Re: Is using Pre-Recorded Loops Cheating?

[info at zoekeating <info@zoekeating.com>]

yes, interesting and controversial topic!

i used to think pre-recorded music of any flavor was taboo and  
"cheating". but when i was touring with imogen heap, she used pre- 
recorded bits in some of her songs, and it didn't detract from her  
performance or bother me.

why? because as with everything, i realized there are distinctions to  
be made.

what i care most about is this thing called 'authenticity'.  some  
observations....

- if using pre-recorded material to 'lie' to the audience, to confuse  
them, or maybe hide the fact that you can't execute your own material  
well, that is morally and artistically questionable.

- if using pre-recorded material to make your performance more  
'perfect' that often backfires. ...i've noticed that some performers  
have a fixation with 'perfection' and sometime use pre-recorded  
material to lessen the chance of things going wrong onstage. i've  
seen audiences get bored with them. in my experience, audiences love  
what i call 'well-executed mistakes'

- if using pre-recorded material openly to add a different dimension  
to you music that is fine

-  to 'perform' that pre-recorded material, that is best. take  
skilled performers, like imogen, who 'play' their pre-recorded  
material. i.e. "i am now about to hit this button in an exaggerated  
way and you will hear a sound" - obviously triggering it so the  
audience can tell they are 'playing' a sample.

- if using pre-recorded material, use it sparingly and don't use it  
on every song. have a few songs where it is just you and the audience.


what i do is technically very difficult and can fall-apart at any  
moment if i let my attention flag. also, it can feel limiting to have  
to play every single note that i want to loop (it takes time onstage,  
which is challenging with a 30-second-attention-span-teen-audience).  
and, i think that some of my audience has no idea what i'm doing  
anyway. a few people have said after a concert "that was so  
great...where those backing tracks you as well?".

so, inspired by immi, i tried pre-recording bits here and there, and  
then triggering them at key moments. i tried it out on a few  
hopefully unsuspecting audiences....and....i didn't like it!!! i  
didn't like how it could make each performance of a song almost  
identical. as nerve-wracking as it is, i decided that the feeling of  
'being on a razors edge' was an important part of the music for me  
and i shouldn't mess with it. i'd never thought about it  
specifically, but i think the feeling that it could all totally  
collapse, is part of my inspiration. and having to do  different  
versions of a song, every night, based on how i played (or didn't  
play!) a loop, that is an element of my performance i also hadn't  
appreciated before. pre-recording stuff took something vital away  
from me. so, i decided it matters to ME that i play absolutely every  
little sound live.


>
>> Hi folks
>>
>> here is a topic I find quite controversial:
>> When doing live looping, do you find it uncool/immoral if you see  
>> somebody performing with some pre-recorded loops?
>>
>> I was quite dogmatic on this topic but now I don't mind that much,  
>> as long as it serves an artistically credible music performance.
>>
>> I just wanted to hear your opinions:
>> Would you buy into that if you'd see someone using some pre- 
>> recorded loops (rhythm, electronic, acoustic...) during his  
>> performance?
>> Or do you think he might as well just sing karaoke? ;-)
>>
>> Best regards
>> Buzap
>>
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