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.