Category: music

U2 Can Celebrate Christmas

December 9, 2007

U2 Themed Flyer from Heritage Church
(Click to embiggen to full res 300 dpi scan.)

A couple weeks ago I received this flyer for Heritage Church, one of the local churches which meets in a rented high school facility.

To quote from the flyer:

Just what does the biggest band in the world have to say about things like faith, hope, joy and peace on earth? I think if you look closer you’d be surprised…

Join us this Christmas season for four weeks as we investigate and unpack the music of U2. We’ll explore the themes, lyrics and Biblical messages found in some of their most popular and enduring songs. You will come away inspired this Christmas… possibly with a new appreciation for U2, but more importantly, for the amazing story and meaning of Christmas. Come check us out, if you’re ready to really rock around the Christmas tree!

[…]

Please note that the band U2 will not be appearing at Heritage Church, but their music will be there.

Looking a bit further, it seems that MTV has picked up on this, and it is being called U2Charist. Per Wikipedia:

A U2Charist (also spelled eU2charist) is a communion service, or Eucharist, accompanied by U2 songs in lieu of traditional hymns and sometimes as part or all of the service music.

PlayStation as CD Player, etc…

September 1, 2007

SCPH-1001 with CD Player Controls

Yesterday I threw together a quick write-up on how I modified my SCPH-1001 PlayStation to have CD player controls. There are also a bunch of photos from the project here (photo gallery retired).

I think it sounds better than any CD player I currently have, but I’m not so sure it’s that great. I’ve heard from a couple people that it’s not particularly great, but even if that is the case, for the $39.14 I spent on the whole project, it’s not bad.

Also, I’m thinking that I should purchase a Tenori-on. It’s being released in the UK in a few days and will likely cost about US$1200. I’m wondering if I should get one, both as a toy and as an investment…

electronics making things moved from livejournal music

Joint Stereo

August 21, 2007

I think the reason why I like lossless audio (such as Apple’s Lossless) more than AAC is the better channel separation. I’d say this is due to the lack of joint stereo encoding of some type or another…

Hmm. Clearly I need to learn more about this.

moved from livejournal music

August 21, 2007

Millett Hybrid Max, MIDIbox SID-NUXX, M-Audio MIDIspot 2×2

/me grins hugely.

Yes, I’m a dork.

(Now, if I could only get SIDPLAY to feed the SID data to MIDI properly / at the right speed, or ASID XP to not glitch when alt-tabbing between other windows.)

electronics moved from livejournal music

Testing… Testing…

August 12, 2007

First Tests on my Workbench

Well, it’s working. I’m having a problem with the left channel, but I think it’s actually related to the 1/4″ to 3.5mm adapter I’ve been using and not actually with the amp itself. Also, it sounds really good. Really, really good. I still have to make an iPod cable for it and such, but that’s all on its way.

Last night I was just blown away at how good the DVD Audio version of The Downward Spiral is. Even with some crap RCA cables connected between it and the amp I was hearing things I’d never heard before in all the years I listened to it.

I might have to pick up some more DualDisc titles to feed to the OPPO DV-970HD (photo gallery retired).

electronics moved from livejournal music

Moo-zick.

August 11, 2007

I think I was just listening to the DVD audio version of The Downward Spiral a bit too loud. However, the DAC in the OPPO DV-970HD (photo gallery retired) sounds really good, and the remastered, higher bitrate DVD audio version is shiny. I might also pick up a Playstation for music too.

acquired things moved from livejournal music

bleep.com

February 9, 2007

Well, despite owning the actual thing, I finally got around to buying the Gescom Mini Disc from bleep.com in MP3 format. $9.99 for all 88 tracks in 320 kbps is rather nice. I must say, BLEEP sure does the online music buying / download thing right. And with a few dollars laying around in my PayPal account from someone buying something from me, it was even easier.

Hell, I think I’ll snag The Sounds Of Machines Our Parents Used next.

acquired things moved from livejournal music

Friday Night Bordom

January 19, 2007

Sequentix P3 controlling two MIDIbox SID-NUXXs chained into an x0xb0x.

I arrived home from work a bit early today with nothing to do. I’m not exactly sure why I did it, but for some reason I got out my Sequentix P3, MOS SID 6581 and 8580-based MIDIbox SID-NUXXs, and x0xb0x. I chained the MIDIbox SID-NUXXs into each other, ran those through the x0xb0x, hooked it all up to the P3, then got to playing. I spent a good bit of time going back through the P3’s manual, stopping somewhere in the Step section. (Yes, I have yet to learn about using accumulators… I know…)

Anyway, I mostly just screwed around with three patterns, one for each instrument, stacking them on top of each other. The end result is this:

6581_8580_x0xb0x_p3.mp3

It’s nothing great, just my screwing around. But I can say that all the sound and sequencing comes from gear I put together myself.

Now, to find something to do tonight. I’m sort of in the mood to do something social, but I’m not sure what. A club / bar is kind of out, as it’s a bit dull going by one’s self uncertain if there will be anyone familiar there. Hmm.

I think I’ll at least play some Missile Command. :D

electronics moved from livejournal music