As you may have noticed, I have posted quite a bit recently about Logic 10 (or Logic X), or perhaps that should be the lack of Logic. I kind of thought we would have had an announcement at WWDC on the 10th of the June, but there was none, and this is fuelling the fire that it has off Apple's radar. In July, it will have been 4 years and that is an incredible amount time in terms waiting for an update of any piece of software. So this got me thinking, what is that we actually want from music technology? I mean Logic 9 does more than anyone in the 60's/70's/80's could ever of dreamed of! The Beatles worked on a 4-track, Logic gives in an infinite number of tracks and the ability to move, quantise, correct, adjust by samples, add any effect you could imagine, add an orchestra, all from the comfort of my Laptop. But have I produced the next Sargent pepper? Nope!!We have access to amp modellers (I posted recently about this) which can create every single amp, effect, pickup configuration known to man, and this is an amazing feat for music technology. But, in this respect, why are we trying to model and recreate the past? Would it not be more fortuitous to try and develop something new? Or is it down to the musicians/creatives who continually try to push the boundaries of the technology we have. They aren't bothered that the their Line 6 model of a Fender tweed isn't an 'exact' replica, but it is a sound, which they can shape into something new! They aren't worried that they don't have every plug-in under the sun at their disposal, but take the tools they have an put move focus into the act of creation.Now, as I started this article about Logic X and how I am waiting for it, this makes me sound a bit like a hypocrite. So this is what caused me to start to wonder.....what is it that I want from music tech?In a sense, I think I have answered my question by wanting less perhaps. Maybe running 4 tracks on Garageband on an iPad, because that is all it can handle, will stop me thinking of what could be and make me actually work within those constraints. Maybe I just need one amp sound and make it my own, perhaps I should not spend a day going through 999 presets, but make one which is my own (okay I do do that!), but these aren't failings of music technology, they are failings of me and my inability to go with what I have. But then again, do you remember the days when a synth was a whole collection of knobs, limited to a couple of LFO's, Oscillators and the like? You could spend all day just tweaking, it was a very tactile experience, not looking at a screen with an million options, you would learn each feature inside out and yes you then thought of somethings you would also like, but on the whole you would create art. Now we have every option under the sun pretty much, and a million that we never thought of, I think this gives us what I call 'creative option overload' or COO for short and maybe it is time to fight back.....but what could music technology do to help us? Less perhaps?Okay, going back to me being a hypocrite, there are somethings I'd love in Logic.... in particular....better audio editing ...I mean it is 2013 now! But in hindsight, there isn't much, and I am perhaps caught up in upgrade envy. I am not sure....I mean if I am doing a sound project, I'll work in Digital Performer, as it has fantastic audio editing tools, it is just that it totally doesn't suit my way of working when it comes to composing (that is just me!).Do we need more options? Do we need simplicity? Do we need something 'new' without constant references to the past?What do you want from music technology??My parting thought is as follows....Make the most of what you have, push the boundaries, be experimental, drop off the internet and all the opinions that it brings. Believe in you, believe in your art, that makes it personal, that makes it unique.PeaceNeil
Do what you love (no excuses!)
I just re-stumbled across this today, it is a really powerful video and certainly makes you think (I hope). I guess it is easy to just say, do what you love and money will follow, but I certainly think there is a massive element of truth in it. Of course we can't do what we want all the time, but I think the words in this speech help at least make us think about what we should be doing, and how we could do it!Caution, there are a few naughty words....you have been warnedBe inspiredPeaceNeil
New music is rewarding for the brain
A very interesting piece and of course, I am an advocate of listening to new music! To quote the article on the BBC news website.
Using MRI scans, a Canadian team of scientists found that areas in the reward centre of the brain became active when people heard a song for the first time.
So, do you fancy some new music to reward yourself on rainy Friday afternoon?? Then you really need to check out thisPeaceNeil
Mind Wandering and Creativity
Let your mind wander!I have just watched a fascinating documentary about 'The Creative Brain: How Insight Works', which provided some fantastic information about how creativity works, and how, most importantly that when the mind wanders it is at it's most creative. The programme looks issues around that ' moment when a light goes on in your head. In a sudden flash of inspiration, a new idea is born', something I am sure we can all relate to. I found it particularly interesting that the mind seemed to be at it's most creative when the person was not just doing nothing at all, but mindless (no pun intended) tasks (e.g. arrange bricks into the same colour), this would explain why perhaps we have our best ideas in the shower or out for a walk.I really recommend it, if you can access it.PeaceNeil
Creative setbacks, criticism and dealing with unhelpful remarks
One of the hardest things to deal with when you offer your creative work, soul, being, performance up for judgement is dealing with the criticism that comes with it, and more and more nasty and hateful comments which also seem more prevalent these days. Today, more and more of us are putting our work online, getting our art out there, and the internet is the most amazing empowering tool to allow a new generation of creatives an outlet for their passions, their soul, their art.There has never been a better time to be a creative, to grab the power back when it comes to your creations and find your creative path. Having said that, there is a downside, a downside that isn't just limited to comments on the internet, but also something that professional creatives have to deal with, usually on a daily basis, and that is negative criticisms which are outright bashing of your work. Usually in the form of unhelpful and nasty comments, and personal attacks on something that we no doubt hold very dear. It is really hard (and extremely unhelpful!) to be told that your work is 'crap', 'rubbish' or 's**t', or to be told that you have no idea how to do your job.So how do we deal with this? What can we learn from these negative experiences? On the whole, and particularly when it comes to the internet, it is easy to be a critic and it is easy to have an opinion, and with access to the billions of people on this planet these opinions will vary considerably. Are you trying to please 6 billion people? Or just those who really appreciate what you do? In life there are always 50 + shades of grey in an opinion or view and it is important to remember that. Are you satisfied with the piece of work? That should always be the first opinion to listen to, if the answer is NO then fix it, change it, adjust it until you are happy and satisfied. Of course, sometimes we are never fully satisfied and this is our creative cross to bare. But, we should always be learning from the work we create and trying to find new and better way to improve on what we are doing, or looking at past work to see how we would like to do things differently.Back to the internet, it is easy to sit behind a keyboard anonymously and type hurtful and unhelpful comments, knowing full well that they are 'anonymous' and probably wouldn't actually say such things if we met them personally. But when the cristism is face to face from someone we know, that is when it is harder, and I try to take the following approach. Taking an NLP strategy, ask yourself the following questions
- What's in it for them?
