The Essay ....

Why Learn To Play An Instrument
When Your Computer Can?
Jimmy Russell

With the advancement of technology, digital media put the tools of production into the hands of the everyday computer, thus making it incredibly easy to produce a fair standard within a relativity short period of time. So with these creative tools simply placed into the lap of what most would call “amateurs” what will the future bring? What exactly is computer generated music and who are some of the artists that have used this technique to make it big and how? How has the internet and social networking websites helped influence artists and what will happen to the professionals and highly skilled artists in the business.

It is not until we examine Computer Music, which since the creation of the personal computer and growth of home recording has helped, that we can find this technique is sometimes used to describe any music that has been created using computing technology (Encyclopaedia, 2009). Commonly penned as Computer Music, the term that describes a field of study relating to the applications of computing technology in music composition also includes the theory and application of new and existing technologies into the music production. This includes, sound synthesis, acoustics and sound design. As this term can be traced back to the early origins of electronic music, the very first experiments and innovations with electronic instruments were not noticed until the 20th century. However, it is not until examine both groups that we can distinguish the differences. .

Computer generated music, which we will be discussed, is music composed by, and or with the extensive aid of, a computer and programs. Although most music requires a computer for editing and added details, the exact phase does not relate to this but more the music which has been created solely from a computer. To further go into detail, this generated music can then be seen in two groups, created on a computer for human performance and music composed and performed by computers. But for this essay, the human interaction side will be examined.

The world famous Scottish dance god that is Calvin Harris is a fine example of one who was once seen as an amateur, simply creating beats in his bedroom, and has taken the world by storm. Quite obviously he has upgraded his programs since 2007, but during an interview, the man promoted the use of the widely popular, all round dj computer that is the Mac, with Logic running to create his floor fillers (Slomowicz, 2007). However, originally when Mr. Harris was in the process of getting his name out, the self pronounced nerd wrote, recorded and produced the entire album on an Amiga computer in his bedroom. (Harris, 2009) Harris jokingly admits, when working with big names in the industry, “it's not practical to invite a multimillion-selling pop star into my bedroom and say, 'Do you want to write a song from scratch?” (Slomowicz, 2007).

Unlike other computer generated artists, when a live performance is conducted, Calvin does not simply hide behind his decks. A full complete band is displayed on the stage. “Compared to going to go on as a DJ, I think we're a lot louder and a lot more danceable than it would be if it was me in front of the machinery, and obviously it's a more interesting spectacle for the people watching rather than just me behind some decks, because everyone's seen that a million times before.” (Slomowicz, 2007) This highlights the fact that though he has created computer generated music, he still produces live, highly intense and energetic live show, a rarity with modern day “DJ’s”

With a similar history to Disco Creator, the Swedish singer, producer and Bass Creator Basshunter is another big name in the field of computer generated music. With a completely different genre to promote, Jonas Altberg created his own MySpace and website eight years ago simply to show off his talents using the Fruity Loops program. With hundreds of songs, taking years to create, the unknown Basshunter exploded in the Eurodance scene and was instantly signed to a record label and has since toured the world (Basshunter.eu, 2008) While using his Mac book with Logic and Fruity Loops installed, changing his sound is the last thing he wishes to do.

“Today it’s so easy to produce music, anyone can, actually. There is, for example, the Nexus VST plug-in, pre-made sounds, you don’t have to touch it, it just sounds perfect from the beginning. The only thing you need is to know how to use the program and produce some beats. You need to have an ear as well. To be honest the best thing to do is to try and make something that no one else has done before. Make it as simple as possible and as catchy as possible. If you do that, and do it in a good way of course, everyone will be able to sing along” – Basshunter

As bedroom masters and garage bands can now host their music for the world to hear on MySpace, the act of self promotion has cancelled out the original, once impossible, and tedious act of gaining public attention the old fashion way. With over eight million artists and bands online, it is obvious that major record companies are watching the unsigned musicians and sifting through the talent (Owyang, 2008)

Both artists openly admit to using programs to create music, unlike “real” musicians who use instruments, one of the main highlighting reasons they have excelled is simply due to the fact that they had been discovered on social networking sites and personal home pages. The certified gold album that is I Created Disco would possibly not be where it was however without the then added influence of social networking websites. “I like to think that there was some way that I could have been heard by someone if it hadn't been through MySpace but, you know, maybe not” (Slomowicz, 2007). Basshunter further adds to this thought by claiming “Look at me; without the internet and downloads I would be a fart in the wind” (Dolphin, 2009)

So does that mean that one day computer generated music will became the norm as music with actual instruments are becoming less popular? In my opinion, I’d stand by a strong no. With electronic dance music (widely created on computers – see artists above) mainly created for the purpose to be used in an environment that is centred upon dance based entertainment, this genre has vast and unreal strength and popularity behind it, but only from its targeted audience. To the ones that appreciate this genre, the electronic scene will never die, but as everyone holds a different taste and personality, the uprising of computer generated music will not be as powerful as expected.

