Analogue Blast

1. Don Simon says:

   I beg to differ. In general that is. On a personal level though, I’m sure all sorts of limitations, retro manifestos and rollbacks to more physical tools can serve as great inspiration to producers, in contrast to the limitlessness in todays laptop/software based setups.

   The Dogma movies brought back focus to the narrative and other core values in film making, as can the use of hardware synthesizers probably emphasize melodies or whatever it is your after in your electronic productions – but it’s just a phase, I can’t see advancing technology as being bad in the bigger picture.

2. James says:

   Well said, Don, and I’ll go along with most of that. The Dogme 95 comparison is a good one (although I don’t think I like most of the movies it produced) and it raises some interesting questions: Is analogue equipment a limitation? Is it somehow more ‘pure’?

   When it comes to digital v. analogue, the either/or mentality in electronic music fascinates me. The image of a techno producer shaking his fist at new technology never feels right to me (after all, it’s techno music). But I don’t think analogue equipment is a phase, either. Both forms have their advantages, although sometimes I’ll put on an old record with Rolands and Korgs and the sound feels much richer and bigger to me. This could be a matter of perception, though…

   Perhaps a parallel can be drawn alongside the decades-old debate among designers between serif and san-serif typefaces: each camp may feel their approach is more legible, but fortunately, the rest of us don’t have to choose.

3. adam shlon says:

   i do own a computer nowadays…
   and am working towards some sort of hybrid.
   computer is tool not crutch, nor end all answer.
   no matter the plug-in, it’s just an imitation anyway.

4. Don Simon says:

   Firstly: Don’t all designers of today agree that there is a context for each font type?

   Secondly (and much more importantly): As I see it the idea of analogue being ‘pure’ is the exact same debate as if vinyl is. Technically, you can do it all on computers as far as I know. My hardware experience is truly limited, but even if it is an imitation I believe the computer can recreate the sounds of an 808 or whatever pretty exact. They are after all electronic devices too. It’s not like imitating a sitar, it’s samples and sine waves.

   But as with vinyl, the process becomes another than that of the laptop, both due to it requiring more work and due to it inducing certain limitations. And don’t get me wrong, I am fan of vinyl, it’s a sign of quality, but all attempts to argue that it has a ‘richer’ sound or whatever are pretty ridiculous. It’s all about the feeling.

   So yeah, I guess perception is a part of it. But nothing wrong with that. And I do get quite fired up when seing setups like yours Adam, makes my fingers itch. I just can’t afford it, and wouldn’t know where to start.

5. James says:

   As far as I can tell, there’s still a big divide among designers about the appropriate use of serif v. sans-serif (compare the body text of, say, the NY Times, CNN, Google, etc.). — and I’ve recently switched the text on this humble site from Arial to a bigger serif font in the interest of legibility.

   But legibility (or fidelity) remains fiercely debated. This reminds me of the designer Zuzana Licko’s maxim that “what we read most, we read best…” There aren’t any inherent qualities in a font that make it better, it’s simply the ubiquity of Times or Helvetica that make it comfortable for the eye. This could apply to music as well: “that which we hear most, we hear best…”

   But some people will argue that scientifically, a serif typeface is inherently more legible. Similarly, I think there is a very good scientific argument for the ‘richer’ sound of analogue signals versus the binary recreation of a waveform, which is fundamentally limited — but we’re so accustomed to mp3s nowadays that it’s become the new standard for day-to-day listening and . . . well, now I’m rambling and losing the thread, so I’m going to stop. But this question of shifting perceptions is really interesting to me (particularly in an age when analogue productions are output to a digital format) — so thanks for these comments…

6. adam shlon says:

   don, you’re right to an extent.
   digital audio workstations have options to randomize triggered sounds to point zero one percent, and can do a pretty nice job of simulating the somewhat “unstable”(i use this term loosely) path of the signal passing through transistors of analogue equipment.
   i think you could further thicken and “randomize” the software produced music by sending(or Aux sending) the signal into an outboard effect, such as tape delay or whatever’s handy, then re-sample back into the digital audio workstation, and maybe repeat the process on the final mixdown. i just think that using digital, since so many people may have the same patches and plug-ins, you may have to work harder to set your sound apart from the next person’s.

   i have to say i enjoy reading your posts gentlemen
   who thought analogue v. digital would spark such discussion?
   thanks
   -adam

   p.s.
   Don, most objects analog operate with midi, din-sync, or cv-gate control.
   so almost any object you can access with the computer through a usb audio/midi interface.
   there are also plug-ins that can translate your signal to communicate with din-sync objects or gate controlled modular gear.
   just get something that sounds interesting, dive in, and have some fun.
   explore the possibilities.
   -thanks again fellas

   thanks again

7. Don Simon says:

   Thanks for your thoughtful replies. I know better than to argue against people with much more experience, you’re probably right about the computers inability to recreate the exact sounds of the good’ole analogues. It’s all in the errs (which is a beautiful thing). I do however still think that this is more interesting to the producer, you’d have to have quite a sharp ear to tell what methods are used in a techno loop as a listener. But then again some styles are probably tied to certain techniques out of traditional reasons.

   As for the font debate: I hear you James. I’ve been taught that sans are easier to read, but we’ve chosen Georgia on our site for pure aesthetical reasons. Those should always be taken into consideration. But where the font is merely a tool used to communicate something else – the text – the sounds in music is the message, so I can’t really see a point in discussing it in terms of what’s practical.

   And Adam, big thanks for the tips. As long as my studio is fitted in my one room apartment I think I’ll have to stick to my midi controllers, but when the cash from my dj world tours starts flowing, who knows what’ll come…

8. adam shlon says:

   traditional reasons and certain techniques are what i want to hear.
   maybe the juggernauts of computer based electro have such an understanding of the rudiments of analog composition through hands on experience or just collecting, it may hard to tell that they were using a computer in the first place.

   i just think that folks not having much background in electronic music jumping in head first can make the music seem like a novelty item…. not much substance. this may be why folks scoff at electronic music on the whole sometimes, all of the little tricks and formulas are pretty apparent with the one hit wonder acts…. since “justice” just threw some distortion on a synth and took a soulful sample with the track D.A.N.C.E. every up and comer copied and cashed in. while at this year’s winter music conference in miami i could not believe how much of that sound i heard in many dj’s sets….

   it seems like you’re doing it for the love of sound don. keep being as thoughtful as you are. if you’re half as creative as you are a well-spoken individual, you’ll go far.

   i’d also like to hear what you’ve been up to (production wise)
   could you drop me a line at xxxashlon@yahoo.com

   thanks for your time
   -adam

9. Don Simon says:

   I couldn’t agree with you more on the Justice issue Adam. I’ll get in touch email wise shortly.

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