- What is their motivation?
- What are they aiming to achieve?
- How is their life right now - happy or unhappy?
- What are they getting from this?
- What do they want from me right now?
- Is anything in their comment justified?
Listen to the way the comment is pharsed, is it helpful?We all need constructive criticism to improve, all of us. Listen to the tone....is the comment simply...you're rubbish? If so, ignore it.Is it along the lines of 'oh my god, how can you do that...don't you know what you are doing?'...If so, ignore it.Sometimes just ask the simple question, the person who is providing you a nasty remark, unhelpful critsism etc, who are they and what have they done? Sometimes, it is easy to be an armchair critic, perhaps resting on laurels from yesteryear, it is always easy to find fault in anything if you set your mind to it. If you respect the person and their work, then it is easier to take criticism, in fact some of us would give anything for our peers to view our work, but hopefully they would give us something more useful then....you are rubbish!If there is one lesson to be learnt, I would say it is just do i, create your 'art' give it to the world. If you are happy with it, then that is enough! Create art, as Seth Godin would say, make it yours, believe in it, believe in yourself, strive to improve everyday, be your toughest criticPeaceNeil
If you only watch one video on being a creative or freelancer
I stumbled across this speech/lecture this morning, found through one of my very useful Google Alerts (I wholeheartedly suggest setting up Google Alerts if you are a creative/freelance as they can be a fantastic source of current information on your topics of interest and seeing what your competition is up to too!). The talk was entitled 'Secret freelancer knowledge' by the author Neil Gaiman, and he discusses his life as a 'creative' and how to avoid some of the pitfalls that we all seem to fall into as creatives or freelancers. There are some really important messages in this video and a do feel that if you do one thing this year to focus your mind on your creative endeavours, then it should be to watch this short film. There are so many strong messages contained within that video, and it has been a large wake up call for me (another one!).EnjoyPeaceNeil
The sadness of the 'office' factory
This is something I have been going on about for a very long time, something I find very sad and also something which I have experienced on a number of occasions in my life and something which motivates me to not let it happen again. Unfortunately, it is happening for me a bit at the moment, but I hope not for too long. I have written about it before in a couple of occasions, here and here. It looks like it is going to be an amazing SXSW this year and hopefully I'll be able to make it one day!Viva la revolution..PeaceNeil
Creative Motivation
It is hard to believe that I only stopped my Piece a day/Daily Creation challenge less than a month and a half ago. I was producing a piece of music everyday for over a year, and now since I have stopped I haven't produced a single tune!! It is pretty scandalous really, all the usual excuses start creeping back in....too busy, too tired, too whatever! It is pretty terrible really, it is no excuse! For me it shows what a valuable exercise piece a day was, forcing myself to do something everyday. It draws parallels with exercise I guess and all those other things it is easy to put off rather than do....guitar practice, language learning etc....such as shame that 'work' work sucks everything out of us to the point where doing creative activities or activities beneficial to our health, wellbeing, further development takes a momentous struggle or crazy daily challenge to do?I just stumbled across a couple of pieces I quite like from that period....Enjoy!andPeaceNeil
Logic X, Aperture 4 and Apple - what's going on
I have posted a couple of articles wondering about what is going on at Apple in regards to the horrendously long time it has taken for an update to Logic 9. I am also quite a heavy Aperture user, and have been generally happy with version 3, although I don't like the fact it has one massive file to store all your photos, and it does crash a fair amount. But as such I haven't been too concerned about it, but what is interesting is that there also hasn't been a new version for a number of years. Now, I have been considering an upgrade to my operating system as I am still on Snow Leopard, and some apps need Mountain Lion. I am glad I didn't because you only have to spend a minute or two on the Aperture page in the app store to see how terrible it is with ML, it is pretty shocking, it would seem when you do a bit more digging that Apple are loosing lots of customers to Adobe (and Lightroom or Premiere!) or in the DAW world I am guessing the usual contenders.Do they care? I doubt it, why would they, they are richer than most countries. They sell music, phones and tablets. They don't even seem to sell computers any more (real computers that is, like the Mac Pro)Interesting times....PeaceNeil