At your risk.
Monday, September 21, 2026
Update on the Pleiades Meal
At your risk. This is not a medical or nutritionist advice.
Instead of cocoa powder , using vanilla powder (very expensive but not much is needed.
So the meal is crushed oat flakes,
adding water,
adding a spoonful of wholegrain tahini,
adding less than a spoonful of vanilla,
adding pieces from one royal date.
It is very tasty, nutritional, and very simple and quick to make.
It takes about 2 minutes to be prepared.
Friday, September 18, 2026
The score of Beautiful Maria of My Soul - Arne Glimcher, Robert Kraft, sung by Baderas
At your risk.
AT 0:30 of the following video:
The second chord is C9.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Similarities between Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven and It's a Shame - Talk Talk
At your risk.
A few examples:
Both are written in the rarely used, beautiful key of C# minor.
Both contain modulation to other keys.
Both contain pedal bass with a higher part changing from major 3rd to minor 3rd.. 0:51 on Moonlight Sonata, 0:09 on Such a Shame.
Both contain pedal bass on a higher part while bass is changing. Beginning of Moonlight Sonata, 1:19 on Such a Shame.
Monday, September 14, 2026
A great BBC book on Sound Production and Reproduction
At your risk.
High-Quality Sound Production and Reproduction, BBC Programme Operations Training Manual - H. Barrell Hadden
It can be found free downloadable as PDF by a simple google search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=high+quality+sound+reproduction+haadenn+Bbc&safe=active&ssui=on
Other way to reduce bass heaviness just after the microphones
At your risk.
Instead of the (R,L) Pleiades filters. (inductor in series with resistor and total in parallel with microphone output) (R,C) filters can be used.
These are capacitor in parallel with resistor and the total in series, that is between microphone and preamplifier. The R can be variable as on the (R,L) filters. Similarly different capacitors or inductors can be switchable.
An (R,C) microphone filter for correcting ribbon microphone bass heaviness at smaller distance than 2-3 ft can be seen on the so nice BBC book, High Quality Sound Production and Reproduction, - H. Burrell Haden, page 63.
https://www.google.com/search?q=high+quality+sound+reproduction+haadenn+Bbc&safe=active&ssui=on
Revox G36 valve reel (tape recorder) sound on sound
At your risk.
Listening on YouTube to an interview of producer Tony Swain (Just an Illusion - Imagination) where he used as a youngster a G36 for bouncing.
Then searching with the title keywords, AI found me someone who explains how it was done, with listening examples:
https://www.davidstanhope.com/cortettes.html
How would recording with a Tascam porta 07 sound if the erase heads are disconnected so that as many as needed sounds could be rerecorded on the same part of magnetic tape (cassette) without generation loss?
Sunday, September 13, 2026
The Principle of Least Change in Music
At your risk.
At 1:50 of Don't You Want Me - The Human League, extended dance remix
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Pedal Bass
At your risk.
You don't Fool Me - Queen
Bass stays the same while chords change.
The above example is very interesting as it is one of the very few compositions in history where the bass stays the same for a very long time.
Bass E, harmony E G B (E minor)
Bass E, harmony D #F A (D major)
Bass, harmony C E A (A minor)
It sounds very nice. A fine example of The Principle of Least Change in music.
Pedal Bass is one way of doing least change.
Other examples of Pedal Bass:
Us and Them - Pink Floyd
Against All Odds - Phil Collins at 1:02
Prelude in C minor - Chopin at beginning of chorus 0:40
Tocatta and Fugue in D minor - J. S. Bach at 0:26 to 0:38, 1:18 to 1:31, 6:49 to 7:04
One day we had a nice conversation with songwriter Mimis Plessas. He explained that pedal bass can be generalized to a constant melody while other parts are changing.
For example from the beginning, Just an Illusion - Imagination
We are not here to save the world
At your risk.
By Lambros.
But if we can make it a bit better let be it.
One day there was a book on sale. Opening in random it said do everyday a little thing that makes the environment better. I did not buy the book but I strongly remember just this one thing so everyday if I see something that I do not like, for example a foreign object in the forest it is removed.
Shakespeare in a play says something like, do less harm.
In the play Merchant of Venice:
"And I beseech you, / Wrest once the law to your authority. / To do a great right, do a little wrong..."
Friday, September 11, 2026
Interview with record producer Tony Swain (Just an Illusion - Imagination)
At your risk.
https://www.arpjournal.com/asarpwp/tony-swain/
Could Addiction work the other way Round?
