Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    Yeah, my brother told me last week.  I don't know why he knew.
    What's so interesting is that this still won't help amatuer singers
    sing better.
    In short, MIDI doesn't replace musical knowledge and skill, any
    more
    than having a VAX replaces knowledge of structured design or
    particular languages.
    (if you want to do developement, which is what composers do).
    MIDI can be an orchestra, but it can't make the arrangements for
    you; and you need extensive knowledge to make good arrangements.
    Digital audio media such as compact disks and DAT can 
    help you distribute high-fidelity recordings of your off-key singing.
    Electronics can do only part of the job, and in my opinion many
    of the amatuer midi-ists spend too much time programming patches
    and too little time studying counterpoint.  
    On the other hand, those with musical knowledge and skill and money
    (an unlikely combination, since keeping up your chops and developing
    as a musician is a full-time job, and no money, whereas a job that
    pays money keeps you away from music) will be able to make dynamite
    audition tapes and small recording companies (provided they get
    
    distribution).  Computers can also help with distribution in typing
    nice press kits, press releases, resumes, introductory letters,
    and with graphics, posters, programs, and cassette covers.
    But you still sing off-key, so so what?
    Tom

    > still sing off key.  So what?
    
    So buy one of the Eventide boxes that pitch-shifts the singing to
    be ON-key.  Then you'll be on-key and digital-clean.  So of course
    it'll be a cinch to sell a million copies of your garage band playing
    on-key 60's acid rock, right?  :-)
    	         
    ------------
    
    I don't view this commonization of music-making as necessarily bad.
    The number of people who can perform live versus step-time sequence and
    multitrack will decrease; but overall you'll have more people thinking
    _about_ what's good musically, rather than simply accepting X because
    that's the way Beethoven/Chuck Berry/Buck Dharma happened to record it
    once.
    
    I expect you'll see more people reading books on music theory (can't
    break the rules till you know the rules, eh?).  Maybe we'll even
    see how-to videos like "Jane Fonda's Harmonic Workout".  :-)
    	
    Maybe somebody will even (can I say this here?) take music _lessons_??
                                                                        
    	:-) :-) :-)
    	
    	-Bill  

    RE: steptime vs 'real time' debate
    
    Mahler used to write in step-time, using a pencil, a piece of paper
    and a metronome.
    
    Richard.

    
    re: .0
    
      Yes, I heard that too. Given the state of the DAT market in the
    U.S. (virtually non-existent), I find it difficult to believe that
    the record industry is going to take this lying down. Whether or
    not Tandy gets the box out (I had heard of technical troubles -
    BTW an article was in U.S. News and World Report a.k.a U.S.Spews)
    in the near future, there are going to be lots of impacted industries,
    not just the home recording and computing "industry". 
    
      I believe a special CD disk is required too, and it lets you erase
    them as well. 
    
      I also have heard that more and more CD players are going to make
    use of the subcode standard and provide interfacing (and probably
    copy protection) via the subcodes. Any comments?
    
    
    Re: .1
    
      So true, but then again, it's their choice. If you want to spend
    kilobucks to make high-quality garbage, it's a free country, right?
    And you don't need to listen to it.
    
    /pjh

    The new CD's work using a thermal layer that distorts. You write
    to it from the top, this creates a dimple on the surface. The read
    laser is scattered by the dimple, thus acting much like the pits
    on regular CD's. You erase by heating the disk. It is only bulk
    erasable. The record companies are not scared of this technology,
    because the disks are expected to cost about $25 each, about twice
    what it costs to go out and buy the regular CD.
    
    DAT may just bite the dust before ever getting off the ground.
    
    						John.

    I remember when 5 1/4 inch floppies were $4.50 each (they can be
    had for under a doller these days), so the initial $25.00 a pop
    may not last long. I'm sure once some enterprising cut-throat
    marketing group jumps in, they'll be down to $5.00 a piece (tho
    this may take a few years). Sounds like these will be useful in
    generating your own digital masters & they will work fine on the
    current crop of CD players. $500.00 is a reasonable price for starting
    your own record company. I'll bet that with the proper lobbying
    in congress, we can all get subsidized to make our own CD (thus
    thwarting the Japanese owned Record companies).
    
    							Jens

I'm sure the projected price is $25 just to keep the record companies off
their back.  Once it is out, they'll drop the price.

re: .1
No, it won't help you sing in tune.  But what about those who can?
Look, the message is a function of the media.  When I sit down and play
my guitar through a 5-dollar amplifier, it sounds like crapola, and my
motivation dwindles.  Play through a powerful, clear, crisp amp and the
compositions just start flowing.

Now, who's going into the CD sleeve printing business?

Todd.