Sunday, 1 May 2022

THAT - That Analog Thing

The Anabrid THAT computer.
 
 Links
 
Just purchased one of these.
 
 Its a Open Source Analog Computer
 By connecting the wires in different ways I can use it to solve all sorts of differential equations.
 
 

 
Analog computers have been around for thousands of years but over the last 70 years
they have been almost completely replaced with digital machines.
We must remember that the world itself is analog, not digital.

In the world of music, synths and electronics there is a constant battle between the two.
Do vinyl records sound better than CD's? 
Are vintage analog synths superior to digital keyboards?
Today, there is a resurgence in analog things and esp in analog computing.
The future, I'm sure, involves the utilization of both technologies.
 
The THAT computer is a great open source project and you don't have to spend a ton of money.
It looks like an easy introduction to analog technology.
 
So whats the difference between an analog and a digital computer?
The word analog comes from the word analogous or analogy.
An analogy is a comparison between one thing and another.
In a analog computer the comparison might be between the motion of a wheel and the
the rise and fall of a tide or changes in voltages and a weather model.
Digital computers, in comparison, use digits ... 
typically 0 or 1, on/off, true/false. 
 
Remember that analog and digital computers can be either mechanical or electrical.
For example, an abacus is digital.
A slide rule is analog.
 
Analog computers are relatively simple, use little power and are excellent at solving 
complex problems & differential equations. 
I doubt the THAT computer on its own, will be able to make music, but you should
certainly be able to interface it with a Serge or eurorack modular. 
Though I haven't tried this .....so a disclaimer if you do:
Do so at your own risk.

Anyway, I think this is an incredibly useful educational tool.
Moore's Law is reaching its limits. Quantum computing is only just beginning.
Maybe the near future of computing will involve hybrid analog/digital machines. 
Remember:
"There are more ways to solve a problem than the algorithmic approach". (Bernd Ulmann).

The THAT computer uses bananas. So I hope I'll find a use for this in some modular synths.
 
I'm not sure what size bananas it uses. Serge use 4mm diameter.
This might be 2mm ? 

Anabrid also make the Model-1 analog computer
and are working on building a analog computer that will fit on a chip.
 

Links

dubrovnik - Croatia

 Some pics of this beautiful place.
The set of so many movies from Star wars to Game of Thrones



Some pics of the Franciscan monastery, Dubrovnik 

The Franciscan friary and church is a large complex belonging to the Order of the Friars Minor. It consists of a friary, a church, a library, and a pharmacy.



Carved portal of Franciscan monastery, Dubrovnik 1498

 




Perfect day walking the walls of Dubrovnik











Ferry for old town Korcula

For more travel postcards click here:

 

Thursday, 21 April 2022

Edinburgh Scotland

 Edinburgh Scotland
city scape

Edinburgh Castle


 
Edinburgh Church on Royal Mile.
Tron Kirk
Christ's Kirk at the Tron, has stood in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town for almost 400 years.
The church was formally opened and dedicated to Christ by the citizens of Edinburgh in 1641,
It was closed as a church in 1952.

Arthur's Seat. ....the highest peak in Edinburgh.
Its a dormant volcano.right in the centre of town.
You can take a number of trails ... Crow Hill, Whinny Hill or Nether Hill ... these are pretty easy.
Dunsape Loch offers the most direct route to the summit 
 



 

The Scottish National Gallery

Departing from Sydney to Europe.















Saturday, 16 April 2022

Mutant Hot Glue - part 2 - build notes

 Finally getting the parts together which I need to finish this project.
Covid, the war in Ukraine, etc are really slowing down my builds.
 

Part 1 of the build is here:

Finally have a 576k resistor.
 


The THAT 4301p is super rare.
 
So is the THAT 2180. This is a VCA


cAREFUL with the orientation

Finally there.
 


Part 1 of the build is here:

links

+ Modular Compressor -using eurorack modules