The Logic Off Topic list

I don't know why, but it always seems to me any new setup [audiocard,
computer, OS update, s/w update] seems to have a settling-in
period, when half your time seems to be spent troubleshooting, then all
of a sudden everything selltles down and becomes totally
transparent, and music becomes easy again. I think what happens is we
often actually change our modus-operandus to suit the quirks
of the new setup, maybe, without realising it.

my $0.02

Dave Eager



Subala D wrote:

> Don't get me wrong guys, I LOVE making music! Unfortuantely I've been
> away from everthing these past 5 or 6
> years and now I'm setting up my studio again. This time, I've updated
> my computer to a new G4sp and invested
> in LAMG and SoundDiver. I'm ready to roll!! Atleast, I thought I was.
>
> I'm having tremendous difficulty getting past the technology and into
> the music. I operated a midi studio for
> over 15 years, previously on Atari. I'm not a midi idiot, but boy,
> I'm having great problems getting the juices
> flowing.
>
> Could it be that I don't "really" want this anymore? Or has this
> stuff actually become so much more complex
> in the past 5 years, that I'm having unrealistic expectations about
> how long the learning curve should slow me
> down. I'm finding it harder to simply concentrate and work through
> all of the problems and issues related to
> all the new software and gear.
>
> I've always operated on technology's cutting edge and I'm used to
> learning new gear, but this time feels
> different. Is this stuff just that more complicated or have I simply
> lost my internal (and maybe external)
> inspiration? Or maybe, I'm just getting old?
>
> Any helpful advise welcomed.
> Subala
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>                   [Don't just travel. Travel right.]
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> I've been away from everthing these past 5 or 6
> years and now I'm setting up my studio again..but this time feels
> different. Is this stuff just that more complicated or have I simply
> lost my internal (and maybe external) inspiration? Or maybe, I'm just 
> getting old? Any helpful advise welcomed.

I know what you mean. If I'm away from my gear for only a few
weeks, I sit myself down in front of everything, scratch my head and
wonder how the f**k I ever get anything done.

As all our gear gets slowly swallowed up into the computer maybe in
the long term it'll all be a lot simpler but if, like me, you've
got loads of technology, some going back to the '80's, and you're trying
to interface it with the latest stuff, it can be severely
depressing. One's brain can only take so much. Putting all the manuals
for all your hard/software together on the same shelf can be a sobering
experience as to just how much we're dealing with.

Maybe download a simple tracker type thingie like 'Fruity Loops' or
something. I even had a quick fiddle with OctaMED on my old Amiga a few
days ago when my PC was driving me crazy, and I actually got a tune
finished the same evening I started it! - 8 bit and hissy as hell but
well inspiring.

Or just load up Logic 'Fun' and see what you can do without an all
singing/dancing Environment and 'only' four audio tracks.

Failing the above, find a nice retirement home by the sea and don't
forget your Stylophone. See you there - I'll be the smelly one in the
corner making lascivious gestures at the night nurse.

Ade

Agreed.  I too find that the new stuff seems to take forever 
to get going, at least when you make a major upgrade.  I am still 
using sound designer II, cause it works and I don't want to have to 
learn another program!  My understanding is that people doing the big 
feature films tend to get a setup that works well, and then they 
leave it alone for years!!!  The problem is there is so much new 
stuff that it is hard to resist trying it. I tend to stick to logic, 
sounddesigner II, occasional uses of transferstation.  My gigasampler 
setup has a dedicated pc, so it's problems are isolated to that box, 
a good reason to dedicate a box!
	I wrote an article about this a while back, called 
"Creativity and the Cyborg", which was published by Canadian Musician 
magazine, but is online at soniccontrol.com.  It is a little long in 
the tooth but has some tips for those buried in the technology to the 
point that the machine does the thinking and they play catch-up!
	Cheerz!

>I don't know why, but it always seems to me any new setup [audiocard,
>computer, OS update, s/w update] seems to have a settling-in
>period, when half your time seems to be spent troubleshooting, then all
>of a sudden everything selltles down and becomes totally
>transparent, and music becomes easy again. I think what happens is we
>often actually change our modus-operandus to suit the quirks
>of the new setup, maybe, without realising it.
>
>Dave Eager


>Subala D wrote:
>
>>  Don't get me wrong guys, I LOVE making music! Unfortuantely I've been
>>  away from everthing these past 5 or 6
>>  years and now I'm setting up my studio again. This time, I've updated
>>  my computer to a new G4sp and invested
>>  in LAMG and SoundDiver. I'm ready to roll!! Atleast, I thought I was.
>>
>>  I'm having tremendous difficulty getting past the technology and into
>>  the music. I operated a midi studio for
>>  over 15 years, previously on Atari. I'm not a midi idiot, but boy,
>>  I'm having great problems getting the juices
>>  flowing.
>>
>>  Could it be that I don't "really" want this anymore? Or has this
>>  stuff actually become so much more complex
>>  in the past 5 years, that I'm having unrealistic expectations about
>>  how long the learning curve should slow me
>>  down. I'm finding it harder to simply concentrate and work through
>>  all of the problems and issues related to
>>  all the new software and gear.
>>
>>  I've always operated on technology's cutting edge and I'm used to
>>  learning new gear, but this time feels
>>  different. Is this stuff just that more complicated or have I simply
>>  lost my internal (and maybe external)
>>  inspiration? Or maybe, I'm just getting old?
>>
>>  Any helpful advise welcomed.
>>  Subala
>>
>>
>>  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>                    [Don't just travel. Travel right.]
>>  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>
>
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>
>