Music While Programming

[blitter]

Originally Posted by BeatScribe

I love Royksopp too! They have a way of using distortion which I try to emulate but never quite get. Must be all that lovely analog equipment they have. Sadly, my apartment and budget only allow me to conduct 1's and 0's

I love Eno's stuff too, but I haven't heard that album. What track do you recommend? I love the Ghosts album he did with David Byrne. Those songs still sound fresh 20 years later, especially 'strange overtones', how was that song not hugely popular!?

I'm sure that you can emulate the sound which you seek if you keep searching. Add subtle noise if digital is too clean, you get the exact bucket of water you ask for in this world, I'm sure most people know that but maybe was worth a mention. I'm not a musician but have developed the equivilent of OpenAL (technology rather than content), and found that a sound texture/sample is as manipulable as anything else is. I guess Royksopp just found their sound and refined it, you might find that they once had a feedback loop running through a wireless passive speaker located on a turntable! ...which only works at 42 ;-) when the window was open. Manifesting sound #3... In that case reality will produce angular-Doppler better than I can at least! But the (virtual) positional stuff is interesting to play with, and can produce sounds which cannot be created (recorded) otherwise. I think of digital as an advantage.

The Eno album is relatively new, 2010. I was only last year introduced to both artist and album. Was kinda shocked when I sat down to watch a TV program about him and figured there must be two Brian Enos lol! My favourite track on the album would be I think "Bone Jump", as it helps somehow with visualising the work before/during creation, the imagination somehow is enriched with details when I listen to stuff like that. Tweaking settings is so much easier too, I often find that I hone in towards the end of a good track. Not sure though, that the songs do the same when played solo - it's an album thing. Perhaps if picking out highlights then also "Written, Forgotten", but again it only works for me if I hear it in track order (after "Emerald and Stone"). I think the album would pass me by on YT, but I'm glad I mentioned it as overall it does feel like 'you' could make a game out of the whole album, kinda thing - whether listening to, or using for! But we're talking developing here, and not the end result.

So, as a musician are you looking for inspiration of what to listen to, or what to produce! I thought like others that you guys didn't like to be influenced (or could even work with external 'noise'). Though I do know this is a myth and have evidence- which I am not allowed to post boo ;-)

[BeatScribe]

I have only a few Eno songs, but I just listened to Bone Jump. Why does it remind me of Super Mario Bros?

...I think its the bass. Pretty sweet song overall. He had some eccentric things to say in Daniel Lanois' little documentary/video project thing.

Originally Posted by blitter

I think of digital as an advantage.

Oh yeah, there are definitely things i LOVE about digital. Not having to worry about things like line noise and background noise is great. I used to use more live instruments, and all that technical stuff just wastes time.

I'm sure if I had the right tools, I could get the sound.

Originally Posted by blitter

So, as a musician are you looking for inspiration of what to listen to, or what to produce! I thought like others that you guys didn't like to be influenced (or could even work with external 'noise'). Though I do know this is a myth and have evidence- which I am not allowed to post boo ;-)

I'm totally influenced by what I listen to. But I find that if I try to imitate it, something of my own creativity always leaks into it and it comes out unique. Sometimes I avoid listening to stuff that I know I'll accidentally copy. Especially when I do an orchestral soundtrack, which frankly, I find it very hard to be original with.

With orchestral style music, I usually produce something that sounds similar to the basic movie soundtrack style, which is what most people want anyways. I'd say thats my current goal as a musician; do something truly unique with orchestral instrumentation. Its just easier to be original with electronics and rock (for me anyways).