CATSYNTH

cats synthesizers music art opinion

Tag: cat

  • More CatSynth pics today

    We have more cat-and-synth pictures for today. Originally from pzlonvent, via matrixsynth:

    There are more pics at pzlonvent from the same series, include this one:

    So many fun places for a cat to play among racks and shelves of synthesizers…

    The posting at matrixsynth spurred a discussion of why there are so many pictures of cats and synthesizers, and so few of dogs. Not the first time that subject has come up. Certainly, the fact that there are so many interesting spots for a cat to explore (or take a nap) allows for more photo opportunities. They are also gerally more nimble and less clumsy than their canine counterparts.

    I also tend to think that cats are in behavior and personality more compatible with the personalities and aesthetics of “synth geeks” (and electronic musicians in general). The aloofness and independence and air of sophistication are characteristics I certainly find more appealing than the stereotypical “loyalty and obedience” of dogs. Dogs are also high-maintanance, need a lot of attention and of course their “walks,” taking away from time in the studio, while a cat is content to sit on a ledge or on a lap. Certainlly, Luna sometimes sits on my lap in the studio, as can be seen in at least one earlier post. And her presence in the studio is always a delight. By contrast, a clumsy and messy dog demanding attention would be quite unwelcome.

    Consider the aesthetics of cats, too. Cats are common in still life paintings and photography and lend an elegant quality, while dogs are more common in, say, poker scenes or creepy Norman Rockwell illustrations with kids. That is not to say I haven't seen some really great or endearing photos of dogs – but it is a very different aesthetic from cats.

    Certainly, these are all opinions, and we at CatSynth freely admit our feline bias. But to the best of our knowledge, there is no DogSynth site…





  • CatSynth pics: Vinyl with DX1 and Korg 3100

    Submitted by carlo (no website given):





  • Moo-gee-O!

    No, this article has nothing to do with Moog. Rather, it's just a story with a happy ending published by the local SPCA a month or so ago (unfortunately, they appear to have removed the link to the original PDF). Everyone needs a happy story now and then, even the rather dark and cynical characters who spend time on this forum.

    A cat had been found in a San Jose alley nursing her kittens. She had been a victim of animal cruelty and had a 14-inch slash that extended from under her left arm to the end of her stomach. She had been rushed to an emergency vet hospital where surgery was performed to stabilize her and clean and repair her wounds.

    Now it's possible that the 14-inch slash on the cat's belly was an accident, but it's more likely that it was a deliberate act of cruelty. What sort of sick, depraved, person slashes a poor kitty, let alone a mother with kittens? I suspect kids. Pro-lifers, take notice! Fortunately, the cat did recover from her wounds:

    Although in pain and barely alive, Kitty continued to love and care for her three kittens. The staff at the humane shelter quickly realized this was a special cat as she was extremely sociable and quite the purr-box.

    She was then transfered to the Santa Cruz SPCA, where she acquired the name Princess Mugio. Mugio is a Latin verb for groan/roar/bellow, and of course, “moo.” The following is a quote from the person who fostered her during her recovery:

    Upon laying my eyes on this severely injured cat, a tremendous wave of sorrow came over me. I could not understand what would possess someone to commit such a heinous act. Here laid this helpless animal, weighing a mere five pounds, suffering from a fourteen-inch thoracicabdominal wound. Princess Mugio had done nothing to deserve such abuse.

    Pro-lifers, take note a second time.

    Happily, Princess Mugio did make a full recovery, and became quite a charmer:

    Princess grew stronger and healthier with each day. She began to flourish. Her unique personality slowly emerged. She began conversing more, especially in the mornings and when I would return from work. It became clear she was a remarkably intelligent cat.

    Sounds a lot like Luna, who is not only a “princess”, but is also quite the conversationalist in the morning and evening (when I get home from work).

    Eventually, Mugio was ready for a permanent home, and was featured as a “Pet of the Week,” with her own ad in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. It stated: Deserving Princess Seeks New Castle. The link takes you to their archives.

    Apparently it didn't take long for someone to give her that “castle” and what appears to be a happy ending to what could have been a very tragic story.









  • Weekend "CatSynth" Blogging #97: Luna and TX802

    Weekend Cat Blogging crosses the CatSynth juggernaut:

    Here we see Luna posing next to a Yamaha TX802.

    The shine on her fur on this photo looks a lot like the cute black cat Puddy, who is hosting Weekend Cat Blogging #97 along Kate at A Byootaful Life.









  • CatSynth pics and slide show: Convoy the Cat

    Submitted directly from Convoy the Cat himself:

    In addition to several photos viewable at his myspace, we also have a slide show!

    watch all the kittens dance






  • CatSynth pics: Moog and Virus

    Submitted by Jon Kull (no website given):


    Looks like someone found a comfy spot in front of the Moog…






  • Cat and Toy Piano photo

    This one was submitted by both elba (who enjoys one of my favorite activites: not shopping at WalMart) as well as brrer:

    A bengal with the “very analog” instrument: a classic Jaymar toy piano. My parents found one of these on someone's curbside several years ago – it's amazing what people throw out. When I tried it out, I immediately recognized it as the instrument used in recordings of John Cage's Suite for Toy Piano.

    Thanks to everyone who has been submitting photos in the past week or so. I'm a little backlogged at the moment, but I will get to posting them all, among all the other articles I want to write for this forum.





  • CatSynth Tatoo: br'rer

    Well, this is a first! From experimental artist brrer, we have a cat-and-synthesizer tatoo:

    At br'rer's myspace page is a processed photo of the same cat and synth (or at least it appears as such), but it's a bit on the blinky side…




  • CatSynth pic: Mimì takes on synth programming

    Remember Mimì? Well, it looks like she's graduated from sleeping on synthesizers to programming them.

    Thanks again to polynominal for submitting the photo and his continued support of this site.






  • Catsynth pics: Triple Threat

    Via our friend matrix, we have a trio of recent photos of cats and synths.

    First we have Scooter and Bob (Moog, that is.), originally from Maggie Osterberg at flickr:

    Next, we have a big fluffy cat with an Anywhere modular, originally from sequencer.de:

    And finally, and quite appropriately, the “Matrix Cat” laying claim to an Oberheim Matrix-6r. Originally from synx508, whose cats have appeared here before:

    Thanks to matrix for collecting and posting these photos, and for putting up with a lot of cranky comments in response to them. In particular, “Matrix Cat” seems to have generated a lot of harsh comments about how cats and synthesizers should not mix. Lighten up, folks!