TRACERfire Media & Design

EMGY Dropcloth

2010-06-04T23:50:00.001+12:00

EMGY Dropcloth
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

A fresh shipment from the 3A Hatchery.

3D modelling preliminary screenshot

2010-05-28T01:35:00.001+12:00

3D modelling preliminary screenshot
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

A little something I whipped up this week.
I'm tired.

where the hell is the summer warmth?

2009-11-11T18:04:00.001+13:00

where the hell is the summer warmth?
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

Nearing mid November in Auckland an I'm still wearing a toque indoors.
Even the worst of what the northern Canadian winter experience had to offer never had me wearing warm clothes indoors.

This past year has allowed us to deliberate where our future lies.

Perhaps it's time to move somewhere more insular... and also a bit more interesting... with a bit more space, facilitated access to the equipment and mindset that we desire.

Perhaps Auckland, it is time to say goodbye.
Not the end.....
-JP

Weta Raygun - Goliathon custom paint

2009-10-30T13:19:00.001+13:00

Weta Raygun - Goliathon custom paint
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

I'm about to proceed down the (no-return) path of creating a custom paint scheme for my Goliathon Raygun produced by Greg Broadmore, Dave Tremont and many other fine folks at Weta Workshop in Wellington.

Sharon & myself have had several wonderful opportunities to chat with the Workshop people this year. Most notably, an evening at the Weta Cave in April and the 4-day marathon that is the San Diego Comic-Con. During one conversation at the Auckland Armageddon Convention this past weekend; I mentioned that I wouldn't mind having "a go" at customising my Goliathon. I was met with plenty of support.

So... here goes!

Progress shots will be posted a bit closer to the end of my modifications.

I would also like to take this opportunity to apologise to those at the Workshop whose ears I've chewed off with my conversational blather. I'm an idiot.
-JP

on the desk today 004 – lantern design

2009-10-23T01:01:00.001+13:00

lantern design
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

I decided to end a productive day with a snapshot of a partially completed project.

This is a 3D model created in Sketchup then sent to an external rendering package. Finally touched up in Photoshop to add the slightly worn and poorly printed look.

When completed, it will be a light fitting with nods towards Scandinavian minimalism & Japanese lanterns.

Custom Average Joe Schmoe Figure by Mike Mitchell

2009-10-14T18:55:00.001+13:00

Custom Average Joe Schmoe Figure by Mike Mitchell
Originally uploaded by Bigshot Toyworks

I've been keeping an open eyeball on the development of Bigshot Toywork's line of wooden toys. This, by far, is my favourite of the bunch.

This image is of a Mike Mitchell custom paint of the upcoming Joe Schmoe figure.

Blanks will be debuting at a show in early November with an online release shortly afterward.

More info below:

http://www.bigshottoyworks.com
http://www.bigshottoystore.com/

traknome beta

2009-10-09T23:04:00.001+13:00

traknome (beta) from TRACERfire on Vimeo.
My love for both Native Instruments Traktor Pro and the monome 256 has motivated me to create a method of integrating the two. - upper portion of the controller is for effects (on/off, dry/wet signal, etc) - middle (and empty) area will be programmed for looping - lower part of controller is split vertically into Deck A & Deck B, with EQ in the middle, operational faders and (at this point) the representation of a single audio channel from Deck A. - also take note of the flashing lights on the quadrants, they're matched to the beatgrids in Traktor and will appear syncronised when both Deck A & Deck B are in sync *remember, this is a somewhat early & unoptimised version. further changes are ahead! thanks for watching!

design workstation - 4rd quarter 2009

2009-09-28T18:03:00.001+13:00

design workstation - 4rd quarter 2009
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

Now that we've returned from our fact-finding mission abroad; it is time to get down to some real work.

Immediately to the left is the Audio Workstation:

Thanks to a couple of office desks being given to us, I can finally setup my audio equipment without having the spend an hour dragging everything out of my bag and out of drawers.

The right-hand side is the 3D & Graphics Station:

The large display can be utilised for audio programming, but its main purpose is for our 3D Design work plus Photoshop & Illustrator noodlings. It also has a tertiary function as our DVD viewing display. The area is setup in such a way that both Sharon & myself can work on separate projects without being in each other's way.

