More Future Snooker and Future Pool work today. The stores pages have gone live, lots of admin updating links. Newsletter sent. More testing of the game and changes to the manual. Nice to meet up with Dr. Nicholas Mee to talk about books, software etc.
Also added a power port to my Korg Monotron, allowing it to be used in performances for a change. Normally it's battery only powered, which is ridiculous for a professional instrument.
Every professional instrument needs mains power and an AUX out. I'm surprised that there aren't many good cheap synthesizers when they should be easy to build. It seems that the designers haven't a clue what musicians need. The key element is a useful, that is responsive, control system. Ideally I'd want a big octave range with sensitive control over the output; an instrument is about emotional expression so as much movement as possible needs to be detected by the machine. It also needs the basic elements like shielding and reliability, ease of use, mains power, and an AUX out. It's odd that most toy synths don't have an AUX out, although many have a headphone socket. The Casio VL-1 was one of the few with an AUX, and it became a hit. Casio haven't made any popular or remotely professional level instrument since despite being quite capable of doing so. I'd love to design a synth.
I've been offered a 15 minute music performance slot tomorrow at the Queen's Park café event. I've decided to perform a substantial section from The Spiral Staircase using several synths and will develop this tomorrow.
