The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, DMANX@t... wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> Well this is the like to my latest track called'TRANZOTIKA'
> found at
> http://stage.vitaminic.co.uk/dmanx/singles
> It was created without knowledge of reading or writing 
music.Feel free to give your comments.


Okay, I listened to your tracks and my impression is there 
nothing truly objectionable about them. And while they do nothing 
to hamper the forward progress of the 'trance' genre neither do 
they accomplish anything that pushes the boundaries. To call it 
'experimental' is a misnomer - 'amateur' would be a more 
honest assessment as you've clearly followed the "rules" of 
'trance' music (filtered percussion loop, jungle style drum loops, 
rich synth swatches, staccato synth arpeggio, etc.) But that's 
okay because every sub-genre of electronic dance music 
(House, Trance, IDM, Jungle, D&B, blah, blah, blah) has a set of 
of 'expected' guidelines for your target audience to recognize it as 
such. You've done a fine job of arranging some prefab samples 
and found sound into a fair, if somewhat predictable, 
representation of the genre. On the downside, there's nothing 
there to make me believe the same results couldn't have been 
arrived at by any other home musician (or bedroom DJ) with 
some 'construction kit' type sample CD's from the likes of Wizoo 
or some other 3rd party soundware vendor. Stick with it and don't 
be afraid to shy away from the conventional.


I feel the time has come were you do not need theory with the 
advance in software and pc technology.
> Regards
> DAMANX.
> 
I guess what disappoints me though is your apparent 
unwillingness to move past this adolescent mentality 'I feel the 
time has come were you do not need theory with the advance in 
software and PC technology.' You solicited much insightful, 
genuine and thoughtful (and often humorous!) feedback in your 
MUSIC THEORY thread. I'd hoped you would have gathered 
more from it then you apparently seem able to acknowledge.

Here's some closing thoughts for you: The software and 
technology (soundware) used in your compositions was written 
and coded and performed by musicians. What are the odds 
NONE of these performers & programmers (yes, you can be 
both a musician and programmer!) had no Theory or training? 
Pretty darn slim odds, IMO. So, you're compositions have clearly 
benefited from someone, somewhere with musical training.

Furthermore, you mentioned in a recent post that you use a 
PLG150AN, REAKTOR, and REASON in your compositions. 
Well, that's upwards of $1000 of kit right there - and if I recall 
correctly, in another recent post you mentioned using many 
products from Native Instruments - that's quite a software budget 
you've got. Assuming you've paid for all that software and hold a 
license to the samples in your library - and I've no reason to 
assume you're not above board - you're doing pretty well. 
Congratulations. But if this weren't the case, then you'd have to 
acknowledge it as theft from musicians trying to make a living 
from their training and education. To my thinking, that would be 
quite difficult to reconcile with such a high minded ideal of 'I feel 
the time has come were you do not need theory with the advance 
in software and PC technology.' What do you think?

regards,

Jon