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90’s Notation Software – Encore by Passport

90’s Notation Software – Encore by Passport

This is an installer for the last beta (as far as I know) of Passport’s Encore music notation software. They sent it to me for pointing out a glaring bug in their lower level program whose name I can’t remember. The full release for this beta was never released (again, as far as I know). I got Sibelius and moved on. I used it a few years ago to export my old scores as MIDI. Worked well enough to not…

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StageCaller OSC Monitor and Cueing Patch

StageCaller OSC Monitor and Cueing Patch

Updated 10/2/15 – Has MIDI trigger to broadcast status; Now accepts OSC commands, e.g. from QLab 3, to configure settings for ease and reliability. I recently found this great app, StageCaller, to make your iPhone or Android ring when triggered by MIDI or OSC commands. It also has a heartbeat function for monitoring. I made a monitor to listen for the heartbeat using Max 6.1.9. I added a simple cue start/stop firing option and an arm/disarm option. I also added…

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unRealBook Real Book Index Files

unRealBook Real Book Index Files

I’ve been using this incredible program, unRealBook for displaying sheet music on my iPad. Aside from the convenience of being able to take every PDF’d chart I have to any gig, it also supports annotations and exporting with such for other band members. I also made a Bluetooth page turner on the cheap based on this plan: https://www.instructables.com/Bluetooth-page-turner-pedal-for-sheet-music-apps/ with this at its heart: https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-bluefruit-ez-key-diy-bluetooth-hid-keyboard/pinouts Another really cool thing it supports is using index files to make your Real Books searchable…

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Martha Graham Cracker and a String Quartet from the Philadelphia Orchestra!!

Martha Graham Cracker and a String Quartet from the Philadelphia Orchestra!!

A string quartet of members of the Philadelphia Orchestra will be playing Rich Hill’s and my arrangements in accompaniment of Martha Graham Cracker on Sept 5th, 11:30pm at the new FringeArts venue located at Delaware Ave and Race St. The event is free and open to the public starting at 10pm. Doors to the theatre open at 11. http://fringearts.com/event/martha-graham-cracker-cabaret-with-members-of-the-philadelphia-orchestra/ Needless to say we are thrilled beyond belief, not mention a bit nervous, at such an opportunity. Updated: The show was…

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FDR Park Picnic Sites

FDR Park Picnic Sites

I can never find a map online, so I decided to post this one: Download a permit application here:http://www.phila.gov/ParksandRecreation/programsandactivities/Applications/Picnic%20Application.pdf This is accurate as of at least 2014.

Repaired Broken Cry Baby 535Q – Extremely Loud Static When On

Repaired Broken Cry Baby 535Q – Extremely Loud Static When On

I bought a broken Dunlop Cry Baby 535q Wah Wah pedal recently to re-purpose as a teensy controller or passive volume pedal. When I tried it out, though, it worked perfectly. Later it started making really loud static noises whenever it was engaged. I figured it had a loose component or one that was overheating. There was an easy fix, and one I did not find anyone mentioning online, so if you have a noisy 535Q, try this. After taking…

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1967 Baldwin Burns Jazz Bass

1967 Baldwin Burns Jazz Bass

Due to a shortage of information on what’s become one of my favorite basses ever, I’m attempting to compile as much as I know about this instrument in a single place. Mine is a 1967. Burns manufactured the Jazz Bass from ’64-’65 (http://www.brianmaycentral.net/burnshistory.html <- Google is saying this site now has malware on it…). Baldwin purchased the company in ’65 and the Jazz bass was continued until ’70 (http://www.guitar-list.com/baldwin/bass-guitars/baldwin-jazz-bass). Specs: 22 frets 30.5″ scale Controls: Pickup selector – 4-position rotary…

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Recovering Data From a Broken USB Flash Drive

Recovering Data From a Broken USB Flash Drive

Last year I was able to extract all the data from a friend’s 16GB USB flash drive that was broken in half when the laptop it was still plugged into was put in a knapsack. It was broken almost cleanly through, so I broke it all the way to expose the guts, cut open a USB cable and soldered wires to the power connector PC board traces. The exposed parts of the traces for the data connectors, however, were torn…

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Repaired Presonus HP4 v1 Headphone/Monitor Amp

Repaired Presonus HP4 v1 Headphone/Monitor Amp

My very useful Presonus HP4 v1 headphone amp fried last Fall. I found another on eBay for not too much, but I hung onto the old one. Turns out they’re full of this quad amp IC, MC33079P, and one on the input stage failed. The chip is obsolete, but I replaced it with an MC33079PG that seems to be the same. Or at least compatible. The hardest part was un-soldering a 14-pin IC without destroying the PC board. I added…

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