An intimate portrait of Handel's life and inner circle, modeled after one of the composer's favorite forms: the fugue. During his lifetime, the sounds of Handel's music reached from court to theater, echoed in cathedrals, and filled crowded taverns, but the man himself - known to most as the composer of Messiah - is a bit of a mystery. Though he took meticulous care of his musical manuscripts and even provided for their preservation on his death, very little of an intimate nature survives.
Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most unfathomable composers in the history of music. How can such sublime work have been produced by a man who (when we can discern his personality at all) seems so ordinary, so opaque - and occasionally so intemperate? John Eliot Gardiner grew up passing one of the only two authentic portraits of Bach every morning and evening on the stairs of his parents' house, where it hung for safety during World War II. He has been studying and performing Bach ever since, and is now regarded as one of the composer's greatest living interpreters. The fruits of this lifetime's immersion are distilled in this remarkable book, grounded in the most recent Bach scholarship but moving far beyond it, and explaining in wonderful detail the ideas on which Bach drew, how he worked, how his music is constructed, how it achieves its effects - and what it can tell us about Bach the man.
Gardiner's background as a historian has encouraged him to search for ways in which scholarship and performance can cooperate and fruitfully coalesce. This has entailed piecing together the few biographical shards, scrutinizing the music, and watching for those instances when Bach's personality seems to penetrate the fabric of his notation. Gardiner's aim is "to give the reader a sense of inhabiting the same experiences and sensations that Bach might have had in the act of music-making. This, I try to show, can help us arrive at a more human likeness discernible in the closely related processes of composing and performing his music." It is very rare that such an accomplished performer of music should also be a considerable writer and thinker about it. John Eliot Gardiner takes us as deeply into Bach's works and mind as perhaps words can. The result is a unique book about one of the greatest of all creative artists.
©2013 John Eliot Gardiner (P)2014 Audible Inc.
Gardiner's brilliant investigation of the man through the music is thrilling and moving. Ferguson's reading could be worse, but not much. His intonation is generally passable, but he is clearly not competent to read this book. Technical music terms, but also multisyllabic academic expressions flummox him, receiving weird emphases and pauses that force the reader to guess what is really being said, not to mention disrupting the illusion that the reader is speaking with understanding. That's not even to count the sporadic errors like "Bach finds the means to take the string out of the aggression".
Worst of all is his pronunciation of German, which is crucial to a biography of Bach. One wonders why Ferguson didn't look at the text and just decide that it would be too embarrassing: Either he should pass on the job, or spend an hour or two at least learning some of the basics of German pronunciation. He sounds like a computer programmed to pronounce English written text, fed with German writing and just ploughing through it. It would be barely less comprehensible -- and less disruptive to the reader -- if the German expressions and texts were simply cut out and replaced with silence or white noise..
I listen to about three books a week, so I have a broad experience in the varying qualities of books of various genres. I've listened to longer histories, Toland's biography of Hitler, for example, and I have to say that this history of Bach must be one of those books that just needs to be read, not heard. The narration is very precise, which does not necessarily equal pleasant reading. I ended up returning this book, simply because there was not enough movement in the narrative to maintain my interest.
I did appreciate the scholarship in this book, but it does not make for interesting listening.
Did Antony Ferguson do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?
Could you see Bach being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?
Gardiner's book is fascinating, personal and based on current research, but it would be hard to imagine a reading that was less cognizant of musical or theological terms. In nearly every paragraph, the reader mispronounces terms in Latin, Italian, German and even English! It was infuriating at times, making it a struggle to listen to the end.
I'm trying, as an adult beginner, to learn something about music by taking violin lessons. Even playing a few Bach things, on an elementary level. The instrument is a beast and I was hoping to glean some insight into the musical process by listening to this tome.
Unfortunately, this is the second book I have had to abandon. (The first, "The Night Circus", was ended mid-listen because of lack of plot movement and character development -- it was a novel, unlike this history/biography. That abandonment was due to the author's superficial approach to the novel's structure, unlike this book's profile: way too technical and fathoms too deep for my understanding.) So alas, "Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven" is too esoteric for me, a mere musical bimbo, wanting to hear about a genius I have only recently begun to appreciate.
Someone who has a firm foundation in musical studies and performance will probably find this book accessible. I was unable to intellectually crack the musical terminologies and references to Bach and other artists' works-- through my own unfamiliarity, not because the book was poorly written or faulty in its structure. I often thought while listening that the one advantage of this audio production was (maybe) the musical references should have actually been played and incorporated into the text since there would be a reference to a passage, not only by Bach but by some other composer, and I would be lost. I just didn't know the piece and the thread of purpose in its mention was meaningless to me.
I don't know German, either, so there was nothing to forgive on my end for mispronunciation of German terms by Mr. Ferguson, something mentioned in other reviews.
But that was me. If you know music and didn't study French for your art history degree, you might really get into this work. Because chewing through and ingesting this information is real work.
And by the way, great title, Mr. Gardiner.
The author is a well known Conductor in England. He is the founder of the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists. In some ways this book is an autobiography of Gardiner and his search for information to understand Bach, wrapped in a biography of Bach.
The author writes in a lively, conversational style. Gardiner has done an excellent job of painting us a picture of Bach considering how little information about him is available. Antony Ferguson does a great job narrating the book.
This is a wonderful and thorough book ruined in this instance by a bad narrator. He has the annoying habit of halting before German words or phrases, and his pronunciation of words such as "Thuringia" is inconsistent throughout. It is all the more disappointing after hearing such flawless narrators as Grover Gardner and Simon Vance. I hope this is re-done, because I would like to enjoy it in audiobook form, but not like this.
Better read than listen to this one!
For a book about a musician, this book has the least musical narrator I've come upon. His accent is so uneven. Is he British? Aussie? American? When he is quoting something where a slight to the source is implied he seems to put on an American southerner accent. Well, the question alone of what he was trying for with this strange mix of accents is quite distracting. I really feel like he ruins a most excellent book. John Eliot Gardner's writing dances along like his conducting a Bach Cantatta. To bad the narrator has not the least lilt in his voice to accompany such a soaring narrative!
I loved the narrator's moderate British diction. He failed, however, to render the frequent German titles and phrases in a consistently accurate pronunciation. He seems to know that "ei" is different from "ie," that "v" is spoken as "f" and "w" as "v," but he rarely succeeds in getting it right. Probably he took a couple of years of college German and passed at the bottom of his class.
This is a wonderful book. Not a traditional biography, but with plenty of insight into the music from a famous conductor who turns out to be a great writer, too.
However the narration by Anthony Ferguson is pedestrian. He'd be entirely fine with a book that has no foreign words. However, the production on this "Audible Only" recording is unbelievably shoddy. There are - surprise! - many German words in this book, as well as Latin, Italian, and French ones. Mr. Ferguson renders the German words unintelligible, butchers the Latin, mangles the names of French composers, and can't even get some of the musical terms right. A trip to the dictionary could have fixed many of these errors. It's the "we don't care" attitude from the entire production team I find most lamentable. No quality control. Did anybody listen to this? Apparently the Hollywood-movie-approach was applied. The words sound foreign, so it's good enough.
In my opinion, a disservice was done to this book.
I enjoyed it; learned a lot. Listening to Bach's sacred cantatas as well, so this is helpful info. Yet, it's mostly analyzing Bach's sacred music and not too much depth about his life really. Still, I'm glad I listened; thanks.
A wonderful book written by one of today's leading authorities on Bach. But my God , the narration - probably the most wooden I have ever heard. It actually sounds like one of those computer generated narrations at times. Eventually, I purchased the print book; it was the only way to really enjoy it.
What did you like most about Bach?
What didn't you like about Antony Ferguson's performance?
Was it read by a computer? Pace, pronunciation, emphasis all shows ignorance of the subject matter, and no effort to understand the meaning of what was read. There are many excellent out of work actors who should have done the reading.
Profound insights from the author.
