Went mad, bought Wavestate, seem to be coming to end of line with Torso.

Unlike Labout,  Torso announced no rethink on their stupidity and therefore the trashing of Tape (replacing a 6 min looper with a 30 second one!) will not be rolled back or any compromise considered. I'll not decide what to do immediately but I either stick with 1.22 and miss out on macros and the envelope follower, use Beta 12 and put up with the bugs, not least the distortion that happens with overdub sometimes. In both cases probably would not trust the thing live, which is a downer. I could use version 2 and try to find a reason to do so but my heart isn't in it any more and I think the time may have come. 

In other news I bought a Korg Wavestate. It was a kind of snap decision after talking to Matt and reading the manual. The idea was to pair it with the Keystep Pro as a mini jamming and possibly live rig. The Keystep was troublesome today though, hung a few times until I discovered a rogue pattern that I deleted. That kind of thing has happened before but I don't see any more development on it. Will try the program changes with it too as hopefully I can work with weird bank select it does but can't be turned off.

Had a day setting up first performance and corresponding Keystep project Still some stuff to find - e.g. the effect parameters - but selecting presets worked for today. Have not done much with the wave sequencing but will get to it. At least performances take copies of the patches you load so shouldn't be the issue of the original WS pointing to shit that you then change. Fiddlier to get around than the gorgeously logical Opsix but I did expect that. 

https://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/wavestate-1 

Making good progress with Easel review and learning the Wavestate. Seems that annoyance with the FX parameters is genuine and there's no way to see the parameters, just set offsets to whatever they are. Stupid! Otherwise I like it but it does make using FX really hard. 

Ah I see the FX can only be edited in detail from the editor - what a downer for a hardware synth. It's worse cos the editor totally sucks. I mean, it might work on a large screen but it's shit on my two Windows laptops, just won't fit properly without shrinking so I can't read any text. And the FX are right at the bottom so I'll have to find a way to drag the box without the top bar, probably windows geeks know how to do that. Anyway, I'm still struggling to edit some things. Like today I spent almost 30 mins trying to work out what one sequencer lane wouldn't go beyond step 3 even though its length was 7 steps. Gave up in the end. Next time I start something I'll choose an Init wavesequence rather than keep doing edits on whatever it was I started from. Must be something in there I can't see that's hurting. Was tempted to send it back but I still feel it has potential. Laborious though. 

Walking tomorrow. Cautley Spout. 

Friday today. Think it's crunch time for the Wavestate - if I can't find a way to edit those FX parameters I may have to reluctantly send it back. Dan from Korg has been trying to help but doesn't realise how hard it is to use the app on my laptop so will do some screen dumps with little arrowspointing to the areas off-screen where the (only) paramters I need are to be found. I would not have bought it had I known you couldn't edit everything from the hardware. Reviews should have screamed about this. 

Heading towards the solstice & S-4 hurts...

 Yeah, a few days and we'll hit that tipping point, seems to come quicker each year. We have, at least, had plenty of warm, sunny weather this year so no complaints from me. Today's Wednesday and Pat may be home. She's gonna be away next week too but really hope that's it for a while as she'll be totally knackered. I've coped OK by myself, ate lots of curry, drank beer and got stoned. Experimentally trying not to resist today just to see what it's like. I've done a lot of music and the kindest thing I can say is that some of it is "interesting". 

I think I've resigned myself to keeping the S-4 at Beta 12 level like some ancient insect in amber and hoping, desperately, for an Open Source future where they put back what was magical about it (to me). The official release doesn't interest me too much as I can no longer work like I have since the start. Tape's reduction from 6 mins per track to 30 seconds has just ruined it for me - and I feel pretty bad about my review now, wish I'd never heard of the damn thing. Not Duncan's fault - he knew I'd love it as it was but neither of us could have predicted that Torso simply couldn't make it work reliably/stably and therefore took a late and unexpected side-road. Communication very poor too, it's like dealing with kids who break up with you by ghosting you. 

