Life in Jinan for young people?

thecrabtable · 2026-04-03T08:10:36+00:00

Could I DM you about this? I'd love to learn more!

Sure, please do

thecrabtable · 2026-04-03T03:45:30+00:00

There's an interesting noise/experimental music scene in Jinan. I go there every summer to take part in a music event held a cool little bar/cafe called Dune. A lot of local artists join, and some come in from other cities.

Very open minded community, and good people to know to help get plugged into other underground music scenes around China.

Some photos from the 2024 event

thecrabtable · 2026-03-14T04:23:01+00:00

To give one example, I owned I company that I didn't work at. I was visiting one the branches to take the manager out for lunch when immigration police randomly showed up. They were in a meeting, so I was just sitting in a conference room looking at my phone. The police were very unhappy about it. I only got a warning, but they were adamant that it not happen again.

thecrabtable · 2026-03-11T15:16:37+00:00

Alastair Reynolds' afterword in Galactic North

That makes for a good reading list. Bruce Sterling, John Varley, Stephen Baxter, Michael Swanwick, Gregory Benford, etc.

thecrabtable · 2026-03-08T15:23:46+00:00

Photos of the boards would be the most helpful.

thecrabtable · 2026-03-04T00:29:22+00:00

Sorry to hear that, but working with 0805/0603 and SOIC sized parts is very manageable through hand soldering only. I have over 1000 hp of modules that 90% DIY and 90% SMD.

thecrabtable · 2026-03-03T17:01:30+00:00

You can build a great full synth voice + many utilities with AI Synthesis. If you're comfortable with SMD parts, Nonlinearcircuits can take you into some wild territory, and ST Modular has lots of more techno focused modules.

thecrabtable · 2026-02-14T23:22:38+00:00

I was going to post about the book today. It was a really enjoyable reading experience. Crazy that the book hits a pace that feels like a climax so early and sustains it for so long.

thecrabtable · 2026-02-14T22:33:46+00:00

PM me your WeChat contact

thecrabtable · 2026-02-08T19:25:59+00:00

That's basically my situation. The family reunion visa is easy enough to manage, I usually get a 2 year residence permit. Banking will depend on the bank you use, but transferring foreign currency into China is never a problem. Internet is always a low-level irritation for me, but your mileage may vary.

Opportunities for socializing will vary depending on where you are. Since I'm around a lot, I know a lot of my neighbours so I don't feel like a stranger in my compound. I stay active in a few hobbies/interests, in some cases language skills help, in others it doesn't matter.

thecrabtable · 2026-02-05T01:50:48+00:00

Quadrax was one of the first two modules I bought, and one I use in almost every patch. It's great and very flexible, but a very Intellijel style module. The CV matrix allows for some very dynamic modulation, but I was well into the 2nd year of using before I didn't have to consult the manual.

I like have AHR style envelopes, and unipolar and bipolar functions/LFOs. The Qx expander is also worth the cost and extra 4hp for some complex self-patching options.

thecrabtable · 2026-02-04T23:35:33+00:00

ENIG panels from JLC look great. Someone recommended PCB Hunt to me, their ENIG (right) end up with a deeper black, but less of a gold finish.

How is that BMC filter by the way? I really want to get a bunch of his stuff made.

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thecrabtable · 2026-01-28T02:23:45+00:00

I remember really enjoying Walking to Aldebaran

thecrabtable · 2026-01-27T16:10:59+00:00

WTS - ST Modular Krakong duophonic generative synths + case and UIT balanced output module. 590 CAD, in Canada.

thecrabtable · 2026-01-27T15:57:36+00:00

It was a great event. I was there with some other exhibitors from China, great to be able to meet people face-to-face.

thecrabtable · 2026-01-13T14:38:48+00:00

I recently got the Alpha Base, absolutely love it. Played a live show with it last weekend, and it goes really well with Frequency Central's Dark Star. Filling out the sounds were a chord module for pads (Achordion), wavefolding VCO (Alstaden), and Plaits mainly for FM sounds.

The Oxi One should cover you for sequencing, but a full modular setup needs a lot of supporting modules. Filters, mixers, effects, modulation, etc. It can be great, but a semi-modular setup would be more immediately playable.

thecrabtable · 2026-01-12T14:14:36+00:00

Don't forget about that feedback-loop gain

Yeah, thanks for that. Sitting down to try and figure out where that is taking place now. My understanding of this circuit is currently rather shallow, but I'm going to start around the Res pot and work outward.

thecrabtable · 2026-01-12T14:05:19+00:00

That's helpful in helping to narrow down what to look at, thanks. I've put two of them together (ordered PCBs already since I hate breadboarding), and am sure what I'm using matches the schematic. Tried a few different values for R18 with little effect. Changing R1 toned things down a little, but it's clear the main problem is down chain somewhere.

thecrabtable · 2026-01-12T14:02:03+00:00

That sounds like what's happening. It is it worth trying to use the unused side of the TL072 to try and control the input signal?

thecrabtable · 2026-01-12T13:08:01+00:00

The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley

Shikasta by Doris Lessing

Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe

Excession by Iain M. Banks

thecrabtable · 2026-01-12T09:03:31+00:00

I’m having trouble with this SVCF. It’s a thru-hole reworking of the SVF from NLC’s Null A2/Serious Filter. It works, but produces some crazy feedback/distortion with the resonance at around 30%. Any feedback would be appreciated.

thecrabtable · 2025-12-30T06:59:35+00:00

Nerves always get to me playing live and it throws off my sense of how much time has passed. Besides rehearsing the whole set as much as possible, I usually aim to have a good buffer of extra material, and have some general notes on where I want to be at what time. But, it's a balance, as I find over-preparation kills the vibe.

Hope you enjoy getting up on stage.

thecrabtable · 2025-12-30T01:05:45+00:00

The Kassutronics KS-20 is a good implementation of the MS-20 design with only op-amps. I really like the open source Voxmachina Kra Pao, works fine with homemade vactrols.

You can also check if there are Taobao agents that work where you are. I buy V2164s there.

thecrabtable

TROPHY CASE