/368 - Long Time No See

A few random pictures from the last week. I’ve tried posting a few times about my reflections on the year that was, but I’m not sure there’s been enough separation yet. Either way, it feels weird to be without it and absolutely insane that an entire year went by. 2020 was…

Have been playing with the modular a lot (and enjoying playing for an extra 30-45min than cutting it short to post on the blog) and tonight was pretty fun/cool. Playing a few drone samples, using Kria to sequence the v/oct input on microcell, using Pams to clock with a bunch of feedback patching to produce bursts of notes. Sort of reminded me of the late stages of a raga when the tablas go completely nuts. I was lucky enough to see Maestro Swapan Chaudhuri play live (with Ken Zuckerman at Eastman School of Music) once many years ago and my mouth hung open for a lot of it.

/366 - There Is No Ending

Today marks 1 year of daily posting to this blog. Looking around and all I can think is of all the things I didn’t do, wanted to do, or are sitting partially done. This isn’t to say that I am unhappy with things, quite the contrary, it’s just that there really is no end to the things I want to work on.

I am still debating on whether or not to finish out 2020 with a post a day. Seems weird to end with 1 month left even though I started on December 1st, 2019. I’m also not sure if I’m quite ready to say goodbye to it. The blog has become such a huge part of my life that it’s impossible to imagine my days without it. What comes next?

/357 - Walkabout

Took yesterday’s initiative and snuck away for a walk around the city this afternoon. It was windy and cold so the streets were very empty. It felt pretty weird out there.

/355 - Tired

I miss walking around with a camera. I miss the city and seeing weird things, colors, shapes. Lines and textures. It’s all around me, I need to make myself get out there. I have a tendency to want to stay close to home anyway, and the way everything is right now makes it even harder to go out. I can, I should. I will?

It’s been a long few weeks and it finally caught up to me. Goodnight.

/353 - Quantize It

There’s still a lot to learn, but Pamela’s New Workout is pretty damn amazing. Here she’s triggering 2 granular samples, as well as 2 quantized guitar loops. There are some notes in there that don’t feel right (even if they’re actually “correct”), but the possibilities are pretty amazing. Definitely a reason I see this in so many racks.

/350 - Follower, Following Softly

Long recording tonight. A new module (Sewastopol) arrived today, meant to be the interface which allows me to use my guitar with the modular. It was supplanted somewhat by the realization that Axo can send a hot enough signal to get a clean recording in the bitbox, but it still has some cool extra functions I spent time exploring. This is guitar and samples triggering and modulating other samples into (too much?) granular and reverb. Was going to cut the clip down, but figured I’d just let it rip.

/348 - Darkness and Light

It was a sunny day, I got a lot done at work, and now it’s my weekend. I get to spend all day tomorrow with Emi, doing whatever we end up getting in to. Conversely, I had some issues with the Bitbox — lots of crackling and lights flickering, so not sure if I was pushing it too hard or if there’s an issue. Have to keep trying to see if it repeats, and if there’s a common cause. Fun.

/347 - Same, Different

Emi and I saw this bush this afternoon. With all of this back and forth cold/hot weather the trees and flowers don’t know what season it is or what they should be doing. Cold coming back again tomorrow.

I promise not to end the year off with only posts about modular, even if it’s where my head is at right now. PLENTY of other projects and ideas around here to keep moving ahead with.

Each of the 3 modules (not counting Axo) are sort of their own little universe to explore. Spent the evening trying out different settings in Pam’s, triggering and modulating. Pretty insane how much you can wring out of everything in there by playing them against each other. Another quick recording tonight — same samples as last night, different patch.

/344 - Here We Go (Again)

Another beautiful day. We took a long walk and played on the playground this morning, then finished up all my pre-winter chores (except getting the garage organized) this afternoon. This weekend was great, but it went by really fast!

Tonight I managed to cut another faceplate for moduloti and get so so much desoldering done so I can finally get this thing all the way together and working with the encoders and LEDs. I was really itching to patch a bit tonight, but getting this done and back in the rack will be worth it.

