the new (old) DAW pt 1

so I’m working on this remix…

This isn’t my day job. Saying this isn’t my dayjob is to establish the “givens”about how much attention hasn’t been spent on keeping all the tools running optimum. I’ve been running into performance issues for years and the solution has always been a spot fix to finish something with a promise to take care of things later.

Then came the demise of my Macbook Pro.

At that point I questioned whether or not I should replace it. One of the reasons for not replacing it was to break the connectivity leash and continue the productive liberation that followed. This eventually led to a moratorium on any new computer computer purchases.

(note: I’m already operating under “no new music gear” moratorium. trades excluded)

Why?

I haven’t really finished anything in almost 10 years.

The freedom / options / zero limitations that comes with using software like Ableton Live (paired down from a list that included Reason, Reaper, Logic and Pro Tools) and all the accessorizing plugins is probably the last thing I needed.

On a previous tangent rooted in dealing with the guilt of walking away from projects, currently in progress, because I couldn’t finish them “today” – because it’s not my day job – I decided that I longed for the old days, when “all I had was X” and got things done. Even though I may have remembered those days a little better than they really were – I was able to settle on one piece of software and even shorten the list of plugins.

So I’m working on this remix…

I’m through enough of the trip to have an idea of how this thing will end and actually claim something “finished”, but the grime of performance issues begins to build, taking the gloss off of the finish. The moment where creativity makes everything in the world vanish, except for the idea, the sound and the vibe is fading. I’m back to staring at waveforms and driving a track pad again.

I have four weeks to go on a project that’s almost done.

I’m going for a little more than a spot fix. I’m gonna try a new workflow on an old axe.

(wow – I just did the math to be able to make the next statement)

This will be a 12 year backward leap.
I’ve got one week to see what happens.

If you’re listening – I’ll keep you posted.

(edit: despite my personal math, I’ve discovered that my new DAW is actually a 14 year backward leap more on this in future posts)

twin twins chapter 1

chapter 1

1991 Norco CA – bought a 1977 Fender Twin (ser A768591) from some guy named Viv, who lived in a geodesic dome.

? (date pending research) city unknown – Jim “Flames” Brennan bought a 1977 Fender Twin (ser A769024)

Both amps were initially serviced by Smokey “The Amplifier Man” Stover.  Both amps had the Pre CBS mods done. They were also completely recapped (including some caps replaced with polystyrene). Flames also opted for Smokey’s “Grunch” mod (which removed the master volume and tremolo and replaced the “intensity/speed” controls with “grind/crunch” controls) .

I’ve forgotten exactly how the “grunch” mod works on a technical level. I just remember that I wanted to keep that part of my Twin stock.

Flames used his Twin (the Flames Twin) until approx 1995 before selling it to a friend.
I still have mine (the Norco Twin) and even though it’s been modified with a number of speaker and power tube configurations (KT88’s and currently 6550’s) it’s been my primary amp.

In 2012 I converted the Norco Twin to a piggyback (aka Frankentwin). I decided that I really didn’t like that configuration and intended to completely restore it cosmetically to “as new as possible” and leaving the electronics alone.

In 2013 I was able to buy the Flames Twin from the person he sold it to. The cabinet was already in bad shape when Flames originally bought it. The repairs that held it together for nearly 20 years didn’t survive the cross country journey (it appears most of the damage happened on the crater infested section of I40 between Garth Brooks Blvd and OKC).

This thread (click here) is the journey both of these amps will take from their current state as two bare chassis (pic above) to their completion.