tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69491089574192567762024-03-13T10:06:39.490-07:00darwingrosse.blogA place to stash random thoughts. Definitely not sponsored by my employer, family or anyone else.Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-12558495330616589902014-03-11T14:05:00.003-07:002014-03-11T14:06:31.461-07:00Podcast-o-rama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3I2VLhYOAdQ/Ux95hcD6wHI/AAAAAAAAAus/DzP-isvKZOw/s1600/libsyn-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3I2VLhYOAdQ/Ux95hcD6wHI/AAAAAAAAAus/DzP-isvKZOw/s1600/libsyn-pic.jpg" height="98" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
What could have kept me away from my blog for so long? Why, it's podcasting! I've joined the ranks of the podcasters - mostly to my experience listening to comedian's podcasts - by starting the "Art + Music + Technology" blog. Each week I interview someone in the art/music/tech world, with some pretty amazing conversations as a result. Since I'm not trying to sell anything, it's a nice way to talk to people that share the same interests as me - and to collect some oral history as well.<br />
<br />
Check it out at <a href="http://artmusictech.libsyn.com/">http://artmusictech.libsyn.com/</a><br />
<br />
I'm already 22-deep into the podcast, so you are sure to find something interesting in there!<br />
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[ddg] Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-26180733341482046782013-10-25T10:39:00.000-07:002013-10-25T10:50:34.589-07:00Yackfest!<iframe style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/2523135/height/360/width/640/theme/legacy/direction/no/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/" height="360" width="640" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>
And a new podcast is begun...<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-64308055481299954942013-09-22T19:46:00.001-07:002013-09-22T19:46:49.519-07:00A little documentation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ahmadalikarim.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/2013-09-12t161502z_1156212536_gm1e99d00la01_rtrmadp_3_usa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://ahmadalikarim.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/2013-09-12t161502z_1156212536_gm1e99d00la01_rtrmadp_3_usa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
(a common image of the devastation in our canyon)</div>
<br />
The Weather Channel did a pretty good job with their quickie documentary "Disaster in the Rockies", you can get an idea of things at their link here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.weather.com/news/colorado-flooding-and-after-images-20130919">http://www.weather.com/news/colorado-flooding-and-after-images-20130919</a><br />
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We were so lucky - we are high up in the canyon, so there was no "rush" flash flooding near us. Also, we are on the south side of Boulder County, so things aren't nearly as bad as the northern part. But the canyon road was completely wiped out, and it is going to be a few months before we have heat or hot water (because the gas lines were wiped out with the roads).<br />
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Thanks to everyone that reached out during the scary stuff, and I hope that people will give me a pass if my communications continues to be a little sketchy for a while. <br />
<br />
[ddg]<br />
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<br />Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-39805283268580762192013-09-11T12:12:00.000-07:002013-09-11T12:12:00.887-07:00SnazzyFZ + Bangbang Audio NYC makes for good videoDan Snazelle, the creator of the Euro implementation of the ArdCore, did a demo for the guys at Bangbang audio. The results are in these videos:<br />
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<br />
... and ...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FmHJJMRtAm0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
For the record, Andrew and I did the 101 Sequencer sketch, as well as a bunch of other sketches shown toward the end of the first video. I'm starting to think that the name "Darwin" must light up NSFW filters or something, 'cuz nobody ever mentions my involvement.<br />
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<i>(In case I've not not waved my hand enough about this, I developed the ArdCore platform - as well as the first 30 sketches for the thing - as part of my Master's Degree from DU. Awesome module, if I do say so myself, and available as an MU module from 20objects.com. DIY boards available there too!)</i><br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-51214056541283408002013-09-10T09:56:00.001-07:002013-09-10T10:01:27.575-07:00Sound City - the movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O92bt4X7tgQ/Ui9NiJEwixI/AAAAAAAAAkE/MsAwixfCA40/s1600/sound-city.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O92bt4X7tgQ/Ui9NiJEwixI/AAAAAAAAAkE/MsAwixfCA40/s1600/sound-city.png" height="320" width="194" /></a></div>
