I posted about the new Olegtron module a little while ago, well now I’m glad to say I’ve got my module ordered thanks to a speedy response to my email from the lovely people at Olegtron. I’m really looking forward to getting it, and you can bet there’ll be pictures once it arrives!
Category: Music
Music is a huge part of my life so it’s almost certain that this category will have a lot of stuff in it.
Modified Toy Orchestra’s Pocket Calculator
I’ve got the vinyl for this and now it’s on SoundCloud too. It’s a brilliant version. I love it!
Attempting to listen to the Wire’s top 50 albums of 2015
I sort of do this every year, or at least try to anyway. It has become a little ritual with me. I leaf through the Wire’s top 50 to see how many (if any) of these albums I’ve heard and then try and find them all on Spotify so I can listen to them. Of course not all of them are ever on Spotify so it isn’t really a comprehensive system, but it does most of the job, and that’s ok.
This year is no different. I’ve actively listened to just a handful of these albums in the Wire’s top 50, and only own 1 of them I think. So I’ve added the lot, or at least the lot I can find, into a playlist and I’ll attempt to listen to the lot. Probably next year I’m thinking.
That’s the plan. That’s been the plan for a few years now, and it seems to work.
Old fashioned Cassette Recorder (biscuit tin)
I had one of these years ago. In fact, I had a number of these. But one that was very like this one. I think it was the Ferguson that was almost identical to this. It was excellent. Ok, not excellent, but really good for its time. I used it to record all sorts of things and amassed a huge cassette collection, and have very little of it left.
Even so, now I have a nice tin. I’ve decided to use it for field recording accessories. That seems like an appropriate use for it.
And I got this too
I should mention that I also got this windjammer too. I think that this is a bit of an essential too for real field recording. I feel properly set up now!
More h2n goodies
I also got the accessory kit for the h2n. It really is a bag of goodies, with a hard case, remote, tripod, handle, AC adapter and more. I think it is actually a little bit of a necessity really. Especially the hard case.
The OP-1 Antenna
I’ve always wanted to try out the FM radio on the OP-1 for sampling, but, until now, I’ve not had the actual antenna to do this. Not so anymore!
This is an awesome Christmas present, a tiny box with delicate tissue paper inside.
And nicely wrapped up inside was the FM antenna. Small, neat, functional. Just what you’d expect from Teenage Engineering.
But the tissue paper itself was a revelation! It is beautifully printed with all the OP-1 accessories. Really nicely done.
And here’s the antenna sitting on the tissue wrap.
And finally in the OP-1 itself.
I’ve only had a brief try with this in the OP-1. Recording some random FM radio and using it as drum samples. It’s pretty good though, so expect a few strange OP-1 drum kits in due course.
Things to wait for in 2016
I am really looking forward to this next year. I’m so glad that they got over the line with their Kickstarter and are well on their way to delivering.
Favourite Pictures of 2015 … the bC-16
I’d been after one of these for so long and at long last this year I’ve got one. It is lovely, really lovely.
Favourite pictures of 2015 … meeting Nic Collins
This was back in January this year. I’ve been a fan of his work and of his genius book on circuit bending and making musical instruments. I’ve seen him live a couple of times now ad he’s always great. I even did a workshop with him years ago and it was excellent. So I got myself a selfie with Nic Collins! Why wouldn’t you?
I am Ashley Elsdon 