Synthfest and associated fun times

 Tuesday before was wasted really. Hanging around all day to go for short meeting with money man and raining and whatnot. I couldn't summon much energy for owt. Did try that camera that Adrian recommended, seems fun. Tomorrow I will try to get to pub with Tim and Thursday may even get some studio time as Pat's driving Benji back. Quite why she has to do all the driving is beyond me but I think they'd just leave the wee beastie here otherwise. 

Thursday and I had my flu and pneumonia jabs with a shingles jab scheduled for november. Messed with Atrium and was gonna do a mix of the gig but the interface of Audacity 4 defeated me. There was an update to the MPC but most of it seems related to the Arranger and no mention of fixes for any of the bugs I'm waiting to be sorted. Will try it after the weekend to see if they've fixed them quietly (suspect not). 

Some snaps from the new camera - love it. May take it to Sheffield. 

Synthfest was good. I'd been well chuffed by the generosity of SOS bossman but turns out he must have mitsaken me for someone else as he had no recollection of our email exchange. And since Eddie was left at home due to something a bit worse than sciatica (sorry forgot its name) then I was almost without a place to stay. Fortunately he sorted it for the Friday night and I drove home after show rather than grovel for what he'd agreed. Shame really as I could have got a day pickup from Nick Smith and Tony Allgood. SOS writers' luncheon was nice but - again - I really should have gone with Pete to noodle bar. Saw Dean and finally chatted a bit with Bob of 3rd Wave fame, can tell Jason I at least met him. Spoke to Tom about Easel Command basically thanking him and saying I knew what Buchla were like in terms of being unhurried for delivery. Liked the Arturia Minifreak 49 but didn't buy one. Actually ordered (on Sunday) a Strymon Clouburst having been talked into it by Paul White. Lots of good stuff and good people to hang with. Went for monster meat meal with Mike Gorman and Starsky Carr and Mike's mate who plays the trumpet but due to my old man brain I've forgotten his name again. Saw Nick Rothwell, Kim, Diana, Dean, Dave Spiers, Keith, Tony, Nick, Chris of MIDICake, Tom, Simon, all the SOS crowd, Paula, Rik, Matt, D-Man, George, Damian, shit running out of names although plenty faces remain. No Nick Batt or Gaz this time. Oh yeah, saw Lektroid, John D, Steveo, Andy F, some guy who said he knew me but didn't see again, Chris Cabbage, more, more. Talked a LOT. Missed Cabs talk due to talking myself. 

Gonna assemble a list of eurorack modules to sell and find out which, if any, Matt wants to keep as he's had them for ages. Horrible rainy Monday here, Cloudburst (pedal) arrives this afternoon so may spend morning on Liminal Entity after a long layoff. Gonna start again I think and see how it flows.

The MPC track I did yesterday (Sunday) was interesting as I think I found a way to use the RND, grabbing random bits into a drum program then triggering them into clips. The long audio clip thing is only ever gonna work if I create blank short empty clips to switch to because the only way you can end one prematurely is to start another. They still didn't fix the slider to ext MIDI volume big either. No idea what is fixed in terms of my needs. Anyway, gonna use drum programs and trigger things that way and see how that workflow suits me. 

The Cloudburst arrived and very nice it is too. Seems to add a tasteful chorus on top of a shimmering reverb turning pretty much anything into the echoes of a symphony orchestra in a large space. Tried the Atrium through it but I think its middly tones are less suited than the Reface CS I was using to control it. And now, almost by accident, I seem to have made the perfect small ambient setup of interesting things. The Atrium continues to go through the multiple delights of the HX One then to be captured or further processed by the SP-404. The Reface now acts as sound source as well as control source, going through the Clouburst to create these dense washes. Even used the looper in the Reface for a bit and the SQ-1 to add extra movement to the Atrium. Those together feel like a complete and powerful system that's both hands-on and able to go into lots of places. The distortion algorithms of the HX work really well with the Atrium although I doubt I'd use those for ambient (!) - the stereo looper in it is nice though, although I noticed the loop decay isn't as smoothly achieved as the DD-20. 

Recorded a wee ambient thing today (Wednesday) using this setup. Hard to fault it actually. Sure full-sized keys and a sequencer or arpeggiator would be nice but the CS has such a nice easy layout and FX that, through the Cloudburst, just makes so much sense for this. Switching the Atrium in and out of MIDI mode to play it then colouring it with the HX and adding whatever FX I want from the 404 gives a vast range of tones - and I can capture into the 404 if I want. Must stop accidentally hitting the bottom pad though for skipback recording as it's not really needed most of the time and maybe the looper mode would be more useful. Would be a lovely setup for a church or other space where just gentle tones are required. 

