iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 9h

Interesting that AI convinced me that there was insufficient RAM in my DAC to perform the upgrade, and today it tells me there`s plenty of room in there. So seemingly it should be possible so I need to buy yet another micro SD card to experiment with since it currently is dependent on the last one.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This DAC streamer upgrade process is such madness making a Windows PC create a Unix micro DS card layout, and then when you pop it in the DAC and fire it up, it should blank out the display and we wait for 10 minutes and turn it off and on, fingers crossed. That`s it: no messages, no progress bar.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

New DAC Streamer was bricked this morning. It would not talk to the ethernet since the the update failed. AI persuaded me to try a different configuration of the update, which mercifully worked. However, the OS is now on my micro SD card in the back forever. Not the update I wanted.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Got a new streamer to try out. Little bit clearer on the good stuff but songs from the metal loudness wars are worse. Also need to do a firmware update, but the first update from v1 needs a micro SD card and I don`t have a spare until Saturday. Still, I can play the good stuff and burn in.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Having a little play with Audacity, as AI suggested, to calm down some CD tracks that have clearly been pushed too loud, the waveform is just a big block. The Clip Fix scales down most values but tries to put the peaks back. Trying to make something out of nothing, but I now hear some percussion.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Just read an article that "proves" time travel. A 160 year old painting that depicts someone walking and holding something. The suggestion is that it`s a mobile phone or tablet. Now I`m no expert, but a painting isn`t proof of anything, just like in the AI age, even a photo is not proof of anything.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I was disappointed by AI telling me that my Terminator 2, Chatmed, and Memoirs of a Geisha film posters that have real-looking autographs are most likely faked by getting a machine to do the signatures. They only advertised about 3 of each, so they could have been genuine. Still, nice posters.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Since Mr. Rignall's lovely book has a whole page of my Paradroid artwork, I should sign it.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I'm not at a stage where I want to get AI to do any "creative" work. It's behaving as a colleague who knows how to do everything and is telling me how, not what, to do. So it's being useful and encouraging, which is what I need. Incidentally, I don't think it believes that I wrote Uridium.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Had a chat with AI about how I need to create graphics for this new piece. I told it what I've got so far, and said it looked too fast now. We agreed my calculations were correct, but 60fps needs a bit more care and attention. I saved 14 pages of chat and recommendations. Lots of work there.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Unexpected minor tax rebate received, must have overpaid last year. I should be doing the maths on this, I suppose. Pays for some new isolation pucks I just ordered. AI told me to Blu-tak a £2 coin to the top of my Blu-ray player in the meantime. And yes, that helps! Though I used 3 2p coins.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Had a discussion with AI about getting one of these plug-in solar panels, since I don`t have a south-facing roof. Turns out that my main RCD switch is not good enough. Adding a car charger option also revealed that my consumer unit is unsuitable. Some modern upgrades needed.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The really nice clean recordings do, of course, come across best. There are still vast differences in the recording volumes so adjustments need to be made from song to song. Since letting the streamer set the volume caused all manner of trouble, I await the firmware fix.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Had more discussions with AI about optimising my hi-fi. After it insulted my lovely Yamaha RX-A8A, it recommended using the analogue input and Pure Direct Mode to get the sound cleanly to the Bryston power amp. Also had me move the NAS and the ethernet switch away from the streamer. Does sound nice!

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I watched a podcast where they examined new remasters and new albums and noted the dynamics are less in new stuff because they push the volume high, which reduces detail and can add distortion. The old version of the CD might be able to breathe better and have more contrast. Louder isn't better.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

To the issue of music volume normalisation, then. All albums are set up so the tracks are similar volumes. Compilation albums have each track normalised too. Only recently have I noticed how different some albums are, likely the producer volume wars where they do new stuff loud and clip the data.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I had to clear my streaming playlist, where data might be lurking, turn on levelling to quiet and any other setting, play a song, turn off levelling and the other setting so it saves all the settings. Switch off for 5 minutes, then back on, and so far it's OK. Well done AI Sherlock. Relief!

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Well, AI has figured out why my music streamer has been suffering drop-outs at the end of some songs. I had all the clues but could not piece them together like AI did, and it had a complex fix too. Any normal end-user would have binned the streamer as faulty. Replacement would indeed fix it! ...

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

A mobile app that won't let you leave the login screen without logging in is behaving like a captor. There's no reason not to have a close button or a "sorry I came here by accident" button. Still, rebooting the phone works. I must delete that app, I only use that service on my PC.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Indeed, if AI, with a load of coaching, can convert a game from 68000 to C, what will that program look like? Can it make up some reasonable function names? Does it understand how the interrupts work to control the frame rate? Has AI replaced me already?

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

An ethical issue has cropped up. If an Amiga game has been converted to C and works on new platforms then it could reasonably be released. I feel that it must not be functionally altered, else it might damage the original`s reputation. Similar as conversions but now replicas can be perfect.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

More disagreements with the internet. If retailers try to figure out if I`m a Hooman and decide that I`m not, then it will affect their sales. I don`t know how their mechanism works, but there`s no Captcha, it just decides on its own. Are robots that close to being Hooman now?

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Mr. Fender Jazz is fixed, tuned, intonated, greased, and polished. He's now having a rest.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Rule one of working on wires to replace components: take a photo of the existing wiring, rather than attempting to remember it.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Surgery is planned for the Fender Jazz bass. I have to fit the new socket, due Thursday, de-solder and solder to the new socket each group of wires in turn. It was soldered correctly, I was not reading it right. 2 wires to the tip, 1 to the ring and all the earth's to the sleeve. Simples!

