NO updates for a while since my main computer - the one for music etc - is dead. I should try and change the CMOS battery but I am worried that if the new battery doesn't fix it, I am truly doomed. Yeah feeble I know.
I am about to remove the 'Semantic Architecture' blog on the basis that work related blogs are something you have to be very careful about these days. Besides which I have precious little time as it is.
Meantime I continue to work on the WH40K stuff for my sons (and myself). I have started up on some scenery and I think this particular effort will take me well into next year.
TTFN...
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Interesting....
War without end
To encourage my sons to write better English (yeah ever hopeful), I have set up a blog for them.
War Without End will give them the opportunity to write battle reports and describe their growing armies. I intend to let them cut lose with the camera so they can upload some images as well. I figure if they are going to play a game, then why not add in some kind of side benefit?
So check it out and post up some encouragement for the boys!
War Without End will give them the opportunity to write battle reports and describe their growing armies. I intend to let them cut lose with the camera so they can upload some images as well. I figure if they are going to play a game, then why not add in some kind of side benefit?
So check it out and post up some encouragement for the boys!
Its called 'ScribeFire' now
I have not had much luck with this Firefox add-on for blogging for some time now. It just doesn't work in a way I find useful. This is mainly an issue for formatting text.
It also stopped working for a while on blogger. Not good!
Giving it another go since there have been updates. So here goes...
UPDATE: Well I tried an edit - it duplicated the post! The text size adjustment resulted in text much too small - not one size smaller (small or 85%) but something smaller still (approx 80% size perhaps?). It also adds div tags which seems to override the para spacing. Yuk. Everything looks double spaced (almost).
Still... for quick posts it ain't bad. Trouble is it is just as easy to launch the blogger editor where I am typing this now.
It also stopped working for a while on blogger. Not good!
Giving it another go since there have been updates. So here goes...
UPDATE: Well I tried an edit - it duplicated the post! The text size adjustment resulted in text much too small - not one size smaller (small or 85%) but something smaller still (approx 80% size perhaps?). It also adds div tags which seems to override the para spacing. Yuk. Everything looks double spaced (almost).
Still... for quick posts it ain't bad. Trouble is it is just as easy to launch the blogger editor where I am typing this now.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Games?
It is or at least occasionally can be, a curious life. Who would have thought I would end up playing a table top miniatures game with the space wombles?
But I am. My fault. I told my sons if they showed that they would genuinely get into Warhammer 40K then I would help, buy into the space wombles and play with them.
I really didn't expect they would go for it. But they did. Big time.
And so I find myself with this vast number of space wombles, tyranids and necrons to build. My eldest is pretty much self-contained - as you might expect. But number two son needs some help. He is pretty much self-sufficient and getting better all the time, but hey... he is nine!
Meanwhile I have this space womble army to build. Why space wombles? When the Warhammer stuff first came out they all had womble heads.
Now the snouts have been cut off so they dont look quite so silly. A fact for which I am very grateful. Of course my sons have never seen the wombles... Again - I am quite grateful!
I tried to locate some pictures of space wombles but I suspect that Games Workshop have had a purge. Then again, the models inlcude some womble heads so maybe I will make one and post up a picture. Meantime check out the space womble second from right. A bit small to see but the resemblance is obvious.
So as I find computer games gradually lose their appeal, I make a return to a more traditional war game. Not quite Advanced Squad Leader but I am not complaining. It will be fun to do this stuff with my kids.
Just gotta work out how to put together lots of scenery!
But I am. My fault. I told my sons if they showed that they would genuinely get into Warhammer 40K then I would help, buy into the space wombles and play with them.
I really didn't expect they would go for it. But they did. Big time.
And so I find myself with this vast number of space wombles, tyranids and necrons to build. My eldest is pretty much self-contained - as you might expect. But number two son needs some help. He is pretty much self-sufficient and getting better all the time, but hey... he is nine!
Meanwhile I have this space womble army to build. Why space wombles? When the Warhammer stuff first came out they all had womble heads.Now the snouts have been cut off so they dont look quite so silly. A fact for which I am very grateful. Of course my sons have never seen the wombles... Again - I am quite grateful!
I tried to locate some pictures of space wombles but I suspect that Games Workshop have had a purge. Then again, the models inlcude some womble heads so maybe I will make one and post up a picture. Meantime check out the space womble second from right. A bit small to see but the resemblance is obvious.
