paraclude

I appoligize to anyone who might follow this blog. I haven’t updated for sometime. I guess I would rather post something interesting than just random links or videos or whatnot. You know, original content. Which brings me to my point that so much of what I seem to look at on the internet is recycled content. Not to mention the fact that there is far too much of it. So, I got rid of my Google Reader feeds, and setup that Delicious account (see previous post) so I can actually try to enjoy the content on a website and not try and read through hundreds of RSS feeds. So, to anyone reading, I will be attempting to stop recycling bits of information and produce my own. There are plenty of places to find news about new gear, or current events, or strange videos. I can point you in the direction with my Delicious links, but I will try and limit it here.

http://delicious.com/paraclude

Sums up what I have been thinking about for the past month or so:

“I simply do not want to read any more articles about new compressor, be it hardware or software, unless it provides insight into the amazing possibilities we already have. I don’t want to read anymore sound quality discussions that deal with the last bit of a 24-bit file in a world where people listen to mp3 over mobile phones and enjoy those artefacts.

The most exciting new music comes from young kids guys running some audio software in a bedroom, listening to the result over a shitty hi-fi and use Melodyne all the way wrong. Those folks do not read gear magazines, they could not care less about yet another mastering EQ, but create the most stunning beauty. If people talk too much about gear I usually do not expect too much good music. I am often trapped in this twilight zone between engineer and composer too, so I know what I am talking about here…”

http://bitwig.com/blog/

New software company made from former Ableton people. No one knows what they are up to.

Something occurred to me last night as I was looking at all the Musicmesse news. One benefit of being a software based musician is the green consequence. By not buying hardware, you save the resources required to build and subsequently dispose of more PCB and plastics. Although some manufacturers are using recyclable packaging and materials, these are mostly the lower volume boutique companies. Another benefit are the savings on energy costs to power and cool hardware, not to say that this is a tremendous amount, but there is some.

Curious device. I really like the “concept” of all the Elektron gear, but I haven’t been too impressed with the sound of it. It seems too distinctive. But with all gear it is hard to get a feel for something unless you actually use it.

I dig the concept of this thing. That sequencer/tape recorder thing is pretty cool and overall it is IMHO a new take on instrument design.

Time again for another music trade show. Sadly, I have never been to the messe or NAMM but I watch the drama unfold from the comfort of my LCD monitor. These shows are becoming less and less interesting over the years as increasing numbers of music equipment manufacturers eschew the average venue in favor of the most ubiquitous trade show venue of all, the internet. While it is fine by me, since that is the only way I can partake in the semi-awesomeness is through my cable modem. Manufacturers are now altering release schedules to, gasp, fit their own time lines instead of the arbitrary bi-yearly industry spectacle. What that means to the average music equipment buyer (me and possibly you) is instead of getting all the goods a couple of times a year, we get them when they are ready. This ammounts to two advantages; one, we have to wait in painful agony and two, we get products that probably work better than otherwise due to the pressures of release dates above.

Anyway, I myself am looking forward to the new Focal monitor announcement and whatever else might be interesting.

Some new albums I have picked up recently:

Autechre – Oversteps
Plateau – Gort Spacebar
Download – Helicopter
Portion Control – Violently Alive

All are very good.