direct connection

[ben nevile <bbn@xxxxxxxx>]

> Ben, I know you think aesthetics are pointless

just to clarify my hasty words: as a maker of music I obviously have an 
interest in aesthetics, I just find the discussion of aesthetics less 
than constructive.  whether that's because of the subject or because of 
my own ignorance is up to you to decide.

>>  for me, playing music
>> with a laptop today is like dancing with my feet in cement shoes.
> hmmm...hope Cycling doesn't take that as a crit of their technology... 
> ;)

oh, you know I would never do that!

> _for me_ the laptop
> has been a liberation that removes the physicality of traditional
> performance and lets your brain connect directly with the sound being
> created...

I'm afraid I don't understand.  is this liberation from the perspective 
of a performer, that the physicality of an instrument takes away from 
the real-time thinking you can do about the music?  or do you mean this 
from the perspective of an audience member for whom the gestures of the 
performer is a distraction?

if the former, I would suggest that since you do use physical 
controllers in your performance - last time I saw you play I think you 
were using a little slider box - improvements to interface technology 
would allow you to spend  less time thinking about this control 
mechanism and hence would help provide a more direct connection between 
your brain and the music.

if the latter is your concern, you could always hide your gestures 
behind a black curtain.  an improvement in interface design does not 
necessitate a change in what you present to the audience, does it?

Ben

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