So as I find computer games gradually lose their appeal, I make a return to a more traditional war game. Not quite Advanced Squad Leader but I am not complaining. It will be fun to do this stuff with my kids.Just gotta work out how to put together lots of scenery!
Monday, August 06, 2007
We are off!
The weather looks like it might settle and be at least dry for a few days. So off to the Lakes.
All being well we will be at Low Wray National Trust camp site. Photos to follow I suppose...
The camp site is a first come first served affair so wish us luck.
I haven't managed anything musical over these holidays. Quite frustrating really. But by the time things are quiet, it is way too late. I just want to read, watch some telly or otherwise veg-out.
Oh well.
All being well we will be at Low Wray National Trust camp site. Photos to follow I suppose...
The camp site is a first come first served affair so wish us luck.
I haven't managed anything musical over these holidays. Quite frustrating really. But by the time things are quiet, it is way too late. I just want to read, watch some telly or otherwise veg-out.
Oh well.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Noise!
Just been entertaining myself with Reason's Matrix. Although truth be told I have little experience using the Matrix and the CV outputs so I have no idea if the screaming noise was down to its influence on the Subtractor filters... or just my sound design.
Not satisfied with the screaming coming from Reason, I then added not one but two instances of MFM2 onto the audio in Sonar. Ouch. But I like it. Lots.
Just getting ready for this coming Saturdays ICS session... A little familiarisation with aspects of my software as yet untried. Fun!
Not satisfied with the screaming coming from Reason, I then added not one but two instances of MFM2 onto the audio in Sonar. Ouch. But I like it. Lots.
Just getting ready for this coming Saturdays ICS session... A little familiarisation with aspects of my software as yet untried. Fun!
Sunday, July 15, 2007
The great choke
I have been trying to upload my old material from Elka CR99 floppies.
First I tried Sonar PE (6.2.1). I got quite a few tracks loaded but the biggie. The huge 'medley' we used to perform live, well that was just too much. Sonar go boom. It had already done this on some of the other tracks but had scraped through on subsequent attempts. Not this time. Same thing each attempt: boom. Sonar died.
So I loaded up Ableton Live (6.0.7). The medley recorded ok but the following tracks killed Live as well. Gah!
Its late and I have had enough for now. It does make me wonder that stuff I did around the early 90s on far less capable computers and software causes such difficulties now. My current PC and software is in a different universe. And therein lies the problem I guess. Power and complexity bring their own problems.
First I tried Sonar PE (6.2.1). I got quite a few tracks loaded but the biggie. The huge 'medley' we used to perform live, well that was just too much. Sonar go boom. It had already done this on some of the other tracks but had scraped through on subsequent attempts. Not this time. Same thing each attempt: boom. Sonar died.
So I loaded up Ableton Live (6.0.7). The medley recorded ok but the following tracks killed Live as well. Gah!
Its late and I have had enough for now. It does make me wonder that stuff I did around the early 90s on far less capable computers and software causes such difficulties now. My current PC and software is in a different universe. And therein lies the problem I guess. Power and complexity bring their own problems.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Skint
Every damn month there seems to be some additional expense that kicks snot out of any plans to recoup.
June was the month I shut down my old web business and, working through some accountants, it has cost a fortune.
This month or perhaps August it will be the collapsed ceiling. Since the insurers have decided not to pay (in dispute so more about that later) we will have to cover the repairs. The collapse happened in APRIL! It is getting beyond a joke it really is.
Meantime my current employer seriously underpays me. I guess it is time to move on but that will almost certainly mean moving to the SE. Not exactly a positive spin is it?
June was the month I shut down my old web business and, working through some accountants, it has cost a fortune.
This month or perhaps August it will be the collapsed ceiling. Since the insurers have decided not to pay (in dispute so more about that later) we will have to cover the repairs. The collapse happened in APRIL! It is getting beyond a joke it really is.
Meantime my current employer seriously underpays me. I guess it is time to move on but that will almost certainly mean moving to the SE. Not exactly a positive spin is it?
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Busy busy
I have been creating entries on various music community/showcase sites. At this rate I will lose count and forget one.
Not that it is an issue with just a single loaded demo at this point in time.
On the writing side I am accumulating a fair number of unfinished tracks. I am going to have get down to actually finishing this material and soon. But time is not something I have a lot of and late night sessions are just knackering me. So I will have to plan this out somehow and see if I can manage things more effectively.