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Ordered a new stereo socket. I altered the Fender Jazz to stereo, Looking at the wiring, I don`t understand it. I know it works, or do I? It doesn`t look. Have to get the meter out and check it. Draw a diagram. Since I have to de-solder the old socket I have an opportunity to sort it out.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Got the remaining tuners fitted to the Fender Jazz this morning. Everything was going swimmingly, I dug out my Warwick bass tuner, tuned up and was preparing to sort out the intonation when the tuner stopped working. Not its fault: plugging in the cable broke the brittle plastic jack socket. Oh no!

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

3 more tuning pegs ordered to complete my Fender Jazz upgrade. Pretty much committed once I put one on to check it's the right size. I noticed the intonation was a bit out when tuning up, needs doing. Mr. turner is due to visit next week, and he WILL notice!

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

I keep finding more and more gadgets with little button batteries: 2 eyepieces with illuminated cross-hairs, red-dot finder, finder scope with illuminated cross-hairs, thermometer, 3 watches, 3 PC motherboards, 12 Fridgezoos, scales, 2 car fobs. Many, many, different-sized batteries!

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

I bought a single (treble-side) Hipshot HB2 tuning head to test an upgrade to my '76 Fender Jazz, since I already upgraded the bridge. Yes, the tuners are reversible, when you have a 7/16 Allen key, and it's a correct match for the screw holes. Even uses the old ferule so that stays in. Simples!

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

We must be coming up to #C64 Alleykat`s 40th anniversary of release. I wanted to scroll the whole screen at 50 frames per second - almost did the whole screen but I had to cheat at the sides. I also wanted more colours for the fonts to get more shiny metal effects, and some wacky vehicles.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Had an hour's panic when I couldn't find my telescope wi-fi device. Couldn't find it anywhere. I expected it to be in the eyepiece case. Emptied it, nope, not there. Checked all other cases and boxes. Nope. About to order a new one. Finally found a hidden compartment in the eyepiece case. Saved.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Way back when US Gold games were coming out in the UK, tape multi-loads really annoyed me. I never twigged that they would have been disk games in the US so there was no tape rewinding needed. Only just realised that since we did produce Paradroid, Uridium and Alleykat on disk for the US, and UK.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

AI was telling me about a previously unseen tension bolt on my big RC telescope. The focusser was slipping under the weight of a prism and a monster eye-piece. Under the focuser is a little knurled bolt that allows me to tighten the focuser so it doesn`t slip. What a good feature! Thanks, AI.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Saw 7 Perseids but failed to capture any on camera. A camera that shoots for a minute and then spends another minute stacking gives a 50% chance if pointing the right way. The final straw was discovering that the camera lens was all dewed up. So, here`s one I saw and captured 11 years ago...

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The eclipse was good fun: astronomy by daylight! Many people tried to take a camera phone shot through the eyepiece. It's pretty tricky for the camera. I took a photo of the projection screen...

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I was going to write a blog page on the learning processes when writing games. I thought to myself: an example or two would be nice. Then I realised that I don`t remember how I did those things. I know I didn`t sit there reading whole books on the hardware, though I did have them for reference.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I set up a spreadsheet to work out the stopping distance of my new space ship. If you race to the edge of the map, you have to brake earlier than if you slowly approach the edge. Easy equation: slowing down distance = half of (speed squared divided by deceleration rate).

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Received my latest shipment from SU-METAL at 8:07 this morning. Metal Forth Deluxe Edition from Japan, and an extra T-shirt. Shame I don't have an open-topped CD player to see the pattern going round on the DeLorean.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

New control mode is now happier. Still got some revisions and further features to add, but I understand why it didn`t work. Starting to feel familiar again. Loop and roll!

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Next week's partial solar eclipse already causing energy concerns due to that naughty moon reducing the Sun's energy by 95% for a few minutes. It'll almost be sunset anyway, are we really going to have to turn the gas on? We'll all be outside admiring the spectacle, not cooking dinner.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

That moment when there's a thud somewhere in the house and you have to go search not only for what fell and caused the thud, but also what caused the fall. Seemingly I was the latter, but there was a 5-minute delay between me leaving the room; and the thud. Aliens! Must be. Clumsy aliens.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

New super-dooper Furutech locking gold banana plugs installed on the 2nd back surround speaker. Rumour has it that the price is about to go up. Got the last cables done that needed the upgrade. If everything is optimised, it will be as good as it can be.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

I can send CD data from my Lumin streamer and let the Yamaha amp distribute the music around all the speakers, not just triple stereo, it shreds it and makes a surround soundstage. Since altering the Atmos speaker definitions, they`re all doing a ton of bass, and one subwoofer is sleeping.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Another way to record the solar eclipse is to get one of these modern smart telescopes. I borrowed this Dwarflab 2,which does tracking, seeking by app, astrophotography and all the image stacking. For eclipses, you need to put its sun-filters on and you can shoot single shots or a movie.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

For eclipse viewing, March 2025 we had a few ways to watch. One way, if you don`t have any solar filters, is to project the image onto a sheet of paper in a box...

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

It's worth setting beginner expectations that this kind of view is not, ever, going to be seen with any telescope. It requires many hours of capturing consecutive photos, often over multiple nights, and processing for hours to combine the shots and then photo software to coax the faint details out.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

It`s good to have at least one eyepiece with cross-hairs, preferably illuminated, because otherwise how are you going to see black cross-hairs against the night sky? This allows us to line up a target in the telescope and the finder scope to point to the same spot. Saves searching time.

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Andrew Braybrook @uridiumauthor.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

With the partial (from the UK) solar eclipse coming up in a fortnight, there's some specialised gear needed to make it safe. I have a front solar filter and a special solar finder scope. Do not look at the sun without proper protective filters. These filters reduce the light to 0.01% brightness.

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