Tonight it's that thing at Darwen with John. Gotta take him home to Longridge afterwards, which rather takes the shine off it. Then it's Holme Fell tomorrow with Tony, my turn to drive. Looking forward to a chilled Friday though, missed it last week (and needn't have!). 

Hodge Close pix (I took a lot)

Traitors ended on with a rather unlikely two episodes that suggested, to me at least, that someone had had a whisper into a clueless ear of where to start looking. My Friday afternoon was fabulously chilled and I'm listening to the results as I type this. Still dealing with the repercussions of our 'decision' to turn the water off at mum's. Pat was sick overnight - from both ends. One of those things she suffers from from time to time. Wish we knew why. Means she's missing her horse sesh this morning too, poor thing. 

Not sure if I'll see Tim today as his lady is here visiting. 

Awakenings done and Synthfest to come

 Yeah, we did Awakenings and a good chunk of it was good. I thought we'd lost sync once, possibly due to lack of vibe or quirks of the monitoring but, on listening back, I don't think it was out after all. Pete did suggest, at the start, not syncing and alternating instead and that would probably have been better/simpler/easier. A lesson for the future. Anyway, I'm still not 100% convinced by the MPC for live but more work neede. Fewer tracks/instruments/loops but more focus needed. In contrast, I did really enjoy playing the Atrium. 

No escaping the fact I've still not done a flawless gig at that venue and can't quite work out why. Sound's OK, lighting's great and people come and clap with genuine appreciation. Just can't seem to feel it myself. Should I have stuck by resolutions such as "never again"? Should I work through it?

Got home after a nice breakfast (did the curry thing with the Airsculpture guys) and reckon that the drive is bearable if I do it that way. Enjoyed meeting Mark (FLC) and swapped CDs with him, although not sure where I put the one I got. Probably left it like the idiot I sometimes am. Good that someone else appreciates Mick (Armistead) and his skills and I was well into his set, done on a couple of little boxes and that Intellijel mixer. I should extract some of my pix from the phone...

I do admire neat modular cabling....

My setup:

OK, I listened to the recording. Had not planned to today but as I'd put everything back, it's basically one switch for the speakers and Zoom so I hit play and, by the end, was much cheered up by what it sounded like. Sure there were a few points where it was less than perfect but as a live improv, nothing to be ashamed of at all. Phew!

This week I've got stuff most days. Estate agents were asking if the buyers for mum's house could go in and clean the carpets - I may need to attend to sorting a suitable day for me or Pat to go. Got flu jab, Pat's off to return Benji and we have money man chat too. Must see if I can get out with Tim for a beer and catch up too. Eddie mentions he might not make Synthfest after all - after I sorted hotel specifically to meet up. But he has shingles and it's incredibly painful so totally get it. Life sucks etc. 

Right, that's it for this one. 

Getting review off and starting Awakenings prep

 Have enjoyed reviewing the ODD-1 very much after a shaky start complaining about the UI. Should get the last of it done in the next day or so then I can concentrate on Awakenings. PRS day tomorrow.

Thursday was a good ODD day as I went over the areas I felt thin in the review and had a lot of fun doing so. Decided to pay extra for no adds on Now TV. If we're gonna watch that Dragon thing I don't wanna be moaning every 5 mins. 

Wow, PRS back up again, bizarrely enough. Don't know if that tempts me to buy the ODD-1 in spite of its UI but the idea has occurred. Wet today and no studio time due to blokes ripping up the hallway and putting down new boards ready for replacement lino (or whatever it is) on monday. 

Getting my cancerous conk looked at on Monday at Chorley. 

Edit: no I'm not. The appointment was for 2027 - so I turned up 12 months early. Seriously. I've booked a private consultation for next month, woulda liked sooner but hey. It's the place my mum went. Off to Grange with John and Mick tomorrow. Oh and sent an updated review - didn't like my conclusion and hopefully improved it now. 

Nice day with John and Mick in Grange over Sands. A dull place but we did our best. My cold was getting worse and continued Wednesday. Had a go through the stuff for the gig, all sounded OK. Added a few tweaks but don't want to put too much in there. Pete reckons he feels unprepared but we'll be fine. Will mean more spontaneity. I don't think I'll go back to it, perhaps a last whiz through but hopefully can have a proper Friday sesh even though there's an early start Saturday. 