On the gear front I am learning the new s/w but as ever, it is a slow process. Getting there.
There is another ICS virtual session coming up on the 21st July. I think I will go all experimental for this one. Just see if I can seriously fux0r sounds and create some kind of unpleasant musical texture. Oh. Did I day musical? Heh. Just kidding. It will be anything but.
And just what is with the weather? Are we going to get a summer? Ugh...
Not that it is an issue with just a single loaded demo at this point in time.
On the writing side I am accumulating a fair number of unfinished tracks. I am going to have get down to actually finishing this material and soon. But time is not something I have a lot of and late night sessions are just knackering me. So I will have to plan this out somehow and see if I can manage things more effectively.
On the gear front I am learning the new s/w but as ever, it is a slow process. Getting there.
There is another ICS virtual session coming up on the 21st July. I think I will go all experimental for this one. Just see if I can seriously fux0r sounds and create some kind of unpleasant musical texture. Oh. Did I day musical? Heh. Just kidding. It will be anything but.
And just what is with the weather? Are we going to get a summer? Ugh...
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The Tele
Here it is. Or at least here is a crappy mobile phone photo. If I can find the camera I will post up something better!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Change
Change... the only thing that is constant. If you could bank on it we would all be rather wealthy. And here it comes again.
I am going through a change. A change of thinking, feeling, of direction. It is past time to move away from the old and look to what might be in the future. Of course some things you just cannot and would not want to leave behind. Family for example. But this is not necessarily true for friends. When you find your previous common ground and mutual respect no longer holds, it is time to move on.
Nothing bad about this. Sad perhaps... but it is just the process of age and change taking effect.
On the whole my current mood is bleak. I cant find much in the way of fun and relaxation. Work is simply tedious. Home seems a place of anxiety. I cant place my finger on why or how. I know full well that quite often what you bring to a situation is what will mostly determine what you will get out of it. So I guess I will just have to 'think positive' even if talking about it risks extreme nausea. Bleurgh. OK enough of thinking positively... and 'embrace the wave'.
There are other changes around me at the moment. Not just the negative. All being well tomorrow I will be in possession of the first guitar I have purchased in something like 15 years or so. Needless to say, I hope I am not disappointed!
More and perhaps some photos later.
I am going through a change. A change of thinking, feeling, of direction. It is past time to move away from the old and look to what might be in the future. Of course some things you just cannot and would not want to leave behind. Family for example. But this is not necessarily true for friends. When you find your previous common ground and mutual respect no longer holds, it is time to move on.
Nothing bad about this. Sad perhaps... but it is just the process of age and change taking effect.
On the whole my current mood is bleak. I cant find much in the way of fun and relaxation. Work is simply tedious. Home seems a place of anxiety. I cant place my finger on why or how. I know full well that quite often what you bring to a situation is what will mostly determine what you will get out of it. So I guess I will just have to 'think positive' even if talking about it risks extreme nausea. Bleurgh. OK enough of thinking positively... and 'embrace the wave'.
There are other changes around me at the moment. Not just the negative. All being well tomorrow I will be in possession of the first guitar I have purchased in something like 15 years or so. Needless to say, I hope I am not disappointed!
More and perhaps some photos later.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The deed is done
I have placed my 'buy now, panic later' order with Dolphin Music. So in due course (all being well) my spangly new Fender Telecaster will be in my grubby paws.
Along with a couple of other things.
My lack of PC power has pushed me into a Pod XT and my need for some kind of fully fledged DAW to master material has landed me in the Sonar 6 camp.
I downloaded the Sonar 6 demo and several things impressed me. Firstly I was able to get a basic track up and running with a softsynth without reference to the manual.
With a bit help from the basic demo manual, I created a drum map for ErsDrums and created a simple drum pattern in the drum editor. All very easy indeed.
Ease of use is important to me. I really do not want to get lost in geeky software exploration. I want to get on with the music. I succumb to geeky stuff all too easily.
The fact that Sonar 6 PE is the best part of £200 less than Cubase 4 also helped swing my decision.
So now all I have to do is wait... assuming my credit is good for a 12 month panic later scheme (which it should be). But you never know.
I am a bit concerned with the 'ordered on request' tag on the Tele and the Sonar. That could make for a longer wait than I want. Oh well.