At your risk.
For example:
It is not the young woman addicted to the electronic cigarette, but the electronic cigarette to her.
It is waiting impatiently in her bag thinking "Oh when is she going to hold me again and use me?"
Using a thicker enamel wire and less turns for the primary of the output transformer than the secondary
At your risk. Any battery must be in series with a transformer for safety.
Today buying from Vangelis Stefos shop in Athens 1mm, and 1.4mm wire. About 200g for some experimentation.
But before this the 1:1 bifilar output transformer will be tried on the Pleiades BD650 power amp but this time operating with just 3 AA 1.2V batteries. So 3.6V and if at 500mA it sounds nice output power should be of the order of 1 watt. In Class A (electrons flowing all the time).
Adjusting bias is very amusing as a sweet point is very easily found by listening. This should take account even subconsciously of the Impedance with respect to Frequency curve of the loudspeaker.
The cover of The Melody book should be orange background with golden letters
At your risk.
Inspired by watching with interest a few moments ago outside their premises ('Ενωση Ποντίων) in Kallithea district the unremoved name label sticker on the letter box.
Addition to The Melody Book
At your risk.
Don't Speak - No Doubt
It was played today on the Pleyel upright piano after listening it on the radio. The introduction sounds very nice on piano for example playing the G minor 7th, left hand G bB D and F on the melody or the F minor 3rd major 9th, left hand playing the inversion bA C F and right hand playing the 9th ie G in the melody.
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
The reverb on Suzanne - Leonard Cohen is EMT
At your risk.
From e-mail communication with producer John Simon.
Microphone Neumann, possibly U67.
There is a book, autobiography of John Simon.
Songwritter Mimis Plessas' Interview in Hellenic Language
This interview includes comments on music in cinematography.
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
The output transformer on the 2nd schematic of the previous post is a 1 to 1 bifilar
At your risk.
Perhaps it should be possible to use step up output transformers on both Darlington or MOSFET amplifiers so that primary is of lower impedance with a few turns of thick wire.
In this way the 8 ohms impedance of a speaker would be converted to say 2 ohms or less and power output would be higher at the expense of course of higher power consumption.
Pleiades BD650, K951 single Darlington transistor or MOSFET power amplifier in class A schematics
At your risk. Please take all safety precautions. A suitable fuse must be in series with any battery for injury or fire hazard protection. Please keep volume down for protecting your precious hearing.
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Άλμπερτ Κετεντζιάν, Albert Ketentzian, the Master Piano Tuner
Ο Άλμπερτ Κετεντζιάν είναι ο μόνος που έχω γνωρίσει με εξαίρεση τον Μίμη Πλέσσα που διδάσκει ότι η μουσική οκτάβα (π.χ. οι 2 τελαυταίες νότες του Εθνικού Ύμνου) είναι λίγο μεγαλύτερη απο την μαθηματική οκτάβα (διπλασιασμός παλμικών δονήσεων ανά μονάδα χρόνου) για να ακουστεί όμορφα στον ακροατή.
Αυτό αναφέρεται μόνο στα καλύτερα βιβλία ακουστικής όπως αυτό του ιδρυτή του εργαστηρίου ψυχοφυσικής στο πανεπιστήμιο Χάρβαρντ, Σ. Στήβενς [1]. Η μετάφραση του βιβλίου Ήχος και Ακοή στα Ελληνικά έχει γίνει από τον Δρ. Εμμ. Τιερρή, πρώην διευθυντή χειρουργικής στον Ερυθρό Σταυρό και είχα την τύχη να είμαστε με τον γιό του Γιάννη διπλανοί στην Λεόντειο.
Όταν το 1993 αποφoiτησα από το Αγγλικό πανεπηστήμιο Warwick με τίτλο B. Eng. Engineering Electronics, o Άλμπερτ που ήδη τον γνώριζα με ξάφνιαζε με θέματα όπως το παραπάνω και δεν μπορούσα να πιστέψω τι μου έλεγε.
Μου τ' αποδείκνυε όμως στο πιάνο και μετά με ηλεκτονική μέτρηση. Έψαξα και μόνος και ακόμα κάνω και από τότε έγινε δασκαλός μου και στην ηλεκτρονική αφού γεννήθηκε, εκπαιδεύτηκε, στον Καναδά και ήρθε σε επαφή και με πλήθος synthesizers και ενισχυτές που από τότε ήταν στην αιχμή της μουσικής παραγωγής.
