Remapping, Elbows, and Samples
A visual editor for Karabiner, Kando settings update, getting unlocked from Bank of America, Superwhisper updates, elbows in street photography, OP-1 Resources
Hey guys, here's some stuff that stood out from my previous week.
On Karabiner
Karabiner—my go-to app for remapping my keyboard—has always been super powerful, but kind of a pain to configure. The config is in JSON, and in Karabiner specifically, this gets messy fast. I have been using Goku for years, but just found a new visual editor for creating Karabiner configs. Check this clip on Reddit.
If you’ve ever wanted to set up some macros and layers with Karabiner but found it too complicated, now’s a good time to give this a shot. And if you are more of an advanced user who is familiar with Goku, then you can check my EDN configuration and maybe get some inspiration.
On Kando
One of my favorite mouse automation tools, Kando, just got a big update. I use it to trigger scripts, open apps, run shortcuts, run Alfred Workflows, etc. Users have often asked me about how I use this app but I was waiting for this update before sharing more. I guess now it may be a good time for me to start planning a video on it. The videos by the developer are super helpful though, and I think they do have most of what you need to know to get started.
On Credit Cards
A couple of weeks ago, my Bank of America card got locked up while I was buying my OP-1 Field synth (of course). If you’re living outside the U.S. and your card gets blocked, unlocking it can turn into a nightmare—especially if you don’t have a U.S. phone number handy. Here are a few tips that have saved me a lot of hassle:
For phone verification, both Anveo and Callcentric work for forwarding calls or getting verification codes. I have everything forwarding to my Google Voice number. Not all banks accept Google Voice (and some don’t accept Callcentric either), so having a double backup here has been a lifesaver. I did have to set all this up before moving out of the US a few years back, but that’s because Google Voice is not available in Mexico. My guess is that I could have also done it with a VPN.
Now, in my case—this time around—I still messed up phone verification and it seemed impossible to authenticate. I ended up finding a local relative with a U.S. number, downloaded the BoA app on her phone, and called the bank through it. When you call from the app, you don’t have to do any extra authentication.
If you’re in a similar spot and don’t have a U.S. number, you can grab an eSIM from Tello with a U.S. number. Just get the cheapest plan, install it, and call Bank of America through the app (using Erica, their AI helper). That’s it—no SMS needed.
This Substack sometimes gets found through Google, so I figured I’d mention all this. It really was a headache and thought there was no solution, but if you ever get locked out, these tips might save you a lot of trouble.
On Superwhisper
One more week, one more feature gone. As much as I like Superwhisper for dictation, recent updates keep breaking some of my workflows. Macrowhisper includes a macro which would update the menu bar to show the current Superwhisper mode. It would be automatically triggered/updated whenever the user changed modes mid-recording. Superwhisper has changed the way in which the processing happens, so this won’t work automatically anymore because mode changing won’t create new recordings. Also, I found that the TextChat feature (which I demoed here) is gone—thanks to Superwhisper not capturing app context anymore when transcribing files.
I get that most users probably don’t use these “tricks” or “secret features”, but it’s still disappointing to see useful things disappear.
On Elbows
A few days ago I watched this video on elbows in street photography, where Stephen Leslie shares his long-running obsession with elbows as a photographic subject. Yeah, it sounds odd at first, but he makes a great case for how elbows are this overlooked yet unique part of the human body. It’s true: once you start noticing them, you realize each one is different—fat elbows, thin elbows, elbows with tattoos, dry skin, you name it. Something I found interesting is the idea that elbows are both personal and anonymous. Leslie even jokes that if he took a photo of your elbow, you probably wouldn’t recognize it as your own unless you had a very distinctive tattoo. He’s spent over 20 years photographing elbows, making zines, and even mixing and matching left and right elbows to create “imaginary” people.
But there’s a deeper point here. Leslie says, “Photography and street photography in particular is all about looking at the world differently—it’s about stopping and reconsidering something that you might otherwise ignore because it’s so common or so ordinary.” He goes through examples from classic photographers like André Kertész and Vivian Maier, showing how elbows sneak into iconic images.
Oh and there’s even an unexpected bit on “selfie elbow,” a real tech injury from holding up your phone for too many selfies :)
On The Rehearsal
A couple weeks ago I found this video analysis on The Rehearsal and only made it through a few minutes before I realized I had to actually watch the show first. I ended up binging the whole season, last week I finished the second season, then came back and finished the video. Highly recommend doing it in that order—or at least wait until you’ve seen the first season—because the analysis is really good when you’ve got some context.
The video essay goes into the blurry line between what’s real and what’s fake in Nathan Fielder’s show. It’s not just about reality TV, but about how people start performing for the camera, and how easy it is to lose track of where the acting stops and real life begins. There’s this bit about “simulacra” and “simulation”—basically, when a fake situation becomes so detailed it starts to feel real for everyone involved. Sometimes, even the participants forget what’s real.
If you’re into shows that mess with reality, want to learn a bit about human psychology, or just want a smart explanation of what in the world you just watched, definitely check out this video.
On IG
I’ve been down the OP-1 rabbit hole for a while now. Two weeks in, I think I’ve absorbed almost all the theory there is about how to use this machine. My brain is fully charged with ideas, and honestly, it’s a bit scary because now I need to actually make things with it instead of just reading and watching videos.
