CatSynth pic: Yamaha DX7 Synth ExtraS

Via matrixsynth (originally from an auction):

“YAMAHA DX7 SYNTH EXTRAS. Original list price $2195 EXTRAS(see pics)3 CARTRIDGES, PADDED “PROTECT” CASE, YAMAHA VOLUME/MODULATOR/SUSTAIN 3 PEDALS, MIDI CORD.”

How the mighty have fallen! When I first got into synthesizers back in the mid 1980s, the Yamaha DX7 was the instrument to have – and at that list price out of reach for most teens. Now they go for about $250 on eBay. And they are no longer all that interesting. I do have a TX802 but have rarely used it.

Fun with Highways: Sacramento edition

This is a major interchange in Sacramento, California, where I spent most of yesterday. Running north-south along the river is I-5, while east-west is the Capitol City Freeway (Business 80 and US 50).

To the southeast of the interchange, along X street, is the neighborhood that includes Beatnik Studios, where I performed with Reconnaissance Fly at the In The Flow Festival. See our previous article for a link to a liveblog of the festival.

The nearby entrance from 16th street to the Capitol City Freeway is marked only as Business 80, and does not mention US 50.

One can follow 16th street north under the freeway to the downtown and midtown section of the city. This includes our rather dysfunctional state capital, and a scattering of fun local businesses north of N street, including Luna Cafe, which was hosting events related to the festival on other evenings. We were not there at right time to see the festival events, but we did stop in for some handmade juices and enjoyed sitting out on the sidewalk in the early evening. For those of us who live in San Francisco, a warm evening is a rare treat.

Liveblogging of In the Flow Festival for WFMU

Our performance yesterday at the In the Flow Festival in Sacramento has come and gone. There lots of other interesting music during the day as well, ranging from very straight jazz to screeching noise that could only safely be heard from an adjacent room.

You can experience the festival vicariously via our friend Tom Djll’s live blogging for WFMU. Do check out his post, especially as gig reviews on CatSynth are anything but live.

Weekend Cat Blogging: Getting ready for today’s performance

We present a rather short Weekend Cat Blogging, as I get ready to head to Sacramento for my performance with Reconnaissance Fly at the In The Flow Festival. As you can see, we’re all packed and ready to go:

Luna was fascinated by the case for the Nord keyboard, as opposed to the keyboard itself in which she has shown no interest whatsoever.

By coincidence, this edition of Weekend Cat Blogging is being hosted by our friends LB and breadchick at The Sour Dough. We know they will appreciate that we are once again featuring audio gear this weekend!

The Carnival of the Cats will be up this Sunday at When Cats Attack!.

And the Friday Ark is at the modulator.

CatSynth pic: TOM-1501 Rare Soviet USSR Vintage Analog Synthesizer

Via matrixsynth:

Judging from the cat and early 1970s decor, it’s from the same source as yesterday’s post.

“Tom-1501- 61-note (F-F) string / brass / piano multi-keyboard. This one reminds Crumar multi-keyboards. Nearly all controls on sliders on sloping back panel. Splittable. Vibrato depth, speed. Brass filter AR, resonance and cutoff. Preset sounds, mixable, include piano, clavinet, orchestra (violin, alto, contrabass), brass. Chorus. Piano has separate out. Made at the Tula factory. “

You can see more photos and information on this rare Soviet instrument on the original post at matrixsynth.

CatSynth pic: Vermona DRM Rare Vintage Analog DDR Drum Machine

From a now expired auction, via matrixsynth:

“Vintage Analog drum machine with TR style sequencer, made in Germany in 1987. There’s not too much information available on the VERMONA DRM on the internet, so I will provide some of my own background knowledge. It was released in 1987 by a German synthesizer company named Vermona. These days they are best known for their
analog drum module the Vermona DRM-1 MK3. It is the European answer to ROLAND’s TR-X0X and CR-XXXX drum machines.”

You can read more detail on the original post on matrixsynth.

Weekend Cat Blogging: Playing in Triangles

The weekend, we have another trio of photos featuring Luna, this time playing on the window.  Something definitely caught her interest.

These were taken in rapid succession with a telephoto lens from the upstairs level of our apartment looking down.  That is what allowed me to get the triangular shape for the window.

Weekend Cat Blogging #257 is hosted by Judi, Jules and Vincent at Judi’s Mind of Matter.

The Carnvial of the Cats will be hosted by Nikita at Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat. His dad had quite a medical scare, and we send them our thoughts.

And the Friday Ark is at the modulator.