Welcome to my blog, the following topics are covered here;

My Music Production Hardware & Software

My Music Production Hardware (Current) Audio Interfaces Native Instruments Audio 6 MK1 Computers Laptops Alienware M17 (Windows 11) Macbook Air M1 (macOS Sonama) Computer Peripherals External Hard Disks Western Digital Elements (5TB) Flash Drives Integral USB 3.0 (128GB) SSDs Crucial P3 M.2 PCIe Gen3 (1TB) Fikwot FN501 Pro NVMe (1TB) Sandisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD (1TB) SSD Enclosures Orico M.2 NVMe SATA SSD Controller Keyboards Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32 Novation LaunchKey 61 DJ Controllers Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S3 Drum Machines & Grooveboxes Native Instruments Maschine MK3 Portable Keyboards Yamaha EZ-300 Synthesizers Yamaha Motif ES8 My Music Production Hardware (Past) Computers Desktops Commodore 64 Commodore Amiga (500, 600 & 1500) Tower Dell T5400 Twin Quad Core Xeon 3.0Ghz 16GB RAM Computer Peripherals Commodore 64 Music Maker keyboard Commodore Amiga Microdeal PRO-MIDI Interface Drum Machines KORG ElecTribe R (ER-1) Roland R-8 Human Rhythm Composer Keyboards Casio PT-50 JVC KB-700 Sound Modules Roland Edirol SD90 Synthesizers Casio CZ-101 Yamaha SY85 My Music Production Software (Current) Ableton Ableton AG is a German music software company that produces and distributes the production and performance program Ableton Live and a collection of related instruments and sample libraries, as well as their own hardware controller Ableton Push ...

Favourite Computers, Consoles & Mobiles

A list of all my favourite computes, phones & games consoles I’ve mostly owned or used at school & college, in order of purchase / initial use … Computers Commodore PET (1977) The Commodore PET was the first computer I learnt BASIC in the school computing club (1981) The first program I wrote was an animated Christmas card as part of a school competition, I was quite proud of it. We were meant to showcase all of our programs at a public school event however I forgot to take the tape with me to school, I was truly gutted. I also mislaid the tape at home so have lost all those initial programs I wrote :( ...

Tracking Health Data

Blood Testing Thriva - highly recommended, picks up on critical things even my local GP didn’t - they even dismissed the readings saying these ‘at home’ tests are not accurate and just trying to make money out me ! It turned out that the Thriva readings were 100% accurate and flagged some potentially serious conditions. Thriva is a health-tech company that offers at-home blood testing and personalized health advice. It aims to empower individuals to proactively manage their health by providing insights into their overall well-being. Understand your internal health, stay ahead of chronic diseases, and extend your healthspan with home blood tests and actionable next steps. Cholesterol (lipid profile), creatinine, cRP, ferritin, folate, free testosterone, hbA1c (diabetes), liver blood test, omega 3 & 6, total testosterone, vitamin B12 (active), vitamin B12 (total), vitamin B9 & B12 (active), vitamin D Note: These at-home blood tests are not a substitute for professional medical care. Health Apps (iOS) Apple Health Apple Health is a comprehensive platform designed to help you manage and understand your health data. It collects information from your iPhone, Apple Watch, and compatible third-party apps to provide a holistic view of your well-being Fitness and Activity Steps, distance, and calories burned Workouts: Type, duration, intensity, and calories burned Heart rate: Resting, active, and workout heart rate Sleep: Duration, sleep cycles, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels Exercise minutes Stand hours Health Metrics Body measurements: Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) Vital signs: Heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels Reproductive health: Menstrual cycle, fertility, pregnancy Nutrition: Calories consumed, macronutrients, micronutrients Medications: Name, dosage, schedule Medical ID: Emergency contact information and medical conditions Additional Features Mindfulness: Meditation and relaxation sessions Environmental factors: Noise levels, air quality Health records: Medical history, immunizations, allergies Megafit-Health Fitness Tool Measures & tracks the following weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat %, body fat weight, body water, bone mass, rate of subcutaneous fat, visceral fat levels, basal metabolism body age, muscle mass & resting calorie consumption data Requires a smart scale Syncs to Apple Health app Zordai Syncs to Apple Health app Health Suppliments While it’s best to obtain nutrients from food, supplements can be beneficial in certain cases. ...

