
No, this isn’t Sam Sam, though this cat does look a bit like her from behind. This is the cat that lives with synthguy216, who shares this photo via Instagram. He has certainly mastered the art of playing two-tier keyboards 😸

No, this isn’t Sam Sam, though this cat does look a bit like her from behind. This is the cat that lives with synthguy216, who shares this photo via Instagram. He has certainly mastered the art of playing two-tier keyboards 😸

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.

Kona the cat is quite excited to play the Moog Theremini. We certainly enjoy playing ours 😺
From our friend Daev Roehr via Facebook.

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.

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.

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.