For the record, I'm a whore to most technology, at least technology concerning computers.
I have a few marked exceptions. One is the cashless society. Sorry, its evil. I cannot think of all the times I've mentally throttled the woman in front of me paying for a People magazine and gum with a fucking check card. Besides, what are you going to take to the strip club? Last time I checked, those titties didn't come equipped with a reader. I guess, possibly, if things get advanced to the extent of the movie I, Robot (for those who haven't seen it, Will Smith's character is having drinks at a bar: when he's finished, he scans a card and leaves - no pesky human contact, auto-gratuity included), then I'll hop on board. Until then, folks, it doesn't kill you to have a twenty available in a pinch.
My other vice, besides booze, the occasional cigarette, and gonzo porn, is the invevitable extinction of CDs. I've probably mentioned this in previous blogs, but I've always really enjoyed going to an independently-owned record store, picking out some things I've heard but am not familiar with, peeling off the shrink wrap, and sliding a disc into the player. It forces you to hear the entire album. Sure, you can skip around, but chances are you're away from the stereo, doing something else. Its a self-checking system to fight the overplayed, radio-ready single. Alas, its a trend that has changed.
Computers, however, I firmly grasp and embrace. I've worked with them most of my adult life, and their evolution has, more often than not, made people's lives easier. I remember, when I first started working in television, we had a machine called an LMS, it stood for library management system. It was a device housed in a room about the size of a large walk-in closet. Its function was very simple: it was a robotic tape changer. I am not making this up. A large robotic arm, programmed via a huge outboard terminal, would grab videotapes stored in predetermined slots, and place them in machines for playback out of master control. It was noisy, scary, and broke all the time.
The function of video playback for broadcast can be accomplished now with a computer the size of your laptop and a terabyte drive (I'm beginning to think the Terminator films were full of shit).
The same thing has happened in music production. First, it was the large recording studios. In the early 80's, the 4-track pioneered simplicity, and placed more power in the artist's hands (albeit at a greatly reduced quality). Skip another generation, and software based multitrackers gained prominence. Fast forward to now. My laptop, with a capable user, loops, and an almost endless library of instruments and sound effects, can do more in a few hours than Abbey Road studios could have pulled off in 2 weeks (from a technical standpoint: I am in no way, shape, or form comparing anything I've ever shat out to be remotely close to the Beatles).
This has become increasingly apparent in light of recent events. Before we can finish up the new jondonson album, we must complete some compositions for a yoga instructional video series (yes, its as exciting as it sounds). While it doesn't record itself, programs like Cubase and Apple Logic have made our jobs much easier. This project would be absolutely miserable with an ADAT or a reel to reel.
But there's a catch to this wonderful technology. I realize, especially after not playing shows for a while, that my performance skill has completely gone to the shitter. I'm serious, I can barely play a steady four measures right now. In fact, here's an embellished sample conversation from Lee and I during the recording process:
Me: Alright, I'm ready.
Lee: *cntl spacebar* (denotes record)
Me: play for about 2 seconds
Lee: *spacebar* (denotes stop)
Me: Was I off?
Lee: *cntl spacebar*
Me: play about one second longer than last time
Lee: *spacebar*
Me: Fuck....Okay.
Lee: *cntl spacebar*
Me: fuck up the first note
Lee: *spacebar*
Lee: *cntl spacebar*
Me: feeling pretty good, not bad, not bad, good tak...
Lee: *spacebar*
Me: Goddamnit!!
Lee: You want me to take a try at it? Here, you can run the computer.
Me: *sigh*
It makes me have a new respect for the people in the Stax studio days. You could line a metronome up to that stuff. I guess it goes without saying to my fellow gear nerds: take time, and get to know your metronome every once in a while. It misses you.
With that in mind, the new album was done with a LOT of live takes. Sometimes, the sloppiness shows. Tell you what: you can call it lackluster, we'll call it endearing and lo-fi.
If you need me, I'll be fighting off the LMS that became self-aware and decided to rebel against humanity.
-matt