MPC work later, have yet to sort all the intracies of the mod matrix and will do more work on Q-Links.  

Akai gave me a free plugin today - I picked their Minimoog without even trying it, just one quick audition of an Andertons video. Anyway, I should have tried the demo. Because, well, rtz envelopes. Tried the thing Dan suggested about triggering drum loops and using pad mutes. It doesn't work all that well though and you lose the ability to have loops of different lengths. Oh well. I wonder if all Akai's plugins have shit envelopes? I hope I didn't come across as ungrateful for mentioning it. Got a number of other tickets either closed, answered, bugs raised or whatever. Gonna leave it a while...

Released Citadel from 1982. Not a bad vintage.

Today (Thursday) I'll see if I can get a few ideas together for tomorrow. Abandoning the fixing my drum loops idea for the time being and gonna concentrate on clips and programming a few sounds.  Maybe get a few default Q-Link assignments set in my template song and may still put the JD-XA back where it was as a multitimbral MIDI module type thing. Still annoying that the slider/MIDI level doesn't work but I noticed yesterday the System 8 doesn't respond to MIDI volume. An odd oversight. 

Ongoing MPC adventures

 More exploring, some bugs and some sweetness. Arranging and clips starting to feel viable. The JD and the KSP working well-ish although the occasional hanging note when using the JD in its controller mode sending notes back to itself via thru. None when using KSP. Started on one of the KSP projects I'd caught a loop from, just doing an arrangement with some overdubs using samples, plugins etc. Think I'll get to the point where I can use it more freely without keep wondering how I do this or where is that. Whether the JD remains or is replaced by another synth depends on whether its multitimbrality matters in what I'm doing.

On Friday I got more into clips and running a long static track (Hashtag) and combining clips with it. All worked BUT something snapped in one of the combi inputs and now when I put jacks in, there's no click. It did still sample though so I got some stuff done. 

Andertons have been great about returning/swapping the mpc so that's scheduled on Tuesday. Must make sure I copy everything I've done and am sure it's all gone before I wipe that machine. Including my template file and patches for various synths, most the opx-4 I think.

I've got three albums from Dan Deznan in Perth, which he's restored from tape. They're all from the 80s and I really do want to hear them again, although I forgot today. He also has "Sketches" which was not distributed AFAIK although some people have it - he wants track titles which I'll try and find/remember. He's restoring more too, which is hugely kind. I'll try and get him copies of other stuff and answer his questions. Will see if his Dunction Wood sounds better than the one I have already (suspect it will). I may then upload to bandcamp for people to have. 

Well, the Duncton Wood sounds so much better than my restore job, Dan's done a superb job. Citadel is better than I remembered and should probably go on bandcamp. Not enjoying Deserted Tower as much though, sounds bitty, cheesy and more like a guy trying to make sense of new toys than anything memorable. I think the thing with 'legacy' is that it can often be much better if you don't reveal so much of it. 

Faffy day sorting solicitor, backing and packing Mpc and listening through old stuff. Feel somewhat dazed by it actually. An evening zombifying in front of TV ahead and I actually welcome it. Tomorrow I'll get the new mpc, update it and get my stuff reloaded. Hopefully. Then I can continue working with it.

MPC arrived - thanks Andertons, great job. I think it's old stock though as the lights behind the buttons aren't uniformly bright and it was very old firmware. Anyway, it works, loads my songs and I've started diving into Clip mode to learn that. Must work out why the default clip launch is always trigger - very annoying that. The audio clip with tempo change works really well though. Raised a ticket for the fact its slider can't be assigned to MIDI volume. Will raise another about its handling of MIDI program changes too when I get round to it. I did work out how to select my own default plugin - you can't to it by turning the encoder while on the field but must, instead, double click the field with your finger. Created my own default template with the named ports and sync defs and so far that seems to work. 

Except the names were forgotten today. In my template all was forgotten and in my def song the sync settings were remembered. Wonder if having template and song with same name confusing it? Stupid thing anyway, raised a ticket.Tomorrow I think I might just try and do stuff with its own instruments, maybe take some of my individual notes made for the Wavestate and make something from them, compare it with the Wavestate playback. Anyway, will do something new that doesn't rely on owt but the MPC. 