I am also a bit concerned over a guitar being sent via courier. Will it survive?
More on this soon.
Oh. Almost forgot. My wee shuttle is now up to a 4200 dual core. Next month 2GB memory. And that will have to do for... well for quite some time I suspect.
Along with a couple of other things.
My lack of PC power has pushed me into a Pod XT and my need for some kind of fully fledged DAW to master material has landed me in the Sonar 6 camp.
I downloaded the Sonar 6 demo and several things impressed me. Firstly I was able to get a basic track up and running with a softsynth without reference to the manual.
With a bit help from the basic demo manual, I created a drum map for ErsDrums and created a simple drum pattern in the drum editor. All very easy indeed.
Ease of use is important to me. I really do not want to get lost in geeky software exploration. I want to get on with the music. I succumb to geeky stuff all too easily.
The fact that Sonar 6 PE is the best part of £200 less than Cubase 4 also helped swing my decision.
So now all I have to do is wait... assuming my credit is good for a 12 month panic later scheme (which it should be). But you never know.
I am a bit concerned with the 'ordered on request' tag on the Tele and the Sonar. That could make for a longer wait than I want. Oh well.
I am also a bit concerned over a guitar being sent via courier. Will it survive?
Oh. Almost forgot. My wee shuttle is now up to a 4200 dual core. Next month 2GB memory. And that will have to do for... well for quite some time I suspect.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
ScribeFire
Performancing no more?
Well I haven't used 'ScribeFire' for a while so I thought I would check it out. Until recently it hasn't worked at all.
If you can see this. It worked.
EDIT: It double spaced everything. Yuk. More to fix.
Well I haven't used 'ScribeFire' for a while so I thought I would check it out. Until recently it hasn't worked at all.
If you can see this. It worked.
EDIT: It double spaced everything. Yuk. More to fix.
Ready?
All being well my wee Shuttle should be running on a 4200 dual core sometime tomorrow afternoon. Assuming it arrives and nothing breaks.
I have flashed the BIOS, updated the chipset drivers. Sacrificed the appropriate animals and made liberal offerings. Etc.
For a brief moment I was concerned when my box blue-screened during the driver update. I think that was just the god of mischief reminding me I am just some mere mortal. And not to get carried away.
uhuh. Good point. Lesson learned.
Next month I will hopefully move up to 2GB. Watch this space.
All this means one thing: no Mac Pro this year. Not happy about that but that is the way it is.
On a positive note I hope to have a new guitar soon. More on that later.
EDIT: Seems google/blogger have changed the way text is sized. Great. I so love inconsistent text.
I have flashed the BIOS, updated the chipset drivers. Sacrificed the appropriate animals and made liberal offerings. Etc.
For a brief moment I was concerned when my box blue-screened during the driver update. I think that was just the god of mischief reminding me I am just some mere mortal. And not to get carried away.
uhuh. Good point. Lesson learned.
Next month I will hopefully move up to 2GB. Watch this space.
All this means one thing: no Mac Pro this year. Not happy about that but that is the way it is.
On a positive note I hope to have a new guitar soon. More on that later.
EDIT: Seems google/blogger have changed the way text is sized. Great. I so love inconsistent text.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Back to it
Ok I will confess - I have not been very 'creative' of late. But I have started.
Armed with Ozone, I have started to finish some tracks. Essentially demos but I have to start someplace. I suspect it will take me a while to get used to Ozone - it is a rather complex bit of software. My initial results sound a little harsh and the bass end still sounds rather muddy and lacking in 'punch'. Practise makes perfect, etc.
Still working up the courage to discuss with SHMBO my desire for a nice shiny new Mac Pro. Sigh. Yeah I know. What a wimp. Are you a mouse or a man.
Mouse apparently.
Armed with Ozone, I have started to finish some tracks. Essentially demos but I have to start someplace. I suspect it will take me a while to get used to Ozone - it is a rather complex bit of software. My initial results sound a little harsh and the bass end still sounds rather muddy and lacking in 'punch'. Practise makes perfect, etc.
Still working up the courage to discuss with SHMBO my desire for a nice shiny new Mac Pro. Sigh. Yeah I know. What a wimp. Are you a mouse or a man.
Mouse apparently.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Lethally Dangerous Nonsense
I have just finished reading 'Letter to a Christian Nation' by Sam Harris.
