New synth - Doepfer Pocket Control

Here's something I've been chasing for some time, a Doepfer Pocket Control. Basically similar to the PhatBoy and other MIDI controllers, it has presets for many useful applications including performance control of the Doepfer MAQ 16-3 sequencer - so it should be handy for that at least. Pity about the hideous camouflage finish, though...

New synth - Yamaha MU100R

The Yamaha MU100R isn't that interesting in itself - it's basically a G-MIDI module - but I bought this one because it comes with two optional boards fitted, the VL-PLG and VH-PLG. The first is essentially the same as the VL-70M, an acoustic modelling instrument which I've owned before and never been able to do much with. But since they now go for around £400, it was a bargain getting this MU100R for £200. The other board is a harmony generator, so probably not of much use except for vocals. The architecture of the MU100R is obtuse, but I've accessed its many interesting pad sounds plus the VL tones. My main ambition is to actually find a VL sound that's useable on my album!

New synth - Cheetah MQ8 sequencer

Another eBay purchase, at around £40, a Cheetah MQ8 MIDI sequencer. I don't think I've ever used one of these, though it's basically similar to the Alesis Q80. It distinguishes itself by having various embellishment modes comparable to something like a Zyklus. Not that I'll probably make much use of it, but it should be fun to play with for a while.

Billie Ray Martin at HMV Oxford Circus

Just been to see the divine Billie Ray Martin doing a PA at HMV Oxford Circus to promote her album as The Opiates, Hollywood Under the Knife. First time I've seen her live, and she is wonderful! Robert Solheim provided sterling support and I got the album signed. It's well worth checking out.
If your copy of the CD acts the same as mine, you'll find that the song Dinah and the Beautiful Blue comes up on Gracenote listed as Dinah and the Beautiful Blue Dildo. BRM's management tell me this is NOT the title of the song, which is 'a wonderful, tender tale and nothing to do with a dildo. Some idiot has interfered with the track details, which we will get corrected.' So there you have it, straight from the source!

New synth - Technics WSA1R

My latest eBay acquisition is a technics WSA1R, an acoustic modelling synth which I thought might be more useable than the Yamaha VL-70M. It's a 3u unit so it takes up a load of space, and from first impressions the sounds come across more like sample-and-synth than acoustic models. But I gather the presets are a little lame, so I'll try some downloaded patches. I also have a Quasimidi Quasar on the way, at which point I'll probably get rid of the TechnoX - so that didn't last long...

New synth - Kurzweil Ensemble Expander

I've never owned any Kurzweil gear, so I was pleased to pick up an Ensemble Expander for just over £50. The sounds are top quality samples of bread-and-butter instruments - piano, strings, horn, choir, vibes etc - so they're not likely to get much use in my electronic compositions, but they're nice to have. Pity the unit is so massive. The Yamaha EMT-10 does pretty much the same job in a box 1/8th of the size.

New keyboard: Casio DM-100

My latest eBay acquisition is a Casio DM-100, a rare dual-manual instrument. It's not as collectable as some people like to think it is, but I was quite lucky to get it for £60. The gimmick is that the top keyboard is a sampler, so along with some unusually good string and chorus sounds and autoaccompaniment, it makes for in interesting combo. No MIDI, but fun.

Jean Michel Jarre at IFA, Berlin

Just got back from a few days in Berlin for the IFA consumer electronics show. Not much to see except yet more 3D and Smart TVs, but the highlight had to be the sight of Jean Michel Jarre having to climb up a ladder to put an iPad on top of his crazy 11-foot tall AeroDream One speaker system.
If I'd stayed longer I could have seen Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark playing in the park on Monday, but having heard the CD of their last Berlin concert, I don't think I've missed much...

New synth - Quasimidi Rave-o-Lution 309

I got a Quasimidi Rave-o-Lution 309 for just over £100 from eBay - it's very good fun, but unfortunately came without the audio, synth or drum expansions, so I'll have to look out for those separately.

New drum machine - Roland DR-220A

Having already bought a DR-220E, with the Simmons- style electronic sounds, I was pleased to get from eBay the standard DR-220A with acoustic sounds, for a little over £20. Nice little pocket drum machine, hampered only by the lack of any sync facilities (except trigger in/out). And it came in its case with a manual.

Sand kitten sets new standards for cuteness

A rare sand cat kitten was born in an Israeli Zoo three weeks ago, and this week made its public debut. Sand cats live in the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East and are endangered in many areas. This picture goes off the cuteness scale...

Chris Foss signing Hardware at Forbidden Planet

I was very pleased to be able to attend a signing session by Chris Foss for his book Hardware at Forbidden Planet in London. I've always been a fan of Foss' work, and have all his other books. My interest first came from his covers for EE Doc Smith's Lensman books and Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy, and these and all his other major sci-fi works are included in the excellent compilation Hardware. I got a copy signed and annotated and had a bit of a chat. Pity there doesn't seem to be an exhibition planned - not outside Guernsey, anyway.

