Featured:
This was the announcement of the iPhone that changed how we would be interacting with our mobile devices (for both good and bad). Detailed writeup: https://blog.murasama.net/2026/01/09/steve-jobs-announces-the-iphone-on-january-9-2007/
Pro-shot at 日本武道館 (Nippon Budokan).
Nostalgic trip down memory lane… one of the more interesting side things I got to experience ~25 years ago was being part of the rollout for the then new Yamaha PM1D professional modular digital mixing console for Shiina Hekiru’s 2001 Precious Garden Summer tour. For this 2004 New Years Day show, the 2003 show served as a reference where lessons were taken from it with the presets and production audio mix being dialed in more tightly.
Regardless, I’ve long wanted to “visually re-master” the original pro-shot footage (480p) to at least 1080p but that tech didn’t really exist until recent years. Hours of experimenting with different settings plus GPU processing has resulted in this video which now more closely matches the audio. Getting this to 4K (with excellent quality) is years away BUT I almost got a usable 1440p60 version (maybe a few software iterations away). Anyway, this is the fully “remastered” version in 1080p60.
Pro-shot at 日本武道館 (Nippon Budokan).
Nostalgic trip down memory lane… one of the more interesting side things I got to experience ~25 years ago was being part of the rollout for the then new Yamaha PM1D professional modular digital mixing console for Shiina Hekiru’s 2001 Precious Garden Summer tour. Most shows from these tours in 2001 through 2002 (～Around the sadistic～ tour) were at concert halls and smaller live houses except the 2002 ~NEW STEP~ News Years Day show at the much larger Nippon Budokan (which has challenging hall acoustics) which was not pro shot recorded. For this 2003 New Years Day show (which was pro shot), the presets and production audio mix ended up leaning towards a more bass heavy sound that IMHO, lacked the crystal clear separation of the 2001 mix. Hekiru also was slightly congested/not feeling 100% (which may have affected the soundcheck/preset calibrations).
Regardless, I’ve long wanted to “visually re-master” the original pro-shot footage (480p) to at least 1080p but that tech didn’t really exist until recent years. Hours of experimenting with different settings plus GPU processing has resulted in this video which now more closely matches the audio. Getting this to 4K (with excellent quality) is years away BUT I almost got a usable 1440p60 version (maybe a few software iterations away). Anyway, this is the fully “remastered” version in 1080p60.
Pro-shot at 東京厚生年金会館 (Tokyo Koseinenkin Hall) • closed as of 2010年3月31日.
Nostalgic trip down memory lane… one of the more interesting side things I got to experience ~25 years ago was being part of the rollout for the then new Yamaha PM1D professional modular digital mixing console for Shiina Hekiru’s 2001 Precious Garden Summer tour. It was introduced in December 2000; a modular system of the control surface and modules like the DSP engine, controller, I/O units, and power supply along with Windows software which allowed additional functionality (by connecting a PC/laptop to the system). Due to my side interest in music, I ended up being part of the prototype field test group (in Silicon Valley).
This was during that time period of the transition from analog to digital (my tech background with digital audio/video, networking, and systems is partially why I ended up being involved as event staff). I was still working in Silicon Valley but spent time in between Santa Clara, California and Tokyo as the enterprise liaison (at Apple) working with the Japanese office. Things sort of fell into place with Yamaha Japan/this side gig; when I moved to Japan a few years later (due to another opportunity), it resulted in one of the best life experiences I’ve had.
I still remember how this setup shaped the dimension of her live sound going forward (why I noted the “sonic superiority” in that draft (words from her long time sound engineer). Being at many of her concerts for the next 5 years, that live sound is still very vivid. This system was finally EOL in 2015 (PM5D replaced it in 2004). Since 2015, Yamaha now has a RIVAGE PM series that builds on this legacy but in a much more portable form factor (the old consoles required a team to move and set it up).
I’ve long wanted to “visually re-master” the original pro-shot footage (480p) to at least 1080p but that tech didn’t really exist until recent years. Hours of experimenting with different settings plus GPU processing has resulted in this video which now more closely matches the audio. Getting this to 4K (with excellent quality) is years away BUT I almost got a usable 1440p60 version (maybe a few software iterations away). Anyway, this is the fully "remastered" version in 1080p60.
HVO: Episode 41 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea at 11:10 a.m. HST on January 24. Tephra fall has been reported in public viewing areas within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Volcano Village, Mauna Loa Estates, and Ohia Estates. As of 12:10 p.m., both north and south vent fountains were over 500 m (1640 feet) tall.
Episode 41 ended abruptly at 7:29 pm. North vent fountaining ended at 7:26 pm, and south vent followed suit 3 minutes later. Tephra fall may continue for several hours as ash settles out of the atmosphere.
Short video for the guide; 3 phones streaming locally via SRT to OBS
Quick video showing a simple (local network) SRT relay (between a Galaxy S25 Ultra and OBS). This simple point-to-point transport is like the base foundation for an actual Belabox Cloud type of SRT relay for IRL streaming (which also has additional features like link aggregation aka SRTLA that allows for bonding connections using multiple connection sources via USB modems and/or SIM’s as well as a server process that provides the data connection information for bitrate and latency). Setup guide.
Episode 40 sustained lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea began at 822 a.m. HST on January 12, 2026. This VOD is from 1507 to 1822. 1128 to 1507 part of the VOD.
