Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

On 11/20/02 8:21 AM, "Nick Rothwell" <nick@...> wrote:

> I don't find the single-box solution particularly palatable, but there
> are arguably lots of examples of it being the most creative or
> original way of doing things. Lemme see: Tangerine Dream's EXIT (PPG
> Wave), Klaus Schulze's DIG IT (Crumar GDS), Jean Michel Jarre's
> ZOOLOOK (Fairlight CMI), and a variety of mid-70's Vangelis (Yamaha
> CS-80). There are people out there now doing albums with single
> software packages (I can think of two pure Max/MSP albums).
> 

I think about this a lot having cut my teeth back in those times when you
were forced to use one box because there was no alternative.  All of the
examples cited, except maybe the Fairlight, were recorded using conventional
overdub recording techniques, one part at a time.  it is much more work but
then again every bit of music you make can bring the full power of your gear
to bare.

In a way we have become too spoiled by the mutable, nearly liquid nature of
MIDI production and its close cousin sample-loop/phrase based production.
MIDI implies more things at once and so we accept less for each.  Or better
stated we think we require more.  Loop/sample based approaches at least
offer some of the attributes of multitrack audio overdubbing but
unfortunately the equipment used to do that, especially the computer, is
sometimes to alluring to resist.

> My "single box" probably wouldn't be the XL-7 (the timing is sloppy
> enough to put me off, and the effects are weak): I'd go for the
> OasysPCI.
> 

The OASYS is an interesting choice, especially if you invest in learning the
SynthKit.  Even without that it is capable of almost anything, provided you
do multitrack audio recording one track at a time.  I'm curious, how would
you complete the picture?  Controllers?  What software would you use along
with it?


drk

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