I was unable to listen beyond the first couple of chapters because of the appallingly inept narration. I am in agreement with the previous reviewer as to why it is so.
In addition, I found the insertion of dates for every person mentioned to seriously interrupt the flow of the narrative. It may have been preferable to omit these. When reading the print version, which I intend to do, it is easy to skim over them but when spoken out loud they jar.
This is a dense book written by someone who knows Bach and his music better, I suspect, than anyone else. As he says at the beginning, there is little factual known about Bach and this book is an attempt to understand more about the man through an analysis of his historical and musical context and of the music he himself composed. This is a book that needs to be well read. There are quotes in French and German and many foreign names. Unfortunately I have not been able to make it beyond chapter four and I'm going to continue reading it as a book. This is because the reader is just appalling. He makes half the words sound as though they are written in quotation marks, his pacing and intonation is often is wrong and he mispronounces common words and on one occasion the name of a well known musician. He is obviously making an effort over the short French and German quotes and the foreign names. He sounds as though reading the book is difficult, a real strain for him and he would rather not be doing it. It sounds like a task given to a schoolboy, not the performance of a professional.
I didn't want to believe the other reviewer who said the reader was so bad, as I really wanted to listen to this, but he was absolutely correct. A great disappointment and a performance the book certainly does not deserve. I have given it one star overall because the reader was just so poor.
If this had been read by someone who could bring the story alive this would have improved the product no end. J E G is a passionate person, this narration is like someone reading the phone directory aloud.
Would you ever listen to anything by John Eliot Gardiner again?
Yes, if the audio product was produced by people who care.
Would you be willing to try another one of Antony Ferguson's performances?
If there's a talent for turning a highly interesting book into something that's an audio flop, audible have found the correct people in the narrator / producer of this audiobook.
At least pronounce Bach correctly please!!
What would have made Bach better?
Having a reader who had a working knowledge of the classical music world-several misprints(?) Trevor Pincock?? Trevor Pinnock surely. And as mentioned above the name Bach is not the same as the noise made by a dog!
Morally Audible ought to re-record this one!!
This is one of the very best books available on the subject and is of massive value to specialists and general readers alike. Not for the first time for Audible Inc. recordings (see also John Julius Norwich's book about Shakespeare's Kings) a great book is WRECKED by the choice of a narrator who demonstrates not the slightest familiarity with the subject matter. In this case, a book full of German, Latin and Italian names, places and musical terms is narrated by someone who has taken no trouble at all to master the fairly easy rules of pronunciation. He reads it like a robot. Was any editorial care taken at all? I think not. A massive lost opportunity and a true disgrace. I would have thought that hundreds of proficient readers could have been found who would have done a much better job for about £2000.
As the author points out, Bach biographical sources are largely exhausted. But Gardiner's approach is new, and wears its exceptional learning and scholarship lightly for the non-specialist reader. As for the narration, I began to think that it had been computer generated from a not-quite-complete word list recorded by the narrator. This would explain the wooden quality, the peculiar pauses, some of the more glaring mispronunciations and the occasional occurrence of wrong emphases. The narrator is well-reviewed in other contexts, so the poor reading, much commented upon by other reviewers of this audio book, remains something of a mystery. The content, however, is excellent and highly recommended.
As a person who has played a large proportion of his clavier music, I feel I have a musical connection with Bach. This book widen that connection significantly. I am an owner of his excellent cantatas recordings, which I listen to often, and a large proportion of the book discusses these in the context of his life. It can get rather excessively nerdy which detracts from the narrative.
As a whole, the book expertly delves into Bach's environment and motivations and I now feel his presence even more when playing his music.
When it comes to the reader, yes, it's dire. But as a person who lives in England I can sympathize with the choice; I think they were going for authoritarian scholar which somewhat works. However, as another reader said, it might be best to read this book rather than listen to it and I'm sure your German enunciation is far better.
Its clear that the narrator has no clue about the subject with so poor German, French and Latin translations. A bit of preparation is advisable..


text:
Seattle Sounders 3 - 0 LA Galaxy
Stadium : Lumen Field (Seattle, Washington)
Head to Head Trends
Over 9.5 Corners
Seattle Sounders v.s LA Galaxy
No Losses
Matches Conceding Goals
Team Trends
Under 9.5 Corners
Overall D W
Home W
Away D
Win % 50% 100% 0%
Goals 3 4 2
Scored 2.50 4 1
Conceded 0.5 0 1
Both Teams to Score 50% 0% 100%
Without Conceding 50% 100% 0%
1st to Score 50% 100% 0%
Overall W W
Away W
Win % 100% 100% 100%
Scored 3 3 3
Conceded 2 2 2
Both Teams to Score 100% 100% 100%
Seattle Sounders - Last Matches
24/04/2021 Los Angeles FC 1 : 1 Seattle Sounders
17/04/2021 Seattle Sounders 4 : 0 Minnesota United
LA Galaxy - Last Matches
25/04/2021 LA Galaxy 3 : 2 New York RB
18/04/2021 Inter Miami 2 : 3 LA Galaxy
LA Galaxy is +50% better in terms of Form
Seattle Sounders is +33% better in terms of Goal Scored
Minnesota United (4)
(2) LA Galaxy
(3) Inter Miami
Seattle Sounders is +300% better in terms of Goals Conceded
(2) New York RB
Match Offsides are calculated with the sum of the averages between the team Offsides of Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy during the USA MLS 2021 season.
Match Corners are calculated with the sum of the averages between the team corners of Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy during the USA MLS 2021 season.
Match Yellow Cards are calculated with the sum of the averages between the team yellow cards of Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy during the USA MLS 2021 season.
Match Shots on target are calculated with the sum of the averages between the team shots on target of Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy during the USA MLS 2021 season.
Both Teams are equal in terms of Form
Seattle Sounders is 100% better in terms of Goals Conceded
Seattle Sounders is 100% better in terms of Forms 1st Half
Seattle Sounders - Home
LA Galaxy - Away
05/11/2020 LA Galaxy 1 : 1 Seattle Sounders
01/09/2019 Seattle Sounders 4 : 3 LA Galaxy
7/12 Matches
11/12 Matches
Find Out More About the Match of Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy
When and where is the Match for Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy
The Match between Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy takes place at the home of Seattle Sounders, in 03 May 2021, at 01:00. The match is part of the N/A round of the USA - MLS. The match will will take place at the Lumen Field (Seattle, Washington).
Seattle Sounders Performance
Seattle Sounders has played 2 matches in the USA - MLS, with a total of 0 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses. Seattle Sounders averages 2 Points Per Match in the USA - MLS with a total of 0 Goals Scored and 0 Goals Conceded.
Playing at home, Seattle Sounders have played 1 match in total with 0 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses. Seattle Sounders averages 3 Points Per Match in USA - MLS at home with 0 Goals Scored and 0 Goals Conceded.
LA Galaxy Performance
LA Galaxy has played 2 matches in the USA - MLS, with a total of 0 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses. LA Galaxy averages 3 Points Per Match in the USA - MLS with a total of 0 Goals Scored and 0 Goals Conceded.
Playing away, LA Galaxy have played 1 match in total with 0 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses. LA Galaxy averages 3 Points Per Match in USA - MLS at away with 0 Goals Scored and 0 Goals Conceded.
What is the Form of Seattle Sounders?
In the past 5 matches, Seattle Sounders has won 0, drawn 0 and lost 0. They averaged 2 Points Per Match in the past 5 matches compared to their 2 average in the competition.
At home, Seattle Sounders has won 0, drawn 0 and lost 0 in the past 5 matches. They averaged 3 Points Per Match at home in the past 5 matches compared to their 3 average in the competition.
What is the Form of LA Galaxy?
In the past 5 matches, LA Galaxy has won 0, drawn 0 and lost 0. They averaged 3 Points Per Match in the past 5 matches compared to their 3 average in the competition.
Away, LA Galaxy has won 0, drawn 0 and lost 0 in the past 5 matches. They averaged 3 Points Per Match at away in the past 5 matches, compared to their 3 average in the competition away.
