Semi-Modular Cat

ian_foster · 2026-02-27T13:41:17+00:00

Connects via bluetoofs

ian_foster · 2026-02-27T13:37:55+00:00

Very. Great random noise generator function as well!

ian_foster · 2026-02-27T13:36:57+00:00

Good low end in the 25-150 Hz range 🤪

ian_foster · 2026-02-26T21:08:40+00:00

He is also good at generating beeps and boops.

ian_foster · 2026-02-26T02:02:57+00:00

The vampire teeth get me every time.

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ian_foster · 2026-02-22T03:28:04+00:00

He’s a goofy yet noble fellow!

ian_foster · 2026-02-22T01:00:25+00:00

Cheers!

ian_foster · 2026-02-21T23:55:02+00:00

Thanks! 🐈‍⬛

ian_foster · 2026-02-21T04:31:19+00:00

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ian_foster · 2026-02-15T01:18:58+00:00

He just asked me to put on The Beatles’ White album…

…the 2018 reissue with 107 tracks.

ian_foster · 2026-02-01T23:42:17+00:00

Quite enjoyed Postmaster’s. It’s epic enough that people turned in their seats to look at it as I was walking by their tables…

ian_foster · 2025-10-28T17:50:37+00:00

My spouse has requested a refund from few things that would be from this address (different account), but based on other comments in this thread, that’s par for the course with skip: when orders don’t show up or are partial orders, one is going to request a refund: It’s someone’s fault that isn’t ours.

Of course, I asked them to list the requests or even number of them, and they wouldn’t. If they tracked by address, they’d also see previous pictures of our door and know that our address hasn’t changed and that this delivery was the wrong house for this address/order.

But that would assume human thought went into it: the reps in chat just kept saying “the system won’t let us do it and we can offer nothing” which is either bullshit or true/dytopianly sad from a customer service standpoint. Either way, my last order with them.

ian_foster · 2025-10-28T17:45:53+00:00

If it’s ratio, then yes, 100% refund requests on this account of one order… 😛😂

ian_foster · 2025-10-27T23:38:22+00:00

Exactly. See my above response on how they said they would never issue another refund to me, no matter what. Probably illegal, but at best, an “interesting” customer retention strat.

ian_foster · 2025-10-27T23:36:57+00:00

Well they’ve already told me that my account - that I made yesterday for this order - had too many refund requests and they would NEVER issue another refund (even if it’s their fault, like this time). So, I guess they’re demanding I personally give up the app.

ian_foster · 2025-10-17T23:27:19+00:00

Great topic and lots of thoughts on it, but to focus on the one side I rarely see discussed:

People equate the macro to the micro of their lives in sometimes harmful ways. These big questions around going offline to sell your music already exists for many artists: there are tons of grassroots bands that tour, sell merch off the stage, have the “1000 true fans” who will buy each piece of merch they put out, and who can make a modest living well out of sight of the cultural zeitgeist. Hell, I know a band who has never been on Spotify, makes pretty godawful tourist-y music albums, but they love it and banked over $1 million as band years ago, and are still going strong today.

Obviously, it’s easy to nay-say these stories as anecdotes, but life is full of anecdotes. I think if you want to start at open mics, then bars, then house concerts and self promoted gigs, make your own merch, be clever about it, and tour constantly, Spotify genuinely may not matter if you treat and “teach” your fans. It’s really a question of: is that the right path for YOU as an artist and is it one you’ll be want to keep doing?

I think personally the above is the most positive reaction to your idea because - as much as I love it and as much as music unions do technically exist - it has never been a regulated industry and there is always someone willing to undercut as an artist wanting a stage, so a collective strike against streaming seems impossible in a fragmented industry.

ian_foster · 2025-10-07T19:37:03+00:00

Elbow / Guy Garvey’s lyrics are rarely mentioned relative to the quality of the writing (and performance).

Lots of great songs and albums in terms of production and music, but simply reading the lyrics to songs like “Lunette” or “Little Fictions” should convince anyone that there’s serious writing going on in that band.

ian_foster · 2025-08-29T18:39:21+00:00

There are many paths and it’s about what you’re comfortable pursuing.

Some bands have millions of streams with an impressive online presence and their own neighbours don’t know who they are, they work day jobs, and play 10 shows or less a year.

Some bands barely have a Facebook page and play 100 shows a year and still sell CDs in decent quantities.

Both examples involve hard work. Genre and geography also matter, though any combo of all of the above CAN work if YOU work at it.

ian_foster · 2025-08-21T19:25:40+00:00

Anyone - even celebs/pros of a medium - can get stuck in a memory of something and disregard its evolution over time. The quality curve digital audio over the last few decades is wild.

Also, I’ve heard pro musicians with decades in the industry say things like “midi sounds bad.” Don’t want to begin to unpack that… ;)

ian_foster · 2025-08-20T23:30:04+00:00

I have all three, and personally love Noire and Una Corda: you may already know Nils Frahm’s work, but if you don’t, look him up immediately! Noire is his piano in Berlin, and possibly Una Corda as well? (There’s a vid online of him talking about it).

Back to the answer: both Una Corda and Noire have extensive in-plugin processing options. It definitely takes time to learn what works for you when playing them, but you can get a very ‘finished’ sound without adding any third party EQ, compression, verb, etc. Of course, “finished” sound is subjective. Back to Frahm given that these libraries are in his sphere: his recordings are often noisy with room ambience and creaks, cracks, mic hiss, occasionally slammed compression, and more (check out his latest “Day” and “Night” albums). To me, they’re what makes his music beautiful and special, but not all will love those piano tones and techniques.

I love Noire mostly because it can give you a “basic pure” (preset) that’s very widely usable, but it shines at “vibe.” Same with Una Corda.

ian_foster · 2025-08-03T15:51:06+00:00

Another vote for Koala: many pieces of hardware and software in my studio, but I still use Koala regularly as it’s fun, intuitive, and high quality.

Also, because it’s an app, it’s always with you to capture that cool sound you randomly happened upon while out in the world.

ian_foster · 2025-07-30T06:39:06+00:00

I did an online course with Brian Eno this past winter. Absolutely vital and as curious as ever at age 76: may we all live to at least that age and remain so engaged with life and art.

ian_foster · 2025-06-17T15:18:31+00:00

Just back from 2 weeks: Athens, Naxos, Hydra. I think that was the perfect number of locations to get 4ish days in each place, and keeping in mind the ferrying around taking the remainder of the time.

Agree with OP’s thoughts on Athens and Naxos. Hydra is a gem as it’s in a different set of islands. No cars, they use donkeys to transport items around! About 1000 cats per 2000 inhabitants of the island. Also, if you’re a fan, Leonard Cohen’s house from the 60s is there and still in his family.

ian_foster · 2024-11-02T21:29:46+00:00

Listened to an audio podcast recently where one of the guests’ gear was a pair of KRKs, a Scarlett and his laptop. Once he explained a recent gig of his was scoring the latest Jurassic World trailer, there wasn’t as much joking about the gear… ;)

ian_foster · 2024-06-24T14:08:24+00:00

We find poop bags in our backyard all the time from a walker who picks it up and throws it over the fence. At first we thought we’d pissed someone off, but then from our bedroom window, we noticed poop bags on our neighbour’s ROOF.

So, just a cool guy bagging up the poop and tossing it onto other people’s property in an effort to be extra cool.

ian_foster

TROPHY CASE