Below the desk is the scanner / printer. If you look closely, you'll notice a bit of (still to be hung) artwork and collectible figurines.

I hope you enjoy this little insight in our ever evolving workspace. We're currently in the midst of setting up the spare room to function as a 'messy' area for painting, drawing, soldering, printing & spraying.

rocket to the cosmos

2009-08-27T04:55:00.001+12:00

rocket to the cosmos
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

The Northern Lights had suddenly popped up last evening with a reasonable glow on the horizon.

The lightwriting of my Mum's pick-me-up truck was inevitable.

kaneteh

2009-08-04T07:40:00.001+12:00

kaneteh
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

A 'Luchadore' Sketch by Eric Canete (SDCC 2009)
super nice guy!
check his work on www.kaneteh.blogspot.com

my toy truck rocks!

2009-07-18T19:50:00.001+12:00

my toy truck rocks!
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

A funny news clipping that we encountered while reading the paper at a local coffee shop here in Gibsons. A 3 year old boy floats 12km downstream on the Peace River --- in his toy truck!

on the desk today 003

2009-07-02T16:32:00.001+12:00

on the desk today 003
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

My mystery project is developing nicely. I was stalled for the past couple of days due to a tricky detail in the design.

I should be able to provide further details once the prototype is made in October.

on the desk today

2009-06-30T12:19:00.001+12:00

on the desk today 002
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

A screen cap of what is currently on my desktop.

I do my design roughs in Adobe Illustrator then export as EPS in my 3D software for the next stage of drawing.

Feel free to guess what this is, as I'm not currently not at priviledge to say.

on the desk today

2009-05-29T22:28:00.001+12:00

monome - tubberbot enclosure (countersink in progress)
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

Preparation of the acrylic faceplate to accept the keypad board.

Initially, I did not want to have any hardware visible on the keypad area of the faceplate. After a bit of examination & head scratching, I realised that tapping the screws from below seemed to be too troublesome and, more importantly, less secure.

So, to get the desired result I purchased some nice M3 stainless hardware and proceeded with a couple hours of drilling and countersinking (by hand).

This is one faceplate down... 2 more to go!

When I have more faceplates made in the future, I will be certain to include the penetrations for attachment of the keypad board. That will only leave the countersinking to be down by hand (roughly an hour's work for the 19 hole total)

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 02 — THE BUSINESS CARD

2009-05-21T01:49:00.001+12:00

on the desk today
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

A preliminary screen shot of an image that may be used for the website header and (possibly) on the business cards. I'm not usually one for 'overt' vectorisation of photographs; but, seeing as this is MY photograph and the feeling is something along the lines of what I'm aspiring towards, then why not eh?

More details soon! -JP

on the desk today

2009-04-27T18:54:00.001+12:00

on the desk today
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

I thought it would be safe to show an early sketch for a 3D based project I'm currently working on.

Eventually this will become a real-world object with the intention of being shown in an art exhibition.

Details TBA

Doctor Doom! - Rough Concept Sketch

2008-06-18T22:45:00.001+12:00

Doctor Doom! - Rough Concept Sketch
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

A quick (& 'very' rough) concept sketch of Doctor Doom! to give me an rough idea of the final image's composition.

I'm really trying to push some artwork out, but some days my mind just can't focus on it; particularly after a 10h day at work.

I certainly had to MAKE myself do this.. but it only took 30 minutes
More sketching and detailing to follow.

Probably won't post up too much more progression, only the end result in 2018 :)

FREAKANGELS goes live

2008-02-14T12:18:00.002+13:00

fun with photoshop #1

2008-02-07T22:49:00.001+13:00

intersection
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

intersection

lower albert street & customs street intersection in auckland. manipulated to look like a tiny model :)

2008 & Beyond

2008-01-01T01:17:00.000+13:00

happy new year!

Probably a bit early for most of you out there... but I thought I'd give you all a shout out (seeing as NZ is the first country in the world to usher in another year)

have a lovely 2008!

