Re: Re: Is the Karma any good to... Let's avoid a "Gear War"...

Hi
Eric you are the consummate even voice on this.  The deal is pretty 
simple.  It is about what you plan
to do with the music.  If you are trying to mimic traditional instruments 
then going to an instrument that
has great samples makes sense. But for me the name of the instrument tells 
all: synthesizer.  I have had the
wonderful opportunity of hearing composers who take their instruments to 
new depths because they understand
as traditional performers that you have to find the means of using a voice 
appropriately.  My first exposure was listening to
composers who made music for modern dance and it enthralled me.  I have 
never forgotten the personal deep space I found myself in .
Meanwhile good old Eno came out with Music for Airports. I have gone to 
different planes on his repetitive music. It is like the simplicity of
say music of a great vocalist with a minimalistic band.  At the same time 
one might seek complexity.  The key is
to step beyond the thrill of so many voices and develop a musical image of 
what one wants and then to go for it.
For me the synth is about taking unnatural voices (not generated in a 
traditional way) and finding a new path. Clearly
we will go down similar paths of rhythm but there are new sounds to be 
found.  It is again the difference between
a great composer of synth sound and one who applies it to traditional 
music.  Pat Methany has created a synth sound
that is unique but can be compared to elevator music for those who are not 
listening. His music is so tight one can say it
was programmed yet it is not other than arranging Midi postions to move 
through.  I have seen art that looked like paper bags crumbled. The art 
teacher told a student tap the bag. It rang as it was ceramic.  So what you 
might say, why not get a paper bag.? It is about being able to do it. The 
fact that Metheny and others can create that music right now anywhere is 
impressive to me.
          I have heard Digeridoo players who play traditional and others 
who go elsewhere with the instrument.  That for me is what a synth is 
capable, yet it is also an incredible tool for realizing a compostion or 
hearing something that would take lots of rehearsal or could not be heard 
without lots of great musicians.  I am anxious to hear the music that has 
flutes that sound like flutes but frankly, for this medium, this
only minorly impresses me as I have friends who play flute, guitar and 
pianos that well sound great together.
But each instrument has its unique way of pushing it, making it ambient, 
stretching a note, adding vibrato, bending it down, plucking it etc. It is 
all about what you want to do with your Synth.  For me personal, it is 
about realizing music in my head that is traditional but I do not have
musicians clamoring at my door and it is about exploration down the new 
voice and new application path. If I can give my friends a window to the 
music in my head through a synthesizer so they can get close to it without 
the hand waving and replays, that is what it is for me. Imagine what it was 
like to pick up a new instrument, like the saxophone or the flute before 
anyone used it? That is what this instrument is about to me.
Yes I understand the timing, the percussion, the standard bass, etc but for 
me it is about surpassing that and exploring to do what?
Make novel music, become the new wizard of tunes or just to explore? For me 
it is the last.
         Finally, I do not understand what you are trying to do by 
comparing the other keyboards here. We all got our instruments because we 
like them.  It is like coming into a Mormon church and trying to convert 
everyone to become Jews.  Why? Obviously those who are Mormans are settled 
in their church.  One might get a few who are not settled but why disrupt 
the rest who are content? I am settled in my synth.
         Thanks however for giving us sites to listen to.  This is 
inspiration, to hear different ways these instruments are used.
Greg



 
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