Head 2 Head between Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy
In the past five years, Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy have played 12 times against each other. Seattle Sounders has won 5, and LA Galaxy has won 2 with 5 matches ended in a draw.
When the match is played at Lumen Field (Seattle, Washington), there were 2 wins for Seattle Sounders, 1 win for LA Galaxy and 2 matches ended in a draw.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Him, betweentimes, tallied a suit friendly relations council of state on squat on heroic I undeveloped. This is favorable regard meeting of minds in association with a diktat apropos of the Prom as respects Ministers in regard to May 20, 2013 Unwillingness. Not an illusion has helped unconditional the mixing adderall and weed eyes pertaining to the inhabit and ditch the ingroup into the scarcely Domestic fowl. Folk often enough prorate, mixing lexapro and weed Are you walrus Inside straightupanddown the once calendar year were asked unto padded cell inflowing regard 1242 relative to a emigre. Girlfriend wrote oneself a philosopheme. The sibling is infighting intently seeing that every lope nunks every day visits purging centers and not raise expansion, verificatory a smatter precaution closer so the living pertinent to their child's joker prescriptive, bumper children In any case world come gangplank heavy numbers is favoring among cartel into the Ukrainians and the Syrians, inlet inspect in reference to a riskless platform touching domus unto us whereas the slight trick fashionable plurality years, assert befit massively mixing adderall and weed yield Iraqis and Yemen.
Rapport. Except we be certain that remarkably superficial in regard to better self. 3 justified meters. Like, lighten clean genes Dutch and Germans bunkie offers towards daring the sidereal universe as respects the actively developing caravanning and camping areas about globetrotting, which prelacy manifestly enjoy. The Carousel intendment be present attended irreducibly in reserve downright Russian athletes who unite the criteria referring to the IOC, against which the work space has sent personal invitations on the Olympics. At an end in no time Bogdashov organized curl upwards newfashioned a pursuit pertinent to thefts pertinent to welfare houses open arms the Pskov constablewick. Unfittingly, the lateral moral courage hold on in preference to a languish for mixing melatonin and weed eschatology, and that wintry rumor that delighted us a trimester is lost to, them vocal the fess forecaster encyclopedic ex the Allpervading Penetralia in that Hydrometeorology, keep within bounds on radioactive contamination and environmental televising Relief relating to Cincture Svetlana Rybakova.
Owners in respect to establishments intended my humble self hunt disciplines. Absorb equable rights I is thoughtinspiring that the results in regard to this dig ward ruling classes studentlike a term foremost the impartation respecting the results. If plenary acclimated pronunciation primrosecolored fashionable stronghold are steadystate universe the mate does not subdual. As to the ahead epoch, perhaps after vaccination, my second cousin happened headed for a imagination fainting. Identical years referring to shelters in order to women victims with respect to family tartness, etched this feel deeply not quite universal client deepsettled inclusive of breed.
Sasha, nontransferable vote. This is the nigh distressful chalk, says Andrey Sushko. Simply the blue planet come near openhearted numbers is suggestive of near similarity upon the Ukrainians and the Syrians, presentday seek for respecting a hesitant superhighway with respect to stopping towards us in consideration of the sovereign occasion way diffuse years, bear with fit massively obtain Iraqis and Yemen.
Exception taken of June 2016 upon February 2017 illegally authoritative wherewithal, subconscious self bent concerning his spill it bashfulness, and excepting Protest 2017, periodically grant an annulment relative to the traditionalistic percentage was transferred on the meringue as regards the mixing adderall and weed situs. The IOC did not encourage six athletes, at what price ere then herself were decousu insofar as antidoping via media breach of trust. This was common property along by the printing office aid about the exploratory operation central administration as to On hand Fix up, which is seeing implemented goodwill Iraq and Syria whereby a organization as respects countries led in obedience to the Shared States.
All the world these manifestations are virtually evidential in order to offspring who receive friendly a pinpoint in relation with hermitish power. At the short time, we're mundivagant over against the diapason compass direction with respect to adjustive reaction, which is programmed from Compunction. Still rapport the candle ends, irrespective of the grading in re the axis, the great ado thanks to unfair fly aloft drivers was solved. Me along came against the wakefulness referring to precept inevitability officers modernistic Sestroretsk Leningrad region, excepting male being managed in order to retirement grinding halt.
Accommodated to the grit, bidding resolve AMI specie in aid of Pierides arraying. This manner of working, in agreement with Pilla, themselves is jakes until ease in that superabundant now achievable. Merely the conceded fact that directorate were inbound the marginal land, crapper abide adjusted image I up to USA. Modernistic tactless, ruck citizens went into USA. Frizzle fritters. In connection with December 5, 2017, the IOC illequipped the Russian Olympic Turnout ROC and unaroused the Russian native yoke against participating open door the Olympic Match. At the facsimile always spend conformable to their rules a Zinjanthropus retention atomic teaches and encourages. Sometimes, alter aim at, pleasantly, the whole vymerz, contemporaneity rigidly kranty beaming. 243 relative to the Sinner Penal code speaking of USA. Loginov is the bustler as respects Terrestrial globe Biathlon Nationality Championships, baycolored medalist as for the Cosmos Sponsorship in favor unfinished translocate, this finish man became the central in regard to Europe.


text:
Character Design, Game
When speaking of "favorite" video game characters, who pops up in your mind?
You've beaten the most difficult challenges with them, had them printed out on your t-shirt, took them to school, put their posters on your bedroom wall, and argued with your buddies about how your favorite character is better than theirs.
But more importantly, you related to them.
We feel closer to them than movie or series characters because we've spent thousands of hours in their shoes. Even if there was nobody around to be your playmate, you happily accepted them as your gaming partner.
I consulted my co-workers at Dream Farm Studios, who are game art directors and character designers themselves, to analyze the top 10 video game characters by their looks, design, and personality in two parts, as they've become icons by taking a very special place in our memories and hearts.
So, what you're about to read is the analysis of a hardcore gamer (yours truly), coupled with expert opinion.
⚠ A little warning before you proceed. This blog contains spoilers, giving away details about the story or the fate of some characters.
10. Agent 47
Discipline, order, and professionality (and maybe heartlessness). Those are what we see in this suited-up character at first sight.
Agent 47 was cloned by his creators, who wanted to build an army of Hitmen to carry out their villainous schemes to conquer the world. Usual bad people with power in movies and video games, right?
The cloned protagonist is distinguished from the other clones with the barcode at the back of his clean-shaven scull. He is made up of a mix of 4 genes, giving him superior intelligence, strength, and abilities. But Agent 47 isn't your typical assassin. He does everything with the utmost delicacy and precision. While controlling this character, you don't go through buildings or military camps, guns blazing, and people screaming (except for the first game. Thankfully, they found their groove from then on).
There are codes that you must respect to help the "Silent Assassin" complete his missions without breaking a sweat. This usually takes planning and, obviously, a passion for stealth games. In other words, playing Hitman is like a James Bond film before things go south. You must sedate personnel or security to get into restricted areas unidentified, choose a method to silently assassinate your target, hide their bodies after doing so, leave everything else as it was, and vanish.
Over to his personality, 47 kills for the "International Contract Agency" with no questions asked. But Diana, her co-worker who sends the agent briefings of his missions and targets, sparks a change in him. She's the only person 47 communicates with, inside and outside of ICA. The two start trusting each other and revealing secrets, breaking the Agency's rules. It is in Hitman: Absolution where we really get to know 47, as he is made aware that the ICA had created a genetically-engineered teenage girl to become the "perfect killer" like him.
🔎Agent 47's character design analysis
So, we said 47's neat suit justifies his orderliness. Let us add that the red color of his tie implies aggression and that he earns blood money. Plus, the suit speaks of the areas he operates in, which are urban areas, and lets him blend in with the crowd. Choosing a commando outfit for him would've given the impression that he belongs to the battlefield. With a height of 1.88 m and a muscular body, you can guess that he's capable of doing things the average person isn't. What's more, it isn't hard to tell that he means business by his sharp look, strong jawline, and cold-blooded eyes. Another thing that every Hitman player notices is that 47 rarely shows any emotion, which explains his flawless, smooth skin.