My tree (from Sunday)

Friday and I'm gonna pack up before the afternoon sesh. I could do some gig prep but would rather not. Feeling somewhat free and relaxed approaching this with the least prep ever. I know Pete was worried he only has his hardware and fears he hasn't prepared enough but I'm sure it'll be great, Once we start playing, that's it. Once I have my pile of gear on the hallway floor I can spend the rest of the afternoon doing the usual nonsense of a Friday. Not gonna get too stoned though cos I plan to leave here around 8am Saturday. 

Been some good pix on morning walks lately.

Felt like a darn good friday (rough mix)

https://wilyepeyote.bandcamp.com/track/my-voice

October dawns, our single is out and I start writing. Got spot looked at and... oh dear.

 Yeah that does it for September and I begin my first draft of the review. I know enough now and should knuckle down - may try to get it done in a fortnight but if not it can be in the January issue. The single came out yesterday and SOS David found it on Youtube for those who don't have a spotify login. Still surprised my old one works. EMOM last night was a bit shit and one guy was so loud I had to leave shortly after enduring his set. Ears still ringing - when will I learn. Also sent our first pints back as they were off - proper nasty they were. 

Tomorrow it's Harter Fell, the Eskdale one. Not sure if I'm driving. Friday night it's a gig, really must find out who we're seeing. 

Thursday was a hard day, can't say I enjoyed it. Some good pix but very long drive, felt sick, squelched up a hill. Anyway, will have to think about doing these to see if I really want to do every one. Friday I did three things - worked on two MPC / P3 songs.Then played with Atrium and SP-404. Got some nice stuff that I captured into the mixer. Then went to work on review while still slightly stoned. Going to see Monochrome Set tonight with Tony. Review again over weekend if I can. Will try and do the bulk of it 

Spot still on my nose so gonna go docs next week. Pat thinks a cyst. Great. 

Woke Saturday morning with a very swollen right eye. It's been a day or so of discomfort so should've looked sooner. Pat got me some drops. Last few days have been reasonably productive with some MPC work, more testing and fun with the ODD-1 and some writing. Guess I might be showing doc my eye and nose on Monday. Great. 

Happy birthday to me. Spent morning chasing docs to get my nose spot and wonky eye sorted. Did a bit of review work but not a lot. Saw Department S and heard Edgar's repeating guitar solo from Ricochet, never noticed that before. Made a thai green curry but recipe didn't mention coconut milk and it probably should have. 

Wednesday had spot photographed and it's a low grade growth called a Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC). It  does not appear to have the potential to spread to another site in the body so it is NOT considered to be serious or a dangerous skin cancer. Unfortunately, if the lesion is left it will slowly increase in size and can be locally destructive.

So I wait for another email for the next appointment. 

In other news, got my first draft of the review pretty much complete today at only 400 words over my expected word count. I have a few more days at it but may see if I can get it sent Friday and give myself a clear weekend. Pat's away Saturday although there's floor replacement activity in the hallway that is gonna be Friday and maybe Saturday. How come every time she organises the floor to be done it's a bloody Friday? Huh? 

Not walking tomorrow as I wannt work on the review, do some final tests and checks. Guess if the NHS takes too long I can get Tony's lass to take a scalpel to me. 

At least the eye was only a stye. Look proper weary there though. 

Synthfest here I come! Plus, that just about wraps it up for September.

 Yeah, gonna stay two nights and have a jolly splendid time. Ziggy has been put off until December and I have pretty much sussed ODD-1 barring a few questions I need to ask. Sun is shining and the garden bin is full. My lancs pension amounts to something like £190 a year or just under £900 lump sum followed by £123 a year - so gonna take that option and buy a card for the Easel, which was supposed to come this week, except, of course, I know Buchla all too well. 

Needless to say the Easel didn't arrive. Had some good days with the ODD-1 though and am now in a position to start writing the review. Put this together https://wilyepeyote.bandcamp.com/track/omg2

It pairs well with the SQ1 and even better with the Touche!

Apparently Gong are playing in the Ferret tonight. Pascal says he's going and I wonder if I will? All depends what I get up to this afternoon, I suppose. 

Today I updated the Osmose (despite there being nothing in the update for me) then started playing it. From there I progressed to doing the obvious thing

https://wilyepeyote.bandcamp.com/track/the-obvious-thing

My general assessment of September is that it shows improvement, finally. Musically, I mean. I've done a few things that aren't utter shit. 

I'm getting close to the "start writing" part of the review but John's added new looping functionality, which is rather promising. He's also gonna do the dotted delays etc. that I asked for, all of which shows he's keen and capable. This being the last week of September, I'm ready to knuckle down and knock up a draft to work on. Last few things to work on and refine then force myself to stop playing with it. Gig coming up so need to think about that. Won't bother chasing Source this week but will chase solicitor, again. EMOM tomorrow but will I go or stay home?

