Music, Woodworking

December Already?

Wow, I got really caught up with work, shipping Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile (check it out on a cellular phone near you), and got NOTHING done on any of my other projects. I’m excited to get back to having some time to do anything other than coding.

First up, I’ve decided it’s time to give up on my Presonus Firestudio ever working correctly. The drivers while better, still have issues that annoy me greatly, and it’s no fun being annoyed while trying to make music. I’ve done quite a bit of searching, and I think the replacement that fits the bill is the Echo Layla 3G. It’s PCI, and not firewire, and is about $500. It’ll cost me some extra cash to buy a glorified volume knob to sit on my desk, but it’s really the cheapest option out there that fits my requirements.

The next thing on the agenda is the purchase of an SSL Duende PCIe card. It should be here tomorrow or the next day. If you don’t know what it is, it’s a card that plugs into your computer and has a processor on it that runs plugins for your audio software, saving your computer CPU from other tasks. This one only runs SSL plugins designed for the card, and they’re supposed to be top quality plugins.

I’m hoping I can get back into the shop soon, too, though with it being the holiday season, I expect I may not get quality time there until January. I need to finish the workbench so I can get on with the guitar building.

Anyone have some free time they can share?

Computers, Woodworking

Why Does This Always Happen?

What the hell am I talking about? Of course, I’m talking about the long delay between posts. The current mobile project has been taking a huge amount of time, more than it really should. It doesn’t matter why, really, but I won’t accept this kind of project again. It’s been a nightmare.

Anyway, I did get the jointer and the planer, and I’ve set up the jointer as well as I can without a good straightedge. I really need to get one. I just keep forgetting to order one. I haven’t even started the planer up, yet. It’s driving me nuts, but I just never seem to find the time to get out there and get it working.

On the computer front, I’m trying to move away from PC’s. I won’t be able to do it completely, but I’m going to try to move as much of my work as possible to a new Macbook Pro that I ordered. I’m really worn out with the Windows interface. It’s just too easy to get totally cluttered, and also makes me think of “work” whenever I sit in front of one. I don’t get that feeling in front of the Mac.

Hell, my Mac Mini is the least powerful computer I own, in many ways, yet I’m spending most of my time using it instead of my much more powerful PC’s. I can’t wait for the Macbook Pro to arrive at my door.

Woodworking

On To Real Work

So, the electrical is pretty much done. There’s one last thing to do, which the parts supplier didn’t have the part for, but it’s only for future considerations at the moment.

The best thing, however, is that I can get to work. I’m going to spend the next couple of days getting the band saw set up and running right, though I suspect I’ll have to get a new blade.

Then, hopefully, I’ll pick up the planer and jointer on Friday and get them set up, which will let me get to work on the workbench (cheapo!). Once the workbench is done, it’ll be full steam ahead on the guitar.

I think I’ve finally got a shape I like, too. Only a half dozen “sketches” in SketchUp, and a bunch of work on some poster board. I’m wavering over one last minor detail, and once I get that figured out, I can move it to an MDF template and do a mockup.

Oh, I suppose I need to settle on the headstock shape before I can do the mockup.

Woodworking

Electrician Was Here Today

The electrician came out today, and got most of the work done. He couldn’t get some parts he needed to do drops from the celing, so no 220 yet (which is OK for the moment). He was told they will be in Monday, so I’m crossing my fingers. Time to go get some lights.

Woodworking

3rd Different Electrical Inspector

Alright, so this third guy showed up today and passed the work that was done. The second guy, on Friday, showed up and didn’t do anything except say he couldn’t do anything. What a waste of time.

Hopefully, the electrician can get out here tomorrow or Thursday, and finish the rest of the work, and I can be building crap on Saturday!

Woodworking

Inspector Was Here

The electrical inspector came out and inspected the panel today. There are a couple things that need to be addressed before they can do the rest of the work. I really wish this work had been done already – like three months ago. Then I could be about my business instead of playing hurry up and wait.