Turned onto <a href="http://buy.soundcitymovie.com/" target="_blank">this one</a> by my friend Andrew, this is a "real" LA story about the creation and existence of one of the historically significant studios: Sound City. It's a freebie if you are an Amazone Prime member, and it's worth the time to watch it.<br />
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One of the things that I like about it is that it shows that it's not the beauty of a place that makes for a great studio - it's the vibe. This has been reiterated by a lot of people a lot of time, but seeing it this clearly - and seeing it last this long - is a good reminder for those of us that think the cover of Mix magazine represents "professional" studios.<br />
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It reminded me of the discussion that <a href="http://www.mixerman.net/" target="_blank">Mixerman</a> had in his book, where a significant part of his prep work for a session was to create a "creative" environment using rugs, tapestries, lava lamps and other tweaks to help people leave the real world behind and get into a mood to write, record and play the hell out of the work.<br />
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If you haven't seen the movie, watch it!!!<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-90020473950370432772013-08-21T16:34:00.001-07:002013-08-21T16:34:51.718-07:00Or, rather, not.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hl1JLKtQmQ/UhVOakVce8I/AAAAAAAAAho/_iddLp4JIkc/s1600/DTVFail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hl1JLKtQmQ/UhVOakVce8I/AAAAAAAAAho/_iddLp4JIkc/s320/DTVFail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I got an email from DirecTV offering a chance to bitch about their service. I relished the opportunity. I click on the link - and any other link that might have let me vent about their increased service fees, overblown "2nd Year" rip-off, and my inability to tweak my monthly charges to remove unused equipment from the system.<br />
<br />
Wisely, though, every single link is dead. The spinner spins for a few minutes, giving you hope for a better future, then it stops and provides a blank screen. Dead.<br />
<br />
In a way, it's a pretty apt metaphor for DirecTV anyway. So thanks for that.<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-55097801987466262542013-08-19T11:11:00.001-07:002013-08-19T11:11:29.200-07:00Push-ing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn2-resources.ableton.com/80bA26cPQ1hEJDFjpUKntxfqdmG3ZykO/static/images/push-tour/push-play-sequence-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://cdn2-resources.ableton.com/80bA26cPQ1hEJDFjpUKntxfqdmG3ZykO/static/images/push-tour/push-play-sequence-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
I got an updated (i.e., production) Push device last week, and I've been humming away with it. It turns out to have sated many of my looper/keyboard-alternative/control-surface needs, and done so in a very elegant way. I'm going to be spending some time in the next few weeks getting my ducks in a row with designing User Mode user interfaces; we'll see how that all works out.<br />
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Tarekith, someone that I bump into a fair amount, has written up his experiences with the Push, and they pretty much echo my thoughts. So instead of yapping about it myself, why don't you read his bits?<br />
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<a href="http://tarekith.com/ableton-push-first-thoughts/" target="_blank">First Thoughts</a><br />
<a href="http://tarekith.com/push-part-2/" target="_blank">Second Thoughts</a><br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-70334517319856276132013-08-12T19:30:00.002-07:002013-08-12T19:30:50.055-07:00Podcast Mania<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.premiumhollywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Alex-G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://www.premiumhollywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Alex-G.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I, like many people, have become obsessed with podcasts as a way to plow through the daily grind. There is something about an audio broadcast that is specific to something I'm interested in - it makes me feel like I've put together "Just-For-Me Radio" without doing music (which I can't have playing while I'm operating machinery...) or listening to a ton of commercials.<br />
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One of my favorites is the Marc Maron WTF podcast. Marc is a comedian that interviews other comedians, musicians or other creative people, and he reveals a lot about himself in the process. It's really a great way to get into how people do what they do, and to see semi-popular people as real folk.<br />
<br />
The one I listened to today was an interview with Alex Guarnaschelli, a TV cook that has been all over the Food Network sorta-reality shows, but she talked about her experiences in cooking in many of the same terms that media artists tend to use for their history of work. Very interesting, and got me thinking about what I do in a completely different way.<br />
