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.
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Friday, 26 July 2013
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...
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...
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
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.
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.
Saturday, 20 July 2013
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!
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!
Friday, 19 July 2013
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...
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...
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
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...
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...
Monday, 15 July 2013
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.
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.
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