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Xeron
from London (United Kingdom) on 2005-10-21 09:00 [#01756475]
Points: 2638 Status: Regular
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Most of us do it, and i think there was a a conversation about it in another thread that I can't seem to find. BUT my purpose for this this thread is: I remeber during the conversation there were a few members stating that "Doctor?" by Orbital could have been "bettered" with a punchier drum base. Well, I think to the contrary, does every piece of music need a kick ass drum base? plus there is the whole music lies on many levels question to be answered; music is more than some scientific object to be analysed objectivly, we have to take into acount the mythology behind the track eg. a track written for his dead wife. In this case (Doctor?) I think that the subtelty (how do you spell that word?) of the drum base can be correlated with the Tardis and the Doctor himself. They are both these incredibly powerful beings yet humble in appearance, I mean come on, The Tardis (an all powerful Time Machine) has the exterior of a humble and delapidated Police Box. The music does more than just being a single thing, it practically emulates and is an intrinsic part of the Dr Who phenomena.
That is all. (I was tired of being silly)
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Q4Z2X
on 2005-10-21 09:11 [#01756491]
Points: 5264 Status: Lurker
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I don't know where you're going with the 'mythology' bit, or if this thread is mainly unserious. But I think I know what you're saying about the bass drum and everything. I reminds me of spam posted here for feedback, and the listeners say things like "This song sounds like such and such, therefore it should have these elements because it is in that style and that's how it should sound.
I guess the goal of most musicians is to make something that fits into a particular style, but it seems stupid to constantly follow different strict formulas because it makes the song sound 'appropriate'.
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redrum
from the allman brothers band (Ireland) on 2005-10-21 09:13 [#01756494]
Points: 12878 Status: Addict
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Xeron makes me want to stay away from London.
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swears
from junk sleep on 2005-10-21 09:15 [#01756498]
Points: 6474 Status: Lurker | Followup to Q4Z2X: #01756491
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Yeah, anyone who thinks that there is a "right" way for music to sound is a fucking idiot. There was a lad who went to my old school would would make really generic trance on Fruity Loops, and he would spend hours trying to get it to sound as cliched as possible, I hate that attitude, but it is one that sadly persists in a lot of electronic music.
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Ceri JC
from Jefferson City (United States) on 2005-10-21 09:31 [#01756507]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
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On the subject of "correcting" music, I find I more often see flaws in the programming, rather than the patches or sounds used.
Most tracks I hear there are parts where I think things like, "they could have double timed the claps up there" or "the play out should have ended on the drums rather than the synth". Usually, if like the track, it's only a few bars and not worth the effort for me to do a re-edit of the track to "correct" the problem, especially if it's the melody, rather than a few drum hits, or order of bars, that is the problem.
I suppose it's fairly egotistical to think you know better than the artist who made the track (who in most cases is far more talented than you), but I know when working on tracks, I become used to them and can't hear the mistakes sometimes. I know when drawing a trick is to hold the picture up to a mirror and all the problems you mentally glaze over jump out at you. I wish there was an equivalent in music (no, playing it backwards doesn't work, I've tried that! :) ).
There are very few tracks that I don't think could be improved in this way and all of them are amongst my favourites.
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plaidzebra
from so long, xlt on 2005-10-21 09:56 [#01756559]
Points: 5678 Status: Lurker
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since i believe that music only exists in the mind of the listener (the creator of the music is another listener as well), and since each listener then experiences the music in a unique way (with all of the usual assumptions, agreements and expectations for organized stimulus, in the same way that we do not share the same "green" experience but we agree mostly on what is "green"), i think that every individual should treat any music in any way that they choose. since "good" and "better" are just lazy mind talk for "what i like," why not modify your experience to suit "what you like"? you're not the center of *the* universe, but you're the center of *your* universe, so do what you will.
but there is the danger of letting this perpetual analysis get in the way of your pleasure. if you're always thinking about "what's wrong with some small and non-crucial detail about this or that recording" you're not really listening. this also happens with hifi enthusiasts, they end up rarely satisfied with the sound of a system because their expectations are so high.
does anybody really read this stuff?
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dog_belch
from Netherlands, The on 2005-10-21 10:03 [#01756567]
Points: 15098 Status: Addict | Followup to plaidzebra: #01756559 | Show recordbag
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I hate the fact that I find myself agreeing with you lately.
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swears
from junk sleep on 2005-10-21 10:05 [#01756572]
Points: 6474 Status: Lurker | Followup to plaidzebra: #01756559
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Yeah, my Dad's a Hifi enthusiast and he can't listen to any music from before 1990 without moaning about the sound quality.
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plaidzebra
from so long, xlt on 2005-10-21 10:09 [#01756576]
Points: 5678 Status: Lurker | Followup to dog_belch: #01756567
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don't worry, i've got some shit up my sleeve that's gonna really stick in your craw.