It is estimated that…
•20 million people can play guitar in the USA
• 43% of adults can play an instrument
• Young adults aged between 18 and 34 are more likely to play an instrument than any other age.
• A staggering 43% of guitar players are aspiring professionals
• 41% are just hobbyists
• And, 54% of households hold at least one member who can play an instrument
Source: Google Answers - http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/720968.html (20th May 2006)

In conclusion, computer generated music is here to stay, but for the “real” musicians out there, don’t be afraid. Of course you will have competition, and yes eventually every piece of music will be altered on a computer for some reason or other, but the insatiable human urge to create and mould a piece of art with nothing but your mind, a hand made instrument, and your soul, is something that, coupled with the purity and raw power of a inspiration live performance is something which can never be replicated by any form of technology. Human passion, is what drives all music, the minute we lose the passion in music, is the day that music, will cease to be.

Just as Jesus created wine from water,
we humans are capable of transmuting
emotion into music."
~ Carlos Santana ~

Bibliography

Basshunter. (2008). Biography. Retrieved October 2009, from Basshunter.Eu: http://www.basshunter.eu/biography

Calvin Harris. (2009). Biography. Retrieved October 2009, from Calvin Harris: http://calvinharris.co.uk

Dolphin, D. (2009, May 3). Jonas Erik Altberg (Basshunter) Interview. Retrieved October 2009, from Skynet Blogs: http://pf.skynet.ie/blog/63/jonas-erik-altber-basshunter-interview/

Google Answers. (2006, May 20). How Many People In The United States Play Guitar. Retrieved October 2009, from Google Answers: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/720968.html

Owyang, J. (2008, January). Social Network Stats. Retrieved October 2009, from Web Stategist: http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2008/01/09/social-network-stats-facebook-myspace0reunion-jan-2008/

Slomowicz, D. R. (2007, January 14th). Calvin Harris Interview. Retrieved October 2009, from About.Com: http://dancemusic.about.com/ob/remixersproducers/a/CalvinHarrisInt.htm

The Free Dictionary. (2009). Computer Music Definiton. Retrieved October 2009, from The Free Dictionary: http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/computer+music

if we canteloup lettuce marry!

vasssssup.....

so this week you want us to show off our artwork. ughhhhhhh ummm ughhh umm ok???
i like money but i cant do art for shizzz. well i can...but when i was younger i made better things. i think as i grew up not only did i lose all abilities to do things but i gained this thing called "lazy". its a bad bad problem.

but you see....this is where im differnt. instead of drawing, i went through a phase where i took photos of things. anything from concerts to parties, i always had a camera on me. so technically yes it is art but if u were expecting a drawn apple.....piss off
haahah

now all these photos have been edited with photo editing programs....you'll read in the discriptions. considering im not a photo editor wizz....i rekon i did alright haha

check these out...i took em (seriously)

ok so this is not fake. i took this photo for real. how close was i!! hahaha. but ok so this is a photo from coldplays brisbane leg of their Viva La Vida Tour earlier this year. i actually met chris martin and got his pick after the show. good shit. but this picture never looked like this. i have changed the colour scheme and made it quite darker and reder. i also sharpened the picture just a tad and blured it as well

this one, of evermore's front man Jon Hum, is a great picture. i was practically on the stage taking photos and this was one of the craziest as he stood infront of me...the show off haha. i have changed it to greyscale and blured it just a tad

matthew bellamy...i guy crush. muse is the greatest band on earth and some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. during a solo at their brisbane show, the front man lent over the large stage for me to get this shot. not a good one...i can admit but i have edited it so its metalic and darker...just like their music.

the prodigy...ahhh the prodigy. great chaps. very friendly. and ugly. during their brisbane gig i got this great up and close photo which i have serpered (or how ever u spell it) and zoomed in just a tad. while makin the picture darker as well....i think this makes it look WORSE than the original ahah. but ahh well we had to change them for this task


THANK YOU :D!