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Looper's Delight
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Thanks for opening my mind up, i just learnt something huge about myself. cam S V G <vsyevolod@yahoo.com> wrote: > > After just posting that last bit on the FCB1010 MIDI pedal, I >started ruminating a bit on the >process that I go through as a musician in developing a relationship to >my gear. Someone on >another list recently made an excellent observation comparing physical >patchcords (like with the >old style modular synthesizers) to LCD menu screens. He said that the >patchcords are more "right >brain", you can see at a glance what is going on and take actions from an >intuitive part of >yourself in the patching process. What Brian Eno refers to as "rapport" >with ones chosen gear. >LCD screens are more "left brain" and require you to enter a different >way of thinking in order to >alter a patch. Perhaps this way of thinking doesn't come easy for some >people (like myself). > > I don't know if the "left brain/right brain" analogy is accurate, >though his words spoke >volumes to me. The FCB1010 is a difficult beast for me to wrap my brain >around and it isn't >getting any easier for me as the years roll on. There's not even an LCD >screen... Also for me, >MIDI (the way it is currently applied), is non-intuitive, non-"right >brain" if you will. One of >the greatest things to come out in the last ten years of gear is the >entire Electrix line. Or at >least for those of us who relate well to this style of gear interaction. > Though I have never >tried using the EDP, the discussions that ensue here on this list push me >further away from it as >they seem to speak of a way to approach the pedal that runs counter to >what feels good to me. I >wish this wasn't so, as the EDP seems so powerful. Perhaps someday I >will come across one of >these little hummers and my thoughts about it will be proved incorrect. > I have to limit the >amount of gear that I buy based on how accessable it is to me to >understand and utilize. So much >of what has been produced over the last 20 years seems "unfriendly" to me >and my way of working. > > I don't want to start any flame wars here, rather the FCB1010 and >its awkward programming >style led me to ruminate a bit. I put it in the "left brain" camp. I >would imagine that for some >"left brain" oriented people, the LCD screen actually works more fluidly >in their music making >process. To those who easily understand computer software and >programming, certain pathways have >been etched into their brain and the way they relate to these things. Or >so it seems to me. Once >the FCB1010 is well programmed, it may move itself over to the "right >brain" camp. Maybe. Same >goes for the EDP. It may serve as an unusually intuitive tool for me, if >I am ever able to get >past the user interface. Once my feet start dancing on the pedals, who >knows how easy it will be? > My sense is that Andre and others on this list already have this >relationship to the EDP, perhaps >even the FCB1010... > > Another analogy comes to mind with the generic stomp box vs. the >Line 6 stomp box modeler. I >have owned all 4 of their effect modelers and have felt myself not able >to relate to them >intuitively (programming them that is). The resultant effects don't seem >to do what they are >supposed to do. Other stomp boxes seem so intuitive on the other hand, >even the complex ones. I >suppose it all has to do with how the boxes are set up internally, how >their logic is constructed. > On the plus side, in the process of owning these effect modelers, I have >come across other gear >that does the job much more simply and directly, not to mention sounding >better to boot. So I >have a debt of gratitude for those humble Line 6 boxes. They taught me >that there are ways to >achieve what I want, in ways that work for me, and with some patience I >will find that way for >myself. (anyone interested in a used FM-4 or MM-4?) > > I am still struggling with my Roland GR-33 and my Axon AX100-SB >guitar synths. The Axon is >far more powerful and far more difficult for me to work with. The Roland >is more of a Plug'n'Play >module, with crappier tracking and sounds, yet the footboard controls >make parts of it more >accessable. They both rely on small LCD screens and way too many menus >to scroll through, not to >mention Owner's Manuals that were written by aliens... The bottom line >may turn out that they are >not worth the trouble for me. The jury is not out yet. > > And with all that Electrix has gone through in the last few years, >the bugs and >inconsistencies and ultimate demise that is their legacy, ya still gotta >love 'em. I have all 6 >of the Electrix modules, (indeed it seems like a modular synthesizer from >the old days), and I >wouldn't trade them for anything. One quick look at the rack and I know >intimately what is >happening to my sound. > > In none of this discussion do I mean to imply that either right or >left brain approaches are >superior to one another, or that one way of working is mo bettah than >another way. I'm interested >in hearing from people what works for them. > > Cheers, > > SVG > > >__________________________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! >http://sbc.yahoo.com > > __________________________________________________________________ The NEW Netscape 7.0 browser is now available. Upgrade now! http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/