Re: [microsound] MAX/MSP

[Jeremy Tolsma <ccws@xxxxxxxx>]

> I met a respected composer recently who suggested that anything that "took
> the time away from her composing" was just a waste of her time.  Makes
> sense.  It is difficult enough to compose/create audio or visual work
> without worrying about reinventing canvas/oil/pigment/brass/strings/etc.
> That's not to discourage any Harry Partch-minded folk out their who can
> construct their music from the bit up, but jeez, there are so many tools
out
> there.  Nowadays it's more likely you just won't get deeply enough into
the
> tools that are available (there are so many) to explore range and
> possibility.  Does a violin player try to be a cello and bass player, too?
> Not usually.  Not that they don't explore, but, well, I hope you get my
> drift.

Yes I get your drift!  For myself, I used to dislike 'romplers' very much,
that is, synthesizer modules based around samples.  I felt that only 'true'
synthesis would provide the kind of flexibility I was after.  Nowadays I
love romplers, they make things quicker and they tend to have enough
tweakable elements to keep me perfectly happy.  I like romplers even more
than samplers because romplers are pre-loaded with decent sounds so I don't
have to record my own (though I do like to turn my sampler into a rompler by
loading in akai cd-roms).  Plus romplers tend to be cheap and have plenty of
polyphony.  Theres just no sense in me trying to re-invent the wheel when my
wheel might not be perfectly round anyway.  I mean I've re-invented plenty
of 'wheels', I don't need to keep doing it.  And thats only referring to
synthesis.  As far as programming your own plugins, I understand that some
people might get a creative kick out of putting together their own reverb or
whatever, but it just doesn't do it for me.  Thats not only re-inventing the
wheel, thats like manufacturing rubber, developing tread, etc.

Anyway you don't see too many optometrists moonlighting as dentists or vice
versa, but that may be because the optometrists are comfortable with the
fact that they are proficient in their trade, and the dentist has no need to
correct vision since he can fix teeth.  But with the case of programmers and
musicians theres a difference.  Musicians who are not particularly skilled
might think they could gain an advantage by becoming programmers, and
programmers might feel the need for a creative release (after all, plenty of
dentists and doctors paint or sculpt in their spare time, though we usually
dont see them rise to prominence in the art world since it is not their
primary craft).

There are of course, a small percentage of people on the planet who are
capable of doing just about anything, simultaneously.  These people are
bonafide geniuses, but most of us are average.  Most of us have one or two
things we're good at and thats it, and the only way we gain proficiency is
by focusing exclusively.