So I bid farewell to the Yamaha A4000 this past weekend. I did find someone who was interested in getting started with samplers and was looking for a unit with which to get started. He seemed like a good guy, so I'm glad it went to a good home.

I originally got the sampler to try using it in conjunction with my Vdrums, but I never got too far into the sampler. The thing that always amazed me about that particular unit was that it was so deep, it had functionality that I would never use or understand. They are rather complicated pieces of equipment, and since getting deeper into Logic and Mainstage, software seemed to cover everything I was looking to do with minimal fuss.

So this has allowed me to slim down my rig to just one synth, a MIDI patch bay and a power conditioner/surge protector. These are all "shallow" rack units as well, which has me looking at the short effects-style rack cases.

Incidentally, I'm looking at selling my E-Mu Pro/Cussion rack unit as well. If you happen to be reading this and you're interested in getting one, get in touch with me.

I recently had the opportunity to go back home for the thanksgiving holiday, and while there I happened upon a great article pointed out to my by my father involving two things very close to my heart: Minnesota and apples.

The rise of the SweeTango apple is now on the radar. The season is somewhat short due to the apple harvest in MN as well as the local popularity of SweeTango apples, but the apples are making it out past state and regional borders into the nation and beyond.

I wish I could publish the link to the article, but the source (New Yorker Magazine) requires you to be a subscriber or to pay for access to the article. However, they do have a short video which summarizes the author's article, as well as showing his visit to Pepin Heights Orchard, one of the "big boys" for apple orchards in Minnesota. I've included a link to the video below in the "related link". It'll give you a good idea about the Next Big Thing (the official name of the tree/plant).

So I plan on editing this entry and adding more info on how I wrote this track and my influences which led to it, but for now I just wanted to get this up on the site.

The song is in the "related link" below. Give it a listen and see what you think. It's titled "Ubud".

Thankfully, I do have moderation in place here, otherwise we'd be submerged in spam comments for each posting. To anyone posting a genuine reply and having to wait until I get on and approve it, I apologize...however I do it for a very specific reason, and hopefully it's not too much of an imposition.

I do realize that I'm pretty infrequent posting here. Pro hockey is officially over, so there's not too much of interest sports-wise to me for a few months. Just keeping my head down and plugging away at work for now, as well as fishing and music stuff.

Speaking of music stuff, I plan on posting some of my finished stuff here, I will do so fairly soon...