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You can check it out here: <a href="http://www.wtfpod.com/" target="_blank">the link</a><br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-30387868382125668272013-08-10T20:46:00.003-07:002013-08-10T20:46:48.306-07:00The Only Place We Had To Stop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s3-media4.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/xm_sIFFgJ5AyR_F7NQazzQ/l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://s3-media4.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/xm_sIFFgJ5AyR_F7NQazzQ/l.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
Just back from my annual family vacation - this one with a twist. Went to see Aunt Karen, took the boys fishing and sliding down the old gravel pit hills. Went to see Josh (brother-in-law) and Kate (spouse of same), and had a great time hanging out in a park and watching a band in one of the most beautiful bandshells ever (Harriet Lake in Minneapolis).<br />
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But there was only one place that the entire family felt like we <i>had</i> to stop at: <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/HbSB7" target="_blank">Delight Donuts</a> in Lexington Nebraska. My kids believe in the power of the donut, and have declared Delight Donut to be the best donut shop in the nation. These folks have no significant internet presence, and is the most odd of possible shops: A traditional donut shop located in an old Mexican restaurant, run by a wonderful Asian couple. Donuts to die for, and worth staying in Lexington just to wake up to this treat.<br />
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A little side-step from my normal posts, but I did want to mention the highlight of the trip!<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-15983819879052333742013-07-30T21:32:00.003-07:002013-07-30T21:33:16.577-07:00The Song Remains The Same...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qd5hAs1qcI/UfiSsEHQyOI/AAAAAAAAAgw/LHUcu0QbmAA/s1600/TiptopCase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qd5hAs1qcI/UfiSsEHQyOI/AAAAAAAAAgw/LHUcu0QbmAA/s1600/TiptopCase.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
... but the case is a little different. I was finding the Livid case a little too small, and the Goike cabinet a bunch too big for travel. I finally ponied up and got the case I originally wanted - a Tiptop Station 252. Full of modules from my friends (Malekko/Wiard, SnazzyFX, 4ms), it has everything I need with very little excess baggage. I'm going to take it on a trip next week to make sure that it survives a little road time; assuming it does, I may come home with an album's worth of material!<br />
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But right now I've got to download that "You Need A Budget" app that Andrew told me about...<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-82440699063677775692013-07-29T22:34:00.003-07:002013-07-29T22:34:58.212-07:00Try a little harder, please.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RDnmZU9q210/UfdO_h0X8PI/AAAAAAAAAgg/Rxo25rf_wj4/s1600/NotImpeccible.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RDnmZU9q210/UfdO_h0X8PI/AAAAAAAAAgg/Rxo25rf_wj4/s1600/NotImpeccible.gif" /></a></div>
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So I went to a performance this weekend that featured all sorts of performers and huge projections on several walls. This is a situation where the performers "excite" a video system, and the whole thing because a big mediated jumble. Alas, I came away a little sad, because while it held some interesting options, it was a little, um, lacking in attention to detail.<br />
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The days of projecting something on a wall and winning your Media Artist badge are over. Now, there are expectations that need to be met. And it's not just about the content - it's about the details of presentation. For example, if you are going to have multiple projectors, the brightness, contrast and black levels need to be matched across machines. If you are spanning across these projectors, you need to make sure the alignment is impeccable. In fact, impeccability is something that was missing from the whole show, and it left me wishing for more than I saw.<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-35457859991793760362013-07-26T09:10:00.001-07:002013-07-26T09:10:18.433-07:00Robert Speaks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://roberthenke.com/files_images/photos/roberthenke/roberthenke_INAGRM_01_520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://roberthenke.com/files_images/photos/roberthenke/roberthenke_INAGRM_01_520.jpg" height="184" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Ran across <a href="http://monolake.de/interviews/ghosts_china.html" target="_blank">this interview</a> on FB, but these things often go unread. This one shouldn't. I interviewed Robert one time for (presumably) a thesis thingie, but he was kind of hard to interview (especially for me, since I consider him a bit of a friend). But even Robert admits to liking this interview (enough so that he posted it on his own site), and I have to admit it is pretty spot-on. Hopefully you enjoy it too.