Some review work today. Is the plan. Didn't happen.

You know, the more I think about this S-4 thing the more questions I have, such as was this diversion planned from the start? If so, how come Disc only appeared in beta 14(was it?). And if it was planned, what was the point of fixing my record/overdub bug that I reported and which did appear on the fixed list? Now overdub isn't possible and doesn't even appear in the manual as a note option. More and more I suspect this was a panic/rush job to get something out, riding roughshod over testers's views and concerns about loss of functionality. 

I am, so far, resisting public comment but at some point I'll probably apologise to readers of the SOS review for leading them astray. 

Solstice... yesterday I recorded a few hot, sweaty things that turned out OK, I think. 

Most were shorter than usual as I was melting and wanted to get the recording done. 

Monday now. Pat's away again, I dearly hope for the last time in a while. Spent the day tinkering with the Easel review, at least it's started now and I can pick at it when the mood takes me. Was pleasant and sunny but apparently it's getting colder and wetter tomorrow, which will suit my studio excesses. Trying to keep the online moaning about the S-4 to a minimum but it ain't easy. 

Got an early morning call from mum wanting help, rushed to Longridge to find she was exhausted, had been up all night but couldn't trust her legs to go into kitchen for a drink of water. Stayed with her a few hours as she slept. Turns out she'd fallen previous night after falling asleep standing up (again). Tough times. Seemingly better now, hope I dare go out to the EMOM tonight. Haven't done a lot today, dozed a bit and, of course, that's when mum rang to say she was feeling better. Broc been neglected a bit but he's chirpy enough. I wrote a paragraph of review, that's all I could manage. Pat meant to be home tomorrow, hope so. 

Pat delayed by burning cars on the motorway, lots of those these days. I didn't do a lot, started playing with the Opsix but got distracted by incessant crackling from the S-4. No idea why as I haven't changed anything. In the end just switched it off. Will see if they have anything to say next week as promised via email. Last night's EMOM was great - enjoyed every act and it is starting to feel like possible a good grass roots scene evolving. We will play next month. 

Alone Again Times Two

 Yeah, doesn't seem like 5 mins since the last time, although only the one dog to look after this week. Dawn's having an op on her knee and Pat's gone down to help out as she'll be incapacitated. Sunday morning now and I'm contemplating how to use the time, probably should start the Buchla review as I probably know enough to do so. Feel like making music too, which is nice.

The Graham Massey thing was great, a bit like Gong in places and a bit jazzwanky in others, but always interesting. Young chap came up to me and said how much he'd enjoyed our Ferret set, which was very cool to hear. Hope when Tim gets back we can continue in the same vein and get ourselves ready to do more good shit. I recorded something on Friday that's half-decent and started something on Saturday I might progress more today. Should really be looking at putting patterns together for Headshock, just supporting sorta things but interesting ones. May not go and get another week's supply of curry - my system has only just recovered from the last lot. Then again, who knows?

Still struggling to make myself understood on the Torso beta list. The programmy chap asked for a use case that the current changes have scuppered and I gave a simple example of one of mine, to zero response - except from a few other users who got it. It feels, at the moment, like I've wasted my time with this thing and, worse, recommended the magical parts in the SOS review that, as I write this, have been trashed. Starting to suspect they simply don't know how to make their original idea stable enough and are changing direction accordingly. 

Good to remember that HX-One on the floor, even if I forgot it was assigned to the Easel and therefore made a fool of myself going on a wild goose chase after sorting out the unattached reverb spring. I suppose it's possible I swap things round too much. 

Monday did this

Wednesday went for a walk with Tony and, in the evening, watched some old Stargate thing and drank whisky. Slept well and woke feeling like doing some music - can't summon the enthusiasm to start writing review yet - will see if it 's any cooler today. Pat home tomorrow and I've missed her. 

This was Thursday/Friday but I think I forgot to record one of the things I did today or yesterday, erm.