New synths - Korg 05R/W, Quasimidi TechnoX, Roland A220

More eBay purchases; a Korg 05R/W synth module, for a bargain £26, which offers a great selection of samploid sounds; a Quasimidi TechnoX, which has some interesting sounds and a useful arpeggiator function; and a Roland A220, which is actually a MIDI keyboard splitter, not something I'll probably use much, but it goes with my Roland A110. Hopefully that's it for now.

New synth - Korg MS2000R

The spending frenzy has not ended - I got a Korg MS2000R just to see if I like it - if not, I can always sell it again. I also got a spare Yamaha TX7, an RX21 drum machine and a MCS2 MIDI Controller. Oh, and a Simmons TMI, which I don't have any real use for, but it is Simmons.

More new synths - Korg Prophecy, Korg Poly 800 reverse keys, Yamaha TF1

I've been going mad buying things on eBay again. First I got a Yamaha TX rack with a single TF1 module for £45; not bad going, and it helps towards completing my TX816 rack. Then I got (another) Korg Poly 800 with reverse keys, for £70; so I can use it to refurbish my slightly wonky one, and sell what's left over. Then I got a Korg Prophecy, for £180; not cheap, but they're rarely seen much cheaper. This I'm really pleased with, as it seems like a good substitute for the MiniMoog I sold, as well as being a source of interesting acoustic modelled sounds (so much better than the Yamaha VL-70M, which I could never get anything useful out of). Now let's hope that's the end of my spending frenzy.

New synths - Kawai PHM Pop module, eKeys 37, TQ49

Another eBay goodie, a Kawai PHM Pop module. I was a bit disconcerted to find that it doesn't have a headphone output, but once I got a sound out of it, it turns out to have a nice mixture of K1-style pad sounds, FM-like tones and cheesy drum machine patterns. Not bad for £25-odd. I also got an eKeys 37, a useful sized USB keyboard - and for £5 from a charity shop, an old TQ49 USB MIDI keyboard, which I assumed would be useful, but it turns out it's so ancient that I can't find USB drivers for it. It powers up though, so I've been able to use it as a purely MIDI device, despite its lack of anything fancy like controllers or channel settings.

Powertran 1024 Composer

Yet another purchase from eBay - a Powertran 1024 Composer. I desperately wanted one of these kit-built CV/gate sequencers when I was young, as it was about the only available multi-sequence digital sequencer other than the unaffordable Roland Microcomposers. It was used by Joy Division/New Order, with the Powertran Transcendent 2000 synthesizer, which I used to have. I don't know what I'll use it with now, as it requires a synth with CV/Gate in and out - probably the Sequential Pro 1, though that of course has a built-in mini-sequencer. Anyway, I'm glad to have got this, and relatively cheaply too - and it's only the second time I remember seeing one on eBay.

More new gear - Kawai MM-16 and Kawai XD-5

Two more eBay purchases, hardly essentials, but nice additions to my collection of Kawai gear; an XD-5, a drum sound module which is essentially a K4R but filled with percussion waveforms; and an MM-16, a MIDI controller with various merging and processing functions. Complete with power supplies and manuals, so not bad buys, though what actual use I'll put them to is another question...

New gear - Nihon-Hammond DPM-48 drum machine

Another bit of gear I didn't really need but fancied having from eBay - a Nihon-Hammond DPM-48 drum machine (otherwise badged Sakata or Jugg Box). I used one of these many years ago. A bit untidy this one, but working well. Decent basic sounds, useful DIN sync, level mixers and multi outputs, though nothing fancy like velocity response; luckily this one came with the essential memory cartridge and manual. More gear to come soon...

Another visit from Boofums

Neighbouring cat Boofums (or that's what we call him) has been visiting again, and this time deigned to come in for a snack. He's still lovely and cuddly.

Smokey the Cat and the Maplin Sound Pressure Level Meter

Loud-purring cat Smokey apparently purrs at levels up to 98dB, louder than a hairdryer. Lovely pussy pics in all the papers, and a nice Maplin Sound Pressure Level Meter in shot to prove the point.

Man from UNCLE carbine Dragonfawn special

I finally received the Man from UNCLE special carbine I ordered some months ago from Dragonfawn. Basically it's a Walther P38 airsoft pistol with resin attachments, quite a nice job, some rough parts, but I think I can tidy it up and make some improvements using the replica parts I have, then customise a case. And I'd like to get an actual Bushnell Phantom telescopic sight to add an extra level of authenticity...

Secret Agent Golden Sniper kit

Picked this up as a Buy it Now from eBay at some considerable cost, but it would have gone much higher otherwise; okay, it isn't James Bond or even Man from UNCLE, but these sets command ridiculous prices, so I might sell it on... or might not.

Nice win - Revell Sherman Calliope

Received a large and unexpected box in the post - very pleased, it turns out I've won a 1/35th scale Revell Sherman Calliope kit in a Scale Military Modeller reader survey contest. See, it is worth filling these things in and returning them... At the moment I'm also trying to collect some Starfighter, Freedom Fighter, Hustler and Draken kits to do a spot of Supermarionation kit-bashing...

Stuff I've bought recently

A nice book about Doc Savage artist James Bama... more Classic Doctor Who action figures... a Dragon South Wales Borderers Rorke's Drift 1/6th scale figure... and the Airfix Plastic Toy Soldiers book I've been looking for for ages...