What is most disturbing is just how hidden religious nonsense actually is in our society. There is this desperate attempt to be inclusive in the face of Islamic extremism despite the obviousness of Islam's real nature. And meanwhile our supposed kindly and compassionate Christianity is nothing of the sort.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe apparently. Nukes are being developed by people who believe to die for their religion is a good thing (instant paradise!). I really do fear for my kids and the world they will inherit.
Oh and meanwhile people with a rational, ethical, genuinely compassionate view of the world are branded as being the worst kind of people imaginable. To be an atheist is to be pariah. Apostate. Kafr.
Nightmare.
What is most disturbing is just how hidden religious nonsense actually is in our society. There is this desperate attempt to be inclusive in the face of Islamic extremism despite the obviousness of Islam's real nature. And meanwhile our supposed kindly and compassionate Christianity is nothing of the sort.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe apparently. Nukes are being developed by people who believe to die for their religion is a good thing (instant paradise!). I really do fear for my kids and the world they will inherit.
Oh and meanwhile people with a rational, ethical, genuinely compassionate view of the world are branded as being the worst kind of people imaginable. To be an atheist is to be pariah. Apostate. Kafr.
Nightmare.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Ug
With that highly articulate subject line, I find myself with flu. Now on the mend but damn it quickly arrives and then is loath to leave.
Considering the run of colds since before Xmas I am sick (hahah) of these niggles. 'Niggles' in this case confining me to bed.
So still feeling unwell but at least the fever is broken. Rest. Drink. Ibuprofen. Sigh.
Normal service to this blog will resume in due course (etc).
Considering the run of colds since before Xmas I am sick (hahah) of these niggles. 'Niggles' in this case confining me to bed.
So still feeling unwell but at least the fever is broken. Rest. Drink. Ibuprofen. Sigh.
Normal service to this blog will resume in due course (etc).
Sunday, January 21, 2007
First ICS virtual game done!
It was great fun but hard work with my sons sharing the attic space. Their constant noise and chatter was quite distracting and I didn't get into my stride until they left to watch TV.
So the first lesson: don't participate unless you can work uninterrupted! Or expect to work slowly.
The second lesson is don't work when knackered but that's not an option in the game and part of the fun! One of the tracks really shows the period when I was feeling completely wrecked. It sounds disjointed and reviewing it I discovered why - the time signature is completely off! Well I had to laugh but really, how stupid. Oh well.
A couple of other things struck me as I worked. The first is that I seriously lack good drum samples outside of Kontakt 2 . Without a decent drum mapper I doubt I will tackle Kontakt's drum sets from Live.
This is one of the reasons I have avoided software like Battery and BFD. Since I want to focus on song writing, not messing about with potentially complex mappings/mapping work-arounds.
However if I can upgrade my computer, then Battery 3 has to be in my sights. I suspect Battery is more appropriate for the kind of music I am producing (as opposed to BFD... but of course both would be fantastic).
Ah the music.
I cannot say I am satisfied with my current sound. But I have to go with the flow. With no guitar and no immediate prospect of getting a guitar the electro noise I am currently making will at least get me into the software.
I also need to focus on sound design. I need a toolbox to work with, something in line with where I want to go musically.
My current lack of a working guitar is really hurting. I was surprised how much I wanted to pick up a guitar and just jam a little. Instead I have this tiny Axiom 25 that I cannot get two hand to play on. Very frustrating.
Of course learning to work within a set of constraints is a useful tool in and of itself. Of course my only real constraints are my 'input' devices. The computer grants me a huge unconstrained working environment well beyond anything I have experienced previously. Right up to the point my PC hits about 65% CPU utilisation!
Final note - roll on the next virtual event!
So the first lesson: don't participate unless you can work uninterrupted! Or expect to work slowly.
The second lesson is don't work when knackered but that's not an option in the game and part of the fun! One of the tracks really shows the period when I was feeling completely wrecked. It sounds disjointed and reviewing it I discovered why - the time signature is completely off! Well I had to laugh but really, how stupid. Oh well.
A couple of other things struck me as I worked. The first is that I seriously lack good drum samples outside of Kontakt 2 . Without a decent drum mapper I doubt I will tackle Kontakt's drum sets from Live.
This is one of the reasons I have avoided software like Battery and BFD. Since I want to focus on song writing, not messing about with potentially complex mappings/mapping work-arounds.