<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-50622081735779774922013-07-25T14:41:00.002-07:002013-07-25T14:42:43.186-07:00ArdCore Love<a href="http://snazzyfx.com/images/ardcore.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://snazzyfx.com/images/ardcore.gif" width="184" /></a>There's a <a href="http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=89424" target="_blank">very nice thread</a> about the ArdCore modular platform on MuffWiggler. The thread starts with a discussion about why the ArdCore isn't as beloved as the MakeNoise Maths (which doesn't even seem logical to me, but there you go...), but eventually evolves into a discussion about the value prospect of the ArdCore as a creative module.<br />
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I love the way that the ArdCore has taken off - mostly thanks to Dan Snazelle's introduction of the device in Eurorack format, and FAC's creation of the drum-based sketch. It started off as a passion-project to be utilized as my Master's Thesis project; it has ended up being seen in a variety of modular systems across the world.<br />
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Reading the thread has reinvigorated my desire to pumps out a new sketch or two. I've got this thing in my head to do some physics emulations; let's see how this goes!<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-50167218436372869322013-07-24T18:17:00.001-07:002013-07-24T18:17:48.153-07:00Performance Season - almost over!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SeGX4-D4dvE/UfB8hW6K5PI/AAAAAAAAAfg/t-pZUxJTrd0/s1600/CurrentsLighting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SeGX4-D4dvE/UfB8hW6K5PI/AAAAAAAAAfg/t-pZUxJTrd0/s320/CurrentsLighting.JPG" width="261" /></a></div>
Incredible summer of performances, but (thankfully, perhaps) it is almost over. One of the highlights was playing at the <a href="http://www.currentsnewmedia.org/" target="_blank">Currents New Media Festival,</a> where I performed in two pieces: one as visualist for Andrew Pask and Janet Feder, and one as musician/visualist with Andrew Pask. Both were incredible, and the duet with Pask allowed me to introduce my modular foolishness to a new crowd. The response was fantastic, and I appreciate the guiding hands of Mariannah Amster and Frank Ragano for making the Currents festival a magnificent place, and to Paul and Kitty for sharing their home with us douring our visit to Santa Fe. An incredible time, and I met so many incredible people. Thank you all!<br />
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(The picture was take by Janet as I was trying to get the lighting right for my area of the stage - and attempting not to fall off said stage...) <br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-3691748357875661992013-02-18T18:48:00.000-08:002013-02-18T18:49:19.066-08:00Haters Gotta Hate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DG5k-D9UuOM/USLkwyMJvbI/AAAAAAAAAdM/3ycnvYI6rzA/s1600/HatersGottaHate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DG5k-D9UuOM/USLkwyMJvbI/AAAAAAAAAdM/3ycnvYI6rzA/s1600/HatersGottaHate.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This little gem showed up in my Facebook stack, and I've just got to blurt a few things out. The organizer of this thing has (in my opinion) jumped the rails a bit, and this is the result. A few notes:<br />
<ul>
<li>If you are going to go Ableton-negative, don't continue to cop the Ableton name and logo. Lacks class.</li>
<li>Starting the message with Bitwig is just meant to incite. Don't worry, Marc, they are watching. But this'll just make 'em write you off.</li>
<li>Opinion on the Push is not rapidly declining, because the Push isn't yet in consumer's hands. After it is, the opinion will vary, they will be in widespread use, and all planets will continue to orbit as expected.</li>
<li>Live 9 is unready? I haven't heard that one yet, although I know some people would prefer it to have different feature sets. But I'm not sure where this one came from. I've been (secretly) gigging with it for a while, and couldn't be more confident in it.</li>
<li>The Livid Base is a cool thing, and is completely different from anything Ableton is likely to do in the next many years. The goals are different, as are the devices.</li>
</ul>
Yeah, I hear the peanut gallery already: I'm a Ableton shill! I can't bust out of my own bubble! I'm not open enough! Yada yada.<br />
<br />
Breaking News: I'm a hater too. In this case, I'm just hating on the fragging of cheap shots on the way out of town.<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-68343362227682343042013-02-07T11:33:00.002-08:002013-02-07T11:33:49.217-08:00Sometimes I Make Me Happy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJIka9VLEsc/URQBcklQiJI/AAAAAAAAAc8/nMbzUqllRG8/s1600/tunafishpix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJIka9VLEsc/URQBcklQiJI/AAAAAAAAAc8/nMbzUqllRG8/s1600/tunafishpix.jpg" /></a></div>
