RE: [microsound] laptop hell

[David Fodel <DFodel@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

in the past we have actually handed out a program which attempted to detail
the process used in each "track" we played, as well as provide some
conceptual background on our approach to the material we were presenting.
some audience members found this extremely helpful, not being as familiar
with some of the terms and/ or processes used. it also satisfied some of the
fetishistic needs of other audience members... a way to remember, and
categorized the event. it also gave others something to do if they got bored
:)

David Fodel
Publishing Systems Manager
Wild Oats Markets
3375 Mitchell Lane
Boulder, CO 80301
Direct: 720-562-4831
Fax: 303-938-8474


> ----------
> From: 	Ian Andrews
> Reply To: 	microsound
> Sent: 	Sunday, April 21, 2002 10:49 PM
> To: 	microsound
> Subject: 	Re: [microsound] laptop hell
> 
> 
> >"The nuances of each note can be appreciated because
> >the audience basically know what's involved in the technique and know
> that
> >that sound is being generated in their presence. This experience of the
> >work could be defined, as Kim says (after Benjamin), as its "aura."
> >This is what is missing in the laptop performance."
> >
> >Again i disagree.  I just did a show last night, out of my laptop where
> half
> >the set was improvisational.  On the fly.  What is the difference between
> me
> >manipulating sequencers and loops that i made on my piano, or my
> guitarthen
> >resequencing over them again live,...blah blah blah.  The audience knew
> what
> >was going on because they are into that sort of thing.
> 
> But how does the audience know that your set is improvisational? They can
> guess but they do not know, unless they been informed of what it is you
> actually do onstage. You could be playing something that you improvised at
> some earlier time. You could be just playing something straight off your
> harddrive. How do they know the difference. I'm "into that sort of thing"
> but I wouldn't have a clue as to what you might be doing with your knobby
> box etc.  I don't know who you are or what you do. I think  your attitude
> "those in the know understand what I'm doing - as for the rest, they
> should
> make the effort to find out" is highly arrogant.
> >
> 
> >Lets also stop treating our audiences like such idiots.  I mean do you
> >actually think they come to these shows on accident?
> >
> I don't think that I'm being that extreme. Of course most people who
> attend
> these performances understand the technology. But that's not the point. If
> I go to a laptop performance I understand that the performer is utilizing
> some software on her computer. I can guess what the process might be. But
> I
> often have no way of knowing for sure. I don't care what software they are
> using but I'd like to know what the process is because that knowledge
> helps
> me connect to the liveness of the performance - to its aura. Are they
> simply mixing tracks, or is it realtime  synthesis, are there random
> elements involved? etc. This information makes it, for me, a much more
> interesting experience. Sure I could go up and ask the performer what they
> were doing but that would give me the information after the fact. I want
> to
> know what it is that makes this particular performance a unique event.
> 
> >> i hit a key on the piano and it plays a note - hit it
> >> hard, loud, touch it soft quiet...
> >> i turn a knob on the controller connect to the laptop
> >> and it shuts my computer down, or it plays a loops, or
> >> it adjusts a DSP algorithm, or it makes the computer
> >> speak something, or it changes the font, or it....etc
> >> etc...then 5 minutes later it does something else.
> >>
> >> Do the audience really know what a Twiddler Knob Box
> >> is doing?
> >>
> >> paul
> >>
> >
> >Yes.  I believe a majority of the audience would be just as knowledgeable
> if
> >they were into the electronic music scene and actually went to a show ON
> >PURPOSE just as a concert goer would go to piano concerto.  They
> APPRECIATE
> >the genre.  they go to these SHOWS ON THERE OWN FREE WILL.  THEY ARE NOT
> >STUPID.  Why do you assume that they wouldnt be able to make the
> connection
> >even if they didnt know what a knobby box is.
> 
> Who said they were stupid? Pauls commment is perfectly valid. Most of the
> audience know that the knob box is controlling parameters in the software,
> but they don't know what parameters. Sometimes I can make a connection
> between knob movement and what is happening with the sound, but so what.
> Its not really that interesting.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: microsound-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> For additional commands, e-mail: microsound-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> website: http://www.microsound.org
> 
>