So, I’ve been trying to shift from just messing around with the OP-1 Field to actually making something with it. I even dusted off my old Instagram account and posted a little track where I’m just messing around with the synth. I’m not sure if I’ll keep posting there, though—my relationship with Instagram is complicated. I stopped sharing stuff a while ago because it was way too easy to lose time scrolling. Plus, more and more “algorithm” posts from random accounts keep popping up. And then there’s that pressure to chase views and likes. I try not to care about stats or numbers—whether it’s on YouTube or here in the newsletter—because it can get discouraging, but on IG it’s so in your face that it’s tough to ignore. Anyway, maybe I’ll share more OP-1 experiments there. Maybe I won’t. Guess we’ll see.
On OP1 Resources
Now, in case anyone reading this is also on the hunt for OP-1 resources, or just learning about making beats and sampling, here are a few great links I’ve found this past week:
Beat Dissected (from Attack Magazine): This is amazing for learning rhythms and drum patterns, even if you’re not a drummer (like me). They break down styles, explain how to recreate them, and you can try them out on whatever sequencer you have—or, honestly, any tool you’re using. It’s not tied to one specific piece of gear. The ideas work no matter what you’re working with.
OP-101 (OP-101 Blog): Good for understanding some of the classic OP-1 synth engines. Not everything matches the Field version, but a lot is similar.
OP-1 Field Notebook (Synthdawg): I mentioned this before, but this is probably the best in-depth explanation for the Field’s synths and features. I’ve been reading, rereading, and coming back to bookmarked sections again and again. There’s so much here to absorb.
Son Wu’s YouTube Tutorials (YouTube Playlist): Great hands-on, detailed videos.
OP-1 Tips on GitHub (ratbag98/op1tips): A big list of little hacks and tricks you probably won’t find in the manual.
On Sampling
Before I got the OP-1 Field, my first (and only) sampler was the Yamaha VSS-30. I only bought it because I knew Sigur Rós were fans of it. It’s a funny little retro keyboard—really low-quality audio, but that’s the charm. The sounds you get out of it are super grainy and kind of unpredictable, which actually helps create some cool, organic textures. It’s got a vibe.
This past week, I dug the VSS-30 out of the closet and started messing around with it again, this time together with the OP-1 Field. Man, the OP-1 is a whole different beast, but putting the two together has been a lot of fun. I’ve also been exploring online sound packs, just to see what’s out there. There’s something exciting about grabbing a single sample from a random tape, slowing it down, reversing it, or layering it with other sounds, and then running it through the OP-1’s effects—suddenly you’ve got a new instrument on your hands. It really feels like a whole new world of experimentation.
If you want to try this stuff, here are some places I’ve found great samples for the OP1:
Blank Forms on Gumroad – Lots of organic and tape-based sounds. I picked up a pack here and might get more. These packs are not for the OP1 but can be adapted for pretty much any tool or app that works with samples.
I’m still figuring this out and feel like I’m just scratching the surface, but combining old gear with new tools, and mixing in random samples from the web seems like a whole new thing I’m excited to continue exploring.
On Music
In recent years I’ve mostly been listening to podcasts, audiobooks, and articles. Being so much into productivity makes it difficult to find time for music. But lately I’ve been trying to go back to it… just listening to music for the sake of enjoyment. Since I’ve been into synth stuff, here are a few artists that have been on repeat:
Home (I just discovered this one)
Cliff Martinez (Drive OST)
Most of these artists are the same ones I listened to years ago. Even now, their music still feels fresh and amazing to me. There’s just something about them—so much expression and soul in what they create. It doesn’t feel like they’re just showing off technique or trying to prove how cool their music is. Instead, it’s about playing with feeling, letting yourself get lost, and communicating something real through sound.
I believe that when music (or art in general) comes from a place of expression and passion, you can really feel it. That’s what I’m always chasing. I think I’ve had it, on and off, over the years. It’s a journey—always trying to find my way back.
On Cinema
Sovereign (2025). I think this is an important movie for these times that we’re living in. Synopsis: Struggling single father Jerry indoctrinates his son Joe into the sovereign citizen movement, teaching him that laws are mere illusions and freedom is something you take. But, as Jerry’s ideology consumes them, they are set on a collision course with a police chief who has spent his life upholding the rules that Jerry has spent his tearing down.
Wild Diamond (2024). Such a good coming of age movie. Very raw and honest. Very character-centered. Synopsis: Liane, 19 years old, daring and fiery, lives with her mother and little sister under the dusty sun of Fréjus in the South of France. Obsessed with beauty and the need to become “someone”, she sees reality TV as her opportunity to be loved… Fate smiles upon her when she auditions for “Miracle Island”.
Tatami (2024). I loved the cinematography. I also think that it talks about a couple of very serious issues and even though I found it hard to relate at times, I think the film handled it all very well—I didn’t feel it tried to push an agenda. Synopsis; Iranian female judokas Leila and her coach Maryam, travel to the Judo World Championship, intent on bringing home Iran’s first gold medal. Midway through the Judo World Championships, they receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, or she will be branded a traitor of the state. With her own and her family’s freedom at stake, Leila is faced with an impossible choice: comply with the Iranian regime as her coach Maryam implores her to do, or fight on, for the gold.
If you liked this you may also enjoy some content I have up on my YT Channel! I don’t hang around social media a lot, but when I do I’m on IG or Twitter. You can also check out some of my online classes, listen to my music, or in case you haven’t already, subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Thank you for reading!