List of links for best DJ gear, controllers & software

Here is a list of useful links for the best DJ gear, controllers & software 2024 Best DJ controllers 2024: Hands-on control for Serato, rekordbox, Traktor and more - our expert picks Best DJ Gear 2024: 11 best DJ software for mixing and playlisting in 2024 Best DJ plugins of 2024: Free software and apps for DJing Best DJ Software - Top 5 Choices for Digital DJing 2024 Best Pioneer DJ Gear 2024 The best DJ controllers in 2024 The Ultimate Guide to the Best DJ Setups in 2024 for any Budget! 2023 Best DJ Gear 2023: 9 of the best DJ Controllers under $400 Best DJ Gear 2023: 8 of the best Standalone DJ Controllers in 2023 The 10 best DJ software available in 2023

SpaceX Starfactory

About The SpaceX Starfactory is the heart of Starship production, located within the Starbase complex in Boca Chica, Texas. It’s goal is to mass produce Starship rockets, with an ambitious target of one Starship per day! This vast facility manufactures and assembles Starship vehicles, including both the Starship spacecraft itself and the Super Heavy booster that launches it. The Starfactory is still under construction, but with ongoing expansion it’s expected to reach its full production potential soon. SpaceX views Starfactory as crucial to achieving their long-term goals - regular space travel and missions to Mars. By streamlining Starship production, they hope to dramatically increase launch cadence and make space more accessible. ...

IK Multimedia - Pianoverse

About I already have a ridiculous amount of piano libraries already and I honestly don’t need anymore. However, IK Multimedia’s Pianoverse pianos sound fantastic, also the UI is great and I love the effects, couldn’t resist ! https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/pianoverse/ Individual pianos are $99.99 Pianoverse MAX currently $299 (total value $800, save $500) You get all 6 Pianoverse pianos available now plus 2 more scheduled for release Pianoverse - Concert Grand YF3 Pianoverse - Royal Upright Y5 Pianoverse - Black Diamond B280 Pianoverse - NY Grand S274 Pianoverse - Gran Concerto 278 Pianoverse - Hamburg Grand S274 Pianoverse - Liberty Upright (coming soon) Pianoverse - Black Pearl B200 (coming soon) YouTube Videos Pianoverse - The only piano instrument you’ll ever need Jordan Rudess Pianoverse Gran Concerto 278 piano virtual instrument sound demo IK Multimedia Pianoverse Sound Demo and Walkthrough Into The PIANOVERSE From IK Multimedia | Is it truly the only virtual piano you will ever need?

Roland Fantom EX

About The Roland Fantom EX is a series of professional-grade synthesizer workstations aimed at musicians and producers. It’s known for its versatility, high-quality sounds, and powerful features. Here’s a breakdown of its key characteristics: Sounds Diverse sound library with over 7,000 tones covering various musical styles. Roland’s sound engine technologies like ACB (Analog Circuit Behavior) for realistic analog sounds, ZEN-Core for sample-based sounds, V-Piano for superior piano tones, and SuperNATURAL for rich and expressive acoustic instruments. Access to premium sound content through Roland Cloud for further sonic exploration. Hardware and User Interface Comes in three models: Fantom 6 EX, 7 EX, and 8 EX, differing in the number of keys. User-friendly interface with a combination of buttons, knobs, sliders, and a large, dynamic color touchscreen for intuitive control and sound shaping. Option to personalize the interface with custom images. Workflow and Features Onboard sampling and composition tools for creating and arranging musical ideas. TR-REC step sequencer for programming drum beats and rhythmic patterns. Real-time recording with piano roll editing for capturing and editing musical performances. RGB pads for triggering sounds, samples, and launching clips. Various effects processors for adding depth and character to sounds. Here are some additional points to consider ...

