Solution to MOTU UltraLite random noises and crackling

I always had a very frustrating problem with my MOTU UltraLite, the first version (no “mk” stuff). At random times all channels would output crackles for a few seconds, and then stop. Once it stops it can be ok, or maybe no sound at all or even very strong sound – so it sounds like noise and I have to reduce the volume at the source to around -60 db to hear it properly.

It happened with 2 different computers, on 3 different operating systems (both 32 and 64 bit), using 2 different cables. It even happened on 2 different units (got the second one after the first died with the infamous firmware bug). I could never figure out what was the source of the problem and how to fix it.

Sometimes it happened every 5 minutes, sometimes it didn’t occur for days. That was the key to solving the problem. Today I was switching the unit back and forth between my desktop pc and laptop pc, and I noticed that it sometimes happened on either, and sometimes didn’t. Then it came to me – the only thing that was changing each time was the 1394 input I was using on the unit! I always used a random port, sometimes the first and then the second without thinking it about much – the manual is clear about it. It doesn’t matter where you plug it. Anyway, the second input is problematic (apparently on all units, since it happened me with 2). Since then I just use only the first one and the UltraLite is rock solid.

Funny to know it was so simple to fix, after all those years of struggling. Anyway – I wonder if there is any chance of fixing it with their next drivers or firmware, assuming the updating the drivers or firmware won’t kill the unit again.

Done moving, back in business

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. Thing is I’ve been a full time student (and still is) at BGU, so I didn’t have much time to take care of stuff, and whatever time I had left went into managing Cronomi Records. I also moved house, now living in my very own place where my studio is now located – and you can see some pics over here.

Next year in school isn’t as hard as the previous ones – so this means I will write some more music. There is a new track in the making actually as I write this. Hopefully I’m not too rusty and it will actually sound good.

I would also like to remind you all that Cronomi’s releases are getting rave reviews worldwide, and you should surely check them out, if you haven’t done so. Psychedelic trance at its best!

MOTU UltraLite “1394 bandwidth not available”

For those of you who are using a MOTU UltraLite and Windows 7 64-bit edition, here is a fix for the “1394 bandwidth not available” problem.

• In Device Manager, double-click the ‘IEEE 1394 Bus host controllers’
• Right-click your FW 1394 controller and select ‘Update Driver Software…’
• Choose “Browse my Computer for driver software”
• Choose “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer”. A list pops up that shows three entries:

…………OHCI-compliant 1394 Host controller
…………OHCI-compliant 1394 Host controller (legacy)
…………OHCI-compliant Texas Instruments 1394-Host controller

• From these three select: ‘OHCI-compliant 1394 Host controller (legacy)’
• Proceed to install the latest FW drivers for your audio interface

Taken from: http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=1862515

Let’s hope MOTU fix their drivers so it will work out of the box.

New tracks on download section

Just added 3 tracks to the download section.

The first one is Break Out Series – my attept at electro prog. Turned out preety well I think.

Second is a live remix to Unknowledged Knowledge (Original on Ektoplazm). Unfortunately the live performance never materialized, but the mix is ready nonetheless. Better than the original, IMHO.

Third is a remix to Psilodump’s excellent Rethought7.

Links:
Felis – Break Out Series (8:38) | mp3 (14.5MB) | flac (56.0MB)
Felis – Unknowledged Knowledge (Live Mix) (7:31) | mp3 (13.3MB) | flac (49.7MB)
Psilodump – Rethought7 (Subra Remix) (8:14) | mp3 (15.0MB) | flac (57.0MB)

Subra Remix for Jikkenteki – Automagic

Didn’t have much time to update this site, but it’s better late than never.

A Subra remix to Jikkenteki’s Automagic is available on Cronomi Records’s latest release – People Walk Funny.

More info is available at http://cronomi.com.

2 new Felis tracks now available!

For those of you who have been wondering what’s up with my Felis project, I’m happy to tell you that 2 tracks are now available.

The first track is called Unknowledge Knowledge, and you can download it for free! It’s on a new compilation by Ektoplazm, called Organic Circuitry:

Ektoplazm is proud to present Organic Circuitry, our first official compilation release. Compiled by DJ Basilisk, Organic Circuitry features an eclectic assortment of songs contributed by friends and allies around the world, many of whom have already appeared in the free music section of the Ektoplazm web site. Conceived as a celebration of the vibrant diversity of the global psychedelic trance underground, Organic Circuitry features an exotic blend of new school Goa trance, fat and funky full-on, pumping progressive, and deeply enchanting downtempo. Although differing in their approach, the songs of Organic Circuitry are united in their common emphasis on the power of melody to convey ideas and emotions. Every track shimmers with colour and light—fantastic stories waiting to be told. To ensure a professional level of quality, Organic Circuitry has been mastered by Colin Bennun @ the Stooodio, Bristol, UK, and features cover artwork by Paul Zulauf.

The second track is a collboration with Mish-Kah called Block The Stock. You can get it on the new compilation from the Australian label Bio-Sine Records:

Primordial is the hotly anticipated second compilation from Australian label, Biosine Records. After the success of their first release ‘Cloud Catcher’, label owners, foot-e and Jules searched long and hard for tracks that pleased their ears and minds. The result is Primordial which clearly defines the labels intent to release quality psychedelic minimal/progressive which leans towards the darker side. Devoid of cheese, the tracks go from eerie night time atmospheres with time and space to thumpin’ daytime chunk.

