Cat Covid Tuesday, Argus Videos, and v1.39

A great 'Tuesday' performance on Tuesday. I came in early on 'Cat Covid!' and made a few little mistakes, but overall it was fine as a performance, and I was happy with Paul's 'You'll Be The One'. The sound mixing was a little all over the place, which was beyond my control, and my hat hit the mic a couple of times, which I can address.

My performance aside, the rest of the night was really nice. Lots of us stayed behind for 30 mins to an hour, and this social time is an important part of it all. All of the performances were good.

Claire F came to watch, and took some great photos:

I spent yesterday recovering from that late-night high, and programmed a little. I updated Prometheus a bit, to extend the Plugin and Instrument Lists, and updated Argus again after discovering a trivial exploit to the frames/tracks limit. After that, I created a small TikTok Video of Cat Covid, in draft form.

In the evening, I had the first Steam feedback and had to redesign the artwork. I was informed that I had to create some 'gameplay' (actual screen recordings of the program in use) videos. This is a good idea, but I was slightly worried about the technicalities.

I didn't have time to fix these issues. Deb and I went shopping and I found a vet's outfit for 5 to 7 year-olds; which will do for a 'Cat Covid!' video. This is next on my 'to do' list.

I recorded three of the Argus tutorial videos this morning. They were easier than the SFXEngine videos, so all was well. I discovered another (small and easily fixed) Argus bug, so updated it again today to v1.39. The videos are complete. I'm now awaiting the second round of Steam feedback.

One precious day of precious May remains.

Tuesday, Prometheus v3.36

It's another 'Tuesdays' Open Mic tonight, so part of my day has been about practice and preparation for this. Paul Parish has confirmed he'll be there, so he and I will play his song 'You'll Be The One', plus 'Cat Covid!'. He plans on performing one or two others solo too.

I decided to update Prometheus today with some of the new features included in Argus. The display will now stretch to the screen size, filling it for the first time.

That shows the Kabinet V intro music, most of which is a MIDI sequence for export. The orange lights mean those tracks are guide tracks, not sounded. The blue lines are controller events, the long strip being a gradual increase of the MODX 'SuperKnob'.

I'm wondering if, for the first episode of Kabinet V, I explain how I made the title sequence. That may be a bit different in terms of cultural content, but perhaps the 2024 way of making this sort of thing will be of interest in the distant future. It would also serve as a demonstration of Argus.

Kabinet V Idents

Lots of work on 'Kabinet V' videos today. For the show, I'd like an intro sequence and a credits sequence. Both of these are generally not in YouTube videos, which tend to instantly start and stop, although a few have short chats then a quick tune with some graphics. I want to make something worthy of a television programme in quality and scope. A title sequence can set a mood; it is art in itself.

Argus has simplified a lot of this process. I can easily create horizontal and vertical versions, just by rotating the camera:

Half of the day was spent working on the music. The flickery and grainy look can look scary, but I wanted music that echoed something grand and cinematic, and somehow futuristic. The (old and crackly) music to The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, as found on a YouTube video, was in my mind, but also the vast timbre of a Telharmonium (or a simulation, or a Novachord, I don't think there are any recordings of the Telharmonium) - ultimately a vast, organ-like, yet futuristic sound.

Fortunately, my Yamaha MODX is well equipped with such sounds. I found a sound I'd made called Cinema 1929, and played some big chords. I started with C-Major, then Bb-Major, F-Major, and then switch to A-Major, which gave it an odd lift of light. The music really glows with the future, brings it all to life. I liked it enough that I just recorded that and used it for the main intro, adjusting the chord changes to fit the timing strictly.

The end credits needed a longer piece, so I played those chords again, adding a melody too. To make it longer I appended two more chords; G-Major then D-Major. Playing a melody meant that I had no bass. I also decided to do something unusual for me; I ignored the timing and just played it by feeling, so it's not quantised or changed. This is partly because the end credits may, in future, change in length, and such a change wouldn't work if the music fitted the images too closely. Another reason is to give it more of a human performer feeling.

I added a few scant layers to both tunes; a wavy, Theremin-like, sound; some booming percussion; and a simple bass for the end credits.

So, I now have a programme title, some intro graphics, and a time to broadcast (Thursdays at 19:30, the old Top of the Pops slot). I need to work on content, and consider features in detail. As with ArtSwarm, I'll ask people to send things, but not go to great lengths for this. I will want new premiere work, as with ArtSwarm, not videos or recorded music which are already online, but live performances of published songs written by the performer will be fine, if the live performance itself is new.

Physically I'm burning with anxiety. My mood is a mix of despair and excitement. Every day we must face suicide to enjoy life, as Camus knows. I think of Scott Walker in the 1990s. I must keep working, keep doing my best. I am still full of ideas, visions, energy, never down, a hotter lust for life than Vincent's.

Onwards we roll our rock with steadfast conviction. Grave, solemn, certain.

Argus v1.36, Kabinet V

Another night of agonising stomach pain. I feel I'm doing too many things, so resolved to pause a little today.

I fixed a little issue in Argus, where the windows didn't appear if you closed the Splash window by closing it; this is a simple thing that I've never done myself. It's hard to fix these problems, which don't occur for me because I use the software in specific ways.

I watched a few videos. Music now is driven so far more by nostalgia than a quest for something new, meaningful or futuristic. Children can't access music, as it's accessed by smart-phone, and contemporary music is rarely on television. This is something like a cultural crisis.

Most of my day has been making a little intro/ident for Kabinet V. It has something of an epic ancient film about it.