Πάντα με την ακούραστη γυναίκα του Μαρίνα μου συμπεριφέρονταν με αγάπη και σεβασμό και είναι τόσες οι όμορφες συζητήσεις στην αίθρια υποδοχή του εργαστηρίου στην οδό Βάρνης, βράδυ καθισμένοι κάτω από όμορφα δέντρα. Σχεδόν ακούραστα τελείωνε ο Άλμπερτ την εργασία για να συζητήσουμε πάλι για τα ίδια με καινούργια οπτική γωνία. Λίγα απο τα τελευταία έτη χαθήκαμε αλλά ερχόμενοι πάλι κοντά διαπίστωσα ανακαίνιση στη μονοκατοικία, εσωτερικά και εξωτερικά. Μια πανέμορφη μονοκατοικία από τις ελάχιστές πια στην Νέα Σμύρνη που ασφυκτικά δεν θέλει άλλη μια πολυκατοικία. Είναι ωραίο να υπάρχει μια αναφορά στο παρελθόν, έμπνευση στο μέλλον και για τις επόμενες γενιές σε μια Ευρωπαική πια Ελλάδα που σέβεται την ποιότητα ζωής, τον άνθρωπο και την ιστορική πολιτισμική κληρονομιά.
Στο εργαστήριο μουσικής της Βάρνης, στα στούντιο ηχογράφησης και στις συναυλίες για τον συντονισμό πιάνου που με έπαιρνε μαζί του ο Άλμπερτ γνώρισα από κοντά τους σημαντικούς καλλιτέχνες της μουσικής δισκογραφίας και του θεάτρου.
Το εργαστήριο αυτό βοήθησε και μένα αφού ο Άλμπερτ απλόχερα πραγματοποιούσε οποιαδήποτε ιδέα μου και είχαμε και οι δύο την περιέργεια να δούμε αν θα λειτουργήσει ή όχι.
Είμαι λοιπόν ευγνώμων στον Άλμπερτ που απο τότε που πρωτοσυντόνησε το πιάνο μου και για τουλάχιστον 30 έτη στο εργασήριο του με την θέληση μας μου δείχνει τον μαγικό κόσμο της μουσικής και της ηλεκτρονικής.
Συνεχίζει στο εργαστήριο του ακάθεκτος και η γνώση και η μετριοφροσύνη του που χαραχτηρίζουν κάθε αξιοπρεπή άνθρωπο τον κάνουν να είναι σε πρώτη ζήτηση όταν έρχεται μεγάλος καλλιτέχνης από το εξωτερικό σε συναυλία, όπως αυτό το καλοκαίρι του 2026 στην Πλατεία Νερού με το πιάνο του Nick Cave επιμελημένα από την αρχή της ημέρας και συντονισμένο απά τον Άλμπερτ.
Στα χνάρια του ο γιος της Μαρίνας και του Άλμερτ, Αλέξης που ανεξάρτητα στον επάνω όροφο έχει φτιάξει στούντιο ηχογράφησης. τον βλέπω από λίγο μετά το 2000 να το βελτιώνει συνεχώς. Και η κόρη τους Άννα είναι ανεξάρτητη και δημιουργική στο Λονδίνο.
Τους ευχαριστώ όλους πολύ που κάνουν στην πόλη που συνίδρυσε ο παππούς μου Γιώργος Τσακίρης από την Σμύρνη να αισθάνομαι ακόμα πιο άνετα. Και να είμαστε όλοι λίγο πιο υπερήφανοι για την Νέα Σμύρνη.
Η μουσική όμως λειτουργεί στην ψυχή μας με την ακρόαση, έτσι ας ακουστεί για παράδειγμα το Λιμάνι του Γιώργου Ανδρέου ερμηνεία Μουτσάτσου με τον χαρακτηριστικό ήχο του ακορντεόν από τον δεξιοτέχνη Ηρακλή Βαβάτσικα, πελάτη από τότε του Άλμπερτ στο εργαστήριο της Βάρνης στην συντήρηση και τον τονικό συγκερασμό.
Εύχομαι στον φίλο μου Άλμπερτ ευτυχία, ηρεμία και ακόμα περισσότερη δημιουργηκότητα.
Γιώργος Τσακίρης
Αναφορά [1] Ήχος και Ακοή - Ενκυκλοπαίδια Time, Life
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Music and Electronics, molecules and electrons
At your risk.
