[NewMusic] acoustic vs. electronic

Tue Jan 9 15:06:09 PST 2007

OK - i'm sure i will embarrass myself but i'll take the challenge anyway:
i assume OSW for the synthesis/manipulation and one of your software 
synths for the samples/MIDI stuff

#1: AM synthesis (from Risset?)
#2: ring modulation + distortion on acoustic percussive input 
#3: physical model flute
#4: flute followed by FFT based manipulation of flute sample
     [almost thought it was MIDI flute from a sample library -- some of 
those are getting pretty good these days, adding key noises, etc..
but the tapering off right before the manipulated stuff sounds too real] 
#5: mostly slowed down samples with reverb (old school tape effets)
#6: MIDI-based basic synthesis with some samples

-m

On Tue, 9 Jan 2007, Amar wrote:

> Yes, I really enjoy the opportunities I have had to work with acoustic
> musicians in a live-performance improv setting, such as working w/ Ron
> Lettuce at last year's Skronkathon...
>
> I try to think of both the building of new programs/instruments, and
> discovering new opportunities within existing sounds/patches/etc, as
> "practice" not so different from the studying and practice of more
> traditional instruments. Ideally, the act of playing and the music that
> results work on their own without having to notice or appreciate the
> technologies that went into making it.
>
> So...in order to make the point and inject some much needed levity into
> the discussion, I am launching my hastily assembled "Guess the
> Electronics" game.
>
> http://www.ptank.com/catsynth/index.php?entry=entry070109-142012
>
> See if you can guess what technologies/software, or acoustics went into
> each example.
>
>  -Amar
>
>
>
>
>> I think the meeting of acoustic and electronic
>> instruments is one of the most exciting things
>> happening in music right now, as it forces each set to
>> deal with the other and thus expands everyone's
>> vocabulary.
>>
>> A lot of the anti-electronic sentiment I've heard (and
>> even expressed, oops) has been towards those musicians
>> (vague general group, no one in particular) who pick
>> up a laptop or effects pedal and obviously haven't put
>> much work into the music.  They just buy some cool
>> electronic gear and then jump on stage (look I'm a
>> musician!).  The same could be said about a lot of DJs
>> "Look, I can play a record!"  However, I don't think
>> anyone is criticizing the real electronic musicians
>> out there (those who have put the time in to master
>> their instruments and are making good music).
>>
>> The other thing is the proliferation of electronic
>> music.  There is so much of it right now it can get a
>> bit overbearing.  Plus, a lot of acoustic players are
>> also now doubling on electronic instruments, or
>> modifying their acoustic sounds electronically
>> (close-micing, feedback tenor, etc.).  I actually just
>> went through a week in which I decided I was going to
>> listen to only purely acoustic music (no electronics
>> at all), just to remind myself that such a thing still
>> exists.
>>
>>
>> --- kristin miltner <miltnerunit at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> matt, i cannot tell if you're defending me or making
>>> fun of me, i love that
>>> about you.
>>>
>>>> i can't even ~imagine~ how awesome my max
>>> patch[**] would be if i spent
>>>> even 1% as many years building it as i have spent
>>> practicing my clarinet.
>>>> [** really a Csound instrument, not some silly max
>>> patch! ]
>>>
>>> yeah matt, you're right on, that's what i'm talking
>>> about,
>>> ....um, thanks.
>>> does that answer you question, weasel?
>>> silly kristin, max patches are for kids, try some
>>> real code and a real
>>> instrument, right?
>>>
>>> it is true matt plays a real instrument very very
>>> very well and programs in
>>> c sound, and i am a lowly max/msp, vocals and
>>> samples kid.
>>>
>>> k
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 1/8/07, Matt J. Ingalls <ingalls at mills.edu>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Maybe this is the exact kind of comment you are
>>> talking about, but:
>>>>
>>>> i can't even ~imagine~ how awesome my max
>>> patch[**] would be if i spent
>>>> even 1% as many years building it as i have spent
>>> practicing my clarinet.
>>>> [** really a Csound instrument, not some silly max
>>> patch! ]
>>>>
>>>> Then again, some of my most enjoyable improvised
>>> computer music
>>>> performances has just been moving a single slider!
