IDM Mailing Archive

1999-07-03 20:38FemTek _Hi all-- Ok, maybe this is going to sound really crazy, but i'm posting the idea to find o

From:: FemTek _ <femtek@hotmail.com>
To:: <idm@hyperreal.org>, <313@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Sat, 03 Jul 1999 15:38:36 CDT
Subject:: (idm) Machine Idea

Hi all-- Ok, maybe this is going to sound really crazy, but i'm posting the idea to find out if it is or not. Last night, in the trance-like state that electronic music gets me into sometimes, I had an idea about (perhaps) a new way to play electronic music. see, I get bored when I go to see a live PA and it's just the musician up there fiddling with a laptop or twiddling knobs. I'm satisfied with this technique because of the sound it produces, but I wish there was a way that involved more physical action from the musician. So, like, what if there was a machine that was like a "sound desk"? It would be wired up to a computer, which would tell the "desk" what sounds (samples, short loops or notes)to wire into each area of the desk. The desk itself would be in an arc shape to allow for the most options. On its surface would be several different "pads" (think electric drumset-esque, here). When the musician hit each pad, it would activate the sound/sample/short loop/note that had been programmed into that pad for the particular track being played. In addition to the pads, there might also be foot pedals to allow for more options. Perhaps there could also be a small keyboard on there. Switches to shut certain pads off or set them into a permanent or temporary loop. Hell, it could get REAL crazy with some kind of head piece that activated sounds depending on where the head/neck/shoulders would be moving. Would this be at all possible/feasible? Would any musician actually like to use this machine if it were built? Certainly a show would probably turn into quite the workout for the musician, but I think it would be a lot of fun for the crowd to watch. Perhaps it would also get those who complain of the lack of humanity (not me!) in electronic music to take it more seriously? I'm curious as to what you think of this. _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com

1999-07-03 21:00Ernesto Ikerd>Ok, maybe this is going to sound really crazy, but i'm posting the idea to >find out if i

From:: Ernesto Ikerd <IkerdEA@lmtas.lmco.com>
To:: FemTek _ <femtek@hotmail.com>, Inca Door Mats <idm@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Sat, 03 Jul 1999 16:00:16 -0500
Subject:: Re: (idm) Machine Idea

quoted 2 lines Ok, maybe this is going to sound really crazy, but i'm posting the idea to

>Ok, maybe this is going to sound really crazy, but i'm posting the idea to >find out if it is or not.

I dunno about a desk, but you can configure MIDI drum pads to trigger most any audio event including loop-starting or stopping http://www.emu.com/KAT/KAT_prod.html Wearable or body contolled MIDI devices are often constructed by students at MIT's media lab http://www.media.mit.edu Dunno if thats what you are looking for ernie Ernesto Ikerd, (817) 763-4795 Company Graphics, Dept 17, MZ-1156 Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems Fort Worth, Texas

1999-07-03 21:13Crtrdge003@aol.comThis is how I'd do it. First off.. two musicians. Kurzweil PC88mx controller hooked up to

From:: <Crtrdge003@aol.com>
To:: <femtek@hotmail.com>, <idm@hyperreal.org>, <313@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Sat, 3 Jul 1999 17:13:52 EDT
Subject:: Re: (idm) Machine Idea

This is how I'd do it. First off.. two musicians. Kurzweil PC88mx controller hooked up to a nice Yamaha A3000 V2 Sampler.. use the A3kv2 to divide all your sample loops and variations up on the kurzweil. Kurzweil Has 4 parts.. dedicate one part to.. oh say.. about 1/3 of the keys (I'd use the low end) each key will be used to trigger a seperate sample loop/variation. then... You dedicate the rest of the keys/parts to controlling synths (synths of your choice, won't get into that.. I just named the A3000 and Kurzweil by name because the A3000 has that function that divides out it's loops across the keys for you and the kurz because it's a great controller) you mentioned pedals? the kurz has 4 switch pedal inputs.. use those for your flanging/reverb/chorus/etc. It also has momentary and toggle switches on the board which can also be used for the changing of effects parameters during performance. then.. you get yourself one of those Yamaha DTX electronic percussion systems and attach it to some form of analogue (or not analogue if that's your taste) drum synth. And there you have it.. a much more live show than some guy pressing the "play" button on his software sequencer. One guy plays the melodies on the keyboard and triggers various sample loops using the kurzweil.. that same keyboard guy also will control the effects. Then you've got the drummer to play the percussion. Of course you could come up with endless variations on this arrangement.. you could even add a bass player. 'course for electronic music I'd be careful on choosing what the drummer dude plays. Then again.. depends on what you're going for musically. For the percussion lines you *do* want to sound mechanical and perfectly in time (i.e. if you're using a 4/4 unlying bass kick) then don't have the drummer guy playing that line. Have him play overlaying percusion.. percussion that would benefit from an organic touch. Same with the keyboardist guy.. use an organism (human being) for rhythm you want to sound organic, and use a machine for rhythm you want to sound mechanical. If you have need for an underlying 4/4 bass kick (or any melody or percussion for which you want the rhythm to be exact and mechanical) you can always use your sequencer to do that. Is that what you had in mind? Many numerous musicians are already doing similiar set ups... I couldn't name a buncha IDM names off the top of my head who use similiar set ups because I don't know of any. Anyone know of any idm names who use live percussion set ups? (even if the actual sounds themselves are electronically produced patches) -=Aaron In a message dated 7/3/99 2:39:41 PM Mountain Daylight Time, femtek@hotmail.com writes:

quoted 2 lines In addition to the pads, there might also be foot pedals to allow for more

> In addition to the pads, there might also be foot pedals to allow for more > options. Perhaps there could also be a small keyboard on there. Switches

quoted 2 lines shut certain pads off or set them into a permanent or temporary loop.

> > shut certain pads off or set them into a permanent or temporary loop.

Hell,

quoted 3 lines it could get REAL crazy with some kind of head piece that activated sounds

> > it could get REAL crazy with some kind of head piece that activated sounds > depending on where the head/neck/shoulders would be moving.

1999-07-04 05:38sfwd: Ok, maybe this is going to sound really crazy, but i'm posting the idea to : find out if

From:: sfwd <brap@sonic.net>
To:: FemTek _ <femtek@hotmail.com>, <idm@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Sat, 3 Jul 1999 22:38:47 -0700
Subject:: Re: (idm) Machine Idea

: Ok, maybe this is going to sound really crazy, but i'm posting the idea to : find out if it is or not. Last night, in the trance-like state that : electronic music gets me into sometimes, I had an idea about (perhaps) a new : way to play electronic music. see, I get bored when I go to see a live PA : and it's just the musician up there fiddling with a laptop or twiddling : knobs. I'm satisfied with this technique because of the sound it produces, : but I wish there was a way that involved more physical action from the : musician. : : So, like, what if there was a machine that was like a "sound desk"? I'm actually in the process of building my own sort of sounddesk. actually not a desk, but a big slab of wood with stuffs(TM) built onto it, all which is equipped with a mic or pickup or simply runs into the cheap crap mixer which goes out to the computer -> various software -> minidisc recorder. various toys and strings and bells, a place for the minidisc, a couple portable cassette decks and such. real basic but that and the turnatble and audio mulch prodce some weird shit. want to actually build some real machines and replace things like the kiddy keyboard and such, but this is fun too :)

Re: (idm) Machine Idea