Notes_Norton

Looking for a passive way to combine the outputs of 4 synth modules. My old Samson MPL1204 Mixers are getting old and cranky (http://www.samsontech.com/samson/products/mixers/mpl-mixers/mpl1204/). I have spares, and repairing them is a bother. I pull one out, send it to the repair shop, put a spare in. It doesn't happen that often, but it's getting more frequent, and I don't want it to fail on the gig. I lost one channel, and I have one unused channel. That was a close call. So something new is in order. There is no small 12 compact mixer that I can find that has 12 true channels. Both the "Alesis MultiMix 12R Rackmount Mixer" and the "Behringer Eurorack Pro RX1202FX Rackmount Mixer with Effects" are really 10 channel mixers with the last two channels stereo. The Behringer looks better because it has balanced outs, but I'll be short one channel with no spare. So I thought of this solution. I have 4 synth modules that take up 4 channels in my mixer. I'd like a passive way to mix the outputs of 4 mono synths (1/4" phone jacks/plugs) to one channel. I don't need volume, eq or anything like that. Just a way to mix them together without creating an impedance mismatch or anything else I may not know about. Someone must make one. I'm searching sites but am having any luck. Perhaps I don't know what it's called. Thanks. Notes

I produced the video but nobody watched.

It's not worth my time to find the parts and repair the hinge on a 2002 ThinkPad. The other 2002 is still working and the Win7 machine I bought to replace the one with the damaged hinge is going strong. I might take the hard drive out and find a place that can use it for parts. Notes

Thanks, now the lame cartoon is complete.

The people I have known that were the greatest drinkers were from Argentina. The put the Irish to shame. I was playing at a bar near the Palm Beach Polo club. The people who handled the horses in the stables were from Argentina. On payday they would simply put their cashed paychecks on the bar. When the glass was empty the bartender refilled and took the money off the pile. In the unlikely event the customer didn't want another drink, he would put a cocktail napkin over the glass. If one of the standing patrons fell, others would help him up, and someone would surrender a bar stool so he could keep drinking. And in all of this, there was never-ever any fights or violence. I've known some Irish drinkers, but these guys were the all-time champs. Insights and incites by Notes

Depends on use for me. On stage I have a XP and a Win7 machine. I no longer connect them to the Internet so they haven't changed for decades. The XP is an IBM ThinkPad purchased in 2002 that even though I do one-nighers, and it sits on a bouncing keyboard stand every night, performs flawlessly again and again. In all these years I replaced the CMOS battery ($5.00 'watch' battery) because it died and the time and date settings needed to be reset when I turned the computer on. The Lenovo ThinkPad Win7 machine I bought when the other 2002 ThinkPad developed a hinge problem and it was so old it would have cost more to fix it than to replace it. I can get by with one on stage, but both are up and running. If a problem occurs, I can move the USB cable from the one I'm using to the up and running spare and the show goes on. Cheap gig insurance. But for any computer that lives on the Internet, I want all the upgrades possible because many of those upgrades fix security holes. Insights and incites by Notes

In the old days, when cars had lousy sound systems, I used to try everything in the car. Now I try everything on cheap computer speakers for the least common denominator. Insights and incites by Notes

It also depends on your voice. In MIX magazine, decades ago I read a piece on recording a female singer, I think it was Sade but I'm not sure. Anyway they pulled out every mic in the studio's extensive closet and ended up using a Sure Beta 58 because it made her sound the best. So what the best mic for me may not be the best mic for you and vice versa. Insights and incites by Notes

