... and hello from not-so-rural Kansas

[Scot Solida]

Hello all, from here in Hutchinson, Kansas. I've been lurking about the forum for a while and thought it was high time I registered. As some of you might know, I write for Computer Music magazine. I have co-authored a few books on recording and music production, including Billboard's Home Recording Handbook. I also provide sample and sound libraries under the name The Electronic Garden. Those of you using energy-XT on your Linux machines might have some of my sounds for the included synth/sampler (freely downloadable from the energy-XT site). Those of you who have also used Windows and Mac boxes might have seen my work among the factory patches for various softsynths from Arturia, LinPlug and others. One of my ongoing projects is the creation of a free, compact, soundfont-based GM collection for one of the Linux-based sequencers... something that I hope to see finished in the next six months.

I've been at this recording and synth thing for three decades now, having bought my first synth after seeing Gary Numan on television back in 1980. I make music under the name Christus and the Cosmonaughts, and my records and CDs are put out by a label called Beta-lactam Ring Records, who represent all manner of unusual artists. My own stuff has elements of psychedelic, progressive rock, art rock, Berlin-school sequencer stuff and experimentation.

My studio is cross-platform, with both Mac and Windows represented on an iMac and Ubuntu Studio running on its own machine. Over recent months, I have been moving more and more of my work onto the Linux machine. In fact, I find that I primarily fire up the iMac to control my Kyma system (which does not run on Linux, even through Wine). More and more, I find myself recording in Ardour and using various MIDI sequencers to control my outboard gear.

My studio is built into my basement and seemingly never finished. My control room is nearly complete (it could use some nice trimming, though), but I have yet to complete the vocal booth (got the walls, but no door or carpeting). Drums and things are in my main basement area, along with my Hammond M-103 and lots of unusual percussion and ethnic instruments (mostly Tibetan or Indian). Due to my work in sampling and sound design, I have amassed a sizable collection of instruments that I don't actually play very well!

My work is centered primarily around a massive modular synthesizer system with most of the modules coming from Synthesizers.com, along with plenty of DIY modules, too. Also in my studio is a nice collection of rare vintage synths, including Minimoog, EMS VCS3, PPG Wave 2.2, ARP Odyssey, Prophet-5, OBXa (currently on the repair bench), CR-78 and lots of other things of that sort. I have four and eight-track reel-to-reels that I used from time to time, when I don't feel like firing up the computer. I will post pictures of the studio in the appropriate section of the forum here.

In any event, it's good to be here. I have much to learn and hopefully a bit of knowledge to share as well.

[roaldz]

Welcome Scot!

That's certainly a very great history of music-making! May I ask what midi-centered applications you use on Linux? Is there some of your music available for free?

Cheers from the Netherlands!

Roald

[Scot Solida]

Thanks for the welcome! Currently I am using Muse and Rosegarden for MIDI, but also LMMS, and Seq24. I can't get energy-XT 2 to run on this machine (not the native or Windows-via-Wine versions), or I'd probably be using the the latter.

You can find some music at my myspace pages. The psyche/prog/art/experimental rock stuff is here:

http://www.myspace.com/christusthecosmonaughts

and the Berlin-school electronic instrumental stuff is here:

http://www.myspace.com/theprayercapsule

Only two of the Christus and the Cosmonaughts tracks are complete tracks (don't let the lenghts fool you). "Surviving the Fanatics" and "Tablets in the Timeline" are complete, while "Beyond Belief" and "Nod if You Were the Last Man Alive" are excerpts from tracks clocking in at around fourteen minutes each. The Prayer Capsule track is complete, too.

For a massive dose of my music (if you've the stomach for any more!), the label currently has a podcast featuring pretty much everything we've done for them:

http://www.blrrecords.com/podcast.php

[studio32]

As some of you might know, I write for Computer Music magazine. I have co-authored a few books on recording and music production, including Billboard's Home Recording Handbook.

Welcome, interesting, we might learn a lot from you then

I also provide sample and sound libraries under the name The Electronic Garden. Those of you using energy-XT on your Linux machines might have some of my sounds for the included synth/sampler (freely downloadable from the energy-XT site). Those of you who have also used Windows and Mac boxes might have seen my work among the factory patches for various softsynths from Arturia, LinPlug and others. One of my ongoing projects is the creation of a free, compact, soundfont-based GM collection for one of the Linux-based sequencers... something that I hope to see finished in the next six months.

Cool, there has been a discussion here about sounds and presets. Some people feel there is a lack of presets on Linux, they want to make music not making sound...
You can always share your new zynaddsubfx, phasex and Ingen patches here
http://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2504

In any event, it's good to be here. I have much to learn and hopefully a bit of knowledge to share as well.

good to have you here, have fun!

[Scot Solida]

Thanks studio32. I am sure you guys will have more to teach me than I could hope to offer. I have had Linux machines running in both my studio and in my "office" upstairs (I even wrote a couple of lengthy tutorial articles about it for Computer Music magazine), but I have only now begun to make it my main studio computer. So far it has been pretty smooth for me. I haven't really run into any insurmountable dead-ends, but I am sure I'll find myself scratching my head soon enough!

I haven't tried Ingen or phasex... I'll give them a look! I am always looking for some new synths to play with. I have also been planning for some time to make some free Hydrogen kits available through The Electronic Garden.

[Chipfryer]

Hi Scott, welcome.

[Scot Solida]

Thanks Chipfryer.

[roaldz]

Are the things you describe the things you do for a living? Or do you have some other job?

If so, respect.

[Scot Solida]

Thanks. Yes, I earn my living writing about music production, synthesis, and doing sound design. It's a good (if somewhat solitary) life! It has allowed me to be at home with my son as he has grown up, which is quite nice.

[Zen:Core]

Hey Scot!

It's cool to see another Kansas boy here. For some reason I think I've heard your name somewhere before. We might know some mutual people you never know. I haven't been down to Hutch since I was a kid. If you ever make it up my way shoot me a PM and maybe we can get together for a Tall Grass or something.

[Scot Solida]

Thanks Zen:Core. Likewise if you ever head down this direction. Given the nature of my work, I'm always home!

[Slacker G]

Welcome Scot.

I'm also new here.

You mentioned the Moog, I have a big Polyphonic Memory Moog in my closet. That sure is a cool instrument.

I've loved the sound of Moogs from day one. I'll have to check out your music. I have always listened into fusion and movie sound tracks. No vocal stuff included. In a way, fusion has influenced my playing in other styles of music.

[Scot Solida]

Wow, a Memorymoog is a seriously desirable instrument! I always wanted one of those. I dig fusion as well (though I'd never be good enough at it for it to influence my music) and like a lot of filmic things. That kind of thing doesn't pop up too much in the music of Christus and the Cosmonaughts, other than the occasional odd-time signatures. The instrumental Prayer Capsule project might take on a filmic quality at times, though.

The Moog stuff has always sounded terrific. I've owned a lot of Moogs in my day, but now I have only my Mini, lovingly restored by Analogics (there's a photo of it in the "Gear" section). I won't part with that one.

[Scot Solida]

Slacker G: I just checked out your video clips and I am floored. That is some terrific playing!

[Chipfryer]

Yeah he is really good. Let's hope he get's his OS up and running soon.
You too Scot.
Welcome.

Slacker G: I just checked out your video clips and I am floored. That is some terrific playing!