Tuesday, November 18, 2008: Reprogramming Emu

Sunset at the GO station

Tonight I spent a great deal of time reprogramming the presets in the Vintage Key Plus. I am also attempting to reposition the patches in the most logical and Harold friendly way possible. This will hopefully make using the box easier in a live situation. Or something.

I am also considering selling a great deal of the gear I've collected over the last few years. I simply don't use it all and there are other newer items I'd rather own. As much as I love the analog gear such as the Sigma, the old gear is heavy and tends to need repairs. Time for NEW Analog gear.

Monday, November 17, 2008: Lessons

Clouds moving south

I met up with Chris C and he came back out to Lazytown with me for Wee Fred's guitar lesson. I went for a run while that went on and got back around 6:00 pm. I saw the first Christmas light display of the year on one large old house. It made my run truly festive. I had a shower then we got Chris back to the GO Station for his trip back to the city. After dinner I continued to reprogram the Emu Vintage Keys for maxium Harold potential.

Sunday, November 16, 2008: Quiet Sunday

The kids weren't around this morning so I went with Jayne and Paul to Crossiant Express for an unusually quiet breakfast. Afterwards it was over to Knox. I am back in the Choir after being away from it for most of October. This morning wasn't too bad although I am still some what confused by the order of service.

It was pretty quiet this afternoon. I basically rested up after such a long week of running about and Harolding.

The last of the Autumny out the window

Saturday, November 15, 2008: Freezing Harold

We had a nice pancake and bacon breakfast this morning. Afterwards everyone headed out and I had the day much to myself. I tried out the Android Modulator pedal on the Novation Bass Station and the results were truly outstanding.

The Bass Station going through the Copilot FX Android Modulator

I caught the 4:30 pm GO Train in to Harold this afternoon. It was cold and windy and raining hard when I left. I managed to get totally soaked on one side just by walking from the shelter to the train. The ride in was bizarre as the train was pretty empty. I listened to some of the King Crimson Collector Club CD's Richard F had lent me on the way in.

Pulled over in the rain

A tree

Waiting for the train

And this one is a freight train

I got to Harold House early and set up then hung out with Jeff and Sharon and managed to score some Kraft Dinner (Huzzah) and a hot dog.

Tonight I introduced Harold to the Emu Vintage Keys Plus and the Korg Kaoss Pad 3. These new additions required me to use the Alesis Multimix Mixer as my pre-board mixer. The small Tapco board I bought serves as the mixer for the Xio and the Vintage Keys. I run the Vintage Keys through the Kaoss Pad 3 as well as using the sample function for further sonic fun. I will be using the Xio as the Midi controller for the Emu as well as continuing to use it as the main Harold synth.

Tonight's Harold practice went extremely well. We managed to do an version of "Node 3" which is my favorite track off the yet to be released Harold CD. The mellotron sounds worked extremely well with in the Harold arrangement. I used some organ sounds, specifically the Vox Jaguar sound, however I have to say the Xio preset "Church Organ" which is one of the few preset I haven't replaced works best for me. I will need to spend more time next week reprogramming some of the sounds on the Emu for complete Haroldification.

Things ended early tonight and I managed to catch the 10:30 pm train. The weather was just diabolical upon leaving. The rain had turned into freezing rain and or sleet. I took a taxi from Lazytown Station to Wyndham Manor.

Friday, November 14, 2008: Wet Harold

I got downtown a little earlier than usual today and met up with Richard F at the Starbucks beneath the tower he works in. I had a chance to go up to his office and it made me miss the days of old.

After we checked the markets we walked over to Moog Audio where I picked up a 110 vold power supply for my Alesis mixer which arrived with all my stuff from Bangkok. As I am increasing my arsenal of gear with Harold I am required to use it. I also picked up a reasonably priced stomp box called an "Android Modulator". It's some sort of fuzz/ring modulator pedal. Afterwards Richard and I walked up to Pho Hung and had Pho. Chris C was unable to join us today.

Phil introduced the Roland GR-30 guitar synth to the Harold mix tonight. We had given him the GK pickup and cable for his Birthday, so I have loaned him the GR-30 that I bought in Bangkok to use for the time being. (He's already asked to buy it from me.) Although there was some level issues when switching between different patches the GR-30 worked well.

Phil's pedals and GR-30 with ghost cat

No cat

The GK3 pickup

Phil prays to the GR-30

It was cold and rainy when I caught the GO Train from Harold Station. Blah.

Cold and rainy this way

Cold and rainy that way

Wednesday, November 12, 2008: Assembled

I finallyI assembled the two tier keyboard stand that I picked up in Waterloo last weekend and did a mock Harold set up to get an idea of how much space I have to contend with. I put the Kaoss Pads on top of the Emu Vintage Keys and set them on the second tier. I will use the Xio for a controller rather than the Bass Station.

The stand with the Bass Station, Emu Vintage Keys Plus and Kaoss Pads

Tuesday, November 11, 2008: Remembrance Day