Studiomaster 16 into 4

I can find no information about this desk. It took me a while to get the sound through it.
It can be a bit noisy at times. Some pots are scratchy.
Otherwise a fun thing for me to play with. I got it for $50.

My Java Discoveries

I've been taking this Java class this whole semester. The whole class is taught in Windows except me. Our only laptop is an Apple ti-book. I have OSX 10.4 installed. The professor's instructions were all based on the Windows operating system.

The first thing we did was install Java SE. Well OSX, I discovered, already has it installed including older versions. The way to install on windows looked quite complicated, using all these hidden menus. I didn't do anything.

Then came Tomcat. It's a serverlet container. It allows you to run Java serverlets and Java server pages on your computer. These run .jsp files which unlike static html are dynamic web pages. They are often used when things need to change on web pages for businesses or customers. Luckily Apple's developer connection has an article on how to set Tomcat up on OSX.

At first I got a little confused. It wouldn't show any of the jsp file examples we had with the Dietel book. Well I had my path wrong and just watching the instructor loading the page a class later, I realized this. You just put your files in the webapps section... <--- (I may clarify) The developer connection article makes it more complicated than it has to be. <--(I'll clarify later) One must remember if you are going to edit any server pages you have to stop and restart tomcat. I learn this important lesson as well. Then everything was fine until we got into j2me. This allows you to develop for mobile devices. Sun has an IDE for Windows and Linux but not OSX. So I had to search again to find how to do this. I found several sites. I had this one but I didn't have X11 installed on my system. Another requiring X11. Finally I found this little blog which shows how to build and run with Xcode. They had this to say,

"download the project template @ http://haikusoftware.com/midletdev/xcodetemplate.zip

uncompress it & put the "Ant-based MIDlet Jar" folder into
/Library/Application Support/Apple/Developer Tools/Project Templates/Java/

download mpowerplayer sdk @ http://mpowerplayer.com/

put the mpp-sdk folder into /Developer/Java/

set /Developer/Java/mpp-sdk/osx/peverify executable."

The template is outdated by newer versions of Xcode. Once you try to open it it will update the template. Check with Xcode in the New Projects menu under Java to make sure it's there. You will have to be admin. Move the mpp-sdk. Make the "peverify" (it should be preverify) folder executable (in Terminal):

cd /Developer/Java/mpp-sdk/osx/
chmod ug+x preverify

But for some reason you have to use Java 1.4.2. Once you have the ant-based midilet jar project open in Xcode, open the build.xml file. You'll find: "The "preverify" target requires the bootstrap classes." Below that is your directory. You have to change this to the 1.4.2 version. Change the value to "/System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.4.2/Classes/classes.jar" This may be different on different systems, just search for your JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.4.2 and it should end with "classes.jar". Otherwise you'll get the "File format error" when you try to run it.

I hope this helps someone who is in a position I was.

SSL compressor on ebay.

I searched "SSL compressor" on ebay today. Got some interesting results...

This guy is selling the insides, everything you need and put together. You just have to get a case and have some holes drilled. Then make the LED meter, a snap.

This ssl is from a 4000 desk I mentioned earlier. It has a smaller footprint and is ready to go, according to the seller. (Two grand and no bidders...)

Here is a pcb, meter, knobs and switches.

Then there is the 5.1 super compressor. I've never seen this version before. You'll need a small fortune to get it. Only professional studios would want it.

Selling My MPC 2500

I've decided to sell my MPC 2500. It just sits there in the basement. I would have better luck building the midibox seq along with the 9090 clone projects. Not only would I have more fun building them, I would actually enjoy turning out simple tunes and not saving the results.

I would then use some software for sampling on a computer.

Ford Internship

I'm very excited to announce Ford Motor Company has selected me to be in their summer internship program. Now I have to wait for their offer. I should also accept that offer.

Have been a bit busy.

I had the interview with Ford. Now I have to wait for their decision.
I also had a call to meet with a recruiter for an IT placement agency on Tuesday.

I decided to try to sell my mpc 2500 and my access virus indigo 2. I need to wrap up some debt and get on to finishing the gssls.
I can replace the mpc with the midibox seq. Then I could get a cheaper used sampler. I also need to get started on the 9090. Then I would like to go on to the more ambitious modular system.

It's a niece!

I knew it would be a girl but I got news that my older brother's wife had delivered around 8:30 last night (the 23rd, gotta remember that). No pictures yet. I haven't seen her. We were at Westborn Market at the time picking out some fruit. Nice fruit, worth the extra dough, much is also local. Now I have two nieces and a nephew to give presents to.

Also, got an email from Ford about a summer internship. I will go to a meet & greet on Tuesday.

Uusitalo.

The compressor I posted earlier is part of a not-quite-but-should-be mixing console. SSL stands for Solid State Logic. The compressor is a small but important section of their 4000 console. It's a stereo mix bus compressor. From what I can tell you can send alot of sound through it in stereo and change the dynamics to one's liking.

"SSL claim that the 4000 has been the mixer behind more platinum selling albums than all other consoles combined."

Not that I'm going to make a platinum selling album. It is very much liked by producers. It is not analog. At the heart of them is the THAT 2180 VCA. There are three types A, B, and C. The As can be about ten dollars each from resellers. You can get them from THAT directly but you need to buy 25 at a time.

If you want an original SSL compressor, you want to use the dbx 202s. But they are harder to find.

Time to go see and advisor. I must make sure I'll get my computer science degree in due time. I'm going to try to include one more class this winter.

JJ OS

Just got my jj OS password today for my mpc 2500.

Currently having problems uploading photos of my mpc...

Back to studying computer hardware. Considering embedded systems for master's studies. There are several micro-controller projects available.

Two SSLs to go.

Trying to finish this puppy up. I've been building two of them for over a year. Just buying parts when I get the money. Have to wait for power supplies from digikey. Need to get six THAT 2181 from Small Bear. Then it's on to purchasing the enclosure and cutting the holes.

The Very Finest Post

We'll see what will come of this. I plan to publish more of what I'm doing.