JP

music

2007-12-25T12:01:00.001+13:00

audio buddies
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

happy christmas!

hmmm.. also just thinking that I need to make more music

more later

christmas greetings from soviet santa

2007-12-24T22:42:00.001+13:00

christmas greetings from soviet santa
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy

happy happy everyone!

have a wonderful holiday season with the best of wishes for you all in the new year.

DJ Krill minima set

2006-09-19T10:11:00.000+12:00

dj krill.minima ambient set - here!

PRINTS

2006-04-29T22:08:00.000+12:00

blue grouse canadian apples --- 263 x 196mm

blue bird canadian products --- 261 x 182mm

pyramid canadian apples --- 261 x 222mm

post no bills (set of 4) --- 293 x 217mm

kisses from one-eye woodcut --- 356 x 281mm

dmz cover prints (set of 3) --- 483 x 318mm

sae diploma --- 431 x 280mm

frizzell geisha prints (set of 4) --- 515 x 261mm

kozyndan - uprisings --- 558 x 421mm

kozyndan - the audience --- 690 x 351mm

kozyndan - war of the monsters --- 606 x 440mm

BOOKS TO (POSSIBLY) PURCHASE

2006-04-29T16:56:00.000+12:00

DYMOCK'S

japanese style - thames & hudson ($108)

japan style - tuttle ($78)

the complete guide to perspective - john raynes - c&b ($60)

wood design - www.daab.de

house design

treehouses of the world - nelson - www.abramsbooks.com

a treehouse of your own

the new wood house - bullfinch

MT EDEN BOOKSHOP

modern japanese house - naomi pollocks

bird on a wire

2006-04-18T21:43:00.000+12:00

bird on a wire
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy.

Just a random pic for the day.

helicopter landing

2006-02-09T19:09:00.000+13:00

helicopter landing
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy.

Just about to land at Mechanic's Bay.

---

Back to auckland after a few days of work on Great Mercury Island

Was nice to see some sunshine after 3 days of storms.

Apparently this was our best window of opportunity to leave the island as it ended up being blanketed in fog for the next several days --- nobody could leave :O

Uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy on 28 Jan '06, 12.06pm NZDT.

nuffield street alley

2006-02-09T19:06:00.000+13:00

nuffield street alley
Originally uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy.

Went for a walk in the neighbourhood during moonrise.

Snagged this shot in the alley just off Nuffield Street in Newmarket. This area is currently being transformed into a 'boutique' shopping area. Nice to see that the facades to the buildings are being kept.

Uploaded by John-Paul McCarthy on 7 Feb '06, 10.38pm NZDT

2006-01-19T19:08:00.000+13:00

testing post functionality after web alterations
JP

2006-01-16T11:44:00.000+13:00

MORE DIGGING INTO FAMILY HISTORY

http://www.twf.org.au/library/cataloguesoh1.html

material within the archives of the sydney opera house that contains a letter from Joe Lynch's sister about the mural 'salute to five bells'

contact them to perhaps gain access to this information either on a future visit or perhaps electronically.

photo book ideas

2005-09-07T23:11:00.000+12:00

PORRIDGE POT

UNDER 24 HOUR CAMERA SURVEILLANCE

2005-08-31T22:45:00.000+12:00

Gettting Started:

Anik-C - Audio/Visual Project
Seven Days - Comic Project
INFOstorm - SF novel Project
Tracerfire Urban Media Project
Utopian Systems Project
2006 Unitec Design Exhibition Soundtrack
Engines of Society Project - graphic series highlighting sometimes invisible role of electricity in the day-to-day life of people, cities, rural places.

email posting - test

2005-08-31T22:40:00.000+12:00

Hey Everyone,

Just a little test to see how email posting to my lil blog works out.

I'ts nice to get ideas out of your head this way.

more on this later -- back to work on the engine's project, reformatting hard drive and working 10h a day.. lovely

tirah!