I finally got around to making my damned Max for Live tuner. Something that I always wished was part of Live, and that I knew I should have made for myself some time ago. Wasn't really hard, but difficult to share because it is pretty heavily tied to the fiddle~ object. Nevertheless, at least (for a moment) I'm pretty pleased with myself.<br />
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Really useful when doing live Ableton + modular session (of which I have a few in the upcoming months). <br />
<br />
Simple pleasures.<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-1318359729003533912013-01-31T18:50:00.000-08:002013-01-31T18:50:25.026-08:00NAMM downer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/avTL0UVsff0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Am I getting too crotchety, or is this just a little underwhelming? I'm sorry, but Moog has me a little freaked out; I'm not in love with this, and I still puke in my mouth a little every time I see one of those weird-o Solid Gold Voyagers. Wha' happened?<br />
<br />
And Dave Smith with the $3K polysynth. <sigh></sigh><br />
<br />
I think I'll get a few U-he softsynths and pay the mortgage for a while longer. My wife agrees whole-heartedly. Actually, my wife believes that U-he stuff is out of line too, but that's why I have a Paypal account...<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-48413171572174771372013-01-14T22:07:00.000-08:002013-01-14T22:07:16.644-08:00Another Christmas Miracle!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.boscovs.com/wcsstore/boscovs/images/store/product/images/64059826252041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.boscovs.com/wcsstore/boscovs/images/store/product/images/64059826252041.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
Or fail, as the case may be.<br />
<br />
Trying to get some sort of interesting science-y gift for my 6 year-old, we tripped upon the Smithsonian's "Prehistoric Sea Monsters" kit. Folks my age will remember the great ol' Sea Monkeys kits of the ancient past; this is the updated version, complete with the Smithsonian Seal of Approval.<br />
<br />
What a P.O.S. 2 weeks after Christmas and the failure is complete. Never a single triops was hatched, the cool background image faded and peeled off, it now looks like something that belongs on the Island of Misfit Toys.<br />
<br />
If I would have done research ahead of time, I would have found people like this:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thekerrieshow.com/2010/12/do-not-buy-smithsonian-triops-kit-aka.html" target="_blank">The Kar-azy Katholic that Prefers Sea Monkeys</a><br />
<br />
I'm not sure I would have completely paid attention, since the idea of a prehistoric monster for a 1st Grader is pretty compelling - but maybe I wouldn't have been surprised by the result: about $0.10 of plastic with some pond scum floating at the top.<br />
<br />
Merrrrrry Christmus!<br />
<br />
[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-4454158426224394742013-01-11T13:21:00.003-08:002013-01-11T13:21:41.981-08:00One way the Arduino Due is flawed...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://arduino.cc/en/uploads/Main/arduino_due_in_hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://arduino.cc/en/uploads/Main/arduino_due_in_hand.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
... is that its name is supremely unhelpful.<br />
<br />
Surely you'll think I'm crack-headed for trying to make this point, but bear with me. Naming a product using a common word will work against the interests of your users in almost every case - because we are now in the post-documentation, active-searching world of problem-solving. Here's a real world example:<br />
<br />
I recently got two Arduino Due boards (from the Maker's Shed). I've installed the Arduino 1.5.1 software, and attempted to load the Blink sketch from the standard library. If I'm using the Programmer's Port, I will either get a "SAM-BA" error, or the system will cease seeing a device on the serial port. I can successfully load and run Blink using the Native Port, so I know that the software is operational, the cables are good and power is sufficient.<br />
<br />
I've tried searching the Interwebs for information that might help me figure out what a "SAM-BA" error is, or why a Due might have problems with a Programmer's Port on OS X. In fact, I've been unsuccessfully in finding a useful search phrase that could help, mostly because the "Due" name is searched the same as the work "due" (as in "this board is due to fail any day now"). Thus, I'm consistently getting way too many results without actually getting any help. Very frustrating.<br />
<br />
This rant may sound funny from a guy that helps ship the "Max" product, but at least we were pre-Internet; today, there's no reason to use a common word (even if its origins are something else). Do a quick Google search on your product name before you ship. If it provides an overwhelming number of hyper-common results, you might want to go a different way.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I'm just going to use the damned Native Port and shut up.<br />
<br />
