Athos310

Mod tracker. That brings me back.

Anyone remember Tracks in space????

Zer0

I compose bits of music on my computer all the time. The advantages are, say, if you are rubbish at guitar or keyboards or whatever you can still make good music by programming the notes on music composition software. I wouldnt agree though that all computer-composed music sounds unhuman. I always try to add a human touch when composing, such as deliberate ad-libs or by using as human-sounding patterns as possible.

I think this thread shoud be in the artists corner though.

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boo boo

Yeah, I was hoping to download one of those programs but don't have enough disc space.

I need to get an external hard drive so I can.

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It's only knock n' knowall, but I like it

http://www.last.fm/user/kingboobs

cardboard adolescent

Reason ftw

ProEtContra

First of all i would like to say: obviously I didn't make it clear enough ("Computer Generated Music").
Today's "composing music" is - almost - manipulation by combining and mixing with already exiting loops and patterns.
But, what's about the melody, tune...???
It's not too simple, so, why shouldn't we accept the help of IT?
Probably, you'll be surprised by the amount of software that you will find: Apple Computer's GarageBand software, Classical Music Composer, Easy Music Composer, FlexiMusic Composer, Fractal Music Composer, Jump, Magix Music Maker, Virtual Music Composer,... Yes, all these programs compose new music. And really important notice:
they doesn't require any special knowledge or/and skills of composition. Just click a couple of buttons and listen to the music, new songs. And it belongs to you!...

mr dave

while it's true that anyone can create new music with the default presets and generic loop samples provided with 'composition' software. the vast majority of times (especially when created by people without knowledge or skill) it's complete and utter garbage that no one besides the author will voluntarily listen to a second time.

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i am the universe

ProEtContra

It wasn’t a long time ago, with the appearance of computers...
"...computers will never defeat humans in the game of chess..."
"...Robert Moog: a dangerous anarchist out to destroy music as we know it..."
There's no area of art, science... that hasn't been compared in this or any other similar way.
Now, try to imagine musicians today who had never used the computer or chess analysis without comp assistance or...

So what is my point here you ask?

A couple of days ago, I have started in this, as well as in some other popular and well visited forums, a new thread titled "Computer Generated Music Composition". The topic for general discussion was a question "Pro Et Contra" on subject: programs for virtual composing / virtual music composers.

Too often the feedback is the same as in the sentences above mentioned.

So, do we have to wait again for several more years before we admit to ourselves that computers have become an inevitable and helpful tool while composing music. Whether we like it or not, it is reality.
The human touch will never be replaced, but that does not neccessarily mean that it can not be pushed and helped by IT. IT can do it also!

Probably you'll say now: He's one of them (developer, author...). Yes, I'm one of them. But, I have never mentioned any fact which would point to it. So, it is not an advertising. I'm just curious about this topic...

mr dave

you're missing my point.

i never said that using a computer as a tool was wrong. i said the majority of people who use it as their only compositional tool generally create garbage. there's a substantial difference in quality between music created by someone who understands and is capable of creating music with real instruments and uses a computer as a tool and someone who simply fools around with presets, loops, and trackers who believes their use of a software application makes them a 'musician'.

best example i can think of was back in my college days. we had an assignment to do for an AV class - to make a simple radio commercial. my friend and i made a minute long spot for the burning man festival. for a soundtrack we recorded four 1 minute long instrument tracks on my computer, two bass, two guitar. one of each track was reversed and then all 4 tracks were layered over each other. it was SUPER psychedelic and impossible for us to do on our own without the use of software BUT everything originated from our personal abilities with our instruments. the teacher came close to reprimanding us in class because he believed we had stolen the music until we explained to him that we made it on my computer.

another pair of students had a way over the top piano piece playing for their soundtrack, like oscar peterson on a fistful of blow and a third hand without any soul. on top of that they had a sausage fingered guy claiming the piano piece was his own. it a took a few probing questions before he confessed to having created it solely using a tracker. does that make him a musician? he couldn't have played a single passage from his 'piece' had he sat in front of a real piano.

now do you understand my distinction between people who use software as a tool and people who only use software?

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i am the universe