|
Interesting info here. Sadly, I missed the event but it sounds tremendous - hats off to all of you! G > Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:22:42 -0500 > From: kkissinger@kevinkissinger.com > To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com > Subject: Some observations about Y2KX > > Hi everyone! > > Y2KX was my 4th festival in Santa Cruz and I noticed a few things and > wonder if they indicate a trend in Live Looping. > > 1) Few (if any) equipment glitches. > > In the past, equipment glitches occurred with enough regularity that > one considered glitches to be part of the looping game. This year, > the only noticeable glitch was when Bob utilized his prototype LP2 -- > and, after all -- it was a prototype still in development. > > 2) Equipment setups tended to be smaller. > > Compared to past years, people used less equipment on stage. This may > be attributed to the difficulty to travel with equipment and perhaps a > a trend to keep things simple to minimize setup time and to minimize > the risk of glitches. > > 3) Looping tended to be simple, most of the time. > > While some people manipulated loops (i.e., reverse, stretch, etc) most > of the loops ranged from 2 to 12 bars with an emphasis on overlaying > sound. > > Either that or the loop mangling was so subtle and/or integrated into > the performance that one didn't immediately notice it. > > Again, this reflects an approach that avoids too much complexity. > > 4) Tunings tended to be 12-TET or unpitched > > That is, sets utilized unpitched sounds or tended towards traditional > tuning. My set, too, was 12-TET except for intonation issues that are > inherent with the theremin. ;) > > Keyboards and fretted instruments are biased towards 12-TET. I guess > I noticed this because, lately, I've been experimenting with > alternative temperaments such as 14-TET. The problem is, that I do > this work on my modular synth which won't fit on an airplane! Would > be fun to do some synth looping in Santa Cruz and perhaps, down the > road, I'll build a portable system that I can bring with me. > > 5) The visuals! > > ... were awesome and really added a lot to the festivals. Also, the > visuals really complimented the music. Thanks to the visual artists > who put this together. > > 6) Lots of laptops > > I didn't keep count, but it seemed the majority of performers utilize > laptop computers. The debate between the use of laptop computers and > equipment that contains imbedded systems continues however may people > appeared to use both (i.e., external boxes with laptop). > > You may be interested to know that I use laptop-based looping with the > theremin -- mainly for logistical reasons. One can't easily manage > pedal pushes AND in-tune playing concurrently on the theremin. > > However, with my modular synthesizer, I love the LP1 and my footpedals. > > ~~ > > In my own personal work, I tend to swing between simplicity and > complexity -- trying to achieve some kind of balance. I think as a > community, we may do the same thing. One of the fun things about such > an event is to look at where we are as individual artists and where we > are as a movement. > > Anyway, these are my observations. Look forward to hearing others' > observations and opinions. > > -- Kevin > |