On Saturday I changed a few things around - swapped the 505s, using them as mixer into the Cosmos so two instruments plus recorded performances can be processed by it. Getting great results. Put Super 6 in place of Osmose so I can loop it and the Easel together. Top fun!! Recorded this and I reckon June has already produced better music than May and I'm just two weeks in. 

Pat goes off again tomorrow, intend to get some RK again. And this week I will try and make inroads on the review.

I could take a photo of a fridge full of curry but I've done that before. Meant to do something this afternoon but haven't. Having some wine and will see what the evening holds...

Some (relative) freedom, playing live and going to a gig

 Yeah, that kind of week lies ahead. I have to wait in tomorrow for the non-RoHS compliant part for the Easel and then I'll walk the dogs and go to RK Dining for some vittles. The afternoon will be Tim and I getting our shit together for the thing at the Ferret. I think Wednesday is the free-est day as Thursday is mum's birthday and Lisa is doing a thing, Friday is Penguin Cafe in Kendal. Pat & Marg home on Saturday. As always I'll try and make the best of things. 

Well, the gig was ace. Think Tim did really well considering the time he'd had to prepare with the EMX. Could be worthy of release.

RK Dining was a treat this morning - got three meals and sides then they gave me two more dishes for free as they were left over from a banquet that was cancelled. Yay! I'm gonna be an even fatter bastard. 

Today will test the VCX a bit and continue with the Easel.

Oh yes, Penguin Cafe were wonderful. Woulda some of their own stuff rather than wall to wall PCO but shouldn't moan. Got back just before midnight and dogs were OK, although Benji had peed (didn't see until following morning).
Continuing S-4 testing, or would be if I could still do the thing I've come to rely on doing. Now fighting to retain the functionality that made me buy (and recommend) the thing in the first place, which is hugely frustrating. Fitted new LPG and noticed the reverb not attached by all 4 springs. Then made a fool of myself by thinking there was reverb even when it was set off, forgetting I'd swapped the FX around with the Osmose and that its HX-One was set to reverb. Made notes on the VCX, got the SH-101 and Morpheus back from repair - 101 sounds fab, not had chance to try the Morph yet. Studio feeling somewhat cluttered, Jupiter is back so will move the Sys8 around and park the Wave until the Easel goes (yeah, would love to keep it but just can't justify the outlay). Haven't walked this week, maybe next week but will have to take Broc as I'm alone again. Haven't done any decent music in a while so really want to get something going for this Friday afternoon. Tim away in Bulgaria so Saturday will be free for something, not sure what. Maybe the OT studio and have it sequence the Morphy, see how it holds up. Haven't recorded anything personally in there for a while. Or in setup 2 come to think of it. Cirklon's sequencing the 101 at the moment though and I fancy giving that a go too... decsions! The Graham Massey gig tomorrow too. 

Exploring Live (a bit) then Superbooth!

 Yeah, Live Lite came with the MOTU interface (as well as Performer). I like the simple, clear, scalable interface and the fact I know it already, a little. Did a small experiment today with some audio taken from the BlackBox, just arranging it and playing with effects. Seems it will serve well. Since Cirklon is still where it was 15 years ago, in terms of arrangement anyway, I reckon I've waited long enough and should find alternative ways forward. Tuesday, installed full version of Ableton. May look at some of the packs that come with it but not going to rush into those as there are too many.

Friday was a good un. Updated the Osmose and recorded some stuff with new sounds. Need to do an actual arrangement of it, get the levels up and so on but all good. 

Superbooth was a wonderful week, even if I should maybe do it slightly different in future so I can see more of the gear/people. Getting Colin & co out of the apartment each day was a slow business...

Hmmm since then the Easel has arrived and we're down to do a spot at the local EMOM so I should probably wrap this up and start another blog entry. 