With some surprise additions to the tracklist that include a minimal mind twister from the Artifakt, and an eerie, psychedelic moody stomper from Kluster’s side project with friend dj EgoT, Cause and Effect. Also included are some editions from prog heavyweights such as Sensient, Behind Blue Eyes, Minimal Criminal, Autonomech and keeping with Biosine’s ethic of releasing new and upcoming quality artists, monster tracks from Zenon’s new find One Tasty Morsel and a tech-trance stomper from Israel’s Felis and Mish-kah, all sweetly topped and tailed by more down tempo from Bent Intent and Superfluous Nipple. With a minimal of fluff this release goes about it’s business of bringing staunch minimal/progressive to the outdoor party dancefloor as well as providing a CD that can be enjoyed from start to finish.

Freshly Cut Tomato is released!

The new compilation from Cronomi Records is finally released. Featuring 2 tracks from Subra – a remix to Pandemonium! and a collaboration with Har-El Prusky.

More information about the compilation and samples available at http://cronomi.com.

Get it here:
http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/crm/crm1cd001.html
http://www.beatspace.com/dettagli/dettaglio.asp?id=4328
http://www.neptunwave.de/product_info.php?products_id=391
http://www.teknasia.com/recherche.php?recherche=Freshly%20Cut%20Tomato&searchtype=catalogue
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails-Freshly+Cut+Tomato-865023.html
http://www.goastore.ch/product_info.php?products_id=2474
http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=7400

Freshly Cut Tomato – Cronomi Records – 1 Month To Go

It took a very long time but finally my first compilation under my own label (Cronomi Records) is ready to be released. Official release date is July 11th. Be sure to pick it up at your favorite online shop!

A reminder:

In the past few years there has been a revival of the old-school sound of Psychedelic Trance, known as Goa Trance. Cronomi Records is a new Israeli based label specializing in new-school Goa Trance. Our mission is to take the vibes, energy, spirit and magic of classic Goa Trance and put it into modern music produced using modern tools and standards without falling into boring formulated patterns of mainstream mass-produced music.

“Freshly Cut Tomato” is the first product of this vision: A compilation featuring 76 minutes of some of the finest Goa Trance producers of our time. It’s a showcase of a variety of flavors in which every listener can find something for both body and mind. From minimal and progressive through psychedelic night-time music to epic melodic tracks, this compilation has it all. We at Cronomi Records hope that you will enjoy this compilation as much as we enjoyed making it for you.

1. Pandemonium! – A Mad Scientists Night (Subra vs Felis Remix)
2. Anakoluth – Orbiting The Earth
3. Jikkenteki With 11 – Super Power Mustard
4. Alt Anesis and 5Meo-Geo – Ficus
5. Subra & Har-El Prusky – Freakagnux
7. K.O.B. – Pitch & Chips (A Fairytale About A Chip)
6. Merr0w – Pixelized Sight
8. Radical Distortion – Unchristened
9. Astrancer – Ashram

You can find more information here:
http://cronomi.com
and here:
http://arabesque.co.uk/index.php?option=com_artistavenue&task=singleCd&id=1518

Inextricable Confusion – Goa Trance DJ Mix

After a long time, I recorded a new mix. This time the mood is very trippy, mostly in the 137-140 bpm range. Lots of old-school and a bit of new-school.

http://felis.co.il/Subra-InextricableConfusion.mp3

Sorry for the slight imperfections, I didn’t mix in a long time
As usual – tracklist is available in the comments.

Subra – Enchanter Of The Dunes @ Golden Vibes 3

The OiG crew has released the third part in the excellent Golden Vibes series, and as usual there’s a Subra track inside.

Here’s the tracklist:

1. Afgin – Light Up The Darkness
2. Subra – Enchanter Of The Dunes
3. Jikooha – Red Road
4. The Wonderboy – Electric Candy
5. Kob – Missing Some Marvels
6. Zolphinia – Land of Gods
7. Project Cosmonaut – The Creation
8. E-Mantra – Moon Horns
9. Har-el Prusky – Azuca
10. Goalien – Macroscopic View

Some information from OiG:

The OiG team proudly presents to you the third part of our home-made compilation series Golden Vibes 3.
There was no post-production mastering done in the following tracks, and they are brought to you as they left the artists studios – just like the good old days.
We’ve made it known and clear that here at OiG we would keep on preserving of the Goa Trance vibe, in order that the true spirit of this genre would keep delivering us the old energies that we all have experienced in the 90′s.
Our slogan is “Old Is Gold”, and so is the way we act. We make sure that this great music that has followed us since then would prosper by giving the proper exposure to the old-school and new-school Goa Trance artists.
The team puts a lot of efforts in brining you these releases and has made a great deal of co-ordination in releasing this current one. The biggest thanks goes to “The Wonderboy” whom contacted the artists, collected the tracks and made all the possible arrangements in order for this project to form into a finished release.
Graphics and design – Lior AKA Mfoofa of the OiG crew.

Download links:

MP3
http://rapidshare.de/files/38939482/VA_-_Golden_Vibes_lll-2008-OiG.zip.html
http://www.fileflyer.com/view/r8CnGCs
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CYCOX4Z4
http://www.sendspace.com/file/a1cwhq

WAV
http://rapidshare.de/files/38932383/VA_-_Golden_Vibes_lll-2008-OiG_-_WAV_-_Part1.zip.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/38935253/VA_-_Golden_Vibes_lll-2008-OiG_-_WAV_-_Part2.zip.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/38937694/VA_-_Golden_Vibes_lll-2008-OiG_-_WAV_-_Part3.zip.html
http://oldisgold.felis.co.il