Re: (idm) How music is made

From Peter Baustaedter
Sent Wed, May 20th 1998, 06:55

Stephen Oldmeadow wrote:
> 
> >
> >On 05/19/98 20:16:56 thatcat wrote:
> >
> >>it is far easier to record a keyboard part into a sequencer than to
> >>step-enter or >otherwise program the notes.
> >>now, i'm not saying that ae are recording everything live at once, obviously
> >>they >are recording many tracks of things into the sequencer and editing.
> >>but unless ae >are doing something far different (and far more tedious) than
> >>other musicians, it >all starts with playing live keyboard parts into the
> >>sequencer.
> 
> I find these statements a gross generalisation.  I have no idea how
> Autechre make music but I personally program 80% and play 20%.  I find
> it much easier to program drum and bass parts than play them.  Only once
> I had a rhythmic and melodic framework would I start "jamming" over the
> top.
> 
> I find that when I'm programming I tend to be more experimental whereas
> when I "jam" for ideas I tend to fall into the same patterns.  I
> certainly don't find programming tedious (maybe its because I work as a
> computer programmer).  I use a programming language to make my task
> easier and am able to generate things I could never play.
> 
> I get offended by people that think music is somehow worth less if it is
> entirely programmed.  At the end of the day all that should matter is
> what it sounds like.
> 
> What about other musicians on the list, how do you make music?
> 
> I wrote this reply because I wouldn't want anyone on the list who was
> contemplating making music thinking they had to be able to play
> keyboards to do anything worthwhile.
> 
> Steve

I agree with you Steve. And some things can only be 'programmed', and not
recorded into a sequencer. The whole idm-concept is partly based on tracks
that can't be done 'live' - and I like that. But I think I'm stating the
obvious here.

And wether recorded, programmed, scanned (?), beamed (??) or by accident (!) -
I think it doesn't matter. If people dig what they hear/play/do everything
should be allowed ...

P.