Cats

CatSynth TV Episode 99!

It’s the 99th Episode of CatSynth TV, and we have a special treat for all our readers and videos. It combines many of our interests: synthesizers, cats, experimental music and film, and highways.

Video shot along Highway 99 in California from Manteca through Stockton and heading towards Sacramento. Additional video and photography at CatSynth HQ in San Francisco.

Guest appearances by Sam Sam and Big Merp.

Original experimental synthesizer music by Amanda Chaudhary, based on melodies from “99 is not 100” by Moe! Staiano.

Synthesizers used:

  • Minimoog
  • Arturia MiniBrute 2S
  • Big Fish Audio John Cage Prepared Piano Sample Library (Kontakt)
  • Nord Stage EX
  • Mutable Instruments Plaits
  • Metasonix R-54 and R-53 2hp Cat module
  • 4ms Spectral Multiband Resonator
  • Make Noise Echophon

CatSynth Pic: Dexter and REON Driftbox

Dexter and REON Driftbox

From Melker Häggbom Klingberg via Facebook.

My buddy Dexter, figuring out how to set the MIDI channel on the driftbox.

The REON Driftbox series of small synthesizers was introduced last year. Dexter’s appears to be a Driftbox SE model.

The REON Driftbox SE is a digital paraphonic Synthesizer with 2 digital oscillators and an analog Steiner Parker filter. It features also an impressive amount of connections on the backside.

http://www.synthanatomy.com/2017/09/5-new-reon-driftbox-products-synthesizers-coming-soon-worldwide-presentation-at-synthfest-uk.html

We at CatSynth are learning more about these interesting little boxes. I find myself particularly intrigued by the J and S models.

Weekend Cat Blogging with Marlon (aka Big Merp)

This weekend we check in on our feline pal in Oakland, Marlon.  We have dubbed him “Big Merp” for his large size and vocalizations that sound like “merp“.

This the face of a cat who has lived life hard, and just wants to chill out in his older years.  Fortunately, he is getting that opportunity as he has been spending more and more time indoors.  This included getting to stay indoors during the worst of the smoke from the wildfires to our north last month.

As we have mentioned before, it is clear he was a pet cat at one point in his life.  He enjoys the comforts of indoors, attention from humans, and food. Lots of food.  His friend Hissy is not so sure about the indoor life and is still wary of humans, but she does come around for food and to hang out with Big Merp.

The two of them clearly share a connection, even though they don’t always have the same outlook on life.  We hope Hissy does learn to trust people a bit more in the future.

We close with a reminder to readers to be kind to the cats – and other animals – that share our neighborhoods and spaces with us.  

CatSynth Pic: Studio Cat in Black and White

A black-and-white photo of a cat purrfectly posed in front of stacked keyboards.  By davidpettymusic via Instagram.

davidpettymusic
This fucking guy. If he had a debut album, what would it be called? #catsynth #pets #music #notmycat

The high contrast renders the synths unidentifiable to us, but maybe an intrepid reader is up to the challenge…

CatSynth Pic: Loki and Waldorf Streichfett

Loki poses with a Waldorf Streichfett synthesizer in a beautifully composed photo.  From Nicky Skolagava via the Facebook group Synthesizer Freaks.

The angle makes the Streichfett look large, but it’s a rather compact little box with an interesting story.  From the Waldorf website:

Streichfett combines the best of the previously extinct species of String Synthesizers of the 70s and early 80s. Its dual sound engine features a fully polyphonic strings section and an eight voice solo section, which is essential for recreating classic movie sounds from the 70s and 80s. The Ensemble Effect provides depth and movement to the String Section, while the Effects section adds adjustable Phaser and Reverb. Additionally, the Animate Effect can be used to modulate the strings registration, allowing spectacular sound morphs.