midi <> cv
a week of dynamics pulling in different directions here. physically, i’m still feeling below par with various / persistent colds, coughs, nausea, migraines, tiredness, etc, etc that feels like it’s been going on for at least 6 weeks in various forms. i don’t think it is one particular illness, just a serious of minor ailments getting through my increasingly depleted immune system. my day job brings me into contact with a lot of people on a regular basis so i guess it’s somewhat of an occupational hazard but that doesn’t make it okay. i am still, on the whole, functioning fine, it’s just that there’s low level ‘ick’ always in the background and sometimes it’s coming to the fore to be disruptive.
however, against this backdrop, i’m still feeling massively inspired after machina bristonica a few weeks back and it seems to have lit a small fire of inspiration in me. this has been bolstered by a friend at work who’s very much a practical ‘maker’ type who has offered to mentor me in some initial practical projects. they are a very positive source of inspiration, deftly countering any concerns i’m voicing about my ability to successfully learn to do various projects.
at the minute, it seems like i am going to be slowly but surely dipping my toe into the world of both building midi controllers and starting to get into modular systems.
showing an unusual degree of self awareness for me, i am committed to starting small. i’ll be looking to engage in both activities as cheaply as i can, particularly initially, and promise i will find ways to share what i learn (though how exactly, i don’t know yet). i’m feeling inspired and excited by it all at the minute - albeit in different ways. with the modular stuff, i feel i have a sensible supporter who can find creative ways to help me keep costs down and help me troubleshoot. with the midi-controller stuff, although those are both aspects that are important, it’ll be as much about bringing novel designs to fruition with the assistance of my friend.
then alongside all of this, i need to keep up my schedule of creating and releasing new music and the monthly newsletter. this is still priority one. without the music, there is no point to the rest. all too often in the past, i’ve stepped away from creating and releasing to focus my time and energy on other things and it is never worth it. on the release front, i feel i am very nearly there with at least one track for 11.11 - just a bit of additional ‘seasoning’ to add then i move on to mixing and mastering. i have another couple of tracks that i’d really hope are ready in time too. we’ll see. i'm clear on the title and the design aspects as well.
two other things this week, i’ve head that the lineup for Synth East includes loula yorke and john foxx, both of whom i’ve seen previously and loved so i am definitely planning to go to that and, happily, the aged van is back on the road - the repairs were not cheap but somewhere in the region of 50% of what i was anticipating. given that, as i sat in my dead van in the motorway services about a month back, i was convinced it was headed to the scrapyard, that feels like a good result.
finally, the clocks went back in the uk this weekend meaning that by some measures, you have an extra hour at your disposal. i respectfully suggest you spend it daydreaming, i know that’s what i am going to do.