Re: Fear of Technology (or Bad Interfaces?)

["L Tremblay" <ltct@concentric.net>]

This is interesting. I feel like a such a Luddite whenever I
admit that I've made a conscious decision to sit out the
digital revolution, and instead stick with mostly analog
equipment, for many of the reasons already mentioned.

Primarily it's the human-machine interface and other
usability issues that have soured me on new technologies.

As a software engineer in the employ of a large multinational
I understand the underlying complications - turnover,
shareholders, quarterly reports, etc - all these things which
are often at cross-purposes with each other, conspiring to
deliver low-quality, less-than ideal solutions to the
marketplace. However unintended. It's a big problem - even
before you factor in competition.

>I also think that limitations are, by and large, a good thing.  I've got a
>box of looping devices (for example) from the last decade or so, and
they've
>all got problems and they've all got at least one thing that none of the
>others will do, and I write and play differently when I use one of them
over
>the other.

I agree. Given this state of affairs, the only thing one *can* do
is set limitations - e.g., Eno's notion of working within narrow
constraints. Also, at some point enough is enough. Unless there's
some very compelling reason to aquire a new toy, then why bother?

I like having an intimate knowledge and familiarity with the tools
I use for looping - mostly old Digitech RDS boxes, Roland RE-201's,
and a dozen or so pedals. But when some things do come along,
like the Zoom 2100 or Akai Headrush, which are relatively
user-friendly and very useful, I definitely look into them
but I'm no longer lusting for the latest gear fix.

There's a lot to recommend for the minimal approach.

- Larry


-----Original Message-----
From: Tiktok World HQ <tiktok@sprintmail.com>
To: Loopers-Delight@annihilist.com <Loopers-Delight@annihilist.com>
Date: Sunday, October 31, 1999 8:02 PM
Subject: Re: Fear of Technology (or Bad Interfaces?)


>I think I know what you mean about hard disk recording, something I've 
>been
>rebuffed by numerous times once I start trying to deal with poorly
>thought-out interfaces.  It's much easier to solve the "mundane" problems
of
>recording and playing back information (audio or MIDI) than it is to 
>design
>a smooth interface.  Good ones don't come out of nowhere--they evolve over
>years of use and feedback from user to designer.
>
>Unfortunately, in the digital world there's no "reason" to do anything a
>particular way, the turnover at technology companies (particularly in 
>niche
>markets like MI) is high, and companies themselves tend to bite the dust 
>or
>get absorbed at a ferocious rate...not the sort of thing that results in
>time-tested, well-thought out designs.
>
>I also think that limitations are, by and large, a good thing.  I've got a
>box of looping devices (for example) from the last decade or so, and
they've
>all got problems and they've all got at least one thing that none of the
>others will do, and I write and play differently when I use one of them
over
>the other.  Over the last few years, I've seen a number of people say that
>they preferred the Boomerang to the rackmount loopers because it's a
simpler
>device.  Everything's laid out there in front of you, you don't really 
>need
>a manual (they could have almost printed the manual on the back of the
>thing), and one level, I know what they mean.  I can quickly set up
>something with the Boomerang or Headrush, whereas my Echoplexes sit in a
big
>heavy rack which tends to only get set up at gigs or recording dates, just
>because it takes more space and another fifteen minutes or so wire
>everything up.
>
>I'm somewhat embarassed that I bought a MPX G2 a month ago, and I've only
>turned it on three times since then.  Sounds great, but I open the manual
>(well-written, but it's a deep box) and for the first time in fifteen 
>years
>of playing with all manner of gadgets, my eyes glaze over, and I end up
>going with one of my other setups.
>
>TH
>
>----------
>>From: Loopers-Delight-d-request@annihilist.com
>>To: Loopers-Delight-d@annihilist.com
>>Subject: Loopers-Delight-d Digest V99 #429
>>Date: Sun, Oct 31, 1999, 6:35 PM
>>
>
>> I have a question for everyone. How many here have had to get over (or
are
>> currently trying to get over) a fear of technology? By this I mean not
>> wanting to move on with technology (i.e. computer recording or
editing--or
>> even something as simple as a slight gear upgrade from pedals to rack
gear).
>>  An example of my own is a reluctance to start working with computer
>> recording and editing software. I've just got up the guts to dive into
the
>> digital recording world of a Rolqand VS880EX, and it's great. It's taken
a
>> while to work through that learning curve, but it's been worth work and
>> drudgery of that Roland manual. However, I am very reluctant to start
work
>> with a computer editing and recording program.
>
>