Geoffrey Hinton

About Geoffrey Hinton is a big name in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly when it comes to artificial neural networks. He’s a British-Canadian computer scientist and cognitive psychologist who’s achieved some major milestones: Pioneering Deep Learning: Hinton’s research helped lay the groundwork for the resurgence of deep learning, a powerful technique that enables computers to learn from vast amounts of data. This has led to advancements in areas like image recognition, speech recognition, and natural language processing. Backpropagation Advocate: He was instrumental in reviving the idea of backpropagation, a learning algorithm that allows neural networks to adjust and improve their performance. Academia and Industry: Hinton spent time at both the University of Toronto and Google (until 2023), where he co-founded the Vector Institute in Toronto and worked on Google Brain, a deep learning research team. Awards and Recognition: His contributions have been widely recognized. He’s a recipient of the prestigious Turing Award, often called the “Nobel Prize of computing,” among many other accolades. Interviews [2024-06-15] Twitter https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1801976488251814048 ...

Yamaha Montage M

About The Yamaha Montage M was released in the UK on 10th October 2023. It is the next-generation flagship synthesizer from Yamaha, building on the success of the original Montage. It boasts several improvements and new features designed to enhance the sound, control, and workflow for professional keyboardists. Here is a summary of the key aspects of the Yamaha Montage M Three Powerful Engines - Like its predecessor, Montage M features three sound engines: AN-X, AWM2, and FM-X. These engines offer a vast sonic palette, allowing you to create warm vintage analog tones, cutting-edge FM sounds, and ultra-realistic acoustic instruments. Increased Polyphony - A significant upgrade is the 400-note total polyphony, a jump from the original Montage’s 256 notes. This allows for more complex and layered sounds without worrying about dropped notes. New AN-X Virtual Analog Engine - This engine offers a fresh take on virtual analog synthesis, providing more detailed control over sound shaping. Improved User Interface - The Montage M features a redesigned user interface with new easy-edit pages and shortcuts, making sound creation and editing more intuitive and efficient. Additional Knobs and Encoders - More physical controls give you more immediate access to tweak parameters and add dynamics to your performance. VCM Rotary Speaker Effect - This new effect accurately emulates the classic sound of a Leslie speaker cabinet, adding warmth and movement to organ and electric piano sounds. Powerful USB Audio Interface - The Montage M functions as a 6-in/32-out USB audio interface, allowing you to record audio directly to your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for seamless integration into your studio workflow. Overall, the Yamaha Montage M is a premium synthesizer workstation offering a powerful combination of sound quality, versatile sound engines, improved control options, and seamless studio integration. It caters to professional keyboardists who demand the best in performance and production capabilities. ...

My Music Production Wishlists (Hardware & Software)