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Ceri JC
from Jefferson City (United States) on 2005-10-21 10:21 [#01756598]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to plaidzebra: #01756559 | Show recordbag
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I definately agree with your hi-fi enthusiasts point. The music seems a secondary consideration to a lot of them.
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Combo
from Sex on 2005-10-21 10:50 [#01756650]
Points: 7540 Status: Regular
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well i never correct music lol, but it's maybe because i don't compose music
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futureimage
from buy FIR from Juno (United Kingdom) on 2005-10-21 10:58 [#01756662]
Points: 6427 Status: Lurker
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Happens to me alot.
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obara
from Utrecht on 2005-10-21 11:03 [#01756674]
Points: 19377 Status: Regular
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"Doctor?" by Orbital could have been "bettered" with a punchier drum base.
- i don't agree. unless we're talking about remixing, then ok.
does every piece of music need a kick ass drum base?
no
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obara
from Utrecht on 2005-10-21 11:09 [#01756685]
Points: 19377 Status: Regular | Followup to obara: #01756674
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i do it only sometimes, when i hear a pop track . thinking " how would it sound if i changed this or that ? " .
i often think that many pop songs on the radio would sound better without - often annoying - vocals.
shit, i cliked that Plaid banner
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obara
from Utrecht on 2005-10-21 11:13 [#01756695]
Points: 19377 Status: Regular | Followup to futureimage: #01756662
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pride is a deadly sin.
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Xeron
from London (United Kingdom) on 2005-10-22 03:01 [#01757343]
Points: 2638 Status: Regular | Followup to plaidzebra: #01756576
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sorry I didn't reply earlier. You make a good point in that the composer is a listener aswell and thus the music will touch him in a personal way, but, talking about Doctor? I think you begin to appreciate more the music when you start linking it with the series itself, (I know ppl who only watch Dr Who really for the beginning theme tune), whether these links exist or were intended is another matter, but I like to think of Orbital restraing themselves while composing this track to stop it becoming something epically Jarre-esque. Plus shouldn't the composer's view point have more weight when we're discussing the music- back to the dead wife analogy- it might be the most pathetic drumbase and sickly sweet melody, and fair enough if you didn't know for whom it was written then yes you are entitled to say it was a mediocre piece of music ,BUT, once you know the reason there should some allowance and a change in the way you view the track ie perhaps a change from an objective point of view to a slightly more subjective one.
By the way, was the music for Dr Who written for the series or before the series began?
Also does anyone else get a sense very British patriotism when listening to it, especially when the melody moves up a register?
Q4Z2X- I was being serious
redrum- stop trying to be dog_belch's bitch, you can't pull it off, you don't have the same intellect and wit as him. You're just some cheap wannabe, get a life.
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CS2x
from London (United Kingdom) on 2005-10-23 06:30 [#01758332]
Points: 5079 Status: Lurker | Followup to Xeron: #01757343
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I know that I began liking Boards of Canada more once I understood their approach; what kind of sound they were going for, the memories they were trying to evoke, and the fact that all the instruments were played by them.
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Xeron
from London (United Kingdom) on 2005-10-23 07:50 [#01758406]
Points: 2638 Status: Regular
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CS2x-That's my point really.
People thought I was crazy when I said Calypso 2 reminded me of communist submarines, about a week a go though one of my friends actually came to me saying that JMJ had infact had communist warships in mind. I was a bit surprised also as it was quite a coincidence as I hadn't known this piece of information.
Q4z2s (sorry)- this is where the "mythology" behind the music bit comes in. Knowing what inspired the artist helps envoke the "correct" images, or more accurate what the artists feels and sees as a listener of his own music.
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Skink
from A cesspool in eden on 2005-10-23 09:41 [#01758486]
Points: 7483 Status: Lurker
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Knowing what inspired the artist helps envoke the "correct" images, or more accurate what the artists feels and sees as a listener of his own music.
I really think that the imagination of the listener really needs to be involved. It's all too easy otherwise.
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DeleriousWeasel
from Guam on 2005-10-23 10:52 [#01758527]
Points: 2953 Status: Regular
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Quote: "I think that the subtlety of the drum base can be correlated with the Tardis and the Doctor himself. They are both these incredibly powerful beings yet humble in appearance...The Tardis has the exterior of a humble and delapidated Police Box. The music does more than just being a single thing, it practically emulates and is an intrinsic part of the Dr Who phenomena." WTF
I think you're giving Orbital a bit too much credit there. They just wanted a good sounding record and that's exactly what it is. A few of us felt in your last thread about this that it could be better but that's probably because it has a long, long buildup which never amounts to that much. Simple as that. The live version of Doctor? is much better.
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