I don't mind buying the batteries for my Ear Plugs, and since they are not for a hearing problem, but to prevent one, I don't think the NHS would pay for them anyway. The active ear plugs work by increasing the attenuation as the external volume increases. The only faults I can find with them are (1) they don't have the greatest bass response (2) if the ambient volume gets over 100dba the output to my ears will climb over the safe 85dba. But I am in a duo playing for an adult audience, so stage volumes are never higher than 100dba, they usually peak in the mid 90s. If I go out where the music will be loud, I bring my regular passive Westone ear plugs (15 and 25 db attenuation). But I do envy countries with nationalized medicine. UK and Canada use the beveridge system, others like France, Germany and Japan use bismarck model. I think I like bismarck a bit better. I believe both systems are better than what we have in the US because we pay way more and are about the 65th healthy nation. Every nationalized medicine country has better health care than the US at less cost. It seems to me better care at a lower cost is a no-brainer. But that's our US politics and right now there doesn't seem to be enough voters who agree with me. But the post wasn't about healthcare, but computers so I apologize for getting it off thread. Also I won't turn this into a political debate and continue with the health care tangent. The batteries were about being tracked and mis-targeted on-line. So let's get back on topic... People tracking you on-line can make false assumptions about you. The ear plug battery issue is minor, but what if you were curious about something illegal? Not because you wanted to break the law, but perhaps to avoid being a victim. Would the key words in your post, or your search habits, put you on a watch list? And if you are being targeted by your browsing habits, will they know your bank name and other things that help them phish for the money in your bank account? The thing about being on-line is you have to adopt a slightly paranoid "everyone is out to get me" philosophy. And of course, everybody isn't out to get you, but if you let your guard down, you could be in a heap of trouble. A couple of days ago I had an e-mail that looked like it was from my bank, that told me there was a security problem and to contact them immediately. Of course, I didn't click that link or call the number in the e-mail but called the bank directly with their normal number. There was no security problem, the e-mail was simply phishing for my money. I've received a couple for other banks, PayPal, and the other big presence institutions. You have to keep your software up-to-date and you have to keep your guard up. It's the best way to minimize your risk. Insights and incites by Notes

Personally, I don't use Chrome except to check to see if my websites work on it. I just don't like feeding google that much info about me. Now if they would give me 10% of what they sell my browsing habits for, I'd consider it ;) I don't use Google for a search bot either, I use StartPage, it's private and non-tracking. This all started many years ago when I bought some Etymotic Active Musician's Earplugs. They don't attenuate the volume until it gets loud, so unlike regular ear plugs, between songs I can still hear an audience member who doesn't speak clearly. They use hearing aid batteries, and I go through about 1 per week. I'm searching the web for some better priced batteries than the drug store, which I found for about .20 each, and all of a sudden I'm getting ads for hearing aids, adult diapers, compression socks, medicaid supplement plans, etc. I quit using Google then, put a non-tracking extension on FF, and a few other privacy measures. It's not that I go anywhere that is illegal or that I'd be embarrassed about. But what if I read about a terrorist attack in the news and want to know how they made the IED simply out of curiosity, will my search put me on the watch list? Insights and incites by Notes

I just read in PC Magazine that everybody should update Chrome ASAP no matter what edition of Windows you are using. It only takes a minute or two. Insights and incites by Notes

Tough crowd :D Can I get at least a groan? Oh well, they can't all be anyone's best efforts.

Not unless they ask for it :D But if they do, we'll do the best puff we can. Fortunately a half dozen or so of the standards (McNamara, Danny, Wild Rose, Irish Eyes, Harrigan, Great Day, Peg, Molly Malone, Lullaby) and the Unicorn will be more than enough. The rest will be pop music from the 60s to the present (depending on the crowd). I suspect mostly "baby boomer" era songs with some modern crossovers. A couple of corny jokes like: Did you hear about the two gay Irishmen? Gerald Fitzpatrick and Patrick Fitzgerald. GROAN. Insights, incites and some very lame humor by Notes

I see the balanced cable as a fix to the problem. The balanced circuit and cable still gets noise, but the signal gets inverted on one wire before the cable, and then re-inverted after the cable. The hum interference is induced in both wires during the cable run and when the sum is re-inverted at the end the signal is strengthened and the hum cancels itself out. That's simplified, and I don't know if I'm explaining it in a way that's easy to understand. The important thing to know is that if a balanced option is offered by your gear, use it. Insights and incites by Notes.

