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Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
welcome to my corner of the web where i am happy to share my memories, interests & ideas, music and everyday thoughts about whatever comes into my life... While you're at this website All music, concepts, ideas & "dextrosoundlab" images (C)dextrosoundlab2010/socan/ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


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Tuesday, May 25, 2010



The electronic music studio has been apart of my dreams and realities since 1995 when i first met a person who became my greatest musical influence.
We were both on welfare, and living in rented rooms in rooming houses near downtown Victoria, in British Columbia....life was good, but we went three years and could not afford to even buy new patch cords....so we made use of the synthesizers and basic gear that my friend had....it wasn't until I moved away to Saint John New Brunswick when i actually bought myself my first gear that was all mine!

Here iam around 15 years later, and i have presently moved all my studio toys to a new one bedroom apartment, and all i have had the energy to unpack was my electric guitar and a half dozen effect pedals.

I don't know if i am going to be able to set up my studio the way i have had it set up for the past decade, with a dedicated room for only music....now i will have to regress back to the days where i had a studio set up in my bedroom.

I will still aspire to one day have the space to have my studio set up some what permanently, but until then, this will have to do.

I love photo's of the electronic studio's from bygone era's like the one pictured above, which is outfitted with 'EMS' synth's....it is probably a British location, since those synth's were marketed mainly in the United Kingdom.

I like to think that I am carrying on the tradition of the outsider hidden away with magical electronic equipment experimenting with the science and physics of sound engineering....and for now, i will be content with my lack of space, and somehow relearn how to share my bedroom with my studio.

Saturday, May 15, 2010



I bought one of these Roland D2 'grooveboxes" back in 2002....it was really exciting and i have used it ever since as a sequencer, and drum machine....the realtime control of the 'D-field' controller was what hooked me in the store where i bought it. was able to instantly apply manipulations to the pattern, things like playing the pattern in reverse, or emulating turntable tricks are simply addicting.
Combining a synthesizer like this with a guitar and effects can transform someone into a solid 'one-man-band' in no time. Well, truthfully, it did take sometime to perfect my performance...without lots of practice programming midi patterns, and editing tones any device like this would not show it's true potential.
There are pre-set patterns, but it is truly made for programming original patterns, in realtime, and rolands 'step' programming methods...in the 'step' method you can do some precise editing with the midi sequence...I personally prefer the realtime method, and on a 'instant gratification' scale, it rates a "10".

Here is the description of the Roland D2 which i copy&pasted from 'vintage synth explorer':
Roland's D2 Groovebox is a compact, performance-oriented Groovebox (sequencer/sound module)--sort of a smaller MC-505--designed entirely around Roland's D-Field Controller technology. This touch-sensitive pad makes it easy to program and modify patterns, sounds, effects and more simply by touching the surface. It has all of the 505's sounds and a similar sequencer with 150 all-new patterns including the latest 2-Step and R&B styles.

The D-Field controller at the heart of the D2 (also featured on the V-Synth) offers three distinct modes: SOUND makes playing patterns and sound effects easy by touching the D-Field; XY provides simultaneous control over two parameters (e.g. filter cutoff + resonance); SPIN creates turntable-style effects by tracing the pad in a circular motion.

The D2 has more than enough sounds inside, with 600 Preset patches and 30 Preset drum kits from the MC-505. These dance-oriented sounds include ultra-fat bass and lead synths, screaming TB-303's, dance piano and strings, plus 30 floor-pounding drum kits. Phrase/Groove loops are also plentiful with 150 patterns plus 240 RPS (Realtime Phrase Sequence) patterns. There is a new Step Recording method using the D-Field and 32 LEDs as well. Separate Reverb, Delay and Multi-FX sections with Groove-oriented algorithms add space and effects to your sounds & grooves. And with the D2's Megamix function, it's easy to remix patterns into your own creations using the D-Field or Value dial.

Today i also have the Roland MC-909, which is a monster of a 'box', combining sampling, synthesizer & 16 track midi sequencer with a boatload of studio grade multi-FX....I also use the Roland MKS-7 Super Quartet, an Analogue Midi Synth Module circa.1985, and the three of my Roland's are perfect for whatever sonic experiment i attempt.

Monday, May 3, 2010



This is a fairly good representation of how cluttered my brain feels as I am on the verge of dismembering and transporting my music & sound studio and my other belongings to my new apartment.
I am not even going to get into the fact that i don't have a car, or even a drivers permit, so i am reliant upon a friend, and my Father, to assist me in the actual move(s).
In the meantime I must dig deep into myself and somehow motivate me to ignore my aching back, and sore knee, and continue organizing and sorting through the 9 years worth of stuff that i have somehow collected.
I am also wary of packing my studio gear that is fragile....in case it gets damaged in some way...i want to unpack at the new place and just happily plug stuff in to find it's working.
There is alot of useless stuff....and furniture. Some of it i should bring with me.....but i really want to get back to my minimal self....back in 1994 I could stuff my belongings into a normal sized car....and move in one trip.
But now, because I let myself get comfy over the years, i have collected far too much 'stuff'.
I will sort it out. There is already a sizable pile of 'useless' stuff...but only useless right now, sometime it could come in handy! Like the analogue video camera, that needs repair!!! This is one example of how i might talk myself into keeping stuff.
I will try to part with the 'half functioning' stuff.
And only keep my things that are useful and in working order.
This is kind of a waste of blog space, but i have been stressed over this and other topics as of late...and i think that by typing it out, i might be able to sort it out as well.
Until next time...
later.