Hello from Jamos

jamos · Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2004 11:21 pm Post subject: Hello from Jamos

Time to come out of the closet, so to speak :')

I'm a music software developer and terminally wanna-be synthesist, about to take another step in my musical evolution. Some of you may have already heard of me (Hi Howard), as I'm the developer of Techno Toys (Seq-303, Arp-X8, etc.). My current day gig is at E-mu, where I'm responsible for the UI of Emulator X. In between, I fiddle with synths in the hope that something cool will come out. Sometimes it does ( http://www.technotoys.com/mikado/audio/protoType.mp3 ).

(Editor's note: added spaces to parenthesis to make this link work - mosc)

I've always been excited by live work (a taste acquired when I played trumpet in a Dixieland band way back in high school), and not too keen on recording, but I recently decided that my attempts to play a Fenix modular and various other instruments live were .. just more effort than the results justified. The project has kinda collapsed under its own weight (not to mention my back). So, after learning about the Nord Modular G2, I've decided to dump the entire system and replace it with something I can carry by myself.. not to mention being able to save the patches. One thing I learned about the Fenix is that, once I come up with a gorgeous sound on it, I'm really reluctant to unpatch it.. which is definitely the wrong way to use an analog modular.

Looking forward to sharing info in both directions with everyone here!

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:44 am Post subject:

Welcome Jamos!
Very Happy

Yeah, the Nord Modular gear is more portable than analog modular systems.. Very Happy

Did you make the prototype.mp3 using your own homemade software or tools?

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:48 am Post subject:

This one is nice:
Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

Your design?

Mohoyoho · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 6:22 am Post subject:

Welcome Jamos.

jamos · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 7:03 am Post subject: proto.type() tools

Hi Elektro80;

Yes, that little ditty was made with the sequencer you sent back the image of, Mikado. The sequencer controlled the Fenix, an SH-101, and a handful of effects, and was recorded live to two tracks.

That was a prototype only that was built by a guy named Jim Patchell. The project fizzled after the prototype was built.. there were some fundamental design errors made (on my part) and we never got around to resolving them.

I'm using my own stuff in some live work now.. it's rewarding, and I hope to make some recordings soon.

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 7:28 am Post subject:

I know the SH 101 very well

The Fenix is this one?:
Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

jamos · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 8:38 am Post subject: The Fnix

That's the one. A great instrment.

mosc · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 9:41 am Post subject:

Hi, James, welcome to electro-music.com welcome

This is another "red letter" day for our site. Welcome to this community.

I've known James, indirectly, since maybe the mid 80's when I was proud to be a registered user of the now legendary Techno Toys. I still have them loaded on my XP machine and the Seq-303 is still great by any comparison.

I see your latest sequence is a hardware device. I built one of those back in the 70s. Here's a link. ... ... Hmmm.... Just looked all over for the link and can't find one. Here's a photo at least: I'll have to write up a short post about my sequencer. Embarassed

Anyway, you'll certainly love the G2. I actually believe sequencers is a weak part of the NM design. I've ranted on so much about this on the NM list that people probably think I'm a fanatic - no, take out the word probably. Smile

jamos · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 10:29 am Post subject:

Your comments on the G2's sequencers are interesting, Howard, because my first reaction on seeing them was .. hmm - no more need for Techno Toys. But in hindsight I see now where there are still lots of gaps. I'm kind of amazed at how much stuff the Clavia guys squeeze into so little space. My guess is that I'll spend several months using the G2's sequencers and ignoring Techno Toys, and then will start using them as I feel the need.

<Just an aside - My preferred name is Jim, but jamos (note spelling) comes from a long-ago spelling error on a Paia catalog mailing label, and the fact that I was in a three-piece band with two other Jims, so I needed a nickname>

mosc · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:28 am Post subject:

OK, Jim.

The Clavia sequencers are very nice, but lack some features that I think would make them more useful.

Skip a stage
Halt on a stage
Fwd/rev
Pattern banks
set loop end points at any stage.

They have added a new control sequencer that basically follows a control signal. This is a nice, but it is just a start. Nothing's perfect.

seraph · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 12:29 pm Post subject:

welcome Jim
I see that you are from Eugene, Oregon. I was once working at Berklee with a guy named Andrew Sherman, from your town. He's a keyboard player. Have you ever met Question

jamos · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:08 pm Post subject:

Hi Seraph;

No, I've never met Andrew Sherman - I've only lived here about 6 years, didn't grow up here, and I'm kind of isolated from the local scene (which is mostly folk musicians)

Jim