Catching up on posts

Like a lot of music bloggers I don't pay as much attention to my blog as I do to my synths. The Vostok has been cranky in the midi-to-CV module and I finally got the replacement parts in the mail. I'm working up the nerve to open it up and replace it and it's been easy to put off because lately it's been doing what it's suposed to be doing (converting midi note and velocity information into control voltages) and so the replacement parts have been sitting in my studio surrounded by bubble wrap as I drag my heels about doing things.

I also said once uppon a time that I was going to post the rest of those midi tutorials I found so here they are in order. check out This post for the introduction

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6 a


Part 6 b


Part 7

And in more current news!!!

Buchla and Associates have updated their website!!!

and the rumours were true they have come out with a new incarnation of the Balanced Modulator. I can't wait for the footage from the 2009 winter NAMM show to hit the web it's my favourite trade show. So many goodies!

The Buchla in Victoria

Times Colonist
June 01, 2008

As well as being a University of Victoria music professor, Andrew Schloss is a musician who has played with everyone from Laurie Anderson to Jimmy Page.

At the university, he teaches students to play a rare vintage Buchla modular synthesizer. The California instrument produces the classic bleeps, whirs and blips one associates with early synthesizers. Inventor Don Buchla and Robert Moog each invented modular synthesizers in 1963.

Schloss, a computer music whiz who plays (and co-designed) the high-tech Radiodrum, knows Don Buchla. He once invited the legendary synthesizer guru to be a keynote speaker at a new music conference in Vancouver.

read the rest here

My vostok has a gremlin

it lives in the midi-cv module and only comes out when it wants to. I can't explain what is up with it sometimes it won't work no matter what I do, sometimes it will work but only intermittently sometimes it works fine for a few weeks but the gremlin always comes back.

I've been talking with Tom Carpenter about it and he's going to send me replacement parts I'll get to crack it open and fix it soon. It's a good thing this instrument has its own sequencer. if it was out of commission and I was left with an expensive box of wires I'd probably be very sad. As it is I've got a gig coming up in December the Vostok will be there if I can replace it's midi-guts you should be too.

I'll post more info on that soon

Also to the maybe five people who read this blog I'm sorry I havn't uploaded the rest of that midi documentary I've been busy more will be coming soon.