This fountaining was preceded by several days of significant precursory activity that included cyclic spatter and dome fountains from both the north and south vents that fed large lava flows on the crater floor including a flow from the south vent that reached 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) in length.
Sustained lava fountains erupting from the north vent are currently reaching heights of more than 200 meters (660 feet) and feeding a lava flow on the crater floor. Intermittent spatter continues from the south vent.
The main video feeds have no audio; we were feeding audio into the combined output of this stream (Yolobox to streaming ingests).
HVO update: Episode 40 ended at 604 pm HST after 9.7 hours of eruption from the north vent. The south vent was not active during the high fountain phase. Lava flows covered about one half to two thirds of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.
Episode 40 sustained lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea began at 822 a.m. HST on January 12, 2026. This VOD is from 1128 to 1507 (audio at the beginning cuts in/out intermittently; bad mic). 1507 to ending VOD.
This fountaining was preceded by several days of significant precursory activity that included cyclic spatter and dome fountains from both the north and south vents that fed large lava flows on the crater floor including a flow from the south vent that reached 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) in length.
Sustained lava fountains erupting from the north vent are currently reaching heights of more than 200 meters (660 feet) and feeding a lava flow on the crater floor. Intermittent spatter continues from the south vent.
The main video feeds have no audio; we were feeding audio into the combined output of this stream (Yolobox to streaming ingests).
HVO update: Episode 40 ended at 604 pm HST after 9.7 hours of eruption from the north vent. The south vent was not active during the high fountain phase. Lava flows covered about one half to two thirds of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.
Quick video showing a simple SRT relay (between iPhone and OBS). This simple point-to-point relay is like the base foundation for an actual Belabox Cloud type of SRT relay (which also has additional features like link aggregation aka SRTLA that allows for bonding connections using multiple connection sources via USB modems and/or SIM's as well as a server process that provides the data connection information for bitrate and latency). Setup guide.
Day 1: Novelbright／lynch. / GODLAND / シド / SIAM SOPHIA / T.M.Revolution / DIR EN GREY / BRAHMAN / LUNA SEA
Note: Not the entire setlist for each group. Performance by MY FIRST STORY not shown. Full Day 1 LUNA SEA set (coming soon)
LUNATIC FEST 2025 Writeup (in progress)
LUNA SEA's drummer Shinya (Yamada) made a "surprise" appearance at LUNATIC FEST 2025 after deciding to sit out from performing due to the discovery of a brain tumor several months ago. He decided to turn over the drumming duties to a long trusted friend; his former student and drum technician, Jun-ji (Sakuma) who was the drummer for SIAM SHADE (and has been support drummer for many different acts).
Doctors originally informed him that he might require the use of crutches for 3 months while undergoing chemotherapy (which began in September 2025), but he has been able to stand and walk unassisted after just the first month (back in early September, he still attended a festival in his hometown albeit in a wheelchair, and required assistance to stand for a short time to perform the opening ceremony/make a short speech). Part of me believes this rapid recovery is due to the inherent stamina required to even play the drums the way he does.
He made this appearance on day 1 of the festival (walking on stage, giving a short speech of thanks/gratitude, and announcing the bands Xmas concert where he hopes to be able to play the drums at least in a limited capacity), and did the same on day 2 (though it didn't have the same surprising/emotional effect). It was incredibly inspirational to have been able to experience this moment in person.
NOTE: excuse the raw audio vocal quality; it's basically minimally processed soundboard where you can hear how rough the vocals are (can still hear how Ryuichi's singing voice still hasn't recovered after past vocal chord surgeries). Will be interesting to hear the broadcast version in December and the future Bluray DVD release once the audio goes through its usual post-production processing.
Yokojpmom's flight (ANA 183) departing from HNL on October 20, 2025 for their trip back home to Fukuoka (Honolulu - Narita - Haneda - Fukuoka).
This performance was for Triumph’s induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at the 2025 LEGENDS, held at the Meridian Arts Centre in Toronto Canada on October 17, 2025. Rik Emmett is Triumph's original guitarist and Phil X took his place in 1992 (after Emmett left in 1988). Triumph's recently announced 2026 reunion will have Phil X joining as a supporting musician.
This performance sort of highlights how both will compliment each other during that tour; Rik has definitely lost that high end vocal range for this song but Phil is able to cover a good part of it in his own way. Emmett's guitar was also definitely lower for the solo in this live mix, but his guitar playing still sounds true to form even after being in retirement for several years now along with the arthritis in his hands (not bad for someone who is 72 years old and beat his 2024 announced prostate cancer). Watching this gave me goosebumps for sure.
Yolobox Ultra all-in-one multicamera video switcher, encoder, recording/streaming device that I'll be using for this IRL/travel backpack. This box is like an OBS on the go mini/portable-production device (overlays, picture-in-picture, transitions, auto source switching, audio mixing, etc). What used to require expensive/specialized equipment (to do pro shot multicamera work), can now be done with this (or the Magewell Director Mini). It can also record and stream simultaneously. This test was to simply connect a Pocket 3 via USB to simulate using it as a streaming camera. It's easy (it goes into webcam mode and automatically shows up as a camera source which can be added to your scenes) without the usual workarounds (wireless RTMP). The downside is the cost factor (something like this will be outside the budget of most). For IRL use cases, a Belabox will be the cheaper option as an encoder and for being able to bond connections (Yolobox and Director Mini require subscriptions to utilize connection bonding).
