Tag: cat

  • CatSynth Pic: Mister Kitty and RE-303

    CatSynth Pic: Mister Kitty and RE-303

    Our pal Mister Kitty returns to the pages of CatSynth with his new RE-303 bass synthesizer.

    The RE-303 is a replica of the infamous Roland TB-303.  This one was assembled by Mister Kitty’s human, Prophei (aka Michael Dietel).  We at CatSynth approve of their choice of the black case. Oh, and it sounds great, too.

    As a replica, the circuit board and CPU are compatible with the original TB-303, which suggests the parts can be used to refurbish vintage instruments in addition to building new ones. You can read a bit more in this Synthopia article from 2015.  Clearly, the statement about DIY kits turned out to be wrong, as evidenced by this article.  You can find out more about the RE-303 and kits here.

    Meanwhile, we wonder what Mister Kitty may have in store for us next…

  • Weekend Cat Blogging with Sam Sam: Sick Days and Introspection

    Weekend Cat Blogging with Sam Sam: Sick Days and Introspection

    The new year has brought plague and pestilence to CatSynth HQ, as I succumbed to the current vaccine-resistant strain of the flu.  It’s been mostly bed rest since Wednesday, but fortunately, I have Sam Sam nearby.

    She has been affectionate and attentive, more so than usual.  I suspect that is also due to my having started working in an office again after being home with her for most of December.  That’s a story for another time.  In the meantime, we are enjoying one another’s company, even if I am low on energy and sometimes a bit delirious.  Here is a closeup of her.

    In a way, the illness and rest have extended the period of solitude and introspection from the last weeks of 2017, which I do not mind at all.  It’s given me more time to think about the vague ideas and plans that I have for this year, though it postpones getting started on any execution.  On the negative side, I had to cancel a gig today in Sacramento, extending what I call the “Sacramento Curse” where every planned show in that city since the beginning of 2014 has been missed for one reason or another (the first and most dramatic being one that was canceled due to a massive fire near the venue – fortunately, no one was hurt and the venue was fine afterwards).  It has also slowed down activity that requires looking at screens for prolonged periods.  I made an exception to get this post out.

    Lying down and letting one’s mind wander with a slight fever does lead to interesting thoughts.  A different experience from The Disintegration of Thought during periods of health, but interesting nonetheless.  Some are complete nonsense, but others are consistent with introspection and what it takes to try and be happy and healthy in these challenging times.  The roles of fear and caution are part of that internal dialog, as well as creativity in general.   Perhaps I will have more to say about them as I return to health, perhaps not.

  • CatSynth Pics: Leo on the Electribe

    CatSynth Pics: Leo on the Electribe

    Leo on the Electribe

    Leo the cat lays down some beats on a Korg Electribe. Submitted by @6bq9music via Twitter.

    Leo making beats on electribe

    If you are on Twitter, please follow us at @catsynth.  You can tweet us your cat-and-music pics as well as ideas for future articles.

  • CatSynth pic: Cat and Korg Gadget app

    Cat “Inspecting Gadget.” More specifically, a cat with the Korg Gadget app for iOS. From Ken Karsh on the Facebook group iPad Musician.

  • CatSynth Pic: Cat, Alesis Keyboard, and Mod Wheel

    Cat and Alesis Q25

    Cat with an Alesis keyboard – I’m pretty sure it’s a Q25. From Matty Dread via the Facebook group Synthesizer Freaks.

    Aha. I knew it.
    Finally caught the cat remapping control messages to the mod wheel.

  • CatSynth Pic: Eli and Yamaha Reface DX

    CatSynth Pic: Eli and Yamaha Reface DX

    Eli and Yamaha Reface

    Meet Eli!  Here we seem him posing handsomely next to a Yamaha Reface DX synthesizer.

    Eli, like Sam Sam and Luna, is a rescue cat, and is clearly thriving in his home 😺

    The “Reface” series is Yamaha’s new line modeled on some of their classic instruments, similar to Roland’s “Boutique” line.  You can read more about the Yamaha Reface DX here.

  • Happy Boxing Day from Sam Sam!

    Happy Boxing Day from Sam Sam!

    It’s Boxing Day.  And Sam Sam wants to celebrate with one of her favorite activities: boxing!

    While our friends in the UK, Canada and elsewhere in the former British Empire actually celebrate the holiday, we at CatSynth in the United States just love the name. But we have long been curious about its significance and origin. From Wikipedia:

    There are competing theories for the origins of the term, none of which are definitive.[5] The Oxford English Dictionary gives the earliest attestations from Britain in the 1830s, defining it as “the first week-day after Christmas-day, observed as a holiday on which post-men, errand-boys, and servants of various kinds expect to receive a Christmas-box”.[6]

    The term “Christmas-box” dates back to the 17th century, and among other things meant:

    A present or gratuity given at Christmas: in Great Britain, usually confined to gratuities given to those who are supposed to have a vague claim upon the donor for services rendered to him as one of the general public by whom they are employed and paid, or as a customer of their legal employer; the undefined theory being that as they have done offices for this person, for which he has not directly paid them, some direct acknowledgement is becoming at Christmas.[7]

  • Seasons Greetings from CatSynth!

    Seasons Greetings from CatSynth!

    Sam Sam and red sock

    We at CatSynth with everyone a very happy winter holiday season, whichever holidays you celebrate!  Sam Sam likes to celebrate the holidays relaxing with her favorite Christmas-themed toy.

    For us, Hannukah ended a little less than a week ago.  Here is our eighth-night photo with our musically themed menorah.

    On the winter solstice, we were out at a show that is featured in our latest CatSynth TV – more on that later.  As for today, Christmas, we are going to make like Sam Sam and relax.  And later maybe have Chinese food and watch a movie 😺

  • CatSynth Pic: Frankie

    From our friend adrianhalo82 on Instagram.

    “Frankie being disruptive. #catsynth #catsofinstagram #musicproducer”

    We recently saw how Sam Sam can also be disruptive in the studio 😸

  • CatSynth Video: Make Noise Morphagene + Rhodes piano + Poes the cat = weird music

    CatSynth Video: Make Noise Morphagene + Rhodes piano + Poes the cat = weird music

    From Andor Polgar on YouTube, via matrixsynth. Rhodes, Make Noise Morphagene and cat, what is not to love?

    Things used in the video: vegan sausage for taming the cat (that’s her favorite), Make Noise Morphagene eurorack module, Rhodes Mark I electric piano, Expert Sleepers Disting mk4 for the reverb effect.

    http://andor.cool
    https://instagram.com/andorgram

    It may be time to experiment again here at HQ with the Nord and some Make Noise modules…