From: pet@mullian.ee.mu.OZ.AU (paul eng-yi tan)
Subject: Re: Sequencers, guitars etc
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 03:58:31 GMT

carl@ecr.mu.oz.au (Carl_Ivan BREWER) writes:
>>public and academia.

>Hmm,  I'm not a big fan of your use of the word quality here.  IMHO some of
>the best quality music is classical, and that if anything, the expectations
>of the mythical public have diminished in terms of their musical sophistication,
>compare Beethoven and Bach to Sting and Michael Jackson??  Anyway, I digress...

Actually, classical music like Bach is not directly comparable to current
pop and rock. The extension of classical music lives on in 20th century
"serious" composition, as exemplified by Cage, Xenakis, Sculthorpe, Messiaen,
Broadstock (from MU), and Gerard (also MU). Some of it uses acoustic
instruments and orchestras, and some uses electronics. Modern classical,
as I shall call it, often has extreme complexity. However, it doesn't
sound like Bach because it's in a different style. Debussy doesn't sound
like Bach either. If someone were to imitate Beethoven today, he'd most
likely be rather unoriginal, even if his skill were such that he could produce
works which could pass for Ludwig's own.

Sting/DM/dance music is better compared with the "pop" music of the old days.
Folk songs, ethnic dance music, and the like. However, I tend not to try
and directly compare the various styles. They have their own merits, and
within each style you find good and bad.

>(IMHO) I have more respect for a good guitar band than a synth band, because
>it's a damn site harder to get a guitar to do what you want than to get a synth
>to.  

Nope, I don't think so. First it depends what you want to do. If you want to
stick to synth presets, that's like sticking to knowing 4 chords on the
guitar and playing them over and over. If you want to do complex programming,
sound design, and sampling, that's more like trying to do what Van Halen
does with his guitar.

>or anyone with access to a 4/16/24/48 track recorder or 2 :)
>and a modicum of skill with using the thing (yes, I *can* use a 
>48 track, it's not difficult)

Y'know, most electric guitar bands do use studio techniques and electronics
to modify their sound. FX boxes are closely related, sound wise and tech
wise, to synths. They produce (synthesize) sound components which are added
to the guitar sound. It would be silly to expect a guitarist to do what he
does without FX. I should also mention here that guitar bands also lay down
lots of tracks, to re-takes, etc.  It's not as if they are all so talented
that they go into the studio and play one thru a 5 minute song and it's
recorded in one go.  In the case of live recordings, they are often touched
up and mixed properly in the studio anyway.

>I don't laugh at sequencers,  I just think that they are often used as shortcuts
>to making crappy music,  and unfortunatly, rather than admit that they often do
>sound crappy, dull and monotonous, some people jump up screaming that I'm a 
>neanderthal who just doesn't like the "new music".  Bad guitar bands don't get 
>airplay (I hope!) but unfortunatly, bad sequencer bands do, just because they're
>sequencer bands.  

Well, it's just as easy and common to see people who can't write songs,
who often can even play well, using guitars to make crap music. Quickly and
easily. A lot more crap guitar bands get signed than do synth bands!!!
They get airplay too! I think, in your case, since you don't like (hardly)
any synth music, every time you hear a synth song on the radio, you think
that a shit seq'd song is being played! BTW what music do you yourself like?
Name 10 or so bands that you really go for...

Paul

--
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