[no subject]

I also tend to think along classical lines in this scenario: a violinist,
for example, should intimately know the details of his acoustic machine,
including its instruction and maintenance, but just like one's car, it
doesn't mean one has to know exactly how to build it and make it work. A
violinist doesn't build a Stradivarius. That is the domain of the violin
builder or the mechanic.

Thus, a laptop as instrument doesn't necessitate a full comprehension of the
processes involved (on all levels of code or a select few, as well as the
mechanical processes) although such a comprehension, when attached to a
performative framework of instrumentality, will undoubtedly lead to more
complex forms of musical understanding.

However I don't tend to privilege performativity over careful laptop
codework; radio-art taught me that the performativity of an event is not
necessarily related to gesture. Which is also why I think Ableton LIVE
bashing, although understandable, is misdirected. It's essentially the best
software mixing desk / equivalent of a radio station at-your-fingertips ever
made, and one thing I miss in doing audio collage live is having the giant
radio station at one's beckon and call, with all 36 channels, tapeloops, CD
players, turntables, minidiscs, microphones, etc .. an open source
equivalent would be preferrable, but I think Ableton should be given credit
for simplifying the performativity of electronic music and turning the
laptop from complex code machine to an instrument.


best,

    tobias



ps. Just in case ya' missed it, re: stripping processes down to the
kernel/processor, that's become quite the domain of Beige Records and Cory
Arcangel..

    http://www.beigerecords.com/cory/
    http://www.beigerecords.com/

I saw his "Mario sleeping"  and "nintendo clouds" at the Whitney Bienniale
this year and I must say, I did enjoy it.


tobias c. van Veen -----------++++
http://www.quadrantcrossing.org --
http://www.thisistheonlyart.com --
McGill Communication + Philosophy
--- New School Philosophy --------
ICQ: 18766209 | AIM: thesaibot +++ 


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