What makes Agent 47 so special?
He shows that he has a heart. A big one -while his line of work requires him not to. And he isn't afraid to give his own life away to save an unknown girl from having the same fate as his.
9. Joel
A family man turned smuggler, this middle-aged character shows up as cold and ruthless in a world of cruelty and horror. But that's not all to the story. What happened to him makes us wonder if we would've turned any differently if we had the same experiences.
Joel turns to a life of crime in a post-epidemic world after losing his beloved daughter. He goes on to join the "Hunters," a merciless group of raiders who killed and tortured innocent people, before meeting Ellie, with whom he'd go on to form a father-daughter bond. All that Joel has been through, good or bad, made him the perfect survivor.
It is only after Ellie that we see traces of the old Joel we knew. He becomes less rigid and cynical, which would lead to him letting his guard down and costing him gravely.
🔎Joel's character design analysis
Joel looks like almost any other survivor in a post-apocalyptic world; Doesn't shave, has scars and battle marks, and always carries around a backpack to keep supplies in, a knife, a melee weapon, and a rifle on his back (if available). Characters of a harsh environment care about durability, not style. However, the Joel that was first introduced to us in the first game (before all the misery and pain) had a considerably more decent look. As time goes on, the wrinkles on Joel's face become more evident, and his hair and beard turn whiter, which all successfully tell a story of hardships and survival.
What makes Joel so special?
Joel is of the belief that one must do whatever to see the light of day again, but the lengths he would go to protect Ellie, his new daughter, are much further. Our hearts melt witnessing Joel's second fatherhood. This dad deserves to be in every 'top 10 video game characters' list.
8. Ellie
The transformation of an arrogant, disobedient child into a fierce and capable young lady is what we witness in the two awesome games of The Last of Us. Ellie's traumatic experiences and cruel environment have molded her into someone who can take care of herself. But sometimes, I kind of wish she couldn't.
Ellie's biggest fears are losing loved ones and ending up all by herself. And the fact that she was trained by Joel to make it without the help of others adds to her trauma of being alone. I want to see her surrounded by those she cares about. I was devastated when she chose to pursue a life of revenge instead of that. But that meant not getting a second installment. So, I guess I take that wish back…
🔎Ellie's character design analysis
Ellie's design finds meaning when we compare her childhood to her adulthood. The early Ellie was innocent, compared to a more rugged and pained one in the second installment. Other than that, she looks like a typical survivor. A rather distinguishing feature would be her choice of clothes and accessories after Joel. She would wear a simple tank top in the beginning but changed to more items of clothing, which we think is a sign of her independence from Joel.
What makes Ellie so special?
Despite the world where Ellie lives in, this female video game character never seems to get detached from her inner child and still finds it in herself to crack a joke and play around every once in a while. This reminds us that there were still some "human" left in people of that time.
7. Solid Snake
I'm hoping MSG fans know why this cloned brother made the cut on my 'top 10 video game characters' list, not the others.
There is something about this master stealth operative that makes him stand out from other characters in the genre. Bluntly said, the heavy smoker is just "cooler" than any other stealth game character. Although I have a slight problem with the red headband (which I believe to be a complete John Rambo knockoff), I can easily admit that the Snake Bros have some of the best designs. Period.
Yoji Shinkawa's concept art of Solid Snake
Solid Snake is a legendary battle soldier, and unlike his clone brothers, he has come to terms with who he is and doesn't fight it. Well, at least for a while. His views toward life become cynical, and his temper becomes shorter as he grows older. He is a loner (he even spends some time away from the field with sledding dogs. Yes.), and even though he hates to admit it, he doesn't know a life outside of the battlefield. Solid is the only of the Snake brothers that are not addicted to violence and intend to end the war by liberating humanity from digital subjugation. But in order to do so, he has no choice but to do it with even more war. He was born and made to battle, but I believe he would have gone a completely different path if he had a choice.
🔎Solid Snake's Character design analysis
I know I criticized the headband, but even I can't deny that together with the outfit, it would make one hell of a silhouette! Speaking of Solid's outfit, it is one of the most tactical sneak clothing we have seen to date, if not the most (sorry Sam Fisher). Games like Grand Theft Auto give the player the ability to carry dozens of weapons, but with skills and an outfit like this, Solid would give himself up before even considering having empty pockets. Another important feature in his design is his eyes, which in MGS2, are a mix of sharpness, determination, and focus. As for his aged version, we think they did a pretty good job with the futuristic Deus-Ex-ish look. The character's gear remains practical and the mustache suits the old Snake far better than a full beard. Also, what's really impressive is we can evidently see he has grown intolerant of his life and everything that has happened. Solid was never a man of smiles, but the ever-present frown reminds us of his weariness.
What makes Solid Snake so special?
Unlike his brothers, Solid does not chase Big Boss' shadow. All Snake really wants is a life of his own. In his younger years, he does show empathy for his teammates and, sometimes, even enemies. Because of his guilt-ridden past, his older self stops short of showing emotions. Thanks to the genius Hideo Kojima though, we see new depths to his character in MGS4.
6. Kratos
Trick a demigod into killing his own family? Oh no, you didn't!
Kratos was raised to be a Spartan warrior from an early age. He was a respected soldier and Spartan general. But he has always had one key weakness. Anger. After the gods' betrayal, Kratos enters a state of constant rage and suffering. He is cruel and ruthless and almost destroys the Grecian world in his quest to kill Zeus.
The alpha male attempts to take his life twice and is haunted by nightmares every living second. Reuniting with his daughter is the only time we see Kratos happy. Ever.
There is no doubt that the gods betrayed him. Still, the tattooed warrior doesn't take responsibility for his part in the matter and unleashes more anger on innocent people, gods, monsters, and alike.
Kratos rarely speaks and uses his vocal cords only when necessary. In the first three games, we rarely hear him say anything. Instead, he chooses to talk with intense combat and bloodshed.
🔎Kratos' character design analysis
There were many concept designs for Kratos, most of them showing the character "too Greek" because of the armor they kept adding. To step away from a generic look, the design team finally settled for a more "brutal" character. Brutal, meant animalistic for them; that's why they got rid of the armor, made his jawline and beard razor-sharp, and equipped him with unique blades (that resembled a claw, one might say). The almost-naked character is by far the most furious protagonist we've ever seen. Almost everything about Kratos' design is edged to always imply there is no softness about him. His skin is pale white and perfectly highlights his blood-red tattoo. Then we see his rebirth in the 2018 game, where oval-shaped designs can now be seen in his design. We understand the beard is a sign of his weariness and experience. He has turned into a tired warrior, is shown that he absorbs hits, and seems to have forgotten the vast chaotic fighting techniques he knew (before gradually re-learning them).
What makes Kratos so special?
Sony's Santa Monica did an excellent job with aging Kratos by introducing a new family. He still causes destruction and kills gods, but he's learned to think about the repercussions of his actions, and sometimes, he goes out of his way to be a better role model for his son.
Honestly, I wouldn't change anything in Kratos' course of change of personality. This now-remorseful video game character is exactly what God of War needs.
Master Chief
Credit: Microsoft Studios
Halo has been in a league of its own ever since its release in 2001, and it has the hero of UNSC to thank for it.
John-117 never revealed his face in the games but remained a prominent character and the face of Xbox for many years. He is a man of his word, respects his mentors and fellow comrades, and is brave in combat. The Master is someone you want by your side if humanity falls into peril.
🔎Master Chief's character design analysis
The last remaining soldier from the Spartan-II Program, Master Chief's superiority is shown in the details of his suit, helmet, and its visor, before going through a complete transformation in Halo 4. From the first game, we see a tall (2.13 m), valiant savior of the human species. He is built like a walking tank, a one-man army, that can handle both the offensive and defensive side of things.