When I turned 40 I got out of the crazy bars and went into the Yacht Club / Country Club / Condominium / Retirement Development end of the business. It's the biggest and most profitable market for us here in South Florida. There will be no green beer, but there will be cabbage and corned beef served. There will be married couples from 40 to pre-hospice folks and plenty of widows depending on which of the 5 gigs we are at (I give the retirement complexes a discount if they hire us before the actual holiday - that way I get to work more). The party where the Unicorn Song was requested is one we've been hired at for years. The woman who requested it is probably in her late 30s or early 40s. (She probably a mither who sang it to her wee ones.) I explained it was written by a Jewish guy about the Biblical Great Flood in Iraq and she responded, "I don't care, it's fun." so I told her we would have it next year. If either a regular customer requests a song, or if I get a lot of requests for a song, I'll learn it if I think I can cover it. It's how I make my living, and it's certainly better than any day job I can think of. Songs like "Unicorn" are to me the musical equivalent of Junk Food. They aren't challenging, they have little nutritional value, but they are fun to play. It's like eating potato chips. So this Patty Melt we will sing a song written by a Jewish guy from Chicago for a Children's Album about the Middle East made popular by Canadian Citizens with some birth before immigration in Ireland and have a great time while the audience stumbles over the humpty-back camel B section. I might even do some shtick, ask them to be in our background singing group, "The Mormon Bait And Tackle Choir" and encourage them to sing. Of course, I'll tell them, "If you can't remember the words, do what the pros do --- mumble." And James G, yes the Irish is Paddy, but here in the USA most people call it St. Patty's day, and it's easier on the audience if I agree rather than educate. Besides, our annual "Patty Melt" is a better pun than "Paddy Melt". ;) I told you USA people are just plain weird (myself DEFINITELY included). BTW, I live in a state populated by alligators, I've seen thousands of them, and never a green one. But perhaps they dress in green on St Patrick's day - I wouldn't know, I'm always gigging on that day :D Insights, incites and a little silliness by Notes

OK, later this month we have 5 St Patty Parties (we call it our annual Patty Melt). Last year we had a new song requested. Most of the songs we play for the retirement crowd at a Patty Melt party are either Irish, written by an Irish American, or written by a non-Irish American. But all traditional Patty songs are about either real or imaginary Ireland or people who came to America from Ireland. Last year we had a few requests for "The Unicorn Song" Now this song: 1) Was written by a Jewish guy from Chicago (the brilliant Shel Silverstein) 2) Has absolutely nothing to do with Ireland 3) Has nothing to do wit Irish people 4) The subject about a biblical flood that happened in Mesopotamia which is present day Iraq 5) Was made famous by a band comprised of Canadian Citizens who happened to call themselves the Irish Rovers (although there is some Irish birth) With real Irish artists/bands like U2, Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor, Dropkick Murphys, Dubliners, Cranberries, Pogues, and others, how did this Canadian Band singing a Jewish song set in the Mid-East get to be a St Patty song when these other fine artists who are really from Ireland are ignored? St. Patrick's day is a strange holiday and we US Americans are strange people who seem to take everything to an extreme. Thank you Irish diaspora for this celebration, I'll be wearing some green. I was French on Mardi Gras last Tuesday. Of course, this is all meant in fun and not really a minor rant. I'm making a backing track for it today. If they wanna hear it, and it'll help their party, we wanna play it. Insights, incites and a little grin by Notes

Bagpipes have their place, but they are just too easy to make jokes about. The thing that gets me is the drone pipe is intentionally out of tune and as a sax player who has to adjust the intonation of every note with my lip, I my ears want me to correct it. But if it was in tune the bagpipes wouldn't sound right. - - - - - - Bayou Bill, that sounds like heaven to me, but not nearly as good as playing sax in an all-girl cabaret in New Orleans. - - - - - - When I was 18 I was underage but still playing in a band that did night clubs, We got a gig playing in a strip club. Mostly 12 bar blues in 12/8 time as this was right before strippers started disrobing to rock music. It's a good thing they had us sitting down so my hormonal appreciation didn't show. ;) The star of the show was a girl who's name I forget, but the byline was "with her million dollar wardrobe". None of which (except for pasties and g-string) stayed on throughout the show. The dancers were quite nice to us, but the strict rule was no dating anyone who works there and absolutely no leaving with one of the customers. As an 18 year old kid, I couldn't help but dream about doing more than playing sax for them. It was a good gig and lasted one season. Oh, and we actually got paid for that!!! Insights, incites and road stories by Notes

