Memories of Miss Memory

Come along to Electrofringe in Newcastle next week and check out the very first public demonstration of the “brain-controlled musical instrument”, a project I have been researching with collaborator Scott Eggert. On Friday 3rd October at 3:30pm-5:00pm @ University House - Seminar 2 [UNH 1.38], we will be demonstrating the instrument and discussing our research and future plans for a brain controlled MIDI device/instrument. On Saturday 4th we will be joined by visual artist Mat McCosker and will be using the instrument in a performance with the music and visual being generated by the brain.

Sometimes, it sucks to be me, and other times, it absolutely rocks. Like today for example, when I was handed this fine specimen of technology, the Red Bull Music Academy Radio WiFi-Boom Box. This gem has seriously made my month!

It has arrived just in time for the influx of new input from the Red Bull Music Academy in Barcelona, and came already set up with rbmaradio.com as Preset #1. Of course I added Chasing the Tangent as Preset #2, because you can listen to podcasts as well as live streaming radio.

Now I can listen to my favourite radio shows without having to plug my computer into the sound system, or whilst shampooing my hair, or maybe weeding the garden. It comes complete with line out/headphones, and works with wireless and ethernet connections. It even has a cute remote that allows you to do everything from the couch.

Whoever it was out there (Tom) who decided i deserve one of these needs to be bought a seriously tasty beverage.

How sad! This really marks the end of a beautiful era, and the beginning of analogue tape machines as museum relics. The gear junkie inside of me is starting to wonder how much this news will affect the cost of buying a reel to reel deck and whether its worth getting one before…argh! stop me!!!!

http://www.gearwire.com/quantegy-ends-tape-sales.html

“One of the last remaining manufacturers of magnetic recording tape for analog tape decks announced they would be discontinuing the sale of open-reel magnetic tape products. Quantegy, formerly Ampex, announced the discontinuation of open-reel tape products on its website and in memos to its distributors this week.”