Music Production Wishlist - Hardware Arranger Keyboards Ketron EVENT KORG Pa5X (Professional Arranger) Yamaha Genos2 Controller Keyboards Arturia Keylab 88 MkII Expressive E osmose Native Instruments Komplete Control S88 MK3 Digital Pianos Roland GP-9 Digital Piano Yamaha AvantGrand N3X Bösendorfer Grand Piano 214VC Drum Machines & Grooveboxes Ableton Ableton Push Roland MC-707 Synthesizers Arturia PolyBrute Noir Edition Behringer Odyssey Poly D UB-Xa KORG Modwave Native Wavestate Moog Etherwave Theremin Minimoog Model D Subsequent 37 Roland D-05 JUNO-X JUPITER-X JUPITER-80 Sequential Prophet X Workstations KORG Nautilus AT Roland FANTOM 8 EX Yamaha MONTAGE M8x Music Production Wishlist - Software Bitwig Bitwig Studio boz Digital Labs New York L Bundle D16 Group Phoscyon2 Punchbox TotalBundle Emergence Audio Viola Textures FeelYourSound ChilloutEngine - turns your chord progressions into relaxed keys, smooth basslines, memorable hooks, and lovely arpeggios ChordPotion - MIDI plug-in that turns any chord progression into new riffs and melodies in real-time HouseEngine - turns your chord progressions into expressive piano rhythms, deep basslines, catchy melodies, and sparkling arpeggios MelodicFlow - create and play stunning melodies, basslines, and riffs quickly Sundog Song Studio - experiment with new scales, harmonies, and melodies easily TranceEngine - turns your chord progressions into uplifting melodies, driving arpeggios, deep basslines, and memorable hooks Fors Opal - Rhythm machine & drum synthesizer Superberry - Delicious superwave GForce Software M-Tron Pro - Complete KORG Modwave Native Opsix Native Wavestate Native Minimal Audio Current - virtual instrument, effects suite, and content platform built for endless hours of inspiration Rift - deeply creative multi-effect plugin Modartt Steinway Model B PlugInGuru (many !) Pro Tools - makes music creation fast and fluid, providing a complete set of tools to create, record, edit, and mix audio Pulse Audio Vivid Strings reFX Nexus Rhizomatic Plasmonic - captures the complex acoustic resonances of Physical Modeling, expands on it with more familiar elements of Subtractive Synthesis, and adds a few unique twists Rob Papen EXPLORER-9 Albino-3 - Legacy The legendary Virtual Synthesizer Go2-X - Insane easy to use power Synthesizer LowSane - LoFi FX with additional Filters and the ‘Disrupt Sphere’ BIT-2 - The Ultimate Virtual Analog Synthesizer BLUE-III - Cross-fusion Virtual Synthesizer RevSane - Algorithm Reverb with ‘Disrupt Sphere’ Predator-3 - The Hybride Powerhouse! RoCoder - Vocoder and much more! DelSane - The coolest Delay in this Galaxy! RP-Distort 2 - PowerHouse Distortion FX with Disrupt Sphere! Punch 2 - Power drum machine with synthesis and sample-based BLADE-2 - Cutting-edge Additive synthesis and more Quad - PhaseDistortion and WaveShaper synthesizer| RAW - Cutting-edge EDM synthesizer with a focus on ‘distorted sounds. XY-Transfer - XY-modulation FX multiprocessor BIT - Ultimate virtual analog synthesizer Vecto - Four-oscillator vector synthesizer Go2 - The power of limitations synthesizer RAW-Kick - Edgy Kicks for contemporary dance music. MasterMagic - Adds a touch of magic for your Mix or Master. SubBoomBass-2 - The ultimate bass synthesizer. BLUE-II - Cross-fusion synthesis at its finest. RG - Electric and acoustic guitar grooves. RP-VERB 2 - Most intriguing in RP-VERB 2 – alongside the great sound – is the new ‘Reverser’ section! RP-Reverse - Reverses the incoming audio in a creative way. RP-EQ - Silky smooth-sounding channel, and mastering EQ. Punch-BD - Based on the BD module of the multi-award-winning Punch virtual drum synth, RP-Delay - Delay insanity. Reverser, 6 lines, 8 filters, 4 LFOs, and more. RP-Distort - Wicked FX unit that will distort or alter your tracks. RP-Amod - Spice up your vocal track, liven an instrument, and even beef up your drums. Sonic Academy - EDM production tutorials in Ableton Live, Cubase, Logic Pro, FL Studio & Reason Kick 2 - multi award winning kick drum plugin Spektro Audio ACDGEN - Advanced Pattern Generator Polyform - Polyphonic MIDI Processor Spectrasonics Keyscape Omnisphere 2 Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra Piano SRM Sounds Max Richter Piano Steinberg Absolute 6 136 GB of content and 7,800 presets Instruments Backbone - Drum Re-Synthesizer Groove Agent 5 (including Prime Cuts, Future Past Perfect, Rock Essentials) HALion 7 Padshop 2 Synthesizer (incl. Polarities, Zero Gravity, and Granular Guitars) Retrologue 2 Synthesizer (incl. Sounds of Soul) The Grand 3 – VST Piano Suite HALion instruments Amped Elektra Anima Auron B-Box Dark Planet Electric Bass FM Lab HALion Symphonic Orchestra HALiotron Hot Brass Hypnotic Dance Model C (Organ) Olympus Choir Micro Skylab Studio Strings Tales The Eagle The Raven Triebwerk Trium World instruments World Percussion Voltage Synthogy Ivory II Grand Pianos Ivory III Grand Pianos (not released for Mac yet) The Crow Hill Company Small String Gestures String Murmurations Toontrack EZbass - two bass libraries, mix-ready presets, bass grooves and a wealth of features for creative songwriting EZdrummer 3 - seven kits, percussion, mix-ready presets, drum grooves and a wealth of features designed with the creative songwriter in mind u-He Hive Repro UVI IRCAM Prepared Piano 2 IRCAM Solo Instruments 2 The Effects Bundle