Author: catsynth

Chihiro and Novation AFX Station

Calico cat next to a synthesizer keyboard

The lovely Chihiro poses with a Novation AFX Station and plays it, too. From our friend Erik Ribeiro (@eriksuperlazy on Instagram).

Chihiro decided to join me in celebrating International Synthesizer Day by playing glissando with her face on the AFX Station. She also worked the pitch & mod wheels. 😹🎹

Calico cat leaning on the keys of a synthesizer keyboard
Calico cat leaning on the pitch and mod wheels of a synthesizer keyboard
Calico cat nudging the mod wheels of a synthesizer keyboard

George loves his Casio… and treats

We already knew George loves his Casio keyboard. But he is a cat, so he also loves treats.

In addition to performing on the keyboard, George shows us his “high-five” and “honey bear” tricks. We at CatSynth refer to the honey-bear as prairie-dogging 😺

Big Merp with Big Modular

Brown and white cat posing in front of a very large modular synthesizer system with multiple cases. Several patch cords are connecting modules between different cases. This is also a camcorder sitting on the desk.

Today, we feature our very own Big Merp, who is posing handsomely in front of our large modular synthesizer installation. Other bits of gear can be found on the desk, which is where we do many of our synthesizer video demos.

The makers of all the modules are too numerous to list here, but we do list them in the tags.

Miles Davis Centenary

Today marks the centenary of Miles Davis’ birth. The music of Miles has brought us at CatSynth much pleasure and inspiration over these years. He was an innovator who kept exploring new ideas each decade.

We at CatSynth are especially partial to his work in the 1970s, but we also enjoy what he did both before and after, as Sam Sam demonstrates with her album selections.

Black and white cat posing with two Miles Davis albums, Mayisha and Aura.

Beyond the music itself, Miles Davis was known for finding and bringing together a great many noted musicians, including some of our heroes like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Chick Corea, as well as folks like saxophonist and composer Sam Morrison, whom we recently featured right here on CatSynth.

In addition to Sam Sam, we’re sharing a comic by J.B. that appeared on the CatSynth blog a few years ago, “Miles and Teo” 😺🎺🎶

Comic in three panels: "Miles and Teo, by J.B." 1st panel "Teo, see if you can get Oedipus to come to the session on Friday" 2nd panel "Oedipus? What are you talking about, Miles? Why do you want Oedipus?" 3rd panel "'Cause he's a bad motherfucker."

Haku, Chihiro, and ASM Hydrasynth 888

Tabby cat sitting next to an orange ASM Hydraysnth 888 synthesizer.

Haku poses with an ASM Hydrasynth 888. We see Chihiro in the background. She is a bit more visible in this second photo.

Tabby cat sitting up against orange ASM Hydrasynth. We see a tortie cat lurking in the background.

I have to admit, I really like the orange color on this one.

From our friend Erik Ribeiro (@eriksuperlazy on Instagram).

Updated the @ashunsoundmachines Hydrasynth Explorer 888 and a bunch of other gear with fresh firmware on Sunday. Haku and Chihiro got up close and personal to inspect the process.

If you’re curious what the firmware update looks like: