Has anyone done any music today?
 

Or even this month? I know I fucking haven't..

There a funny story about Pythagoras and how he discovered the music scale and all that, but then he totally turned his back on music. Also, Salvador Dali declared all musicians to be "cretins".

I went to the Dali museum in St. Peterrsburg Florida a few years ago. Really fucking cool. I even bought and had nicely framed a print of "The Hallucinogenic Toreador." But now that he's referred to us as cretins, I might just have to wipe my ass with his print and piss on it.

Well, he hasn't just said it now. He said it fucking ages ago. You cretin.

I like being a cretin, and you should too, because you are one and nothing you do will ever change that fact.

I doubt I'll be doing alot of music today. I have to write a sizeable paper for school, which I am behind on because I had to euthanize my beloved, old dog, Sidney this Friday AM, and have been quite depressed since we became aware this had to be done early last week. He had hip dysplasia really bad and was losing his ability to get up at all without help. He was my best friend for almost 13 years, always glad to see his master, and a very sweet, intelligent animal.

I've had so many good ideas for tracks though, and I've been starting them out by recording the key riff (that jumps in my head) into my sequencer. I set it up as best I can, usually taking no more than an hour, and leave it for later. That's all I have time for right now. Next year I will take a 2 week holiday and do nothing but finish these songs I've started. My DAW is clean, freshly installed with everything, I have 2 new toys (Albino 3 and Battery 3) and am ready to produce...

hey alex, what kind of dog was Sidney?

Losing a dog is well sad. Sorry to hear that mate.

Hey Doc and Matt,

Sidney was half German Shepherd and half Golden Retriever. I am very saddened by this, but very relieved that I was able to end his suffering peacefully and painlessly as opposed to leeting Mother Nature's viscious course do him in. I am also very happy for the time I had with him. Heather pulled out a lot of old pictures of us running around with him. He used to pick up these huge branches of fallen trees and run around taunting us, like "This is my big ass stick and you can't take it from me because you're a slow human, Ha Ha!"



He was a very strong dog, but so nice and sweet, he never bit anyone or another animal. We fed him ground beef, broccoli, and rice all cooked up twice a day for his whole adult life. One day this little poodle started biting on his leg one day and Sidney just looked down at it and with his mouth open, panting, kind of laughing to himself. The little French bastard got wise and took off. It was pretty funny!

But old age and hip dysplasia, a genetic ailment that both German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are prone to set in a few years ago. I'm glad I listened to my veterinarian. As soon as he was diagnosed I stopped going to the gym in the morning's and walked with him around the nighborhood for two miles, 3 times per week to reduce his weight. He dropped from 110 pounds to 95 pounds in about 4 months. This slowed the stress on his hips and his decline. We also medicated him appropriately to further stabilize him and maintain his quality of life.

I knew the beginning of the end had started and I made it a point to spend time with him when I was home, which wasn't alot for a few years before he got sick, as I was working two and three jobs at a time to pay the bills. But I always fed him and walked him every morning and always sat with him for a few minutes and talked to him and petted him before I went to work, at a minimum. He would freak out when I came home, barking like hell and wagging his tail. It was a great welcoming every day after the daily grind had taken its toll on me.

We knew as of last Wednesday that he had to be put down. He could not really get up, it took him 10 minutes to stand and then he was not stable walking and fell once or twice. His last few days I picked him up and carried him to the dining room so he could eat with us like he always did, carried him outside so he could use the bathroom after dinner, and carried him to his bed in my bedroom once it was time to turn in.

I spent every minute with him when I was home from Wednesday through Friday of last week. I saw him more in the last 3 days than in the last three months for sure. I am so thankful I took that time because I cannot reclaim it now that he is gone. I'm behind in a huge term paper due tomorrow but I'm not worried about it, I'll do what I can and pray for a decent grade. He was so happy I was home with him. I was so happy to be there for him in his final hours. We fed him like a king all week, beef, bacon, cheese, all his favorites. We gave him a huge cow bone to chew on each night. He went out in style.








May you rest in peace Sidney, my dear friend. You are the best boy that ever was and I hope to see you in heaven when my time here is finished.

Thanks for your condolences and well wishes, fellas.

Regards,

-Alex

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about your dog. As I have never had a pet I cannot pretend to know what you are going through but I can tell by your words and pictures that he will be missed.

I am working on a track at the moment with my friend but today I have just been going to the 'START' patch and seeing where things develop.

It's so satisfying to just mess with a great synthesizer and listen to what can be created even if it is just an old fashioned 'WWWOOOOWWW' sound, I'll never get bored of it!

I have been messing about with Oscillator Sync as I don't think I use this enough.

Anyway, have a good evening.

Dave.

Dave,

Are you programming your TI, or another synth?

I've spent countless hours drooling and tweaking over a sound in the past. I can't wait for my next opportunity.

Do you just hear something in your head and try and make it come out of your synth or is your method of creation different?

Cheers,

-Alex

That sucks Alex. I've only ever had cats but had to have one put down this year after he was hit by a car and the injuries were permanent enough that his quality of life was going down hill and weren't likely to recover. Sucked really bad as he was the most laid back cat I have ever met. So docile and relaxed, great with the kids even if they were a bit rough.

Unlike the cat we have now who is a fat lazy cunt who likes to sleep on top of me and gets angry when you play with him. We spent about a grand on surgery and treatment for Dali after the accident which wasn't a problem. I'd probably spend a grand to get rid of this fucker.

I guess you can take solace in that your dog lived a good, full life and didn't have to suffer.

Hey Ledge,

You're right, the good life we give our pets means alot. Their demise is often out of our hands, and sometimes our intervention is an act of mercy. Sorry you had to make that choice with Dali. It is nothing other than a gut wrenching experience.

As far as your other cat, sometimes they just disappear...

My wife's cat pissed on 3 pair of my Bostonian wing-tip business shoes and cost me a bloody fortune, not to mention blisters as I break my new kicks in.

Aren't there rabid Tasmanian Devils in your province of the bush?

;)

man Alex, I definitely feel for you mate. I went through something very similar with my german shepard a few years back. I have always had pets in my life, but my german shepard really was family. Putting her to sleep was such a difficut thing to do, but like you said with Sidney, it was the most humane thing to do. And I have to agree, that meat bone is definitely fit for a king :)

It boggles my mind that we can see that animals are in pain and do the humane thing in letting them die in peace and with dignity but when it comes to actual humans we are inhumane and even if they themselves want to die and not go through anymore pain we won't allow them to make that choice.

Christ on a bike, that confuses the fuck out of me.

We are definitley in the wrong on the euthanaisa perspective, Ledge. I don't necessarily think that an eighteen year old that is depressed and tired of living should be able to make the decision to do themselves in, but a person with a chronic, painful, and/or terminal condition that has limited quality of life, that's a no brainer in my opinion. The "Hemlock Society" helps those faced with that choice in countries that do not sanction it.

Doc, that is one kick ass bone, eh? It's in the garden now. This summer I'm going to start visiting breeders of German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers. There is no better house alaerm than a dog, and it still works even whrn the power goes out. Also, they keep your wifey safe when she jogs...along with the pepper spray I bought her...and the riot baton...OK, maybe I'm a closet militant...

Back on topic, I can't wait to start tweaking the hell out of patches in Albino 3. I hear the workflow is hella easy and efficient. Anyone else got this beautiful VSTi?

been thinking about buying it (I am a big fan of Rob Papen's stuff). How does it compare to the sound of the virus?

Doc, there are times that Albino 3 and my Virus KC sound really similar, but ultimately the two are very distinct.

If I didn't have a Virus KC I would be happy as hell with Albino 3, but I'm not going to sell my Virus because I have Albino 3. Does that make sense?

Albino 3 does have some really beefy sounds in the 2100+ preset library, and some really nice, warm vintage analog sounds too.

I hear that doing things like programming arps and other fine tweaks are a breeze in Albino 3 compared to VA's or workstations (see the review on www.tweakheadz.com) but have not had an opprtunity to test the differences myself.

Hope that info is helpful.

BTW, are you using a Mac or PC, Doc? I seem to remember you providingme with some good PC hardware specs last year but can't remember what platform you actually use for your own projects.

Ledge, I agree about how we call it "humane" to put down animals, but outlaw it for humans!

I've had to put down 2 cats and one dog. Oh that is a heartache. But those lovely animals, such loyal old friends. Their lives pass so quickly. One woman in my English class told us how when her father-in-law died, the funeral was a muted affair, but when the dog died the whole family was crying buckets.

Susan, my daughter, got one of these last year for having been a good girl:

Her name's Wendy and she's the cutest and cleverest little bitch.

uops... hope I'm not to late to say it's really a bad news... Rest in Peace...
regards, Lorenzo

Matt, that's a hellaciously cute little puppy! What kind is it?

Lorenzo, not late my friend, all is well. An expected bump in the road in an otherwise perfect friendship. I'm getting better by the day, thanks, mate!

:)

She's a Papillon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papillon_(dog)

I was also thinking of what you said about a good healthy diet for a dog. Wendy gets rice, minced beef and carrot most days. Another advantage is that whatever's left over, you can just feed to the kids.

Ha! Puppy chow, kiddie chow, what's the difference? It all gets digested into poo any way!

:)

I don't really like dogs. They stink. They cost money. You form an emotional attachment to them and then they die.

The only thing worse than dogs are dog owners... fuck they are a bunch of selfish cunts. Leaving dog shit everywhere, thinking they have all sorts of rights. THEY'RE DOGS FOR FUCKS SAKE. STINKY DOGS. THEY'LL BITE YOUR FACE AND EAT YOUR NEWBORN CHILD, THEN SHIT ON YOUR FLOOR, GET ARTHRITIS AND COST $3000 FOR AN OPERATION.

Dogs are shithouse

Bollocks. DINGOS eat babies. Just ask Meryl Streep, poor woman.

Something wrong with this? This feature alone justifies the existence of pet dogs. I do it too. It's good for the planet.

Hi Alex,

I have a Virus C as I can't justify upgrading to a TI.

I try to think of a sound then create it but I normally end up somewhere else completely different, probably the same as most people!

Even a couple of minutes of randomly messing about is ace. I am just grateful that after wanting to own a synth for so many years I have the one I always wanted.

Dave.

PS. I saw a band called The Modified Toy Orchestra last night and as the name suggests all instruments are made from old toys, fantastic! I don't think I will ever get bored of hearing a Texas Instruments Speak and Spell.

Sorry to hear of the loss, Alex. Our last dog, George, a rescued Cairn Terrier had an incurable skin problem, the only thing that stopped him from constantly ripping his own hair out were steroids. Absolutely killed me to give them to him daily as it shortened his eye-sight and life by a few years, but his quality of life for the three years or so he was on the steroids was tenfold than without them. Was an absolute last resort, did everything else we could think and pay for to try and work out what the underlying problem was, including shed loads of allergy and blood tests, biopsies, etc.. Lived to 12yrs old, though, which wasn't too bad at all, considering.

After having and losing three rescue dogs over time, I've come to the feeling that we more like 'adopt' them for their almost brief existence, given that humans outlive them by considerable margins, and if we can give them a healthy quality of life while they're here, while enjoying their presence and having a good time with them, then that's all we can do!

Back on topic, my music making has kinda stalled at the mo, after not being able to find a 17" laptop with a TI firewire chipset (for my soundcard). Looks like I'll be building my own desktop system instead. Am still tweaking the Indigo v1 daily, though. I still love the Virus sound. Will likely be selling the Indigo and finally upgrading to a TI mk2 if/when it's released, that's if Access don't make a balls-up of it like they did the TI mk1.

The TI's been out a few years, now (unveiled three years ago at January 05 Namm, although didn't start shipping until about October(?) that year, ten months after people had pre-paid), and Access usually do one large software update per virus (this one being OS v2 and v2.5 for the current TI mk1), so the TI mk2 stands to come next... And Access usually showcase at the Winter Namm...

That's a moving post there Timmy. They're such great pals.

It's all about the bitches with you, isn't it?

Dave,

No doubt about it, wherever I intend to go when I start is never where I end up, recording, mixing, ddrums, or tweaking patches; sometimes I get real close to what was in my head, and other times I think to myself "This is not at all what I expected to do, but it sounds cool as shit, Yippee!"

I guess that's just part of my attitude, I'm glad to have a chance here and there to be creative and not likely to bitch a whole lot.

I've got to check out that Modified Toy Orchestra, speak and spells were the shite!

:)

Timo, bright your words are for the troublesome situation you and your pooch endured. Really sorry to hear that, but glad as hell you helped the little fellow out like that. Much good karma is borne from such deeds!

Jase, you are a total fuck stick! You probably like cats, or even worse...GERBILS.

I'll ignore the innuendo. Female dogs are by far the smartest ones.