Some pics of the Northern Beaches of Sydney.
My friend Allinaire, recently composed some music which was inspired by this beautiful region.
This is the entrance to the lagoon.
Got to have some synths in this post.
JonDent - Explorations in Electronics, Electronic Music, Coffee, Sci Fi, Art & Travel (but mostly electronic music)
Friday, 4 February 2022
Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Happy 202 day
Happy 202 day
Arguably, the worlds first groove box ..
This came out in 1983
Its a evolved form of TB-303. Programming is just as cryptic.
(Apparently, the programming is like a MC-4)
The sync is like you will find on a Tb 303. It's DIN Sync (sync 24) not MIDI sync.
A cool feature of the 202 is that it has 2 sequencers... or rather, its sequencer can play back two separate sequences simultaneously.
One of the sequencers controls the internal synth. The other can control external synths.
There are two corresponding sets of CV/Gate connectors on the rear of the unit. This allow for connecting the 2 sequences to external synthesizers.
It's controls are much like the SH 101. The VCO, VCF, VCA, LFO, envelope and mixer sections
are really similar. It does however lack noise, a choice of LFO waveshapes and the modulation/pitch bend controls. In it's favour, there is a delay on the LFO.
You can also control the synth with Roland's standard CV/gate that happens to work well with Eurorack systems.
There is a voltage-controlled oscillator with simultaneous saw and square/pulse-width waveforms.
The Sub-Oscillator is a square/pulse wave. This is always one or 2 octaves below the main VCO.
(a square wave one octave down, and narrow pulse‑widths one or two octaves down)
The filter is a 24db resonant low pass.
All this may sound limited by today's standards, but less is more.
If you can be bothered to learn how to program it the old fashioned way, it can be lots of fun.
The sequencer has slide & accents just like a 303 so you can get 303ish patterns and basslines, I find it easy to control with a Midi to CV converter. The sequencer can store 2600 notes but remember that batteries must be fitted to preserve the sequences!
The MC202 sounds very similar to the SH101, as the circuits are almost identical,
though I think the 101 sonically wins for me. The 202 (and 101) are really good for acid baselines.
... and a whole lot cheaper to buy. If you are trying to emulate a 303, remember to not use any control of the 202 that a 303 doesnt have. For example, don't use the LFO, sub oscillator, or pulse width. A 303 only has square or saw waves and never both at the same time.. The 202 can mix both ... so don't use this.
The 303's envelope is super simple. There is no sustain control.
So just keep sustain to zero on the 202 & keep modulation of the envelope to a min. On the 303, there is only a decay control. So on the 202 make sure the release & decay times are the same.
Tuesday, 1 February 2022
Zagreb - pics -1a
Some pics of Zargreb in Croatia
Museum Of Arts & Crafts, Zagreb.
Croatian National Theatre.
Petar Preradović was a Croatian poet, writer, and military general. He was one of the most important Croatian poets of the 19th century Illyrian movement and the main representative of romanticism in Croatia.
Statue of Josip Jelacic.( Ban Jelačić statue)
Josip is remembered for his military campaigns during the Revolutions of 1848 and for his abolition of serfdom in Croatia.
For more travel postcards click here:
Friday, 28 January 2022
Friday, 21 January 2022
Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Dan Simmons - Hyperion - introduction
Hyperion by Dan Simmons was published in 1989.
Rumors are that it will soon be a movie.
Maybe this will give it the attention it deserves.
There are 4 books in the series:
Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, Rise of Endymion.
The structure of the novel and it's influences are interesting.
It's composed of a series of tales told by a group of 7 travelers .. kind of like Chaucer's "Cantebury Tales" and Boccaccio's "Decameron".
The title, Hyperion is taken from one of John Keat's (unfinished) poems "Hyperion" which used as a source, the Titan wars of Greek Mythology.
The poet Keat's is really important. It's the name of one of the cities of the planet Hyperion and the second book "Fall of H" is a series of dreams of the poet.
There are 6 tales in the novel.
1. The Priest's tale
2. The Solder's tale
3. The Poet's tale.
4. The Scholar's tale
5. The Detective's tale.
6. The Consul's tale.
These travelers relate their interlocking tales while on a pilgrimage organized by the "Church of the final atonement" to the Time Tombs of Hyperion.
Each story relates to the the planet Hyperion and gives the opportunity to tell who they are and build
the Simmon's universe.
Their journey takes them to the evil creature known as the "Shrike".... The Lord of Pain.
Each pilgrim has their own unique reason for the journey and they all suspect they will probably never return.
The pilgrims are:
1. Father Lenar Hoyt - a Catholic Priest.
2. The Martian soldier Colonel Fedmahn Kassad (of Palestinian descent).
3. The poet Martin Silenus who was born on Earth (and wrote a book about Earth before it was destroyed).
4. Sol Weintraub, a Jewish professor, with his infant daughter Rachel.
5. The detective Brawne Lamia.
6. The Consul, Merin Aspic.
The story is set in the 29th century.
Old Earth has been destroyed, and humanity has colonized the stars forming the "Hegemony of Man".
Mankind is allied with the Technocore AIs. This alliance is not all that it seems and I suspect The Technocore doesn't have Mankind's best interests at heart.
The Technocore manages the "All Thing" ...the connection between all humans. Through this connection, humans can vote on legislation, communicate with each other, and access information instantaneously......reminds me of the internet. Remember, this book was published in 1989.
On the extremity of "Colonized Space" live the "Ousters". These are modified humans (who are at war with the Hegemony of Man).
+ Sci Fi links
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