2005-04-09T23:50:00.000+12:00

file under: audio (future reference)

http://www.spinaudio.com

they make a cool 3D positional audio plugin

2005-04-03T23:55:00.000+12:00

http://www.interruptor.ch

Dub production techniques and some free VST plugins (already downloaded btw) ;)

2005-03-20T15:35:00.001+12:00

http://warrenellis.libsyn.com/media/warrenellis/superburst10.mp3

2005-03-20T15:35:00.000+12:00

2005-02-15T11:10:00.000+13:00

version control management software (free for private use)

-----------------------------------------------

As found on Reaktor forum thread.

REAKTOR FACTOR
http://www.nativeinstruments.de/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16951

version control management software (free for private use)
http://www.componentsoftware.com/products/rcs/index.htm

2004-08-12T09:40:00.000+12:00

light transmitting concrete:

http://litracon.com/index.htm

2004-08-10T17:57:00.000+12:00

http://www.hyperionwebs.com/electronicshadows/archives/editorial/19_archives_editorial.htm
this is a link to a news list:

contains info on CD-R label and AID audio installation tools -- have a look

2004-08-04T16:54:00.000+12:00

quote of the day:

it only smells that way when it's happy to see you

2004-08-04T10:25:00.000+12:00

http://www.charlielamm.com/reaktor/download/index.php3

reaktor links - please add to links section

2004-08-03T14:18:00.000+12:00

http://www.nicolasfournel.com/

free DSP & microsound-based audio software

!!!

2004-07-21T10:22:00.000+12:00

MP3 download of Matmos installation works:
http://www.brainwashed.com/matmos/news.html

interesting music-related site (mainly sound design, etc)
http://www.ubu.com/

note to self: research these sites in a little more depth

2004-06-22T10:11:00.000+12:00

Easy Self Publishing:

http://books.lulu.com/about/whatislulu.php
http://cafepress.com

Note to self: (Please look into this for future considerations)

2004-05-26T17:36:00.000+12:00

SYNTHESIS

http://www.nativeinstruments.de/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12302

additive synthesis link:

http://eamusic.dartmouth.edu/~book/MATCpages/chap.4/4.2.add_synth.html

subtractive synthesis link:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtractive_synthesis

2004-05-21T16:24:00.000+12:00

http://www.wusik.com/index.php?pagep=Reaktor/main

add this link to the REAKTOR Section -- old Dash Synthesis files updated to R4

pablo

2004-04-27T12:44:00.000+12:00

INTERNET HOSTING RESEARCH

www.webserve.ca/StarterPro.html

2004-04-26T10:33:00.000+12:00

http://www.go-l.com - the most monstrous place to buy PC's

2004-04-26T09:51:00.000+12:00

Missing Gravity Thickener + Site Utilities operations manuals

2004-04-26T09:34:00.000+12:00

"you know that you've had a bad day fishing when you end up having to eat the bait"

Newman De Souza
26 APRIL 2004

An apt description of his fishing trip over the previous weekend.

2004-04-24T00:14:00.000+12:00

22. Satyr
Bronze cast of Frank ‘Guy’ Lynch’s 1924 sculpture modelled from the artist’s brother, whose death inspired Kenneth Slessor to write his poem ‘Five Bells’, 1977.

http://www.rbgsyd.gov.au/sydney_gardens_domain/gardens_feature/buildings_and_art/art

2004-04-22T17:07:00.000+12:00

Devonport Memorial

The first of these is a bronze statue of the 'untidy soldier' which is to be found in Devonport (although a second casting was also used for the Masterton memorial). The sculptor was a returned soldier, Frank Lynch, who while serving at Gallipoli and France would model heads of his comrades in clay. All his practice came to fruition in this work. It is an image of a Kiwi digger about to evacuate Gallipoli and as he leaves he looks back and doffs his hat to the memory of his dead cobbers. The face has that bony quality with the high cheek-bones which is instantly recognisable as the 'Edmund Hillary' New Zealand type. His clothes are creased, his buttons are undone, his socks are disheveled, his bootlaces are untied. The mythic New Zealand soldier, who failed the 'spit and polish' exam, but passed the real test of battle, is captured in bronze.

