July 4th, 2008
Normally I don't quote other peoples' blogs. General principles and all that. You see, the blogosphere is always in danger of becoming a bunch of links from one blog to another, and nothing original ever getting written. (Not that I think all or any of what I write is particularly original, but at least I am trying—something a lot of bloggers don't bother to do. Yay me aren't I great etc.)
Anyhow, but a couple of weeks ago a friend sent me a link that I must include here:
It describes some software that changes one played note within a recorded chord. That is, I can be playing my instrument of choice and muck up the chord, then, instead of stopping and getting it right the next time, just keep going, then later use this software to go over the recording and correct the error without disturbing the rest of the notes in the chord.
Wow. And yikes.
Now it has been possible for a long time to patch up single-note melodies, of course (and most everyone does it in the studio) but to etch out bits of a chord, then replace them with the right ones is kind of scary and, conscientiously non-early adopter that I am, I don't like it. What's wrong with -er- practicing?
Peter Neubäcker, inventor of this dastardly mediocrity-ensuring software has this to say about his efforts:
Now you can buy a computer and software like this and for a few thousand dollars have more capability than the Beatles had when they did their stuff.
Talent optional? Skill a laughable waste of time now?
Perhaps we are just messing around at the foothills of mediocrity; why not climb the heights of full-blown incompetence and just eliminate human performance entirely? A "musician" could merely sit in front of a microphone and hum a few bars of something (if it's not too much trouble), click OK on the screen, leaving the computer to do all the rest of the writing, "performing", publishing, and distribution.
That way the "musician" could waddle back to the soft couch in the living room in time for the hockey game, while waiting for the money to start rolling into the bank account. No tedious effort needed to actually learn anything. No tiring repetition having to practice and hone one's skill. Just hum, strum, then plant your bum.
I'd foam at the mouth some more about this, but I just got seven new compositions emailed to me by my favourite "composer's" computer. I want to hear them before he gets a chance.
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