Cortex on The Setup

November 12, 2015 12:03 PM

Josh talks about the stuff he uses to get things done.
posted by Cash4Lead to MetaFilter-Related at 12:03 PM (24 comments total)

That photo, cortex!! Are you Jessamyn's little brother??

Fascinating article. Gonna google many things now.
posted by taff at 12:39 PM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]

cortex: paraphrased Lester Bangs "Lower your expectations [about fancy tools], and get to work."
Nice.
posted by OmieWise at 12:55 PM on November 12, 2015 [2 favorites]

I didn't see "fistfuls of benzos" on this list as I was expecting but then I realized it's not his modding mefi setup.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:00 PM on November 12, 2015 [9 favorites]

Lots of stuff in that interview, but not so much stuff in Cortex's toolkit, which is admirable!

With so many linked gear mentions in those interviews I expected tons of affiliate links (gotta get paid), but didn't find a one.
posted by notyou at 1:11 PM on November 12, 2015

This was a fun thing to write up, it was nice of Dan to ask me to do it.

That photo, cortex!!

Apartment bathroom selfie right at the end of our summer in Huntsville. I gave Dan the option of that one or of a picture of my butt as I disappeared into a tunnel at the Enchanted Forest amusement park. I think he probably chose the better option.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:18 PM on November 12, 2015 [5 favorites]

dan, y u no butts lol :(
posted by en forme de poire at 1:25 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

TextEdit when I forget what an overhelpful piece of shit TextEdit is and use it by accident.

Hey, guy, wouldn't this be great as Rich Text? It's rich!

…

You sure?
posted by ignignokt at 1:54 PM on November 12, 2015

Previously on The Setup:

jessamyn
pb
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 2:03 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

The Setup has really set us up (the bomb!).
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:23 PM on November 12, 2015

That photo, cortex!! Are you Jessamyn's little brother??

You have to ask!?
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 2:28 PM on November 12, 2015 [2 favorites]

notyou: I feel too weird about adding affiliate links, for some reason.
posted by waferbaby at 2:48 PM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]

That photo, cortex!! Are you Jessamyn's little brother??

Little known fact: Millard is actually pronounced "West". All the letters are silent.
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:57 PM on November 12, 2015 [15 favorites]

Hey, guy, wouldn’t this be great as Rich Text? It’s That’s rich!
posted by Going To Maine at 3:04 PM on November 12, 2015

hey thanks, Johnny Wallflower - When I saw this I thought this had been on here before, but it was pb's, and I was just misremembering. Imagine being confused for one another you guys! (Not sure who should be most offended... /hamburger)

Right, will actually RTFA now.
posted by marienbad at 3:50 PM on November 12, 2015

Interesting to read, and I loved the last line in particular:

"That's all that matters: jot that idea down and start figuring out the quickest way to turn it into an actual thing."

As someone in the middle of NanoWrimo right now (21,193 words!! woohoo!) I can empathise with this idea big time. Nano is all about just getting it down, getting it done, and doing it quickly as you don't have the time to overthink it.
posted by marienbad at 3:58 PM on November 12, 2015

Incidently, if people ever have suggestions for other interviewees, my office is always open.

My office is the Internet.
posted by waferbaby at 5:35 PM on November 12, 2015 [2 favorites]

Infinite time and an army of interns

First, we take Manhattan...
posted by arcticseal at 8:40 PM on November 12, 2015

Enchanted Forest amusement park

It's a theme park.
posted by chrchr at 9:05 PM on November 12, 2015

Specifically which make and model audio interface do you use? I think I'm in the market for one.
posted by infinitewindow at 10:14 PM on November 12, 2015

Right now it's a Tascam US-800, which they don't make anymore because I guess there were some problems with it? And so it went on a clearance sale a while back and someone suggested it to me on Music I think, and I went for it and it's worked out really well.

I've also used a couple of smaller M-Audio devices over the years, a Fast Track and a Fast Track Pro; the former is super small and fine for single-input work, the latter has a couple channels and is a bit more flexible while still being minimal. The Pro shat the bed at some point, though, which is why I ended up in the market for the Tascam, especially since I'd started drumming and wanted to be able to mess around with several mics on the kit.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:43 PM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

I feel too weird about adding affiliate links, for some reason.

Affiliate links are just fine if disclosed.

"This site is funded through donations, advertising, and the use of affiliate links."

"This article contains affiliate links."

Personally, I found they weren't worth it, as I don't get enough traffic to get excited about the extra $25 annually.
posted by cjorgensen at 5:46 AM on November 13, 2015

Ha! Jessamyn and I are printer twins! (Though that interview was in 2011. She may have moved on by now.)
posted by mollymayhem at 11:47 PM on November 13, 2015

I ditched the postcard printer in favor of just getting my postcards printed at the drugstore, and that Brother printer is still going strong and I still love it. It's actually a little uncanny how much I'm using almost all the same stuff except the Twitter clients because Twitter changed their API. Also now I have a standing desk in addition to my other desk.
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 7:27 AM on November 14, 2015

Also now I have a standing desk in addition to my other desk.

As opposed to the Chaise Longue desk you used before?
posted by marienbad at 4:00 AM on November 15, 2015