This is only semi-related, but a 'road story' about hum. I've been in the same duo since 1985 and we're still making a living by gigging. Part of the reason for that is we went into the private party / yacht club / country club / condominium / retirement development when the MADD mothers with their good intentions started ruining the night club business. On the gig I plug everything into a power conditioner to keep all the ground potentials similar. The power conditioner keeps both surges and dips from destroying my synth modules and other gear. One place that hires us a couple of times per year, and has been doing this for over a decade has a strange problem. I play sax, wind synth, flute and guitar on the gig and my guitar has Seymour Duncan P-Rail pickups. The P-Rails can be configured for P-90, Rail, Series Humbucker or Parallel Humbuckers with a few slide switches. In this particular room, if I have the selected pickup(s) in either of the single coil modes (P90 or Rail) the hum is deafening. In either humbucker mode it's quiet. When I get there, I've learn to put both pickups in the humbucker mode before I start playing. I'm glad it's a simple fix. I have no idea what the problem is, and the person who hires us says other groups have had problems with hum too. Insights and incites by Notes

Could have been bagpipes too :D

I have two radio stories: 1) I used to live near a college campus. Their radio station tower used to be miles away at remote campus extension but they decided to put it on the main campus. It was so close that if it toppled, the tower would hit my house. I got WQCS in everything. My stereo set, my amps, my reel-to-reel tape deck, and the TV. I complained to the FEC who send out an engineer who also was the engineer hired by the radio station. Needless to say, nothing got done. Since I was renting, I eventually just moved. 2) Played a grand opening party on the parking lot of an office building right next door to an AM radio station in Stuart Florida. The people heard the radio in their wired phones and everything else. I sensed trouble right from the start. We set up the PA and of course had the radio station coming out our speakers. In a rare bit of insight and luck I saw a water pipe bib and spigot next to the building, I scraped paint off a bit of the pipe and it was copper (it was an old building). So not knowing if it would work, but grasping at straws, I hooked my vehicle's jumper cables to the scraped pipe and the other end clamped to my road rack rail. Problem solved, and the gig was saved. Insights and incites by Notes

Since my primary instrument is saxophone, I can relate to this one:

Sounds like it could be a ground loop. Isolation transformers, grounding everything together, lifting grounds, keeping power cables away from signal cables, etc., all work, but sometimes different methods work on different systems. You could have a defective piece of gear too, but I'd suspect a ground loop first. With my own gear, I start with plugging everything into the same outlet on a little multi-outlet zip strip. That lets me know everything is at the same ground potential. If I still have hum, I start experimenting and tracking it down. BTW, do you know why PA Systems hum? - - Because they don't know the words. (groans are appreciated) Insights, incites and lousy puns by Notes

Thanks. Making a living doing what you would do for free means you never have to work a day in your life. And while there is plenty of time spent at it, practicing, hauling gear, booking gigs, it really doesn't seem work. It's what I do. Or rather, it's what I am.

For me it's occupational hazard. When the big acts come to town, I'm usually gigging. If I'm not gigging, I can't afford it ? Back in the late 60s and early 70s it was different. I was in a band that was the opening act for many of the major headliners. I got to hear "our closing acts" when we were done. We were supposed to get a record contract, but Motown didn't want to pay enough to live on. Actually it was enough for us, but not enough left over for our manager and his lawyers. Life goes on and making a living as a gigging musician still beats any legitimate day job I can think of. ? Insights and incites by Notes