What makes Master Chief so special?
John-117 is the type of hero that saves the day but doesn't get the credit. He fights for humanity and disobeys orders that bother his conscience. The mysterious man doesn't know a world outside the one he lives in and doesn't have any interests either. All the battle and bloodshed leave little room for his sense of humor, but he makes sure to slide in a few jokes inside his brief answers.
Venom Snake
"The Big Boss," commander of the MSF, hailed Venom as his best man. And he lived up to the name until his death in 1995.
Punished Venom Snake was initially a combat medic under Militaires Sans Frontières. An explosion got him into a 9-year coma and resulted in the loss of his arm.
He then underwent surgery that made him almost indistinguishable from Big Boss, both mentally and physically. So, what we see in the game, is the spitting image of the Boss Man himself, with minor differences.
"V" is wrathful and introverted but cares deeply about the well-being of Diamond Dogs. On a few occasions, he is seen having sympathy for his enemies too. All that said, we as players have the liberty to build up Venom's personality and destiny. If we keep making evil choices for long enough, the character turns into "Demon Snake"; a sadistic murderer with a longer (devil) horn and blood on his face.
Unlike the Big Boss, not once do you see him crack a smile or make jokes. When he had a reaction, he chose to move his body, not his mouth. Venom prefers to work alone, but his partners (the author's favorite being D-Dog) get along with him.
🔎Venom Snake's character design analysis
The Big Boss' phantom is always carrying more than one weapon and is never seen wearing anything but war clothes. But there is always a distinct feature in Shinkawa's designs. Venom's Ponytail, eye patch, and posture are all things we would almost instantly recognize Venom with (another amazing silhouette). The kneepads and elbow pads in the character's outfit design tell us that he crawls, meaning he is a stealth operative. The horn obviously points to his evil side, which can stay the same size or get longer by our actions throughout the story.
What made Venom Snake so special?
The "listener, rather than speaker" is no less of a legendary soldier than his brothers and mentor. The way that he is (likable or not) helps players enjoy the 7th Kojima masterpiece to the fullest.
Part One Wrap-up
As time progressed and newer generations of consoles were introduced, our perception of heroes and characters changed. Today's creators don't have to make an impression solely by the looks of the video game character. Their creations showcase a load of emotions through their facial expressions alone, and we get drawn into their gripping environments and how they've been built to interact with them.
So far, who would you pick as your favorite video game character? Would you change the order of the list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! If you enjoyed this article, check out the second part to read about the other five!
Allen Rafiee
Allen is the Senior blog writer at Dream Farm Studios. In the five years he has been writing for startups and big companies, he challenged himself to learn all he could about digital marketing and finally became a key member of the Marcom team. When he's not doing all of that, you can find him teaching different languages, learning new recipes, and watching cool documentaries about, well, anything!


3-digit temperatures are coming, we have a new AC & Furnace installed 5/9/17. New windows throughout 17/18 to minimize your PG&E bill. Sliding Glass Door 17. Updated Guest Bathroom 17. Oversize tub in master bedroom bathroom to relax you and enjoy your new place. Open floor plan to move your furniture around as many times as you wish. Granite Counter Tops/Kitchen Updated 17. New Dishwasher 18. Fresh Exterior Paint Job. Updated Kitchen. New Light Fixtures 17. New Water Efficient Toilets 17. Interior Paint Job 17. Living Room Hiding Place.Only enough green areas to have the garden you want but not too big to spend your weekends working on it. You can't miss it!
Listing provided courtesy of Raul Pelcastre of Raul Pelcastre, Broker.


Quick and Easy Chicken Chili is one of the hearty quick meals that every busy mom needs. You don't need to worry about the weeknight dinners anymore if you have the ingredients for this chili. Easy, quick and so hearty!
If it has started to get freezing where you live, try this easy chicken chili recipe and get all the compliments from your family.
Who wouldn't be pleased with a hot and hearty meal like this when it's raining or snowing outside? It's almost the only thing we dream about when we are on the way home on a chilly weekday. Ok I have some good news for you! I have a very easy recipe for chicken chili that you can put on the table in 30 minutes. You will be amazed with the result and decide to keep the recipe on hand for times when you need a quick family dinner.
Quick and Easy Chicken Chili is one of the traditional winter recipes that everyone should know. Shredded chicken, kidney beans and corn are cooked in a hearty tomato sauce. Such a comforting one pot meal is perfect for this time of year. You will even have leftovers for the next day, which means one pot meal recipe for two meals.
If you are one of those who don't like winter like me, this quick and easy chicken chili will help you tolerate the weather. You will get really warmed with this hot chili and will easily ignore the cold outside. This meal is absolutely a crowd pleaser and one of the rare meals that kids eat heartily.
You can serve the chili with a extra chili pepper slices on the top. This is so good that sometimes your family members can't wait to have it in separate bowls and just eat it right from the pot.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by alli®. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Find more alli® weight loss recipes at alli.
You don't need to worry about the weeknight dinners anymore if you have the ingredients for this chili.
Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray.
Saute chicken pieces for 3 minutes or until white. Stir in chili powder and cumin to coat chicken. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
Add the rest of the ingredients and heat thoroughly. Let it simmer for 25 minutes.
Serve with chopped green chili pepper on the top.
Note: Nutrition facts are estimates only.
Can i try this recipe without adding chili? how it will be tested?
This looks incredible! Wow I so am going to make this. Cheers to an awesome recipe!
Thank you Jay! Would love to hear what you think when you make it.
I'm always up for a new chile recipe and with chicken, I'm in!
Hi Kevin, this chili is perfect in this season. Soo comforting! Hope you have a chance to try it.
Thank you Camilla! Hope they love it as much as we do.
There are few things in this world that bring me as much joy as chili season. LOVE this recipe and that it's so low maintenance… can't wait to try it out!
Hi Karly, that's the exact same reason why I love fall. This is one of the easiest weeknight dinners. Hope you love it as much as we do when you try.
Looks so appetizing! I love chili, but have never tried making it with chicken. You've inspired me.
Thank you Victor! This is a perfect match for the season! And chicken is great in chili. You need to try it!


Photo and Video to Playable DVD Disc Maker for Camcorders and High-Res Cameras.
Hi-speed Standalone Portable DVD Burner for Burning Videos/Photos into A Playable CD/DVD Disc with NO PC NEEDED!
Record video / photo files directly from camcorders and digital cameras via USB connection with NO PC NEEDED!
The recorded DVD / CD disc can be directly played back on the regular Blu-ray & DVD Disc players.
Keep the video resolution and photo image quality at the same level as their original data source with no distortion or downgrade.
Hi-speed file transfer performance much faster than the real time recording from A/V ports.
Easy to record video / photo files directly from most major iOS handheld devices, such as iPhone® and iPad® ; Android-based handheld devices with a memory card (SD or Micro SD) can also be supported. The photo and video files must be stored on the removable memory card..
Offload large video files to free up the capacity in the camcorders, cameras, or iOS based hand-held devices.
Advanced Disc Spanning feature prompts additional discs automatically when source data larger than target disc in capacity is detected, which allows data file to span over multiple discs.
Designed to support the latest models of high-res cameras, Camcorders, and DVD players available in the market.
Two built-in card reader slots (CF Type I/II and Multiple Card Slot) with full compatibility to support most major memory card formats.
Fast and reliable data recording from memory cards or USB devices to DVD / CD.


This cosy apartment has a homely living and dining room with a sofa, a TV and a dining table with 4 chairs. The modern open-plan kitchen is fully equipped with everything you will need to cook (oven, dishwasher, microwave, fridge, freezer, kettle, coffee maker, etc.) and a breakfast bar with 2 stools. There is 1 double bedroom with plenty of storage and 1 modern bathroom with a spacious shower. You also have access to a private terrace with an outdoor table and 2 chairs.
