Spring Break

Spring starts tomorrow for the boy, honored and celebrated by a week away from school. California is suffering Old Testament torrents and mudslides. But we have a few more snowboarding vacations left in us this season. They are digging the ski lifts out of the snow as I write this. The roads are washed out, I'm told, between here and Heavenly. This will be a first for us in South Lake Tahoe. I really hope we fit in.

I'm charging every battery I own. I'll have something to do for a while other than obsess about my new home studio. Today I added a real analog synthesizer, a monophonic 64 step-sequencing jewel - Manther. Don't worry, I bought mine used. One of the founders of this synth company was a member of Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Acid Horse, and co-produced many of Ministry's albums under the name Hermes Pan. Half of the Luxa/Pan production duo. He started by playing bass on the Twitch tour. If you used to scour mysterious underground albums like I did then you'll recognize the moniker. He's an industrial legend. Paul Barker is his actual name. 

But he's not why I bought the machine. I bought it for the CEM3340 based VCO IC, and the SSM2044 - boutique analog circuit and filter chip. I won't bore you with the history, but those chips were used in some of the most legendary synths ever built (Roland, Moog, Sequential Prophet, Oberheim, etc). Recently the original manufacturer (Curtis Industries) started manufacturing them again. That, combined with the advances in digital and modular technology, pushed me over the analog edge. A self-respecting producer can rely on samples and digital models only so long. 

My new studio is approximately a week old now.

I don't miss being on social media. Strange, that. What was the appeal if it has no pull on me now? I have so much more time, so little left. 

I just heard Bob Dylan sing about how he would trade lives with any of the young people he sees. 

It went like this:

I see people in the park, forgettin' their troubles and woes

They're drinkin' and dancin', wearin' bright colored clothes

All the young men with the young women lookin' so good

Well I'd trade places with any of 'em in a minute if I could

I'm crossin' the street to get away from a mangy dog

Talkin' to myself in a monologue

 

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