[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-33248103072411824672013-01-08T18:46:00.001-08:002013-01-08T18:46:25.520-08:00The Über-module!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTV-zS8e1yw/UOzZkCOAmvI/AAAAAAAAAcs/vo4u4rCPj0U/s1600/DDM4000.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTV-zS8e1yw/UOzZkCOAmvI/AAAAAAAAAcs/vo4u4rCPj0U/s400/DDM4000.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
When is a module not a module? When it's a DJ mixer with built in effects, looper/sampler and other stuff. By running the mini-modular into this mixer, I can control panning, effects, do a little looping/sampling and generally make a bigger mess of an already messy situation. But it is pretty fun, and it make integration of the MPC-1000 and the PC/Monome-based looper pretty smooth. Fun, fun, fun!<br />
[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-45040436746540857092013-01-06T14:37:00.001-08:002013-01-06T14:41:08.620-08:00Certain to be Friendly!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6949108957419256776" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YD13Yr-wVqs/UOn9M9mVLCI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/NOlMax_NXLg/s1600/PeopleIMayKnow.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YD13Yr-wVqs/UOn9M9mVLCI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/NOlMax_NXLg/s320/PeopleIMayKnow.png" width="158" /></a></div>
I posted this to FB, but I'll also toss it here - something weird has
happened to the "people you may know" portion of Facebook. It used to be
filled with musicians, video artists and academics. Now it is filled
with young women from eastern European countries, all of whom look like
they could use a short term loan (or something) from me.<br />
<br />
How did this happen? Is it something I did? Is it something one of my "friends" did? Who the heck knows - everything about FB is a black hole of "We don't talk about that.", and they are obviously getting gamed by something that has infected me. All that really means is that I'm not going to be taking on any more friends anytime soon - which probably isn't that bad of an idea anyway.<br />
<br />
If I could only stand Google+...<br />
<br />
[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-79705123819923942702012-12-28T10:38:00.000-08:002012-12-28T10:38:09.449-08:00The Power66 SystemSo, I've gone through some refinements on my 5U modular system. Here's a pic:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ttSiPQPQO28/UN3mlpOlRBI/AAAAAAAAAcA/mbkp8hPkoOQ/s1600/Power66.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ttSiPQPQO28/UN3mlpOlRBI/AAAAAAAAAcA/mbkp8hPkoOQ/s400/Power66.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The main changes, this year, are a reduction in sequencers (since I'm using computer sequencing a lot of times with this guy), and the addition of some Buchla-like modules to the top-right corner. These include a Sputnik WCRS, Dual Waveform Generator, Voltage Controlled Filter and MegaOhm CdS. So, basically, this is a two-voice system, but with whack-a-doodle voicing options. Great fun!<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-81834502734114581652012-12-27T15:57:00.000-08:002012-12-27T15:58:44.651-08:00Why iConnectMidi?Hopefully, this picture explains why I'm such a big fan of the iConnectMidi...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yHZOkj7uIg0/UNzf5Rz80JI/AAAAAAAAAbw/HPzwCWZdC8E/s1600/LittleKeys.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yHZOkj7uIg0/UNzf5Rz80JI/AAAAAAAAAbw/HPzwCWZdC8E/s400/LittleKeys.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Yup - a little $50 portable USB keyboard for my little portable modular. Very fun!<br />
<br />
(The connection between the two is the iConnectMidi, set up to flow the data directly from the keyboard, through MIDI, into the Doepfer A-190-3 MIDI interface. Works a charm.)<br />
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[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-41287393732686528972012-12-25T21:14:00.001-08:002012-12-25T21:14:29.846-08:00Nook Simple Touch : The Christmas Disappointment (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ikiJOXvlQA/UNqAAu75W0I/AAAAAAAAAaw/uhNeAzAMQxw/s1600/NoNook.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ikiJOXvlQA/UNqAAu75W0I/AAAAAAAAAaw/uhNeAzAMQxw/s1600/NoNook.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ikiJOXvlQA/UNqAAu75W0I/AAAAAAAAAaw/uhNeAzAMQxw/s320/NoNook.gif" width="244" /></a></div>
A pretty wonderful Christmas this year for the family - once we all got over our quick bouts with the flu. Present opening went rapidly, with a relatively late start (the kids let me sleep until 6 am!). All was great, with the main gifts being Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch readers for each of the boys (ages 6, 8 and 12).<br />
<br />
Why the Simple Touch? First of all, the price was reasonable - we got them for $59 at the Target Black Friday sale. We'd done our research ahead of time (or so we thought), and found that the Nook franchise had the best selection of early reader books, which is perfect for our 6 and 8 year-olds. It is also focused on reading (not games and apps), so when the kids are on the Nook, it means that they are compelled to read. Sounds perfect!<br />