Busy day sorting more solicitor stuff, walked Izzy, handed letter to Wayne and tried to listen to Chimera but time evaporated. Going to look for an Alcove for Dan and a better tape of Chimera in case it helps. Will send him wavs of whatever I get. Sorta tired and PAt too - she has to take Marg to Blackpool tomorrow for talk about her heart and options. Dunno if Tim around Saturday or in Wales but I think I may have an afternoon to myself as I really need to get some things lined up for when Pete comes. Still have not sussed my drum loop program thing, may have to try clips.

Dicky leg felt a bit better last night. Massage maybe helping and the exercises I'm doing. Have tried magnesium on Ann's advice, no idea if it'll help but she swears by it. 

New Start, New Tech (MPC LIVE III)

 First time using it today and it's buggy but already quite close to what I hoped it would be in terms of functionality (and wanted it to be). It needs a number of things I'm not going to start to specify after one day of use but it is at least possible to convert a song into a sequence, KCS-style into which further stuff can be done. This is basically all I've wanted in CIrklon, like, forever. It means I can work in any sized chunks I want, join them in sequence and convert to a full song for overdubs, rises, tweaks etc. Also records automation - only tried track levels so far but worked alongside arrangement. Lots more I could write but will leave to another day. Very good start, next will be either importing an old song pre v3 or connecting the Keystep/Wavestate and gathering a few recordings. 

All good fun! (so far)

Saturday tomorrow. Bejaysus! Tim mentioned going to Anchor so we can maybe book Sunday lunch if we do

Anchor was shut. Oh well. Tried importing an old MpC song and it partially worked - all my drum loops didn't loop though, the Q-Link definitions were forgotten, the synth patches wonky... but I'll work on it, import some of the audio that's in the Octatrack and see if I can cobble a set together from it. A worthwhile project. Sussed how to monitor the input (pretend you're about to sample) and name tracks (hold finger on name for a bit). 

Certain now my keyboard issue are related to running status & active sensing having tried the Keystep which doesn't send active sensing and relies on regular note offs. Will report as bug when I get round to it. Enjoying playing pads and shifting keys as I go so may cope without keyboard for a bit. Tested grabbing loops from the KSP/Wavestate and it works with no obvious downers yet although I need to fully test it and the sync with internal stuff over longer phrases. Must work out how to use the new Clip Matrix though as I've ignored that so far. 

On Monday we sorted the new kitchen order, using mum's money wisely (I think) - to be fitted in April. Tomorrow I'm off to Manchester with John to see Yann Tiersen and some harpy lady whose name I have sadly forgotten. Should be good. 

A short but frustrating session on Monday trying to make sense of the new Clips mode. If you recall, MPC2.x had a Clips track type and most excellent it was. The new one doesn't - its clips are a separate thing but there's no obvious way to convert the old type to the new or even load all the samples individually into a set of clips. I guess it'd take a couple of tracks up now and I'd have to decide the clips that are in each column, which is less flexible than of old (not wasting four tracks on it). I'll take a look again sometime but so far that's the thing I've missed the most. My imported song has filled the 128 track limit and is basically unmanageable so don't think I'll be developing that further. 

Maybe scuppering the new start, Margaret in hospital, her heart well buggered. We put off sorting a date for kitchen installation until we know what's what. Also put off walking today (Wednesday) and instead moved a few things in the kitchen, asked a few questions. I also moved the JD-XA into position under the MPC after reading it can turn off transmission of active sensing. Will test that out but probably not today as time has moved on. Will walk Broc instead. Think we visiting this evening. 

Yann Tiersen was good, the support act also good (Alice Boyd & harpist friend Rachel Kitchlew). I bought their ambient CD for a tenner - but it's less than 15 mins long so a bit unimpressed with that. Tiersen played some mesmerising piano, stringent but fab strings and a bunch of Elektron boxes and modular stuff. At times it was quiet and subtle, then incredibly loud. Think the same venue I once saw Leftfield. 

Winding up January and deciding to start the year next month instead

 Yeah, January was a bit of a washout with Pat doing her ankle in on NY day and all. Last week features her birthday, an EMOM and a surprise visit from Dawn with prezzies. The MPC is also supposed to be here next week, they're just a bit busy packing boxes at Andertons to sort right away. I dunno if I'll be walking on thursday as that's the day of Pat's birthday. 

