 This didn't start as a blog, but I have a blog for almost everything else. The 2022 blog was getting too long so I started another one The 2019 blog was getting too long so I started another one The 2016 blog was getting too long so I started another one The 2014 blog was getting too long so I started another one 2 Jan 2024 What a disappointing day. The replacement board arrived today, but I wasn't here to collect it, so they took it to a depot. It said it was at the depot, so I went there to pick it up, and it wasn't there yet. It took 30 minutes for them to tell me that it was still in the truck with the driver. So I have to wait yet another day. My day did not go any better after. I did run through Makeda before I left. I don't remember it all but it is starting to come back to me. I should practice a bit more, but it is such a hassle turning everything on. I used to love it, not so much anymore. Plus nothing is working 100%. I have to re-organize my racks. It will be a huge job. I started taking out some things from the 4U rack and had to stop as I need some tape to mark the cords. I really don't want to pull them fully apart, but I think I will have to do most of it. Plus I went to get some cleaner spray, the output switches on the JX-3p and Juno need to be cleaned because the output is scratchy. Of course the places that I went didn't have any. So no Poly-61, no nothing tonight. I guess I will watch some TV. Actually I ran through the 5 songs again. Still can't make it through without stopping, but it shouldn't take me too long. I just have to do some fixing and moving stuff around on the MIDI channels. 3 Jan 2024 So the new poly-61 board got dropped off today! I then picked up contact cleaner spray I needed. I installed the board and played with the keyboard for several hours. The board was fairly easy to install, but that one coroded connection, I think, is causing problems. On some sounds the 6th note cuts off. Mostly sounds with high resonance, so I am pretty sure that is it. The guy did not include the connectors like I had asked, so after a lot of thought I will just find a place and jump the wire from there. I quickly found out this is a pretty simple synth, but it does sound good. I am not too sure about the MIDI kits now. Neither of them will make program changes, and really that is the point to me. To have the sound ready when you go to play. Anyway, it is almost fixed. Just one little thing to do. I used the cleaner spray on all of the JX and Juno's output switches. The Jx's seem to work better, but the Juno may need more spray or maybe a new switch. So I am ready to buy new synths, but know that I really should stop. At least for the time being. I guess we will see how strong my resolve is. And I guess when I return I will have to tear apart my racks and put them back together. It will be painstaking, but it has to be done. 20 Jan 2024 Re-arranging the rack took almost 3 days. The I found out the M-160 has several dead channels, so I had to use the M16E but it won't fit in the rack. I have everything set up but I am starting to realize that I may have to change things around a bit more. As many devices are on the same channel. But I have been playing around with the set-up all day. I also have my newJX and the Poly 61 set up as well. I want to write about this more but I am too tired. 22 Jan 2024 So the thing I need to change is moving the effects, and the A880 to the other channel, sort of. Basically the A880 and the VP03 have a conflicting channel number, so the keyboards, the digital rack synths go together and the analogue rack synths and the effects go together. Yeah it doesn't make a lot of sense to me either. Anyway that is what I need to do, and then hopefully I won't have to do too much re-programming. Although I don't know the songs that well, I probably know them well enough to start recording. I grabbed the files and put them on a USB stick. I had thought there was more there, but it looks like a bit of Ghost and the intro to Ghost Island and that''s it. So lots to do ahead. My plan was to record Ghosts, promote it a bit and then do a streaming show. Not sure if I will get much done before they start renovating the basement. That is the sand in the glass, because once they are ready to do that, I will have to dismantle everything and pack it away. Another plan is to open the HP-5500s and fix that 1 key and sell that beast. With any luck I will get 100$ for it. Worst of all is I feel so unmotivated at the moment. Maybe I'm just tired. First day back to work after my so-called vacation. 27 Jan 2024 So many things I am not wanting to do, because they will cause further problems. So I moved the HP5500s out of the way, and put the MKBs on a stand. I wasn't sure if 1 stand would cut it, but it seems to be fine. There is something rattling around in both keyboards, I hope it's not something serious. In the few moments I have had to play, I have been experimenting with the poly 61. I really like the sound. 31 Jan 2024 I finally moved the MIDI cables around, and I think I have them where they should be. I may have to make a few more changes to the program changes as I will be using the TC Helicon Quintet instead of the VP-70. I also want to look into the manual when I have a chance because there is reverb when there shouldn't be and there is a bit of the original vocal coming through as well and it shouldn't be. I kind of want to move the new JX to the old JX and put the old JX away, but I need to copy the sounds to tape for both. I tried using my phone and my recorder and both have failed. I guess I will have to fire up the old recording computer and do it that way. I just know I am running out of time and I'm so tired all of the time, I just can't get anything done. 8 Feb 2024 Last night and today were sad. Last night I played on the big set up for the last time for a long time. I played Makeda (badly), Ghoster1&2, Ghost Island, Ghost, End of Summer & Just Lucky. Then today I labled everything as I took it all apart. Everything is in storage except the 3 larger racks, I will need someone to help me with them. From what I understand I won't be able to set it all up again until the beginning of April. I do have the Poly 61 and the Juno-di upstairs to keep me occupied until later. So I guess see you later. 14 Feb 2024 Playing with the Poly 61, and I am really loving the sound. I really have to fix that one issue. I am toying with the idea of recording a few songs while the big rig is in storage. This would be a pain as the recording computer is also in storage. I would have to use some sub-standard recording method, and I'm not sure I want to do that. Anyway it is a thought. I would like to make a few more drum tracks so I can play a few different songs. While I really enjoy playing Freedumb and Unhappy Robots I need to play something else for a bit. I have End of Summer and All Change on there but they need edits and fixes. I would love to have a version of drumtracks for Tourmaline and Just Lucky so I could play those as well. Maybe an abridged version of Mare Nubium & Mare Imbrium? well maybe. 
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