>>>>
>>>> -m
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, 8 Jan 2007, kristin miltner wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>> That's another gap that lots of us would like
>>> to close, and have tried
>>>>>> to close - the gap between acoustic and
>>> electronic instruments. It's
>>>>>> been a very rewarding pursuit, mostly because
>>> it has forced me to think
>>>>
>>>>>> like an electronic instrument.
>>>>>
>>>>> it's nice to hear that -- sometimes i sense an
>>> 'acoustic is more legit
>>>> than
>>>>> electronic' vibe -- it has to do with
>>> traditional 'chops' on a guitar or
>>>>
>>>>> other acoustic instrument being a pretty
>>> accessible, very visible
>>>> standard,
>>>>> vs. the less measurable 'chops' on your laptop,
>>> which have to do with
>>>> some
>>>>> vague idea of the software you built and how
>>> complex the live processing
>>>> is.
>>>>> are people just suspicious since they can't
>>> obseve it as directly?
>>>>> i get that acoustic vs. computer feeling WAY
>>> more than a 'men are more
>>>> legit
>>>>> musicians than women' vibe but that could be
>>> just me being insecure.
>>>>> i think in some cases i listen better when i am
>>> playing with acoustic
>>>>> musicians, because i tend to focus on taking in
>>> their sound and working
>>>> with
>>>>> that as raw material. the improvisation is
>>> unified by that process. +
>>>> i'm
>>>>> not just talking about a max patch that's
>>> basically a fancy delay pedal
>>>>> someone blows into (although on the other hand
>>> simple tools can procuce
>>>>> beautiful results). i have to rebuild a patch to
>>> really interact with
>>>>> someone and each patch is very tuned to the
>>> specific person i play with;
>>>> it
>>>>> has to be!
>>>>> it's really hard the more people you have in the
>>> mix.
>>>>> when mike perlmutter's group radiolaria used to
>>> play a lot, our
>>>> rehearsals
>>>>> really educated me about what kind of a player i
>>> was....when i deferred
>>>> to
>>>>> others, when i wanted to be heard, when i mowed
>>> over someone else's
>>>> delicate
>>>>> thing....
>>>>> when i play with another laptop musician
>>> sometimes it feel competitive
>>>>> instead of cooprative. we are often stacking and
>>> layering, not really
>>>>> incorporating each other as a source the same
>>> way.
>>>>>
>>>>> k
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 1/8/07, Phillip Greenlief <
>>> pgsaxo at pacbell.net> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> On Behalf Of kristin miltner
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [NewMusic] WAS: Re: improvised
>>> music - gender & money
>>>>>> NOW:Re:???
>>>>>>
>>>>>> i find the bay area very accommodating;  i
>>> can't complain.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> PG:
>>>>>> Glad to hear it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> KM:
>>>>>> i don't
>>>>>> often participate in that, because it's just
>>> difficult to work my
>>>>>> instrument
>>>>>> into a group of improvisationalists -- not that
>>> i don't enjoy doing
>>>> that
>>>>>> once in a while, it's very challenging and i
>>> play my max patches
>>>>>> entirely
>>>>>> differently.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> PG:
>>>>>> That's another gap that lots of us would like
>>> to close, and have tried
>>>>>> to close - the gap between acoustic and
>>> electronic instruments. It's
>>>>>> been a very rewarding pursuit, mostly because
>>> it has forced me to think
>>>>>> like an electronic instrument.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Bay Area New Music Discussion Group
>>>>>> NewMusic at music.mills.edu
>>>>>>
>>> http://music.mills.edu/mailman/listinfo/newmusic
>>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Bay Area New Music Discussion Group
>>>>> NewMusic at music.mills.edu
>>>>> http://music.mills.edu/mailman/listinfo/newmusic
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Bay Area New Music Discussion Group
>>>> NewMusic at music.mills.edu
>>>> http://music.mills.edu/mailman/listinfo/newmusic
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Bay Area New Music Discussion Group
>>> NewMusic at music.mills.edu
>>> http://music.mills.edu/mailman/listinfo/newmusic
>>>
>>
>>
>> Jacob Lindsay
>> http://www.bayimproviser.com/artistdetail.asp?artist_id=44
>> http://www.myspace.com/mryellowcake
>>
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>
>
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