RE: Is using Pre-Recorded Loops Cheating?

[J Johans <parispro00@hotmail.com>]

what she said....ha...well put

> From: info@zoekeating.com
> Subject: Re: Is using Pre-Recorded Loops Cheating?
> Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 12:50:35 -0700
> To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.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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>

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