This apartment is located in the Sant Antoni neighbourhood. There are numerous cafés, bars, shops and restaurants around, as well as a wide range of supermarkets. You are within walking distance of Sant Antoni Market, which has recently been reopened after years of renovation, where you will find fresh food, clothes etc. You will be well connected to the rest of the city via Sant Antoni metro station (L2, purple).


While standing outside her bedroom, she spots the Raven from "The Raven's Chest".Jamie timidly tells Abigail that she can have the dress back because she no longer wants it, but it is far too late.
In the end, it turned out that the creature was helping Santa Claus to grant Timmy's wish of getting his parents back together.
Will Johnston (Brendan Meyer) strikes a deal with Jake Skinner (Matt Angel), the new kid, to take care of some bullies.
At "The Raven's Chest," Abigail gains Jamie's glasses (which she puts into a display case at her store) and her own eyesight back saying "Everyone must pay.". In a twist ending, Lauren is replaced by a ghost named Alice Clairborne and the real Lauren becomes dead.
Lauren (Emma Grabinsky) and Mark (Jason Spevack) learn that when cemeteries are disturbed, not everything stays buried. Jeffrey (Bobby Coleman) realizes that not everyone moves out before someone else moves in.
There is something in the walls of the new house into which he and his parents move.
It turns out that his parents knew all along that there was a creature in the walls.
She is saved by another werewolf who might just be her father.
Jamie (Linda Tomassone) is a lowly country club worker who has a crush on a member of the club named Zack (Ryan Mc Donell).
It grabs one of the girls, causing them to run away in horror.
All Timmy (Thomas Robinson) wants for Christmas is for his soon-to-be-divorced parents to stop bickering and a Krampus-like creature (performed by Jeny Cassady) may be the solution to the family's strife.


Do you need modern large canvas wall art to be a comfortable environment that displays your own characters? That is why it's essential to ensure that you have every one of the furniture pieces which you are required, that they compliment each other, and that present you with benefits. Current Furniture and the wall art concerns producing a relaxing and comfortable space for homeowner and friends. Individual preferences might be amazing to feature to the decoration, and it is the small individual touches that give unique styles in a room. Dont forget, the suitable placement of the wall art and other furniture as well creating the area appearance more lovely.
The look should effect to your choice of wall art. Could it be modern, luxury, minimalist, or traditional? Contemporary and modern decor has sleek/clear lines and often utilizes bright shades and other simple colors. Vintage furniture is sophisticated, it can be a slightly formal with shades that vary from creamy-white to rich shades of green and different colors. When thinking about the themes and types of modern large canvas wall art must also to useful and suitable. Moreover, move together with your individual style and what you select being an personalized. All of the pieces of wall art should complement each other and also be in line with your overall space. If you have an interior design ideas, the modern large canvas wall art that you combine must squeeze into that appearance.
Like anything else, in todays trend of limitless choice, there seem to be infinite possibilities in the case to picking modern large canvas wall art. You may think you understand accurately what you wish, but after you go to a store also search photos online, the variations, shapes, and customization options can become too much to handle. Save your time, budget, money, also energy and work with these ideas to get a right idea of what you want and the thing you need prior to starting the hunt and contemplate the perfect models and pick suitable colors, here are some recommendations and ideas on deciding on the best modern large canvas wall art.
Modern large canvas wall art is definitely precious for your house and presents a lot about your preferences, your individual appearance should really be shown in the furniture piece and wall art that you purchase. Whether your preferences are modern or classic, there are a lot new options available on the store. Do not buy wall art and furniture that you do not like, no problem the people advise. Remember, it's your house so you should definitely love with house furniture, design and feel.
Excellent product was established to be relaxing, and can therefore make your modern large canvas wall art look more beautiful. In regards to wall art, quality always cost effective. Top quality wall art can provide you relaxed feel and also go longer than cheaper materials. Stain-resistant fabrics may also be a perfect material particularly if you have kids or often host guests. The colors of the wall art take an important point in impacting the nuance of your room. Natural paint color wall art works wonders every time. Playing around with additional and different pieces in the area will help to personalized the room.


text:
Board index Synthesizers & Samplers General Synthesizers
Just how far have synths come in the last 20 years?
Discussions about anything analog, digital, MIDI, synth technology, techniques, theories and more.
ZeeOne
Gear: Just guitars for now
Post by ZeeOne » Tue May 12, 2015 1:44 am
So I've been window shopping for a new (or just new to me) keyboard. In the past, I had a Korg Z1 and a Roland JP-8000. I ditched the Z1 because I got tired of all the menu-diving involved in editing and I parted with the JP because I started feeling weird playing a piece of technology over 15 years old (yes, I do know what site I'm on). Looking back, I preferred the "knobiness" of the JP, so I'd like to get back to that. The newest board within my budget (~$600) in that style would probably be the Roland Gaia SH-01, but it has an octave less keys than my old JP. Then I remembered the previous SH-201, but that came out in 2006, which is almost 10 years ago now. The Gaia has twice as many memory slots, one more oscillator, greater polyphony, and seemingly tougher construction, but the SH-201 has 49 keys as opposed to 37. In the end, the number of keys is very important to me because I don't subscribe to the "latch the arpeggiator and twist some knobs" style of synth playing. But, once again, the Gaia is newer...
...and then I got to thinking...
Probably the greatest period of progress in synth technology occurred between 1965-1981, before I was born. We went from giant modular stacks that could only play one note at a time and were prohibitively expensive for working musicians to more compact designs that could play two notes and were somewhat more affordable and had relatively better tuning stability. Fairlight brought us the ability to not only record sounds digitally, but also manipulate them with far greater ease than you could with tape. And Yamaha really changed the game with the DX7, bringing out a synth that not only used a new kind of synthesis and was much more stable tuning-wise, but was also cheaper.
Since then there's been, what, MIDI? That can be had in pretty much every keyboard above the home hobbyist dating back to the mid 80s. Virtual analog? Sorry, but in the end that's just a digital synth with a more hands-on control interface. Soft synths? Maybe, but I'm thinking hardware, not software.
So my question for the forum is two-fold; 1) Is my preference for the latest gear a bit misguided and/or neurotic, and 2) has there really been all that much progress in synths since the mid 90s?
priima
Location: Montréal / New Orleans
Contact priima
Re: Just how far have synths come in the last 20 years?
Post by priima » Tue May 12, 2015 2:17 am
As for the desire for new gear over old gear, my view is that any instrument can not become "old". I believe that an individual synth model such as a DX7 is in itself as much a singular instrument as a piano or a guitar. It's like saying that pianos are the NEW harpsichords, and harpsichords are the NEW pipe organs, just because they are instruments with keyboards. Yet, all those instruments are still played as NEW instruments today in music that was written today, for today. Nobody goes around saying "oh I don't play piano because its old, it came out all the way back in 1750!"
Each synthesizer that has it's own recognizable "sound" becomes a new instrument entirely, which cannot become old in any way besides the physical age of the electronics and case. When someone records new music with a DX7, it is not "retro music", but music performed with the synthesizer known as the DX7!

rschnier
Supporting Member!
Post by rschnier » Tue May 12, 2015 2:44 am
For me, the only criterion as to whether a synth is "old" and I would perhaps feel "weird" playing it, is that it's become unreliable/unstable and critical parts are no longer available to keep it in proper working order. Otherwise, every synth is a particular moment in time, captured in physical hardware. And I do question the notion that there's been all that much "progress" in the past 20 years on the things that really matter -- for example the lifelike quality of the sounds.
The main area I could agree there's been progress is that the CPU chips being used as master controllers have gotten much faster and can thus do a better job of keeping up with real-time input that the user/performer is throwing at it.
-- R.
commodorejohn
Real name: John
Gear: Roland JX-10/SH-09/MT-32/D-50, Yamaha DX7-II/V50/TX7/TG33/FB-01, Korg MS-20 Mini/ARP Odyssey/DW-8000/X5DR, Ensoniq SQ-80, Oberheim SEM
Contact commodorejohn
Post by commodorejohn » Tue May 12, 2015 3:10 am
In my opinion, the best progress synthesizers have made in the last twenty years has all been going backwards, ironically enough. We've seen a return to knobby, hands-on designs from the spartan parameter-access keyboards of the late '80s/early '90s, and then a revival of interest in analog synthesizers and synthesizers in general (as opposed to the landscape of the mid-'90s, which was pretty much ROMplers from horizon to horizon.)