Music deals with vibrating molecules. for example of the metal piano string, or the vibrating molecules of air which will also hit the ear drum of the listener to create the sensation of hearing in the listener's mind.
Electronics deal with the corresponding vibration of electrons. For example inside the copper wire of a cable which carries the music of a symphony or a beautiful song.
A microphone converts the vibration of air molecules to a corresponding vibration of electrons in the cable at the output of the microphone. The microphone preamplifier will magnify or amplify these vibrations.
The cause of making the air molecules to vibrate in turn travels at the speed of sound in air, the speed of sound in air. The cause of making the electron vibrate in turn inside a wire travels at the speed of light in the metal of this wire. The speed of the light or electromagnetic wave in this metal.
It would seem correct to assume that a perfect sound system would convert exact replicas of the molecule vibration to the electron vibration.
More than often this is not true especially in popular music where the sound reproduction is louder than the moment a singer sings to record.
A reason for this is that the sensitivity of the human mind to frequency is also a function of intensity. For example for soft sounds a bass guitar needs to be as much a s a million times, that is 60db more powerful than a flute (mid range note) in order to sound as loud.
But when higher intensity is involved the sensitivity of the listener's mind to bass frequency becomes much closer to the sensitivity to mid frequencies for a similar sensation of loudness.
The curves that describe this phenomenon are called Equal Loudness Curves.
Due to the fact that the frequency response curve of the human hearing mechanism depends on intensity it may be trivial to assume that for perfect recording and reproduction we need flat frequency response from microphone of singer to the loudspeaker of listener.
It is more appropriate to consider flat frequency response from record producer mind to the listener's mind.
For example a singer reproduced at higher level than while recording will sound bass heavy.
In addition the frequency spectrum of a singing voice depends on effort when singing. For example when a singer sings softly the bandwidth of the voice is much higher with an increase in bass and high frequency content than when singing loud where most energy is concentrated on mid frequencies.
This would make a softly sung melody sound even more bass heavy when reproduced at a higher level.
To make such a situation sound correct to the listener's mind is not only a great work of engineering but also a great work of art.
For example Suzan - Leonard Cohen
(A loudspeaker or headphones convert electron vibration back to air molecule vibration so that we can listen to the beautifully made example below):
Further Reading:
Sound and Hearing - S.S Stevens, F. Warshofsky - Time Life Encyclopedia
Sound Picture Recording and Reproduction Characteristics - D.P. Lowe, K. F. Morgan - Journal of the society of motion picture engineers
Elements of Sound Recording - Frayne, Wolfe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Additions to The Melody Book
At your risk.
It is so instructive how the singer raises the pitch of his voice as a note build up so that it sounds correct to the listeners mind.
I Follow Rivers - Lykee Li chorus harmony (chords)
At your risk.
They can be clearly heard at 1:50.
The key is A minor, that is the first bass note is A. In the key of A minor all notes are natural, the white keys of a piano keyboard.
At chorus bass becomes F so using the simple rule 1 3 5 or 1 3 5 7 the chord is F A C or F A C E so the bass code is F or F7.
Then the harmony is G7 that is G B D F, using the Principle of Least Change in Music since the previous chords is F A C E we can play F G B D (the same trick used by Bach on the 1st prelude in C Magor from the Well Tempered Clavier for example at 1:02-1:04. The code is different but you can see the similarity of keeping the bass the same (pedal bass) in order to get from one chord to the next with the least possible note changes.
Then bass becomes A so harmony is using the simple harmonic triad code 1 3 5, that is A C E.
Then bass becomes a step down that is G. If we play harmonic code that is G B D it sounds trivial and wrong as we have parallel fifths (as Bach calls it the error in music). So again using using the Principle of Least Change in Music the composer plays G B E (E is kept from the previous chords), that is the code is G6. WIth the 6th or 7th or 9th (with respect to bass) as Bach says in his manual we add the 3rd/ So we have G B E which sounds fantastic.
It is the same chord progression as the first 2 chords of Old and Wise _ Alan Parsons Project:
F A C E
F G B D
A C E
G B E
If these are played on the left hand at the middle the keyboard of a well tuned piano and we the right hand the melody, it should sound very nice.
This is how it will be scored on The Melody Book.
Further reading:
Instructions for playing thorough bass by her Johann Sebastian Bach for his scholars in music
(It can be found at the appendix of Bach's Biography by Spita)
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Sennheiser HD 580
At your risk.
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/measurements/brands-s-se/hd580-precision/
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