Yay - got auto scene switching working at last! Review gear here!

 I know, probably obvious to most people but it hasn't been for me. Installed the plugin, went through a wizard to set it up and it just works. Now all I need is proper places for my two cams - or a new cam with a longer lead. How marvellous!

New Cirklon OS to try today. Mystery DHL package gone from East Midlands to Altingham. 

Discussing new ANT album cover and single releases to come. 

ODD-1 arrived and started using. Tested euclidian mode of Cirklon and probably moaned more about the general OS than I should. Pat having nightmare in hospital again with Margaret. 

Friday was good. Learned more about the ODD-1 then recorded this https://wilyepeyote.bandcamp.com/track/megadodo

Laughed as we watched Dune part 2 realising we'd seen it before just on Prime. It was only "new" to Netflix. Oh well. Shoulda watched "Call My Agent". 

Saturday I knuckled down to review work updating the ODD-1 to latest firmware, loading in a selection of my usual samples and generally getting a feel for it. Know my way round a bit better at least. Sunday I think Margaret being discharged - was nice having her in there.

Monday was a nice day out with John. We went to Ribchester, had a nice lunch and later a beer. Will pick up review work tomorrow again.

Some days alone to play, write and, well, drink I suppose.

 Yeah it's Friday, signed contract for mum's house and preparing for my studio time. Didn't manage to go for weed but will cope I think. 

It was a good day. Worked on a new track, also in Fm, and used the Casio piano a lot. It really works well in its new place and it's just what that setup needed I think. Seem to have recorded a few things, all of which sound pretty good. Today (Saturday) I'll do more and perhaps put them together in Logic. 

Seems like Saturday was good

https://wilyepeyote.bandcamp.com/album/spegifo-nunc-taters

Stoned Satyrday night and watching Fackham Hall which being stoned helps. Its writ by Jimmy Carr and today I'm in the mood for it. I didn't get much beyond half-way through though as just wasn't stoned enough. Sunday went to see Jan and then cleaned bathroom, listened to recordings, made bolognese...

Sunday and Pat home in a few hours. Occurs to me that some of the best stuff I've done in a while exists, currently, as recordings into the 404. The Atrium continues to captivate. May ask why they don't let yuo store gestures as thet really make a patch - your little personal recording of parameter tweaks.

had a great sunday in studio playing with atrium

https://wilyepeyote.bandcamp.com/album/spegifo-nunc-taters

Pat home soon and I made a nice bolognese

I'm thinking that, in future, I should specify nuns, don't you agree?

September feels like a return to form. Musically. No sign of the Odd-1 yet. 

Got phone screen replaced, supposedly a genuine Apple part but I think cos the guy nicked it out of a phone he had in the shop. Oh well. Jan got hold of David who will provide invoice for gas work. I will contact carport people once solicitor gives me the details I naively left with them thinking they might do something (other than repeatedly ask the same questions) for their fee. Installed Margaret's bed and I think I'll do a bit of gardening now as it's forecast to rain tomorrow. 

Sill no reply from Inmusic about my problem. I suspect I'm not going to get one. 

The week progresses with more of the Margaret saga, gas fire/boiler service and general lethargy. It's hard to start on anything with the constant fear of interruption and I'm wondering what happened to that Odd-1 which I expected last week. I should probably start thinking about firing up the MPC again to remind myself of the bits and pieces I have prepared for the gig but I'd rather play the Atrium. Seems we have everything the solicitors want now except for David's invoice, which I hope will arrive today. Then we can finally get a date for exchange of contracts. That would be one big thing sorted at least. 

Tuesday and I had no mojo at all. Tried some video of Atrium but the camera swap still not happening. No idea why not but fed up with it. Fired up the MPC but was not inspired at all. Using its clips as it stands is utterly useless if they're audio clips - no wonder InMusic never got back to me. Tried the RND thing but got yet more shit from it.Seemed like such a good idea but, in reality, it's boring as hell and I wonder if 5 presses should be enough, or 50 or 500? 

Rainy Wednesday awaiting a mystery delivery from Croatia. Chased Source for an update on my Easel Command and told "next week" which, if it happens, will allow me to use it at the gig. Which would be great actually. Should try and solve that camera switching thing and see if i can get the Sys8 USB driver loaded on my elderly Mac. Admin and faff but necessary. Update: Sys8 USB driver doesn't go far back enough for my Mac OS. However, MIDI works but only when I set the SYstem 8 to transmit on channel 1 as quite a few plugins insist on that (!). So it was working the other day when I needed it I just assumed Logic would rechannalise - dopey moi! Gonna leave camera shite to another day though as there's a Cirklon OS to try.