April sun & showers

 I'm generally getting in the mood for Berlin and pondering any gear I want to try there (the Beetlecrab Tempera is something I'm still curious about, for example). Would like to talk to the Osmose guys and see what they're up to and a few others too, but mainly it'll be about the people I guess. I wonder if a new generation MPC is around the corner with a bigger, snappier, better-used touchscreen? I used to hate touchscreens but there's probably no better way to do a DAW-like interface in hardware.

Tree & Leaf arrived. Not cheese-free but hey, of its time. 

Fridays music had its moments, Saturday with Tim wasn't bad either. Didn't sort out new recording stylee but moving towards it. Setup MOTU's Performer on laptop along with new audio interface (M4) - did basic test but not sure it looks great on small screen. Setup Live Lite 12 which looks better so may try that, initially with arrangements of some BB recordings, which seems a good way to work. Maybe. 

Easter, sunny, off to see mum. A far cry from 2 years ago...

Hilarious - Synthi behaving itself AND the P3 too, the lack of MIDI output seemed related to connecting it to the Vermona MIDI/CV interface. So I'm basically going to Tony's to get Tim's Jupiter fixed. Oh well, it'll be nice to catch up and will get Tim to go get it when sorted. No worries. Oh, Ableton is much easier than Performer, clearer too - but dragging the audio into tracks produced clips of varying lengths so maybe I need to do something else. 

Feeling deflated this morning (Wednesday) as Walter finally met a marauding cat. Looks like he put up a fight. He'd been doing so well too, had even managed to get on the fence yesterday. RIP Walter. 

Friday was an odd day, slept on the settee for some of the evening, not entirely sure why. The music was a mixed bag with the weirder parts being the best. Saturday Tim came with his Machinedrum and Monomachine - sounded great and we recorded them separately. 

Hey it's almost the end of April, Berlin soon! Oh, I bought the Behringer 2-XD but am sending it back as it's a bit cheap and nasty. The MIDI doesn't work properly either, although maybe only for me. I think I've probably bought enough of their gear now and if the race is on for the bottom, I should be wary of getting any more. 

Stuff updated

 The most important of which is MIDICake Arp, which goes to V8. It still only has 8 chords for all pattern banks to share but at least now you can store up to 12 chains - with up to 32 links, each of a length you specify. Not all numbers are available - so no wacky primes or owt - but it's a great step forwards. Now you can have a chain running, switch to another and then manually load different patterns as you go. I had a great day with it anyway. It has some other stuff but less relevant to me as my "chords" are just note pools. Suggested a few display improvements - e.g. showing the chain progress rather than the somewhat pointless BPM and chord name (custom, all of mine so a bit tedious) and key (which is shown already on the actual keyboard). Anyway, he's been great at doing the updates and considering further ones and Arp has evolved into a very useful little jamming tool. 

The GR-1 got a fix update so should now be better for performance naming slots and so on. The other update I can't tell you about until it's official - and anyway, it doesn't work yet, for me. 

Friday and Pat just headed south, back tomorrow. I note that RK Dining is open at 10:30 so will head down there and stock up for tonight so I needn't go out for a takeaway. Yay! We will see what emerges...

Saturday again. Good week. Sunny. Hence not looked at blog. 

Mick did a remastering job on Lore, much happier with it now. That piano always set my teeth on edge and now it doesn't cos Mick snipped it out. I put it out and invited people to re-download (included the first edited track as a bonus in case anyone prefers the CD version. All good. Friday's track isn't bad either so the fact it's been too sunny to do owt since is fine. Tim and I drank beer on Saturday and absorbed some rays. Next week meant to be nice too and we're going to see Mick on Tuesday. What fun!

Great seeing Mick, must do it again soon. Decided not to walk tomorrow after being in too much slow traffic yesterday. Want to do some S4 beta testing. Will walk with Pat & Broc in the morning.
PRS day - another good one. I am constantly amazed by this and wonder what's going on that it keeps giving. Berlin soon so should get a new carry-on bag.