PICTURES:
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Anzac/image-pages/memorials/auck/devon.htm
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Anzac/image-pages/memorials/wair/wair-mast.html

2004-04-22T10:55:00.000+12:00

have a line of t-shirts called DOG -- can have sayings like 'shoot'em all and let DOG sort'em out'

note: need a DOG graphic idea

2004-04-21T12:41:00.000+12:00

you'll know you're doing the right thing
when you start feeling comfortable in both
your environment and within the world
behind your eyes

some people just takes tonnes of drugs
and forget about their immediate environment...

some people end up with crap jobs
and forget about the world behind their eyes...

a true human needs both

mark says:
drugs and a crap job?

that's the easy way man.... hahahahaaa

2004-01-14T14:58:00.000+13:00

---------------------------------------------------
Synthesis: an analysis of vintage synth schematics
---------------------------------------------------

www.synthfool.com

(more to be added later)

2004-01-13T10:18:00.000+13:00

The Computer Music Tutorial (the bible)
Curtis Roads

Microsound (granular synthesis)
Curtis Roads

Computer Music (most common book to appear in tertiary education)
J. Dodge

2004-01-12T17:59:00.000+13:00

ideas:

there is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

there are some places you go where some people just don't like your face
Newman DeSouza, 07 Jan 2004 9:10am

2004-01-12T15:21:00.000+13:00

---------------------------------------------------
Things to do:
---------------------------------------------------

well... tracerfire is still in it's early days... so it's pretty much a Motivational/Idea Development place:

1) create mix CD
2)
3) paint kitchen bench
4) buy new washer
5) send out inaugural tracerfire email
6) contact friends back home whose email I do not have
7)
8) budget for new audio card - echo layla @ www.echoaudio.com
9)
10) budget for amplifier for turntable & speakers -- no use having them sit there! (oh .. and buy a nice record cleaning kit for sharon's old stuff)

2004-01-05T12:56:00.000+13:00

monday...

back to work it is -- many people are still on vacation and the only thing i have to do is sort through six months of paperwork

and absolutely lovely work it is

--

i have a million thoughts streaming through my melon at the moment --- i'm wasting my time here

...get up man and do something about it

2004-01-04T14:52:00.000+13:00

WELCOME TO TRACERFIRE

My first posting --- everything has to start somewhere I guess --- New Year's resolution to become productive?

...possibly

Anyhow, it's here... whatever IT is... only time will tell

---

I'm predicting this will turn into a place for people I haven't spoken to in a while to keep track of what I'm up to on a regular basis.

---

John-Paul's been in hiding -- -- --

welcome to my cave.

2004-01-01T16:30:00.000+13:00

FAVOURITE MUSIC:

(a few choice selections from the past 6 months)

btw... i know the concept of making lists is cheesy (nearly as bad a making mix tapes for girls you like)... but i do have to fill up space somehow until i come up with something truly amazing to say... enjoy

I've provided links for you to follow -- i recommend you expand your musical flavours and look into at least one or two of them!

mogwai
happy songs for happy people
www.mogwai.co.uk

biosphere
shenzou (the substrata reissue is nice too!)
www.touchmusic.org.uk
www.notam02.no/~geirje/biosphere.html

yasume
where we're from the birds sing pretty songs
www.city-centre-offices.de

bonobo
dial 'm' for monkey
www.ninjatune.net

amon tobin (also try the remixes and collaborations ep)
out from out where
www.ninjatune.net

pole (fantastic dub and vocal hiphop meltdown)
pole
www.scape-music.de

triosk meets jan jelinek (1 = jazz 3 = glitch)
1+3+1
www.scape-music.de

deadbeat (canadian glitchy electronic dub styles)
wildlife documentaries
www.scape-music.de

monolake (dark minimal techno -- play this on a humid night when you can't sleep)
gravity
www.monolake.de

mojave 3 (the band that WAS slowdive -- now spaced out country musings)
spoon and rafter
www.4ad.com

neil halstead (main man from mojave 3/slowdive)
sleeping on roads
www.4ad.com

buck 65 (nova scotia canadian hiphop styles)
talkin' honky blues
www.buck65.com
www.warnermusic.ca

manitoba (more canadian styles -- recommended highly kiddies)
up in flames
www.posteverything.com.com/leaf
www.manitoba.fm