Started going through Liminal Entity and finding it dull. May either totally rewrite it or leave it and write the book that could have come between it and Beer, the one that properly fills the gap. Can I be arsed though given nobody will read it? Might be better to write the final lizard book, even though nobody will read that either. Or make 2026 the year I finally do some decent painting rather than the random burst of splashing paint around aimlessly that I've been indulging in for no reason I can recall. 

Ah well.

Monday still no comms from Andertons about the MPC which is disappointing. Had a lovely ambient afternoon mostly playing the Osmose (practising the pressure glide technique which I know I can improve on) but adding System 8, Reface CS and Odyssey into a lovely looping mulch not unlike the long track from Clouseau all those years ago. With a simple repeating bell from the Digitone I reckon I could have recorded something but just enjoyed playing instead. Tomorrow is EMOM day so will setup the Cric for an initial sound that's good to start from but otherwise good to go. 

Andertons finally got in touch to say MPC coming.. not tomorrow but Thursday. 

EMOM was... trying. Tim's mixer batteries weren't enough to get us through the gig. Indeed, they crapped out the first time he tried the record option. We ended up putting my synth through his TR-8 Ext input which then also went through his DJ FX and then direct to the PA. So what it did to my sound I have no idea - and Tim hadn't either as he was monitoring only his drum machine, as far as I could tell. I remain convinced that headphones are not the way for live music cos you're basically in a different space to everyone else - including the audience. Anyway, we did our thing but it didn't have the cohesion of the Saturday jam. I still don't know if the L6 is any good as a live mixer/recorder but I think I'm more inclined to get either the L6 Max or the L12. A screen would perhaps tell you stuff like battery status, recording capacity and so on. John came and took some fab photos, which I shall add here when I get them. Life's rich tapestry etc. ;)

Friday and the MPC arrived yesterday but all I did was update it and download the latest manual. I shall resist getting stoned today. Actually I might have to anyway cos Margaret seems unwell and I fear we could be entering another death spiral. Booked to see Yann Tiersen in Manchester with John next week. Oh, installed the Bode shifter but have yet to try that either. Woke feeling  a bit nauseous myself so hope that clears up and I can learn some MPC today, just starting with the basics of following the manual's tutorial. It looks nice, is quite large and heavy but should be a cool thing if it handles as it should. Was Pat's birthday yesterday and I felt bad for not getting her owt so went out this morning to get flowers, may have overdone it. 

Right, pix then publish I think. Next entry should be my MPC thoughts - just hope it's not also the start of another bout of hospital visits and doom. 

Improvements

 Pat's ankle starting to improve at last. Gonna buy some Ideation CDs from Vic to sell at the gig later this year. 

The Awakenings remix sounded good to me. Sent to Pete to see if he likes it as much as I do. MPC meant to come this week but haven't heard anything. Rubadub have some but Andertons don't yet. The XL is already out too, annoyingly. 

Finally finished the edits of 'From Beer to Eternity' but getting it onto Kindle and maintaining its formatting and fonts causing the usual issues. Cara could have advised but as she has dropped off my radar I uploaded from the epub version, which appears to hold the format better than Word's docx. The Kindle Create app produced a file the import process would not recognise. Anyway, happy to have it done and both the acrobat and word versions looks nice anyway. Will leave it a while then do Liminal Entity - not quite so bad as Beer so much less work. Today the MPC Live III was meant to be in stock but I've heard nowt yet. Friday gonna be a bit naff this week as it's Kelly's do tomorrow evening. Not sure Pat will be up to driving but her ankle is much better. 

Sent Beer to Tony to have a read of. Friday's sesh sounded good, Saturday Tim and I did a run-through of drones and drum machine, sounded good. Shoulda recorded. Hey ho. Sunday tomorrow, will go walkies and I think Marg coming for tea. She's pretty weedy at the moment and pat's worrying she might not make cruise. Have now signed up to Scotland and Blackburn Cathedral concert, did it in two days which resets the two things lost last year. Weird how stuff works out. Cric played from Lie is very good, Adding ribbon for pitch and gate could be fun also but perhaps not essential.