Empty Rack Case

A tease?

Further details added 3rd Jan 09:::

This is a new FrackRack case that I have designed and had fabricated locally in Bristol.

The design has several strengths including:

• space for eleven frac-widths -> little space wasted in rack-ears
• modules fixed with M3 bolts + integrated captive nuts for strength yet easy removal
  
• detachable rack-ears leaving a 16.6" wide 'box' which can easily be grouped into larger systems
• integrated power bus bar with 12 x 0.1" power headers and 10 x 0.156"
• sturdy 3-pin locking power entry on rear-panel
• only 4" deep! Very compact (though unsuitable for many deeper frac modules...)
• extremely rugged -> made of 0.05" black painted steel + 0.125" for rack-ears
• overall dimensions without rack ears -> 16.6" wide, 5.25" tall (3-u), 4" deep

These further pictures show some close-ups without the rack ears attached.
More details as to (my) usage and availability coming soon!

BoardWeevil09 - first view

Here's the initial build of the new Weevil for 2009 ----> the BoardWeevil

Its like a souped-up Postcard and takes in some new design ideas I've been playing with through 2008. My aim has been to create something with the power of previous big Weevils, but which is more easily replicated (to try to meet demand...)

Some notes:

• Three Oscs with Lo/Hi Ranges with the usual Quasi-ringmod
  
• Oscs 2 & 3 can Sync to Osc1
• Osc1 also has a Light Sensor for pitching (switchable)
• Power starve for the Weevil-heart - this also has a switchable Light Sensor
• Balance Control fades between Ring1 (oscs1 & 2) and Ring2 (oscs 1 & 2 & 3)
• Simple Tone Control
• Output Level dial feeding a standard 1/4" jack
• Onboard Mini-Amp
• 14 body contacts (gold plated!)
• All Dials are 9mm Alps -- still compact, but much sturdier than the orig. Postcard ones.

Due for release in Jan09.

Hooting Yard

Most of this blog is tech & sonics, so here's a brief break to introduce.......

Frank Key's Hooting Yard

A never ending stream of talk and interwoven twaddle.
The funniest / most informative...

You can listen to / download radio sessions from the Resonance FM Podcast site

New book available from Lulu.com now

Maybe its an acquired taste?

More Modular Recordings

Here's a few recent snippets of sound from the bug modules. These are presented pretty much warts-and-all -> live takes recorded straight in pure MONO (!) either with a mic straight in front of an amp or direct to a soundcard - no effects..

Plinking LPGs
- this involves a bunch of clock divisions, driving three Osc chains (no keyboard pitching here)
- three VCOs, tuned manually and then modulate with direct clock signals
- going through three LoPassGates controlled by three simple Envs which have different clock divsions..
- a bit of wobble tuning in there!

drubub
- a rhythmic one where a trigger seq plays throughout and extra clock divisions build on top
- a bit of an extendo, but the rhythmics become very bouncy towards the end.

6width_extract
- a short burst from an elongated take using only a few modules (6frac width, hence the title)
- there's no traditional VCOs in there, feedback variations causes the rhythms to shift and bounce

**
(you can click the mp3 label below to find other bug modular tracks)

Postcards - now in Yellow

The PostcardWeevil has changed colour....

BoomBox for Cube X

The wonderful Cube Cinema has just celebrated 10 years of existence.
There was a big musical party for which I was to do a little 15minute performance.
So, I grabbed the gaffa-tape and strapped together a modular BoomBox system::::

1 x FracCase filled with Bug-Modules
1 x JoyBox control
1 x contact mic'd dog-bowl (swedish)
2 x SLA 12v batteries
1 x crapped-out speaker

Fun Fun Fun

Teaser1

New developments..