On 4/7/06, Malte Steiner steiner@block4.com wrote:
i'm skeptical about the concept of making idm etc easy to create. i've always thought the point of his kind of music is to try out new techniques and create new and original sounds. if its easy to do, and a producer is just painting by numbers then the result is probably going to be formulaic to say the least.
The idea of unique genius? Access to technology and the creation process should be as easy as possible so nothing is in the way, but I can understand your fear of painting by numbers music of so called creatives. But I have the high hopes that audience is mature enough to recognize a good work from a boring one (hence the crisis of the music/film industry ???). For me the most important thing is a good idea, not a complicated technique (thats so 90s :) ). Its the same with the media arts, which is maturing in the moment. The tryout phase of the 90s is over and everybody showed that he and she can put out some flickering and sounding stuff but now its time to create something actually. I know some people talking about a crisis in media arts but I think it is the most exciting times right now.
There's enough variety and enough to learn about writing for classical orchestra to keep the most dedicated student busy for a lifetime. Think how much more is possible with absolute control of every vibration. There will always be gear-heads, who have to have their hands on the latest gadgetry and use it for IV-V-I, and there will always be those who only care about sophisticated music but settle for Reason sounds. If 1 person out of every 1,000 can successfully meld a mastery of synthesis with a talent for musical expression, it will amount to progress.
as someone else said - an analog one. why fake it? its like synthesising a violin. if you want a violin then get a real violin because it will sound more like a violin..
i suppose cost is a reason to simulate an analog sound. hardware can get quite pricey.
sorry, just realised i'm being very negative. i'll shut up now.
No, you got some good points. Look at the VSTi plugin market, loads of analogue emulations instead creating new sounds with the software possibilities, its incredible. But a TB303 plugin sells better, I learned it the hard way. Its nothing bad to toy around with analogue simulations and if it attracts more people to be creative its ok with me. In one of my music projects I like to mix some 'analogish' elements with wired digital ones although I sometimes realize its a bit strange to recreate my studio which is inhabited by some analogue synths, but I like to have a studio on the run but I am not happy with the limited commercial approaches like Reason.
I agree that if you want a violin, find a violin. Then again, I'm surrounded by musicians. I might have a different attitude after I graduate. I respect those who do it for the challenge, which is the impression I get of most Pd-users. You learn something from trying. I know some analogue purists I wouldn't mind fooling (and thereby humiliating), but it doesn't have to sound exactly like some other synth to be useful. Nobody worried about synths that didn't really sound like brass ensembles in the 80's, they just let it sound cool.
-Chuckk