Event Filing, Argus, German Expressionist Film

Another full day. Started by filing the 'Tuesdays' Open Mic events, for my website and for the Fall in Green. Then listing our next Fall in Green event, a small show for Crewe's 'Statue for Ada' campaign. In the afternoon, I assembled Argus for Steam, the final compilation and texting on that platform. All was complete by about 5pm.

I feel tired now, at a loose end, disillusioned with hopes. A few hours rest may be a good thing. My new weeks start on Sunday, which is unusual in Britain, yet I've always thought of the start of the week as Sunday. For the up-and-coming week, my tasks are to create a Cat Covid video, and something for the art video programme. The working title for that is 'Kabinet V', evoking German Expressionist Film. I thought how amazing it is that abstract visual art is now dominant, yet abstract film so rare. I can't recall ever seeing a film designed only to evoke a mood through non-realistic imagery in the way that abstract paintings are.

Pain, Argus, Sales

A night and day of agonising stomach pain. It's been difficult to concentrate for much of the day, a day spent in lumbering swoon, cold and shaky like an infant Nosferatu.

I started this morning by noting the music to 'Desperate Joy', perhaps I could record it as a B-Side. I became more productive as the day wore on.

Much of the day was spent working on Argus. I've finalised the first iteration of the manual, and started to assemble the main package for Steam distribution. I need to test it on more machines. I made a few more changes to the program; making relative paths possible, and made Y or U create a Music event. I put together three (very simple) example animations. Then, spent an hour or two creating the Steam store, the DLC and much of the technical setup.

In the evening, I promoted the new Flatspace IIk sale event, the IndieSFX May sale, and 'Cat Covid!' to my mailing list. I listened to June Holland's new single. Her vocals are wonderful, though I think I could do a better job on the production and mix. She pre-saved Cat Covid! - the only person to do so. She is so generous and talented, truly a special person. I want to get Argus completed as soon as possible, to make time to make a 'Cat Covid!' video.

I read about 'nervous breakdowns'; it appears I've had the symptoms since I was about 4 years old.

I have lots to do, lots I'd like to do.

Onwards we charge!

Positively Little Street, Ian Parr, Argus

A great night at the Positively Little Street last night. The room was cold but the atmosphere really warm, one of sharing and collaboration, generous.

I read the sad news yesterday that the poet Ian Parr had died. He was a central figure in the Nantwich Speakeasy group, the poetry group held in the bookshop that Deb and I attended about every month prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. I read one of Ian's poems at last night's event as a tribute. In poetry, he was a classicist and romantic. A fan of W. B. Yeats (he could quote many from memory) Ian's poems were often lyrical and dreamy, his subjects the lives of ordinary working people. Many of his poems were listed in competitions, with the occasional published. His first solo collection wasn't produced until 2020.

I've spent today doing yet more preparation work on Argus. I've now assembled two show-reels of Argus animations, one at 30 FPS and one at 25. I've also finalised the manual again (admitting it still won't be the final final) and prepared text for the store. I think I need a how-to-use video really. There's still a lot to do. I need to compile text/example videos and materials, and compile the final package, but progress is being made. I'm nearly ready for putting this though Steam.

Cat Covid Live, Argus and Joy

The singer-songwriter, and great guitarist Paul Parish came round on Monday evening to run though a live version of at Cat Covid!, and one of his songs, for the next open mic event. I sent him the sheet music a few days ago and he'd mastered playing the complex tune. I (foolishly) didn't really practice or look at the music until a few hours before he arrived, and felt out of my depth at my clumsy run-throughs, but we got there in the end, and now I know what to rehearse for next week. It sounds wonderful.

After that, two full days working on Argus. I keep thinking it's complete, but the final stages, these little corrections take forever. I've updated the program again, removing the unused second 'music' track option. It would be troublesome to remove in future, and it's better all round to have the 'Screenshots' path on the main film window. One downside to this change is that it invalidates all of the screenshots I've taken.

After that, I added the manual section for the sequencer and updated other parts. At 11,839 words it can be called complete. I'd like to add more, a Menu Reference, some Tutorials perhaps, but that would take a lot more work, and doing this for SFXEngine was time wasted. If Argus proves to be popular, I'll add those things, perhaps after the 50th sale.

Deb and I went to the Crewe Cultural Forum meeting yesterday, which was surprisingly pleasant for a meeting. I (and we) have had my/our most social year since 2019. My plan for 'The Mark Sheeky Show' is feeling redundant, because we now have three regular open mic places to perform at, and a relatively busy calendar.

Today I've rehearsed more of Desperate Joy, and changed the words a little again. These word changes have really made it hard to perform. Here are the final words:

On the fringe of the ultimate high
You'll find her riding
Tracing the sky
On speed
She'll be flashing her glittering eyes
Selling feelings
For a packet of sympathy

And she doesn't care a thing for the world
Except for it all
Except for it all
It's the way
When your veins are on fire

She will grasp
She will catch
But not know why
Watch out for her charms, they're a ploy
They're a cry
of desperate joy

She will love
She will love
She will crumble and cry
Watch out for her tears, or you'll die
of joy
desperate joy

She will waltz with the flowers, their acid aroma
Romancing them all
Romancing them all
Like a queen
like a superstar laser beam

She will grasp
She will catch
But not know why
Watch out for her charms, they're a ploy
They're a cry
of desperate joy

She will love
She will kill
She will crumble and cry
Watch out for her tears, or you'll die
of joy
desperate joy


Today I even changed the music. The first chorus ends in C-minor, rather than Major. This hugely improves it. It doesn't sound like Dylan, but more Gothic, like Depeche Mode or Lou Reed or Nick Cave.