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#808Day and #WorldCatDay

Today is both 808 Day – after the Roland TR-808 drum machine – and World Cat Day. As a bonus, the date works in both American and international formats. Is there a greater confluence of this blog’s core themes than this date? 😸 🎹

The picture above was from an old Reddit post. We have featured a few cats with the TR-808’s successor, the TR-8, such as this post from 2017, courtesy of adrianhalo on Instagram.

They have a very different look – the TR-8 was part of Roland’s AIRA series with the glowing controls. The sound and technology is also different, but both instruments have found their way into a great variety of music.

CatSynth Pic: Casio in Bedroom Studio (Korg, iPad Pro)

Casio the tabby cat finds a comfy spot in this cozy bedroom studio. By Kris Nicholson via Facebook.

This little bedside studio is designed for me not to get out of bed and it’s not just a little music studio but also I can create my computer animations using Poser.

I’m using a Korg microSTATION Music Workstation and iPad Pro loaded with music apps and synthesizer apps and also you can see my cat her name is Casio.

CatSynth Pic: Lali and Juno 106

Sometimes Juno is the cat, sometimes Juno is the synth. Today it is the synth, as Miss Lali sits proudly atop a JUNO 106. Submitted by Caroline Sommer via our Facebook page.

Miss Lali with the Juno 😊🐈❤️

A little on the JUNO 106 from Vintage Synth Explorer:

The Juno-106 is a very common and widely used analog polysynth. It continues to be one of the most popular analog synths due to its great sound and easy programmability. It was the next major incarnation of the Juno-series, following the Juno-60. While it has virtually the same synth engine as the Juno-60, the 106 added extensive MIDI control making it one of Roland’s first MIDI-equipped synthesizers. There was also increased patch memory storage, up to 128 patches instead of the 56 patches available in the Juno-60. However, the Juno-60 is often said to have a slight sonic edge over the more advanced 106. The 60 had the ability to modulate oscillator pulse from its envelope and has a “punchier” sound quality.

http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/juno106.php

CatSynth Pic: Arturia MicroFreak and Elektron Octatrack

House panther with an Arturia MicroFreak, a current favorite of ours at CatSynth. From Mark Mosher via Facebook.

My cat is helping me rehearse for my performance at meetup on Tuesday “Intro to the Arturia MicroFreak + Performance by Mosher-Deane” https://www.meetup.com/Rocky-Mountain-Syn…/events/264937585/

I can has Octatrack?

CatSynth Pic: Gracie and Korg Poly 61

Gracie is back, this time with a Korg Poly 61 synthesizer. From Alsún Ní Chasaide (Alison Cassidy) of Synthetic Dreamscapes, who repaired the instrument.

This unusual Korg Poly-61 with factory MIDI retrofit (not Poly-61m) is finally finished and working perfectly. As usual, the last 20% takes 50% of the time!


In this case, the non-working panel buttons were traced to severe oxidation around two connectors on the MIDI board. Both pin headers *and* connectors had to be completely replaced / rebuilt for this to be long-term reliable. Also, one new rubber key contact set was needed, and Andrej’s new CPU board from yesterday.


And after a tune-up – perfect!! Ready to go back to its local owner 👍🏼😊

Gracie is the Quality Engineer for these repair projects 😸🎹

Extended Weekend Cat Blogging with Sam Sam and Big Merp

It’s a three-day weekend here in the U.S., and our cats demonstrate how to best enjoy it.

Sam Sam in front of the E-MU modules

Sam Sam is a cat who knows how to relax. In addition to the blankets, one of her favorite spots of late has been the patch in front of our (mostly de-commissioned) E-MU 1U modules.

Sam Sam in front of the E-MU modules

But she also knows how to have fun, as in this Instagram where she makes a game of playing with her new toy, washing, and finishing up with a scratch’n’roll.

We’ve been busy, too, doing another video with an original soundtrack featuring both hardware and software synths (including the new MOK Waverazor virtual instruments). And of course our little cat buddy makes a cameo.

Video scoring with MOK Waverazor in Pro Tools

On the other side of the bay, Big Merp is enjoying his extended weekend, too.

Big Merp!

This portrait brings out the character and soul in his face. He has had a great many experiences in life. But he loves his home comforts.

Big Merp resting after an outdoor adventure

The tears around his eye seem to happen when he goes out for one of his multi-hour outdoor adventures. It clears up fairly soon after coming back indoors. We are figuring that it is some sort of allergy.

We hope you are all enjoying your three-day weekend, or your Monday wherever you are.