Re: computers suck creative energy

[kkissinger@kevinkissinger.com]

Quoting Paul Richards <paulrichard_rocks@yahoo.com>:

> In any case, I still find, when using PC-based environments for   
> music creation ( e.g. Reason, Cubase, et al), more time wasted   
> messing around with locating functions, performing tweaks, etc.   
> Don't get me wrong, I like my PC for certain applications, but when   
> I start fiddling with technical crapola, my muse departs.
>
One of the differences between computers and dedicated equipment is  
that dedicated equipment is more intuitive.  When one is struggling  
with complex signal routings, levels, and automation in an environment  
such as Cubase, one can easily feel like one's creativity is being  
sucked out of them.

To avoid such feelings, I approach a new piece of software by doing my  
own personal learning/study sessions.  My goal is NOT to make music  
but, rather, to learn the environment.  To master a package such as  
Cubase takes a lot of time and there are many functions in Cubase that  
I haven't even explored.  My approach is to learn enough that I can do  
basic i/o and processing and then to master particular functions  
one-by-one.

When I decide to make music, I think utilize the functions that I have  
learned and nothing else!  It is easy to go off on unproductive  
tangents.

What sucks the creativity out of me is when things don't work.   
However, things do happen from time to time -- particularly in a  
complex environment.  When something stops working, I will make a note  
of it and deal with it later (if the non-working thing isn't a  
show-stopper).  If a critical item fails, then I consciously remove my  
musician cap and put on my troubleshooter cap.

Having said this, my entire equipment collection has many "single  
points of failure".  If my theremin won't play, or computer won't run,  
or my mouse driver quits working, or my firewire cable develops a flaw  
-- the list goes on and on -- I would have to scrub my prepared music  
and improvise something quickly!

I have a detailed backup strategy for all my files.  My goal is to  
eventually have my Cubase data files and other needed files on a  
server so that, in a worst-case scenario, I could rebuild my system  
from anywhere.

What I am saying is that I am aware that complex equipment --  
computers or otherwise, can take a musician on a tangent far away from  
creative music-making.  Since I work with complex equipment, I am  
constantly on guard to avoid such creativity-sucking tangents.

-- Kevin