However if I can upgrade my computer, then Battery 3 has to be in my sights. I suspect Battery is more appropriate for the kind of music I am producing (as opposed to BFD... but of course both would be fantastic).
Ah the music.
I cannot say I am satisfied with my current sound. But I have to go with the flow. With no guitar and no immediate prospect of getting a guitar the electro noise I am currently making will at least get me into the software.
I also need to focus on sound design. I need a toolbox to work with, something in line with where I want to go musically.
My current lack of a working guitar is really hurting. I was surprised how much I wanted to pick up a guitar and just jam a little. Instead I have this tiny Axiom 25 that I cannot get two hand to play on. Very frustrating.
Of course learning to work within a set of constraints is a useful tool in and of itself. Of course my only real constraints are my 'input' devices. The computer grants me a huge unconstrained working environment well beyond anything I have experienced previously. Right up to the point my PC hits about 65% CPU utilisation!
Final note - roll on the next virtual event!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
New Synths
At long last we have the imminent arrival of a Roland Jupiter 8 soft synth. Arturia are to release the Jupiter 8V. About time! I was never a fan of Roland analog synths but the Jupiter series was special. They had this wonderful sound...
The only problem with Arturia is that they use one of those awful USB dongles. Yak.
Fortunately PropellerHeads are not so paranoid and they look as though they may be about to announce Reason version 4. Their website has a very nice picture of Thor - a modular synth for the Reason rack. Very nice.
NAMM will be interesting methinks...
The only problem with Arturia is that they use one of those awful USB dongles. Yak.
Fortunately PropellerHeads are not so paranoid and they look as though they may be about to announce Reason version 4. Their website has a very nice picture of Thor - a modular synth for the Reason rack. Very nice.
NAMM will be interesting methinks...
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The ICS
ICS = Immersion Composition Society.
I hope to get a UK based lodge going - with of course a special focus around the N.E. and Hexham. In the meantime I will be participating in a 'virtual' game with the society this weekend. SHMBO has granted permission for me to do this. Hurrah!
So this Saturday I will attempt to write 20 songs. Given that I have much less than the permissible 24 hours to do this, it will be quite the challenge. Quite looking forward to it!
It will be fun to just focus on the ideas, the creative side of things... and not to worry about all the technical crap that typically gets in the way.
The following critique and banter will also be fun. Should be a fun weekend.
Some ICS links
Wikipedia entry.
MySpace entry.
ICS website.
ICS Forums.
I hope to get a UK based lodge going - with of course a special focus around the N.E. and Hexham. In the meantime I will be participating in a 'virtual' game with the society this weekend. SHMBO has granted permission for me to do this. Hurrah!
So this Saturday I will attempt to write 20 songs. Given that I have much less than the permissible 24 hours to do this, it will be quite the challenge. Quite looking forward to it!
It will be fun to just focus on the ideas, the creative side of things... and not to worry about all the technical crap that typically gets in the way.
The following critique and banter will also be fun. Should be a fun weekend.
Some ICS links
Wikipedia entry.
MySpace entry.
ICS website.
ICS Forums.
Friday, January 12, 2007
AdSense?
I was approved for the AdSense thing and it is now working on this page (to the right).
But what is it with the subject material? Self-help CDs? Blogging advice? I was expecting a focus on music, maybe games, etc.
Perhaps I need to go to my account page and do some tweaking...
UPDATE: Apparently tweaking isn't required. The page content should be sufficient. So what conclusions am I supposed to draw from the latest ads to appear? Something about dealing with cocaine and another about drug tests. Right.
So musical stuff is actually about drugs? Is that it? Considering I drink very little, have never smoked and the only drugs I take are aspirin and those prescribed by my Dr I am beginning to feel insulted.
But what is it with the subject material? Self-help CDs? Blogging advice? I was expecting a focus on music, maybe games, etc.
Perhaps I need to go to my account page and do some tweaking...
UPDATE: Apparently tweaking isn't required. The page content should be sufficient. So what conclusions am I supposed to draw from the latest ads to appear? Something about dealing with cocaine and another about drug tests. Right.
So musical stuff is actually about drugs? Is that it? Considering I drink very little, have never smoked and the only drugs I take are aspirin and those prescribed by my Dr I am beginning to feel insulted.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Soft Synth galore!
One of the reasons I hanker after the mighty Mac Pro is that software is the only thing I can (a) afford and (b) find space for.