/342 - A Walk in the Woods

It snowed (a tiny bit) both days last weekend and this week it’s been in the mid 60s every single day. Emi and I went and took a hike this afternoon and it was really great. Fall sounds and colors all around without the cold and wet. I brought my film camera and binoculars so I’m sure I looked like a total dweeb but we had fun walking around, playing in the mud, and listening a million little sounds. I shoulda/coulda brought the H4N but I felt like I had enough to carry around. Next time.

/341 - Changing of the Guard

The usual crew is still around (minus the Goldfinches — haven’t seen them in quite awhile) but there’s also some changes in the yard. The cardinals are back, I hear them chip chip chipping very early every morning. The house finches (red, top right) have been around more lately after being gone most of the summer. I’ve seen the dark-eyed juncos (bottom left) a few times, but they take off as soon as they see me and don’t come back for a week or more.

Lastly — the wrens. We don’t see them all that much, but I do hear them and they pop up regfularly enough that it seems like they’re sticking around. The other day Emi and I went into the garage and I could hear them so clearly I thought that maybe they had somehow gotten in there. Turns out they’ve made themselves at home in the brush pile and didn’t seem to care at all that we had our faces pushed right up against the garage window to watch them. They’re sort of our favorites.

/333 - Outside the House

Spent half of the day in the field for a project. After lots of delays due to the pandemic, things are happening and it’s actually going to get built. (Only 3 years until it’s done…) Nice to get out and stretch my legs, plus I love being around places where interesting shapes and textures are being accidentally/haphazardly combined into interesting configurations.

332 - Moody

Another cold day — we’re supposed to get a few inches of snow later in the week. I love the winter but not sure I’m ready yet. Emi is basically pacing at the door waiting for the chance to go make snow angels. haha

/326 - Different Lately

We’re all happy that the woodpeckers are back a lot more regularly since we put the suet out. The hairy woodpecker comes around a lot more than it used to, even if it has to fend off the jays and doves that are typically camping on the platform feeder.

A few weeks ago I saw a large something land in the neighbor’s tree, about 20 feet from us. Managed to grab the camera and get a few shots through the window of this incredible peregrine falcon. Never seen one before, much less in our yard. It just sat there slowly looking around as all the birds made a crazy amount of noise. Haven’t seen it since.

The goldfinches disappeared for about a month, but recently returned in their winter plumage.

We have still been seeing the wren around here and there (and once I even saw a pair together) but he’s still proving an elusive capture. This day I saw him on the platform and when I moved to grab the camera he flew up to the roof to belt out a song. One snap and then he disappeared.

/321 - Obscured

Pictures and drones of something and nothing.

/309 - Sundaze

This is a picture of a wren. I thought I saw one for the first time the other day, but have been doubting myself because it was quick and I haven’t seen it again. Tonight just before dusk I heard a lot of sound coming from the back porch and spied this little one singing its heart out. Then it flew up and hid in one of the hanging plants. It was too dark so the picture blurred. Still happy about it.

This is a short recording of some piano and pitched loops. Happy about it.

/296 - A No Project Day

Really busy day with work and home so I didn’t get to move on any of the projects from yesterday. I made dinner and took some pictures. Suppose that’s creative. It’s looking like the rest of the week may be busy too…

/291 - Visitors, The Changing

I got the platform feeder up today, but by the time we finished, then had dinner/bath/bedtime it was too dark for a good picture. The birds didn’t seem to notice it yet anyway. It’s right outside the office window so I’ll be sure to keep an eye on it.

Otherwise the feeders in the front yard are still hopping, from top left: Red-breasted nuthatch who we’ve only seen that one time; the teeny female hummingbird takes a rest; male downy woodpecker sneaking in to grab a sunflower seed while the house sparrows have their backs turned; goldfinch waiting for said sparrows to disperse; sign of (fading) summer; sign of autumn approaching.

/286 - Friday Misc

I got Emily really excited to do a project with me this afternoon, so we stopped and got supplies while we were out doing the rest of our errands. By the time we got back she was over it. Then right before bedtime she lost it because we didn’t have time to do it before she had to go to bed. I got it all planned out tonight, so hopefully tomorrow we can finish it.

/284 - Full Up

I tried to record this morning and both norns and the h4n were full. I’ve been really bad about keeping them clean and backing up/organizing the files. Here’s something that was on there. I don’t know how I made it and I’m not positive I haven’t posted it before. (I’m pretty sure I haven’t, but I need to get better at staying up to date)