I think it's a mistake to prematurely underestimate the new territory being discovered as a result of making traditionally "academic" computer music tools ∗realtime∗ and ∗affordable∗ .
Cheap amplification allowed three guys with guitars to make more noise than an orchestra, and that changed everything.
Sad to say, the results of non-realtime computer music have not historically been of much interest to most humans. Making these instruments affordable and real-time means that people are PERFORMING MUSIC with them -- which is the sure path to relevancy.
I understand your dismay at the state of "basic research" in academia right now. But I think that neither the lack of research, nor the cheap availability of music tools are responsible for "bad music." I would look to the more pedestrian forces of human sloth and your own personal grumpiness.
Cheers,
Max Lord
--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, Tobias Enhus <tobias@m...> wrote:
> You are still talking about technologies that were available almost
> fifteen years ago. Perhaps not on your lap top, but these products are
> simply commercialized versions of early discoveries. The buffer of
> "innovations to come" and current software is pretty much on the same
> page these days. There are no more "natural" resources to tap in terms
> of innovations that couldn't be done because of slow computers. This
> leads to a stagnation in peoples interest to explore. Like you say,
> everything is available and it would take a lifetime to explore.....