Re: [microsound] physical filter/cool moment

[Glenn Bach <gbach@xxxxxxxxx>]

> In my opinion, this is a Good Thing(tm).  Not progress, not a further step of
> Hegelian rationalization.  Just a kinda cool moment in time.

I agree.  As one who is poised to make the switch to a G4, I think of the laptop
as simply another tool with which to present my music.  Echoing what Kim said
earlier, much of what I do is simple sound montage, and the laptop offers me a
much more portable rig than hauling my turntables, mixers, CD players, pedal
board, etc.  I love the idea of showing up with nothing but a laptop and a 6
foot patch cord, drifting a la David Carradine from gig to gig, my trusty G4
slung across my back (or Aaron Ximm and his suitcase of MD recorders).  I don't
mind that some in the audience will think I'm a phony for making a few mouse
clicks--I got plenty of that when I was performing with turntables.  I also love
the idea of sitting somewhere other than on stage, somewhere off to the side or
even in the audience, so that the audience may or may not be sure who is making
the sounds, or even if the "concert" has actually started.  I'm not against
setting up my entire rig, especially if I'm participating in an hours-long
performance and have several hours to set up/break down.  But the possibility of
just dropping in for a quick set with no fussin' or frettin' is very exciting.
My lower back would agree!

Isn't the laptop as live instrument a fairly recent development?  After they
became powerful enough to process all the real-time computing necessary for live
mixing/processing?  (I remember a few shows back in the day where the performers
worked from behind full CPU/monitor setups.)  So, could it be just a matter of
the audience catching up?  Won't the novelty wear off eventually, so that the
cause-and-effect relationship/exchange value between laptop performer and
acousmatic sound fades in importance?  Or is the aura of the "sweat factor" so
ingrained that we'll never get out from under it?  I don't know.  For my own
work I try not to worry about it one way or the other.  Perhaps we can just hope
to preach to a slowly increasing number of converted.

G.

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