The computer as instrument, was Re: [linux-audio-user] Bainstorming! Drawing in non-musician developers

[Loki Davison]

On 2/23/06, Dave Griffiths <dave at pawfal.org> wrote:
> > Dave Griffiths wrote:
> >
> >>>Frank Barknecht wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>... I hope someday people will
> >>>>>be playing computers like people play guitars today. It's a lot of fun
> >>>>>to code, but it would be even more fun if it wouldn't eat into the
> >>>>> time
> >>>>>I have available for producing music so much.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>But coding *is* playing the computer like people play the guitar!
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>Careful, Frank, there are a few of us here who do both. :)  I
> >>>respectfully disagree with your statement, though I agree with its
> >>> intent.
> >>>
> >>>Playing any instrument requires years of physical engagement to form a
> >>>playing technique. I'll certainly agree that using a computer also
> >>>requires years of effort to master, but that mastery is not based on an
> >>>analogous "playing technique".
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>Hi Dave, I think I have to respectfully disagree with your disagreement
> >> :)
> >>this is something which is under debate, at least in some circles:
> >>http://www.informatics.sussex.ac.uk/events/ppig2005/papers/Blackwell.pdf
> >>
> >>I think distinctions here are a little silly though, as I've seen people
> >>dance to music that is created by writing code live, and they don't seem
> >>to care much whether it counts as music making or programming :)
> >>
> >>It's just (yet) another way to think about computers and music.
> >>
> >>I agree with everything else you are saying though :)
> >>
> > Hi Dave:
> >
> > I think I'll eat my statement re: "analogous playing technique". If the
> > computer is any sort of instrument (of the mind or otherwise), then a
> > playing technique must evolve. Perhaps the distinctions are difficult to
> > confirm because we're at such an early stage with the instrument and its
> > possible playing techniques ? Seems funny to say that, given the
> > machine's long visibility as a music-making device, but some of our more
> > familiar and typical instruments have been in development for centuries,
> > and their own techniques are still evolving (I hope).
>
> It's early days, I think the use of a computer as a (albeit more flexible)
> equivalent of a hardware device - with simulated knobs and switches etc,
> is only scratching the surface somehow.
>
> The interesting thing is that most of this thinking and exploration seems
> to be going on using free software.
>
> cheers,
>
> dave
>
>

As far as using a computer more like a traditional instrument
regarding response, layers of complexity and initial ease of playing
this is actually what i hope to do my phd on. Still somewhat looking
for somewhere to do it though. ;-)

Loki