Trying to set-up my rig to work with my computer etc...

[johnny9fingers]

As you do. I suppose the only way I'm going to get my own stuff done is to go back to engineering myself, which I hate.

Oh well, for those of you who want to know what too many notes sound like I put a test together this morning. I can't seem to monitor properly through my iMac so I'm not going direct from the Helix. Latency issues abound. And it doesn't sound as good as I could tweak it to be. That's all for later. I'm going to need to hook up my go-pro and get it all working, but it's such a fag, my loves; when all I want to do is play.

Oh well here is a sample of the test. Too many notes over Lalo Shifren's "Mission Impossible" theme:

"Test" (Watch on YouTube)

Comments

[mallorys_camera]

Wow! You're amazing!!!! Seriously!

[johnny9fingers]

Nah, I'm an old pro. We are all pretty damn good.

[mallorys_camera]

You may be part of a community of excellence.

But that doesn't take away from your excellence. 😊

[johnny9fingers]

I guess the "Nah" response is conditioned. In England during my childhood we were taught not to blow our own trumpet; if you will excuse me using a brass metaphor for a string player.

But I will say if you ever catch me playing well, you will know it. And you haven't seen or heard it yet by a long way. But there are few venues and many players.

Many of the folk I knew on Tin Pan Alley found safe berths. Some did well, like Barry Cadogan, who ended up getting the gig in Primal Scream after depping for two tours. I could do with a band I guess, but I've been saying that for a decade now, and I can't seem to find the players who would be prepared to work for little money while the thing gets started. We are all old and have bills to pay.

[johnny9fingers]

BTW you can see what I mean about being able to get good at things. It was beaten into me when it was required. It won't be in Henry's case, and I worry about his ability to pursue excellence. If I had been Leopold, the little blighter would have ended up Wolfgang Amadeus; as is he won't even manage Constance's abilities, but he will nevertheless adore lavatory humour - and that is not my doing - he managed that all by himself.

[johnny9fingers]

Dammit, Nannerl not Constance. Constance was Wolfie's wife.

I amend my typos. I correct my mistakes. [Tips hat.]

[mallorys_camera]

I don't know you IRL, of course. But it's clear to me that you are very good with music and words, and I have no doubt you are very good at many other things as well. I'm sorry that the tender, imaginative sprout you once were suffered physical violence at the hands of (no doubt) well-meaning adults. And I also doubt very much that those beatings have any real connection to your excellence.

Henry is not you!!!! And he may grow up to be a plumber. This would give him many outlets for lavatory humor, no? 😊 And so long as he's a happy plumber, what would it matter?

[johnny9fingers]

I tend to default to street sweeper rather than plumber. But yes, I agree.

Maybe being made to do things I didn't want to do (because they were boring) helped me, maybe not. I am at heart pretty damn lazy and given to sybaritic behaviour, much like H. He ain't me, thank the gods; but I worry he may have some of my deficiencies without the balancing abilities. I think that is every parent's worry. Obviously I'd prefer him to win a Fields medal or a Nobel prize; but I don't suppose I'd care even if he was a footballer as long as he was happy and productive. Which leads me to wonder why don't I worry about M as much? I'm equally as fond of her. Do I identify with H because we share the deficient "Y" chromosome?

(BTW I was part of a mixed pair that were in the running to represent the nation at Bridge in the '80's. I can get good at things. Apart from earning money, obvs. At which I suck, to use the modern idiom. Thank the gods their mother does rather well.)

[mallorys_camera]

Yes. You identify with H because you are both boys. 😊

Guess what? There are very few people who aren't innately lazy. I know you want to think you are singularly cursed because it adds to your uniqueness! But, uh, no. 😊

[johnny9fingers]

I doubt that I'm cursed at all. I've been rather blessed actually. Accidentally too. My ideal day consists of a two-novel bath replete with caviar blinis and cold champagne. And some nice weed. It's not a very active sort of existence, yet it is still Rock 'n' Roll behaviour enough for anyone else left this side of Riot House¹ years, but in a somewhat more genteel fashion. It's not navel gazing if there is reading involved. :)

1. The Continental Hyatt, as featured in "Hammer of the Gods" and other Rock 'n' Roll biographies.