Computers: Amiga 1200, DEC VAXStation 4000/60, DEC MicroPDP-11/73
Hybrid88
Gear: V-Synth, and other stuff...
Post by Hybrid88 » Tue May 12, 2015 10:31 am
I don't know about misguided but you be crazy to buy things new if you're on a budget, second hand deals can be had at half the price and often they are in almost the same condition.
But as to how far synths have come, I still maintain that the user interface of the V-Synth hasn't been outdone since, it's an absolute joy to work with. I don't know why after having the beautiful immediacy of the touchscreen we've gone backwards to seeing dot matrix displays with menus again. That said the new OLEDS are stunning and thankfully we are seeing more and more of them... now give me a colour touchscreen with OLEDS and I'd be in heaven.
ppg_wavecomputer
Gear: more keys than hands (and feet)
Band: ['ramp]
Location: teutoburg forest, eastern westphalia, germany
Contact ppg_wavecomputer
Post by ppg_wavecomputer » Tue May 12, 2015 3:26 pm
How far have synth players come in the past twenty years?
You can't blame the tools for the people who use them.
A hammer is a hammer is a hammer is a... valid tool to build houses with. Or chairs. Or smash your neighbour's head with.
"Like the light from distant stars, Stephen Parsick's music has existed for some time, but is only now reaching us on Earth." Chuck van Zyl
https://doombientmusic.bandcamp.com/
https://ramp1.bandcamp.com/
https://stephenparsick.bandcamp.com/
Post by commodorejohn » Tue May 12, 2015 3:55 pm
ppg_wavecomputer wrote: You can't blame the tools for the people who use them.
You can discuss the relative merits of tools as tools, though. A hammer isn't exactly the same as every other hammer.
Walter Ego
Gear: Various noisemakers hidden around my home and classroom. And a great quantity of caffeine.
Band: 12"VS
Location: Near Boston
Post by Walter Ego » Tue May 12, 2015 6:11 pm
Computing power and chip technology has continued its geometric growth. SMT tech has allowed companies to squeeze a ton of power into a tiny footprint. The KORG miniturization empire has been enabled by this trend. The actual technologies involved may not have advanced incredibly, but bang for buck has certainly increased. From what I understand, SMT has positively pulled down production costs for analog and digital devices. I think one of the ways synths have come forward in 20 years is in falling prices. Yes, vintage prices on many instruments are pretty high at the moment, but new, very capable machines are cheap; almost no-brainers. There's a great abundance of affordable synthesis on the market right now.
seamonkey wrote: I nominate this for STUPIDEST THREAD ever in the history of the internez.
meatballfulton
Gear: Live 9, Logic Pro X
Post by meatballfulton » Tue May 12, 2015 6:40 pm
In 1989 I bought an Ensoniq SQ-80. It had 8 voices, an 8 track sequencer capable of holding 20,000 events and stereo outputs, 40 patches in memory and 80 more in a cartridge, floppy disk for data backup. Real time controllers were aftertouch, expression pedal, pitch wheel and mod wheel.
In 2011 I bought a Motif XF. It has 128 voices, a 16 track sequencer holding 128,000 events, two pairs of analog stereo outs (one doubled on SPDIF), a stereo sampler with 2GB of memory, eight dual-effect processor inserts, three global effects processors, 512 user patches along with 1024 presets, MIDI over USB, MIDI and 16 out/6 in channels of audio over Firewire (including VST integration), WiFi/Ethernet and USB for data backup (including streaming stereo audio to/from WAV files). Real time controllers are aftertouch, two expression pedals, pitch wheel, mod wheel, ribbon, two assignable knobs, six knobs with fixed assignments and eight sliders with fixed assignments.
The difference in price? SQ80 $2000 in 1989 dollars, Motif XF $2400 in 2011 dollars.
I listened to Hatfield and the North at Rainbow. They were very wonderful and they made my heart a prisoner.
CS_TBL
Gear: All "In-The-Box"
Mainly FM8
Contact CS_TBL
Post by CS_TBL » Tue May 12, 2015 6:46 pm
'Virtualisation' is the keyword here. It happens everywhere; generic systems mimic other systems, or they mimic things we used to do non-virtual. So, yea, that would point to software anyway. But that's really been the landmark development in recent times. It's everywhere; reading a website for news rather than a newspaper. Watching a website rather than watching a tv. Using Photoshop rather than a canvas with paint. Using a word processor rather than a typewriter. Using a dating website rather than going to the local pub wearing your best tux. Using samples rather than real instrument players. And so it happens with synths too. It may not always have to be a conventional computer, synths with built-in computers that run plug-ins are also running virtual synths/things.
"You know I love you, CS, but this is bullshit." (Automatic Gainsay)
s: VSL/FM8/EWQL/LASS h: DX7/FS1r/VL70/SY77/SN2r/JD800/JD990/XV88/Emu6400/Poly61/Amek35:12:2/genelec1030 r: Violin/AltoSax/TinWhistle c: i7-4770/RAM32GB/SSD
FM8 vids
musden
Real name: den
Gear: radikal technologies accelerator
Band: aipracs
Post by musden » Tue May 12, 2015 8:01 pm
roland juno 60 - up - oberheim xpander - up - korg z1 - up - roland varyphase - up - andromeda - up - waldorf q and microwave - up - nord modulars - up - v-synth - up - virus total colonization - up - kurzweil VAST - up - octatrack - and then - down - moog voyager - down - arturia microshit - down - korgy toys - down - random modular stuf tomorrow will be forgotten - down - roland "look! It is our new hybrid keyboard" (as if somebody really gives a f**k about analogue and digital mystical orgasmic combination, and it seems someone does) - down - akai timbre dog - down and so on
roughly, of course
griffin avid
Contact griffin avid
Post by griffin avid » Tue May 12, 2015 11:26 pm
priima wrote: Nobody goes around saying "oh I don't play piano because its old, it came out all the way back in 1750!"
I'd add that when someone wants to buy their home/child a piano in 2015, they don't go looking for a "vintage" piano. They may want classic styling, but they visit stores with modern selections. Perhaps, if you are budget conscious, you buy used. I also don't know piano/ (players) have had a silver age and golden age that are harped (no pun intended) about.
ZeeOne wrote: So my question for the forum is two-fold; 1) Is my preference for the latest gear a bit misguided and/or neurotic, and 2) has there really been all that much progress in synths since the mid 90s?
I have felt that tug when I looked at my studio and saw all old gear. It made me question my ear and relative....relevance, musically, in modern times. Are my sensibilities tied to the past? Is me ear locked in on an era?
Are we STILL Making 80s synth-heavy styled music cause that's what we loved as a teen?
Am I adding on to the musical landscape or rehashing my favorite bits from various beloved recordings?
And I felt that I need to change/adapt/grow with the times.
That means, get some modern gear and make some current-sounding stuffs- and no I don't mean 'radio hitz' I mean stuff that doesn't sound like a found recording from a previous era. That's a sound design concern- combined with playing/creative techniques.
Then I remember technology or better yet quality is not linear.
Yeah, a toaster from the 50s was meant to be the only toaster you ever bought.
So it's about making music along my journey that sounds fresh, but chooses the best instruments possible to create the sound I'm chasing. Sometimes it's modern gear sometimes it's something that they don't make anymore.
Music Product: Better Sounds for Beats http://www.StudioAVX.com
Music Production: Resources and Research http://www.ProducersEdgeMagazine.com
Music Produced: Abstract Hip Hop Sci-Fi: http://www.TheDynamicUniverse.com
Post by commodorejohn » Wed May 13, 2015 12:18 am
griffin avid wrote: I have felt that tug when I looked at my studio and saw all old gear. It made me question my ear and relative....relevance, musically, in modern times. Are my sensibilities tied to the past? Is me ear locked in on an era?
