A home for my ambient and novelty audio mixes, video, software and other random projects.

Creating bootable USB sticks for OS install in Windows

For one reason and another, I’ve been doing a lot of clean OS installs recently. This entailed writing disk images to bootable USB drives from my Windows 7 machine with a motley crew of different tools. Before I forget it all, here’s a summary of which tools worked for each OS.

Win32 ImageWriter:  https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer

I’ve used this successfully for…

The Chrome OS image creates several partitions on your USB drive which then confuses Windows next time you use the USB drive for something else. This can be resolved by using (with a sensible level of caution) the Windows DISKPART utility from a command prompt to clean the partition table from the USB disk.

Linux Live USB Creator: http://www.linuxliveusb.com/

I’ve used this successfully for these images, but it supports loads of others as well…

I couldn’t boot from the resulting USB drive when using this with:

Ultimate Boot CD: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Includes a batch file for creating a bootable USB version: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/customize.html#usb

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool:   http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

I’ve used this successfully for…

Losing Track Of Time (Edward & Hidden Persuaders)

Long overdue new mix with Hidden Persuaders. This time we’re going on a journey through space and time with the help of some smooth electronica, ambience, and cosmic house. Plus the usual array of mash-ups and movies.

 

Edward and Hidden Persuaders - Losing Track Of Time by RobotEdward

Download:

Listener Comments:

“well… wat a mix inspired me to do the much needed weeding in the garden and ended up being played twice. superb mix fella’s, you really bring out the best in each other… from full on ambient to dubby house to blissed out acid and back again a veritable trip thru time & space” 

“This sounds like a lost Bent album, quirky, laidback, dreamy house. Very well mixed” 

“BRILL. Ace dubby vibe that had me head nodding all the way through – set to be a late night summer staple” 

“Awesome job folks! Great tunes and mixed wonderfully. Very moving with a calming effect. Peace”

Fab new mix with HP up on b00mb0x now. Info and links to follow.

Fab new mix with HP up on b00mb0x now. Info and links to follow.

Remoto still available for your aged smartphone

Years ago, I built and sold a Windows Mobile smartphone app for controlling iTunes over bluetooth - to coincide with the launch of the airport express remote speakers. It was kinda like the “Remote” app for iPhone just optimised for a tiny screen and dialpad controls.

I guess the world wasn’t ready for it, but I got a lot of use out of the thing. 

Anyway, turns out it’s still for sale over at PocketGear.com. Not sure how I’d get any money out of it these days but if you’ve got £7(!) to spare and a smartphone from 2005 then why not buy the that app 2 out of 2 reviewers rated as 4 stars or higher!  

       

Are We Nearly There Yet? (Edward & Hidden Persuaders)

Another collaboration with Hidden Persuaders. Our ambient/electronic/easy/pop tribute to British summer holidays.

Download:

Listener Comments::

“This mix is still boss on the ipod. I have listened to it over 20 times and I still ain’t finished.”
“This mix comes off just like a warm refreshing summer breeze of joy! Best mix I’ve heard in a while! Thanks for sharing the joy! I want to get in my car and drive to nowhere now now.”
“As expected a really beautiful mix. Great use of samples and a really warm summery vibe throughout.”
“This is by FAR my favorite mix on [B00mb0x]. Especialy when driving a car, it’s like a cosy little pillow of warmth to my mood”

It’s Not That Important

 

A relaxed, atmospheric affair with a few more upbeat sections thrown in. Sleepy, romantic, melancholy and silly. Good for the morning after.

Download:

Listener Comments::

“Absolutely loved this throughout. Great vibe, inspired tunes and original samples. A really fresh sounding chilled mix that has plenty enough depth to make it a keeper. Thanks Edward.”
“Edward, this mix is awesome! It’s like you picked out all my favorite electronic tracks! I love every track on this mix! I have been stuck in this rut of rock lately that I have not been able to escape. I DO beleive this mix has cured me for a while… I just love the old electronic anolog sound. Thanks for the inspiration.”
“Enjoyed this one - the vibe and the samples were excellent.”
“Top stuff as usual Edward…”
“A really lovely, serene mix.”
“Listened to this loads now. What can I say except Brilliaaaaaaant. Loved your clever little tweaks as usual, you’ve got a great ear for mixing stuff up.”

Spooky Action At A Distance (Edward & Hidden Persuaders)

A collaboration with Hidden Persuaders. Atmospheric ambient music with a touch of pop, techno, and easy listening.

Download:

Listener Comments::

“Beautiful, just beautiful.”
“This is a class mix. Can’t easily pin it down to a genre to describe it, which is a big plus. Also like the way it moves between spooky and more straightforward chillout/downtempo.”
“Guys…This is bloody awesome! The start of the mix sets it up perfectly and it just flows seamlessly from there.”
“It might have just been the right mix for the right mood, but this mix is f***in awe-inspiring, and would have been my first 10/10. Not too subtle to make me lose interest, but subtle enough to take me on a journey. It’s got ups and downs, and samples to perfection. I hope that you two are proud of yourselves…if not you should be!!”

