CATSYNTH

cats synthesizers music art opinion

Tag: black cat

  • Some preparation for March 4 concert

    A late evening preparing for the upcoming Regents’ Lecture concert, with an assist from Luna:

    Here Luna poses with TouchOSC on the iPad, which is becoming one of the main control surfaces I will be using to control Open Sound World.  Last night I was building the synthesis infrastructure for the new piece, a combination of drum sampling and spatialized additive synthesis – at least four separate additive synthesis models that are algorithmically generated based on input from the iPad.  Against this will be electronic drum sounds and an Afro-Cuban rhythm detail.  I really won’t know the exact shape of this piece until I work with CNMAT’s speaker array.

    I also learned from the Saturday’s performance in Oakland that I will need to refine the control on TouchOSC for the new implementation of my piece Charmer:Firmament.  It was very well received, with descriptions like “beautiful” and “meditative”, but it was difficult to control compared to the Wacom graphics tablet.  I will try a different mix of controls on the iPad to see if it works better.

  • CatSynth pic: Cat and Rhodes

    From suitandtieguy on an old thread on Muff Wiggler’s forum.

    Some of the photos have appeared here before, but some have not. I am pretty sure this is one that hasn’t.

    Can anyone identify the synths and other gear between the Rhodes and the cat?

  • Weekend Cat Blogging and Photo Hunt: Silhouette

    This week’s Photo Hunt theme is silhouette, which is something that often happens with photos of Luna by chance if not by intention.

    It is often a product of Luna’s black fur that the lighting extremes at CatSynth HQ.  But it can lead to interesting results.  I like the contrast of Luna’s black silhouette to the bright chrome and glass reflections in this next photo:

    This was taken back on New Years Day.

    Weekend Cat Blogging #298 will be hosted by Samantha and Clementine at Life from a Cat’s Perspective.

    PhotoHunt 253 is hosted as always by tnchick. This week’s theme is Silhouette.

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

    And the Friday Ark is at the modulator.

  • Weekend Cat Blogging #296

    It looks like it’s going to be another beautiful morning here.  Luna maintains her routine on sunny mornings of bedding down on a dining room chair.  And while I am busy working, she is dreaming:

    The Carnival of the Cats will be hosted here at CatSynth tomorrow! If you would like to participate, please fill out the handy submission form.

    Weekend Cat Blogging #296 is being hosted by Pam at Sidewalk Shoes.

    And the Friday Ark has returned at the modulator.

    Like many, we have been hungrily following the events in Egypt (if by some chance, you are not following this, you should be) – and excited to see hopeful changes for the people there. While the focus is of course on the major political changes and peoples’ safety, I did look into stories about animals in the land that once worshipped cats as gods. Through this article, we did read about Egyptian Mau Rescue, and browsed the Facebook page for the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals. Ultimately, these visits ended up being a narrative about people and the challenges they face caring for animals amidst major upheaval.

  • Wordless Wednesday: Herman (Groundhog Day)

  • Wordless Wednesday: Luna

  • Weekend Cat Blogging #294: Looking out the Window

    While many of our friends were dealing with snow, we enjoyed a some sunshine here in California this past week, even a bit of warmth. Here we see Luna intently looking out the window in a patch of strong afternoon sun:

    I like the warm colors in this one, and the way it contrasts with her fur.

    I also made this video. The original came out rather dark, but it was good for experimenting with black-and-white, digital grain effects and contrast. Wait until the end to hear Luna’s sweet little voice.

    Weekend Cat Blogging #294 is hosted by Billy Sweetfeets. (Watch the french toast video at your own risk.)

    The Carnival of the Cats will be hosted this Sunday by Nikita.

    And next week we will be hosting Weekend Cat Blogging here at CatSynth!

  • Weekend Cat Blogging and Photo Hunt: Shadow (with Hipstamatic)

    For today’s combined Weekend Cat Blogging and Photo Hunt, we follow Luna in her favorite morning spot, the dining table. The bright sun from the southeast brings warmth to the surfaces and also casts strong shadows.

    I am experimenting again with the Hipstamatic app for the iPhone, which simulates old lenses, film processes, etc. This particular lens was relatively clear but makes everything high contrast (a common theme in my photography). I also tried out another lens that has a rather streaky and overexposed quality:

    The oversaturated image brings out contrast between the shadows and the sun patches.  It also has an interesting effect on Luna’s black fur.

    Weekend Cat Blogging #293 is hosted by Samantha, Clementine and (honorary cat) Maverick at Life from a Cat’s Perspective.

    Photo Hunt #248 is hosted by tnchick. This week’s theme is Shadow.

    The Carnival of the Cats will be up tomorrow at iMeowza.

  • Weekend Cat Blogging #292: at rest

    For today’s Weekend Cat Blogging, we see Luna enjoying a nap:

    It seems like she has been resting a lot lately. It’s been cold, it’s been dark, she is probably channeling some of my own fatigue, and of course she is a cat.

    We were briefly jolted yesterday by a 4.1-magnitude earthquake in the Bay Area. It was relatively long, but still quite mild. Luna was on alert though, her ears pointing straight up and her eyes growing exceptionally wide. She did not run for cover, though.

    Weekend Cat Blogging #292 is hosted by Kashim, Othello and Salome at PaulChens FoodBlog ?!. I quite like the monochrome graphic they created for today:

    The Carnival of the Cats will be hosted by Billy SweetFeets.

    The friday ark remains on hiatus.

  • Weekend Cat Blogging #290

    December 25 (Christmas) is a completely free day us.

    After a season (and indeed, a year) that has been exceptionally hectic even by my own standards, such emptiness can be a bit jarring. One could catch up on the myriad creative projects and practical items that have been languishing, or just relax. Luna on the other hand has no problem with this whatsoever.

    This is yet another lesson we should learn from our animal friends.

    I would go for a walk downtown or along the highway structures, but with the blustery wind and stormy skies outside, it seems best to stay inside this morning with a warm cup of of coffee and a cat.  It also seems like a good morning for some 1950s/1960s minor-key jazz (actually, a lot of mornings are good for that).  Just imagine The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s Take Five or John Coltrane’s Equinox in the background with the pictures of Luna and you can glimpse Christmas morning at CatSynth HQ.

    Weekend Cat Blogging #290, Holiday Edition is hosted by Jules and Vincent at Judi’s Mind Over Matter.

    The Carnival of the Cats will be hosted tomorrow by Nikita Cat.

    The Friday Ark is on hiatus for the holidays.