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RE: Please lets all sit together now and define what we do!



My view on the use of pre-recorded loops is this:

1. layer them so that the intersection aurally becomes something new and
2. in Acid you can cut part of the loop out to modify it, or stretch it, or
change the pitch- changing the loop from its originally recorded sound is a
way of taking it and making it your own loop also

-----Original Message-----
From: sine@zerocrossing.net [mailto:sine@zerocrossing.net]
Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 11:36 AM
To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
Subject: Re: Please lets all sit together now and define what we do!

Hmmmm while I would include both real time looping and using pre
recorded loops in music as both under the term "Looping" I would
probably say that if you're using pre recorded loops, you should be
"performing" them in some way.  No?  Taking a looped bit of audio and
having it loop over and over in a sequencing/hd recorder as part of a
composition isn't what this is about... is it?  In my mind that's more
like "setting a phrase to repeat" than looping.  I never think of my
drum machine as a looper, but it does repeat a phrase if I tell it to.
I do think it would be useful to us if we include the "live" aspect of
what we do in our definition.  From there, I'd then branch it out to
include two main forms of live audio looping.  Musician as input and
Musician as prerecorded loop player.

Then where do I go?  I often incorporate both.  Not in the sense that
I'd record a loop before a show, but I'd record one during a show then
manipulate it.  There are times when I'm playing into a loop, while I'm
using a processor and/or controller to screw with the loop... all in
real time.  So my definition is already one that can be easily blurred,
but I do not think that is a bad thing.

Mark Sottilaro

Matthias Grob wrote:

> >I've found that having a sample based looper has expanded my concept
> >of what looping is to me as a musician.
>
> sample looping as opposed to tape looping has been coming back here,
> because they are tecnically and musically distinct. Part of the
> success of the EDP is the way it combines the two concepts...
> Then with the Boss you also can have prerecorded loops, which is
> another expansion to "real time looping" as we usually treat here.
>
> >That said, I don't really know if there is a general classification
> >that can be made for looping as an art form (I do believe looping to
> >be it's own unique art form),
>
> ok , thats a vote!
>
> >but do you really want a generalization to be made??  The moment
> >that you categorize something is the same moment that you create
> >boundries and parameters.  Looping is a very open ended form, which
> >is why it exsists in so many aspects and styles of music which may
> >be why it's so endearing and has become a passion for many of us.
>
> In many discussions of this year, we came to the conclusion that its
> the lack of parameters and definition which makes that its a passion
> of so few!
> We certainly dont want artists to respect boundaries, but we want to
> give the public a reason to go to a loop concert.
>
> >So I've failed to provide an adequate definition for what we do, I
> >know what I do, but if I speak for all of us, then I'm immediately
> >placing limitations on what the rest of you do musically, which I'm
> >certain in some way differs from what I do musically.  I do wish to
> >explain why I define looping as an art form.  The playing of any
> >individual instrument can be defined as a form of art, playing
> >guitar requies a different type of artistry from playing the
> >bassoon, both are valid artistic skills, thus in my mind can be
> >defined as unique art forms.  I view the loop as an instrument in
> >itself, whether it's a drone, or a snippet of speech or a scale of
> >notes.  The creation of the loop requires a certain degree of
> >technique and artistry, certainly with practice anyone can do it but
> >the artistry is what differentiates between what your loops sound
> >like and what my loops sound like.  Thus, in a way, the loop becomes
> >an instrument onto itself unique in the players hands, making it a
> >unique art form.  Just as painting in oil and acrylic are unique art
> >forms...
>
> this sounds very clear to me and I hope its common sense...
> --
>
>           ---> http://Matthias.Grob.org