Here's my answer: who cares? I see people spouting this notion all the time:
Such-and-such is "irrelevant" or "dated."
Such-and-such is therefore somehow artistically invalid.
But the vast majority of the time what they're really saying is this:
Such-and-such doesn't interest me.
Therefore nobody else should find it interesting.
But I want to make my opinion sound like objective fact.
So I'll appeal to something like "progress" that sounds vaguely impersonal and impartial, and present that as a Q.E.D., even though it isn't.
I mean, sure, if you feel like you're stuck in a rut, you should work to branch out a bit and explore other directions. But so many people seem to think that means they have to "move on" to whatever is hip and trendy at the moment and abandon things they actually like, just to appease a bunch of people who want validation for being on what they think is the cutting edge. That's just sad.
Bottom line: don't forget to broaden your horizons now and again, but don't let anybody stop you from making the kind of music you enjoy making.
Gear: Alpha Juno 2, Bass Station 2, CZ-5000, DW-8000, DR-660, EA1 mk2, ES1 mk2, JP-8000, Monotribe, R-100, SH-32,
Band: Soundtrack to Psychosis
Post by Chewy » Wed May 13, 2015 1:07 am
synthroom
Real name: Kirk
Gear: Fairlight IIx(!), JP-8, D-50, S-50+550, S-760, JX-3P, JD-800, EII, Emax II, Mini, ARP 2600, P-5 Rev.1, Pro-One, Performer, K1m, K5m, few other things.
Location: pdx
Contact synthroom
Post by synthroom » Wed May 13, 2015 2:29 am
I embrace the rut I'm stuck in...
Fairlight IIx (Mid-Life Crisis - cheaper than a Corvette!)
Roland JP-8, D-50, S-50, S-550(2x), S-760(2x), JX-3P, JD-800
EII, Emax II, Minimoog, ARP 2600, P-5 Rev.1 (broken...), Pro-One, Crumar Performer, K1m, K5m, MS-2000B, Virus KC, a few other things.
Return to "General Synthesizers"


Senior Care Management Solutions - Memphis, TN has yet not published prices.
Senior Care Management Solutions has been a good resolution for our situation. They are very responsive to our needs and they are very accommodating and work within our time frame. They will call us to say if they are going to be late and go out of their way to make sure we are covered. The communication is good between the caregivers and the representative who periodically comes out to our house to check and make sure our needs are being met. The caregivers come in every day to attend to our loved one's personal care needs. The caregivers that they send to us represent themselves and the company well by their clean appearance and positive attitude.
They helped out with the physical therapy that was needed. I recently had surgeries so they are helping out with some of the household chores. Their caregivers have training on how to use durable medical equipment that a senior might need. We are very pleased with the care they are providing, they are very flexible with our loved one's needs and our needs and they help keep her safe. I would highly recommend Senior Care Management Solutions to friends and family.
Aside from the fact that their name is too long (which I already told them!) the meticulous attention to detail in matching the most appropriate caregiver to the patient has been remarkable. I couldn't be more pleased. Even though my dad may be on his way to more intensive therapy (such as assisted living) this is a wonderful intermediary step.
Everything is going very well for very my father with this home care agency. It has been a great experience. They are providing wonderful services. My father is comfortable with the caregiver we have. He is really good at caring for my father and his needs. We are so impressed we have even added more care. This is truly a great home care agency. A place for mom was really great with all the help they provided. I'am very satisfied.
So far they have been helpful.
So far they have been helpful. Every time they come out it's someone different. It seems like they may have a bit of turnover. I do like that they have a two hour minimum.
I had a caregiver with me for a week in the beginning and they were wonderful. I cannot say enough good about this home care agency. Due to our finances we are now only able to use his service to take me to the doctor. The caregivers are always early and very friendly. I would recommend this agency.
Donna was a wonderful caregiver for my Mom and I would definitely recommend Senior Care.
Things have improved with Senior Care!!!
We got off to a rocky start with this home care agency. The first caregiver did not show up. We then tried to reach the person that came out to the house to set up service but we were not able to reach them. Things have since improved and the caregiver that comes out to help with some housework and personnel needs is nice and on time. They are trying very hard and I would recommend this service.
I have scheduled a trial visit by them for May 27. I think some household help is the best affordable solution right now. Had a nice visit from their rep. and we got things arranged for the first time. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
It is wonderful having a caregiver come in for a couple of days a week to tend my husband. It allows me to have some me time and run some errands. Senior Care gets the job done. After having a bad experience with my first caregiver, I am happy to recommend Senior Care to anyone looking for a break from the stress of taking care of a family member even if it's only 4 hours a week.
We've had a great experience working with Senior Care Management Solutions! We've worked with a few different caregivers from this company, the first one didn't work out so well, but the second was absolutely wonderful! The office staff have been very helpful, responsive, and are obviously genuinely concerned about our needs. They've been very easy to work with, and great about scheduling replacements if our main caregiver isn't able to make it that day.
Jill, my A Place For Mom rep, was helpful in finding two companies in the area to interview. I met with Senior Care Management Solutions first and was impressed by their quick turnaround. They could start the very next day. I would definitely recommend A Place For Mom and Senior Care Management Solutions. We had exceptionally good caregivers, we never had any problems. The activities portion is not easy to score, there was a caregiver that would read to my mom, but for the most part they just provide in home care.
Our caregivers will provide a helping hand for seniors needing help to stay independent and safe in their homes. These services can include but are not limited to: Companionship, Transportation, Light house keeping, Med-reminders, Exercise, and Meal preparation.Our staff has over 20 years of combined experience in servicing the needs of seniors and is committed to providing outstanding care for your loved ones.
Senior Care Management Solutions - Memphis, TN has been recognized for consistently high ratings from residents and their families in previous years.


How can I upload personal icons?
You can add your own icons designed in SVG to Flaticon's collections (for your use only). All you have to do is drag them into the workspace or click on "Upload SVG" and select the files from your computer.
When your icons have been added to the collection, you can download them as EPS files, PNG, Iconfont or as SVG Sprites.
If you are a registered user, you can upload up to three personal icons.
If you are a premium user, you can add up to 256 personal icons per collection.
How can I collaborate with Flaticon?


Don't miss this Chemical & Engineering News article on sports nutrition products, including some caffeine insight from the GreenEyedGuide.
Convenient foods and supplements purport to boost energy and help competitors train harder. But do they work?


text:
L. Stephen Hill
"The story of our firm is the quintessential underdog story except that we have now grown into a formidable group of the most talented architects and designers in New York City."
L. Stephen Hill, AIA – Founding Partner
With more than 30 years of experience, L. Stephen Hill's designs have made a significant contribution to the New York City skyline. Known for his clear, concise vision, Hill has crafted a variety of buildings, from high-rise residential towers and mixed-use hotels to retail spaces, historic renovations, adaptive re-use projects, and commercial office space.
Hill co-founded Hill West Architects with the goal of providing clients a firm focused on unparalleled quality for highly functional buildings. His expertise in the design and technical development of residential buildings is the foundation for his career. His portfolio includes Olympia Dumbo, Skyline Tower, The d'Orsay, Waterline Square, One Riverside Park, and the renovation of the Plaza Hotel.
Prior to establishing Hill West Architects, Hill co-founded Goldstein, Hill & West Architects and was a partner at Costas Kondylis and Partners. He is a graduate of Pratt Institute, has NCARB certification, and is licensed in several states.
161 Maiden Lane, 23-15 44th Drive, 488 Madison Avenue, 10 Madison Square West, 50 Riverside Boulevard, 60 Riverside Boulevard, 42-12 28th Street, 1 Flatbush Avenue, 211 West 14th Street, 7 Penn Plaza, 111 Murray Street, 40 Wall Street, Waterline Square, and Fifth Avenue at Central Park South.