Underneath train tracks in the Point Morris section of the Bronx. You can see a different rendering of the scene in this earlier post.
Author: catsynth
Mensa Cats: PhD in Literature
Who says you can’t put that PhD in literature to good use? In today’s Mensa Cats, we share but one example.
By J.B. of Vacuum Tree Head.
CatSynth Pic: Kona and Moog Theremini
Kona the cat is quite excited to play the Moog Theremini. We certainly enjoy playing ours 😺
From our friend Daev Roehr via Facebook.
CatSynth Pic: Cat and Keyboard
CatSynth Pic: Mr. Maximillion and Novation Peak
Mr. Maximillion returns, this time in a handsome portrait with a Novation Peak synthesizer. By Charles Whiley via Facebook. You can see Mr. Maximillion’s previous appearance here.
We were wondering what exactly an “Oxford Oscillator” is, as Novation chose to display the term prominently on the panel. From their website:
The implementation of the FPGA opens the doors to a new type of oscillator design for Peak — The New Oxford Oscillator — the design of which stems from the analogue imperative. Peak’s raw waveforms are generated using an architecture designed and realised by Chris Huggett. It employs two waveform-generating techniques: Numerically Controlled Oscillators (NCOs) and wavetables.
The NCOs are used for the traditional subtractive-synthesis waveforms (e.g., saws, squares, pulses, and triangles). The wavetable oscillators can morph between different source tables. The architecture of the oscillators with traditional waveforms reminds me a bit of the Evolver from Dave Smith Instruments. It is quite intriguing, including the fact that it is implemented on an FPGA.
CatSynth Pic: Rufus Meowing with Modular
Our ginger feline friend Rufus returns, courtesy of iamshadowdancer on Instagram. He looks ready to serenade us with a new song.
He has a rather impressive modular setup! The upper case is by Goike. It contains a wide variety of modules – we see a classic Metasonix yellow, a Mordax DATA on the right, a Make Noise Maths, and many others that whose identification we leave as an exercise to the reader.
CatSynth Pic: Cat in the Studio, Arturia MatrixBrute, and More
Weekend Cat Blogging with Sam Sam: Play with Me!
Sam Sam wants to play! And who can resist such an entreaty 😻
Sam Sam is a rather gregarious and playful cat, so this ritual plays out several times a day. And I am happy to indulge. The rug in the middle of the main section of CatSynth HQ is one of her favorite spots overall, and she spends a lot of time here rolling around, playing with her favorite toys, and getting brushed. Clearly, this pose in the photo below suggests she wants to be brushed (again).
On her back, you can see some of her many unique black patches, including on her paws, the back of her legs, and her “goatee” on her chin.
We hope you are enjoying your Sunday as much as Sam Sam is.
CatSynth Pic: Radikal Technologies Spectralis and Eurorack
Interstate 5, California: The Road to (and from) NAMM
At least since 2010, all of my trips to NAMM have been road trips, heading east from San Francisco on I-580 to meet Interstate 5 for the long trek south through Los Angeles to Orange County.
I-5 takes a more direct route through the sparsely populated western side of the Central Valley, compared to CA 99 (former US 99) that connects the major towns and cities of the region, including Fresno and Bakersfield. The small communities that one does pass are related to travel on the interstate itself or to the farms and orchards that dominate the landscape between stretches of emptier space.
It is a long trip, and one that I know many people would find boring. But for me, it is something I look forward to, an integral part of the experience along with the show itself, the after-parties and all the other little adventures. This year there was the added fun of testing out Highway☆ on the road trip, but even without that heightened sense of purpose, it is simply an enjoyable “flow experience.” Once over the Altamont Pass and into the Central Valley, stresses begin to fade as the mostly straight line of the road and the low stimulation of I-5 takes over. It may seem “empty” but there is still is just enough detail along the route to provide balance. After many years, I have come to know just about every major junction and many of the other details, such as the names of the small communities along the highway. By the time I arrive in the Los Angeles basin, I am recharged, enough to even remain unfazed by the notorious traffic!
The return trip along a nearly identical route is similarly an opportunity for psychic calm and flow after the nonstop overstimulation of NAMM (I do spend a half day after the show either with friends or at a museum as part of the decompression process before getting back on “The 5”). This year was no different, as I headed back with a tailwind and sense of optimism. Life seemed calm, free, but also filled with curiosity and excitement about professional opportunities in technology, music, and even travel. That feeling lasted into our arrival back in San Francisco, at least until my second bout of this year’s awful flu kicked in, along with some other stressful local responsibilities. One of the mental exercises to help through the ensuing week was to focus on how my mind and body responded positively to the I-5 trip (and to the many tendrils of travel in and around L.A.) and thought experiments on how to capture that sense of enjoyment and calm even when not traveling down a straight and empty stretch of road. I come back again to flow experience and how much that seems to be a product of solitude for me, but it can also come in playing together with musicians at the highest levels. And then there are situations where flow is stymied or non-existent. It is important to recognize both, and I hope to explore these topics more in upcoming articles.
See more of Interstate 5 in California and many other fine places across North America in our Highway☆ app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
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