Watch With Edward (A Video Mix)

My video mix: a lovingly crafted blend of electro-pop and classic tv and film mash-ups. As shown at Robots Need Toys in July. It’s all interspersed with clips, video mixes and bad jokes that appeal to me. Kind of a compendium of things I treasure.


Download:

Listener Comments::

“This is Awesome. I dig every little drop. A masterful piece of artwork.”
“A masterpiece Edward. The mix on its own would stand up against most on [b00mb0x] but the video overlay is just great. The Hi de Hi piece is brilliant. I was grinning like an idiot at it.”
“Wow! Excellent mix, great videos, excellent choice of music… Hats off!”
“Nice stuff dude, worth the effort for the Louis Theroux rap alone!”
“Loved it all. What a great night’s viewing, this and 6 cans of Kronenbourg… marvellous. I’m not even going to begin asking how long it took to put together. Almost too many highlights to mention. Lots of great tracks I would never have heard without this.”

Robots Need Toys Promo Video Mini-Mix

AKA Watch With Edward (The Prequel)

A video mini-mix I put together to promote the first Robots Need Toys night. More electro-pop, rap, comedy and kids tv all crammed into a fun-packed 4 minutes. Completely different tracks to the main Watch With Edward video mix.

Download:

Listener Comments::

“That was fantastic mate, must have took an age just to do that clip. Loved it when Evil Nine came in right on the beat. Top stuff”
“Thought the mix was excellent - nice to see a bit of Rollo again! Tunes worked well together without relying on the video.”
“Incredible work.Thanks much.I can’t wait for the full-length version!”
“Always like a bit of innovation. This is great”

Edward Plays Pop (70 Minutes of Gladness)

More vintage mixing… 

Dance-pop, Rave and Bootlegs. One to chuck on the stereo at parties. Includes some of my own bootys (Beyonce vs Pizzicato 5, Homer Simpson vs Herb Alpert vs Busta Rhymes).

The last section is comprised of my favourite songs from a time when the charts were full of mediocre people taking themselves too seriously (Oasis, Weller etc) and dismissing anything ‘manufactured’. I’m still a sucker for quality europop to this day.

Download:

Listener Comments::

“Genius.”
“Great… sounds like the good old days of ‘easy tune’.”
“Some good, some BAD :shock: but a great mix Edward”
“this is a great mixtape…thank you…love the spanish flea jumping about bit & the way the barbie dolls were workin it out….look out theres bloody Yoda again.”
“Top shelf Sir Edward………nice work…..really enjoying”
“A long time ago I surrendered to my inexplicable love of pop music. That’s not all that I like, but I’m a sucker for a well-crafted pop tune. I like this mix, sure enough.”

My Homies and Me

Another mix from the archive (2003 ish I think). I guess that makes them middle-school breaks by now…

Breakbeats (new and old skool, fast and slow), TV themes, and lots of messing about.

 

Download:

Listener Comments::

“Steppin’ in nicely … Good toons, good technique!”
“Very cool mix of nu-school breaks, old school breaks, and funky hip hop. Love any time I here Altern8 in a mix. I also like the way you brought the home stretch in a jazzy hip hop vibe. Top one nice one get sorted!”
My first mellow mix. Atmospheric listening music with a sense of humour. Infused with love, nostalgia, melancholy and sleepiness. Download: From B00mb0x.org From MixCloud: http://www.mixcloud.com/RobotEdward/relax-with-edward/ Listener Comments:: “Awesome track list and chilled to perfection, keep ‘em coming.” “Very cool and varied. Global Comm, St Etiene, Barbarella, Gentle People - marks of quality.” “I can only chill to this and hope to float into oblivion excellent stuff thank you” “Listened to this 50 times…..aaaaaah” “stonking mix, with a judicious use of samples”

My first mellow mix. Atmospheric listening music with a sense of humour. Infused with love, nostalgia, melancholy and sleepiness.

Download:

Listener Comments::

“Awesome track list and chilled to perfection, keep ‘em coming.”
“Very cool and varied. Global Comm, St Etiene, Barbarella, Gentle People - marks of quality.”
“I can only chill to this and hope to float into oblivion excellent stuff thank you”
“Listened to this 50 times…..aaaaaah”
“stonking mix, with a judicious use of samples”

The New Shoe

Comfortable Shoe is the home for my projects and other non-professional bits and pieces. The last 5 years of Blosxom was fun but I’m now giving tumblr a go. I’ll start off by re-posting some stuff from the old site.

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