As this reality starts to bite down on me I have been trying to find solid alternatives to hardware synths. Don't get me wrong - I would love to have the hardware. There is nothing like that spread of keys and sliders and knobs and stuff. Unfortunately it is expensive - very expensive - and takes up loads of space (not to mention power, etc, etc).
And I would dearly love some old analogues but hey, I know I can make a good job if it with a computer and software. Even much maligned software like Reason I have found to be very capable of great sounds. Like everything, it is just a case of applying yourself to the task.
Of course there are lots of seemingly well regarded software out there. I have been looking at Dimension Pro, Ultra Analog, WusikStation and Zebra.
Currently I am not in a position to acquire all these goodies, and mac desires not withstanding I have acquired WusikStation. First impressions were not good! It crashed!
I have not done much as yet with WusikStation - my feeling grot kinda precluded any real efforts by myself to get to know it better. So that will be one of my first tasks.
Native Instruments STILL haven't got their collective arse in gear and made a download update to Absynth 4. I suppose I will have to get a box. Sigh. Wasteful isn't it?
Wups - I really must read stuff more carefully. The download update for Absyth v4 is in fact now available. Apologies to NI - you did get your collective arse in gear!
As this reality starts to bite down on me I have been trying to find solid alternatives to hardware synths. Don't get me wrong - I would love to have the hardware. There is nothing like that spread of keys and sliders and knobs and stuff. Unfortunately it is expensive - very expensive - and takes up loads of space (not to mention power, etc, etc).
And I would dearly love some old analogues but hey, I know I can make a good job if it with a computer and software. Even much maligned software like Reason I have found to be very capable of great sounds. Like everything, it is just a case of applying yourself to the task.
Of course there are lots of seemingly well regarded software out there. I have been looking at Dimension Pro, Ultra Analog, WusikStation and Zebra.
Currently I am not in a position to acquire all these goodies, and mac desires not withstanding I have acquired WusikStation. First impressions were not good! It crashed!
I have not done much as yet with WusikStation - my feeling grot kinda precluded any real efforts by myself to get to know it better. So that will be one of my first tasks.
Wups - I really must read stuff more carefully. The download update for Absyth v4 is in fact now available. Apologies to NI - you did get your collective arse in gear!
Adsense & absence
I am finally on the mend but the last four weeks has seen me suffering with some damn virus. Or at least that is what the Doc says. Not the kind of fall-over-and-crawl-into-bed virus. No. The kind of virus that saps your energy, makes you feel miserable and introduces you to a cough that just will not go away.
It makes everything hard work. Anyway I am now coming out the other side of it. At bloody last.
So making my return to a more regular blog I thought I would add Google's adsense. Who knows, perhaps if I write more interesting material people might even come here and read. Stranger stuff has happened.
Feeling as I have been, rather under the weather, I have not done much at all with my music project. I expect I will get back to that soon. Meanwhile I have got to figure out how I can make a case for a Mac Pro. I desperately need a powerful computer and hell, why not a beast like a Mac Pro? We shall see.
The good news is the company I work for now has a discount scheme with Apple. About time. With a product like the Mac Pro that discount is very welcome.
So only one hurdle really: the boss. As in wife!
It makes everything hard work. Anyway I am now coming out the other side of it. At bloody last.
So making my return to a more regular blog I thought I would add Google's adsense. Who knows, perhaps if I write more interesting material people might even come here and read. Stranger stuff has happened.
Feeling as I have been, rather under the weather, I have not done much at all with my music project. I expect I will get back to that soon. Meanwhile I have got to figure out how I can make a case for a Mac Pro. I desperately need a powerful computer and hell, why not a beast like a Mac Pro? We shall see.
The good news is the company I work for now has a discount scheme with Apple. About time. With a product like the Mac Pro that discount is very welcome.
So only one hurdle really: the boss. As in wife!
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
iTunes - GAH!!!!
It has done it again.
Open iTunes - empty library. All gone. Vanished.
So back again to re-importing the library, creating AGAIN my playlists. And of course the only rated tracks will be the ones with ratings currently on my iPod.
Is iTunes version 7 some kind of malware?
Open iTunes - empty library. All gone. Vanished.
So back again to re-importing the library, creating AGAIN my playlists. And of course the only rated tracks will be the ones with ratings currently on my iPod.
Is iTunes version 7 some kind of malware?
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