<br />
So first thing in the morning, wrapping paper flying, we start getting things wired up. We started by charging all three Nooks up and registering them with <a href="http://bn.com/">bn.com</a>. Then we used the on-device browser to find and buy a couple of the reasonably priced kids books we'd identified as winners for the kids. Surprisingly, none of them were showing up on the browser, so I hit the computer, found one of the books, bought it and tried to push it to the Nook.<br />
<br />
No can do. I did a little diving, and tried all of the explanations, but to no avail. I dashed off a note to B&N customer service and went on to other things. Later, I decided to do a little more digging - and this is where I found out that we, as conscientious parents, had gotten scammed.<br />
<br />
When we were doing our research, we'd seen huge lists of books that were available as Nook Books: The I Can Read series, DK readers, Arnold Lobel and Cynthia Ryland and others. Here's an example of a page for one of these books:<br />
<br />
<hr />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PcZJ6p1rJHY/UNqDnBaFF7I/AAAAAAAAAbE/BWENvsEwZsM/s1600/NookPage.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PcZJ6p1rJHY/UNqDnBaFF7I/AAAAAAAAAbE/BWENvsEwZsM/s640/NookPage.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<br />
Looks good, no?<br />
<br />
It's a Nook Book, "Available on NOOK devices and apps", and should be a great read for my 1st grader. Except it doesn't work on a Nook Simple Touch. Why? Possibly because it has color illustrations, or maybe it has an aspect ratio that doesn't work - or some other possibility. I can buy it, but I just can't put it on the Simple Touch devices that we purchased.<br />
<br />
Let's look into why I think of this as a scam. First of all, all the identifiers are that this is a "NOOK Book", so there is no indication of a limitation to the devices. Looking more closely at the availability statement:<br />
<hr />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHINOKas5n8/UNqE4t1z6HI/AAAAAAAAAbU/x9zcnjZ6VVg/s1600/NookHidden.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHINOKas5n8/UNqE4t1z6HI/AAAAAAAAAbU/x9zcnjZ6VVg/s1600/NookHidden.gif" /></a></div>
<hr />
<br />
We see that it self-identifies as working with NOOK devices. Sounds good, right? My Simple Touch says "NOOK" right on the box, so I should be good, right? It is only when you click on the question mark in this little corner of the display that it reveals the evil truth:<br />
<br />
<hr />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QQqgauGkEmM/UNqFOwdZ28I/AAAAAAAAAbc/noUkVYuvMnI/s1600/NookRevealed.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QQqgauGkEmM/UNqFOwdZ28I/AAAAAAAAAbc/noUkVYuvMnI/s1600/NookRevealed.gif" /></a></div>
<hr />
<br />
Oh. No NOOK Simple Touch. I searched throughout the <a href="http://bn.com/">bn.com</a> site, and found no indication that certain books were limited to certain devices. I also can find no way to search for books that are guaranteed to work on the NOOK Simple Touch, so I can't even prevent myself from seeing the 90% of kids books that are unavailable to me (or, more importantly, to my kids). My 8 year-old can enjoy the Magic Tree House series, so he at least has something (although it is precious little). But the 6 year-old is cut out of almost every book he would want from Barnes & Noble, and the device is going to end up being a doorstop because he won't find any joy in it whatsoever.<br />
<br />
I have to admit being a stupid consumer, I guess. Up to this point, we've been Kindle users, and there are no limits to the content that can be used on any Kindle device, whether it is an original Kindle or the latest Super App-Laden Geegaw. I just assumed that this was the case for the Nook, too - and I'm paying for that assumption. I guess all the reviewers that discussed the superiority of the Nook are focused on Tom Clancy novels and never bothered to look into Curious George.<br />
<br />
You can guess how this makes me feel about Barnes and Noble, the NOOK, the stupid B&N Membership I've been paying for and all the money I spend on them. My family likes books, likes e-books and likes shopping. But at this point, I'd rather recommend a Bernie Madoff investment opportunity than suggest anyone support them. A huge disappointment on our Christmas morning.<br />
<br />
<sigh><br /></sigh>
<br />
Thanks a pile, NOOK!<br />
<br />
[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949108957419256776.post-86762152117414388072012-09-29T22:04:00.000-07:002012-09-29T22:04:06.679-07:00Friend to friend...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pzJAoQsMS4/UGfSr3KBYOI/AAAAAAAAAaY/DOT84JsghFY/s1600/MyEuro80.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pzJAoQsMS4/UGfSr3KBYOI/AAAAAAAAAaY/DOT84JsghFY/s320/MyEuro80.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://stretta.tumblr.com/post/32059904919/my-friend-darwins-new-system-he-told-me-he-was" target="_blank">nice lil' nod</a> from my dear friend Matthew. Thanks man!<br />
<br />
[ddg]Darwin Grossehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05408409920874351629noreply@blogger.com0