Is there a back to basics movement?

[geoffrey]

Hi folks,
I have been following various threads relating to technology and music. Looking for some input from the best folks on the net. I have recently been reading about James Jamerson. He is the god of bass and when I read that he had an unorthodox playing style and used a Kustom amp it blew me away. i mean no one now or then would've considered Kustom the top of the line amp. Yet, his bass tone is awesome. It's making me rethink the whole pursuit of the latest effect, synth, host, etc that I have been guilty of for the past 5 or 6 years. I am suddenly realizing that my time is better suited to playing and not hanging on the net, looking for reviews of the next big thing.
Just wondering if anyone else's head is in the same place? Are there any good groups with a similar outlook, who are making music right now? Don't get me wrong I am not selling my ton of stuff, but I am looking to make things much simpler and performance oriented, instead of focusing on the tech aspects of it. Sorry for the rambling. Hope someone there can feel me.
Peace,
Geoff

[nuffink]

You mean like Rebirth on a pentium 3?

[putte]

i am, at least sort of, "forced" to go back to the "basics" regarding my musicmaking. but that´s not cause i decided to do so, thats cause the combination osX+Logic+AU generates so many troubles here (and i´m talking 1,5 years, everyday .. not just some weeks) that i have to reduce my tools and components.

under os9 and logic my vst-folder was crowded with lots of plugins .. and yes, i was a happy schnitzel using many plugs on a quite stable system.
under osX i play big brother with the AU-folder, and from 123 legal AU-components only 23 are installed, due to crashfest-paranoia. and wow, i still have crashfests every single day.

now i concentrate on the really important plugins .. an the other ones get the dust.

putte

[Hink]

I dont know if there is a movement per se, at least not yet. But things do go full circle and eventually the performing musician will do the same.

Look at this way, pre industrial revolution everything was "handmade"...then factories opened up and that stuff was top notch, the more technology grew, the more mass produced items became popular...the craftsmen that were displaced by factories have now become valuable. (those that are left)

I think it's inevitable, today the market is flooded with electronic music, kinda like everyone was a guitar player at one time...it's all about cycles...my head sure is in the same place.

But the otherside of the coin is that technology has allowed me to not have to find a band for my creative outlet and it frees me up to enjoy my passion more..I really hate band politics, backstabbing... but being able to work at my pace is great...plus you never know where I'll go next...bands get stuck in ruts...

[Lady J]

i am, at least sort of, "forced" to go back to the "basics" regarding my musicmaking. but that´s not cause i decided to do so, thats cause the combination osX+Logic+AU generates so many troubles here (and i´m talking 1,5 years, everyday .. not just some weeks) that i have to reduce my tools and components.

under os9 and logic my vst-folder was crowded with lots of plugins .. and yes, i was a happy schnitzel using many plugs on a quite stable system.
under osX i play big brother with the AU-folder, and from 123 legal AU-components only 23 are installed, due to crashfest-paranoia. and wow, i still have crashfests every single day.

now i concentrate on the really important plugins .. an the other ones get the dust.

putte

And people wonder why i still use OS 9 and Logic.

[putte]

staying with os9 has good reasons .. unfortunately i wasnt that wise, and dont feel that i´ll go back now.
instead i am silly enough to still belive all their promises and things, and therefor continue waiting and troubleshooting. (which never helps, by the way.) .. pffffff .. stupid hun.

putte

[SevenString]

I know what you mean about "back to basics". I just recently switched over to Tracktion2 from Cubase SX, and although it IS a new piece of gear for me, I now find that I spend so much less time mucking about with tons of windows and settings, and spend more time just recording music. Sure, Cubase has a million and one features, but I never used even a fraction of them on a day-to-day basis.

Over the years, my guitar rig has been getting simpler and simpler too. These days, for live work, I'm down to a great sounding head with built-in fx and a matching foot controller, one or two 2x12 cabs, and my guitar.

[Hink]

I know what you mean about "back to basics". I just recently switched over to Tracktion2 from Cubase SX, and although it IS a new piece of gear for me, I now find that I spend so much less time mucking about with tons of windows and settings, and spend more time just recording music. Sure, Cubase has a million and one features, but I never used even a fraction of them on a day-to-day basis.

Over the years, my guitar rig has been getting simpler and simpler too. These days, for live work, I'm down to a great sounding head with built-in fx and a matching foot controller, one or two 2x12 cabs, and my guitar.

funny my guitar rig whenever I played live use to be a boogie head (old, sob) a pair of Hi-watt 4x12's and my guitars. My guitars all use to have the letters "8NEFX" above the pickgaurd...all I had between the axe and amp was a cable...I took a little verb from the board post-amp, but that was for the house and ,monitors. Now I got a stereo pre (marshall tube), Aphex Aurel Exciter, and a midiverb4...funny thing though, I use a little reverb and that's it...

[The Chase]

lol if i went back in time i would just go back to fruityloops 2

[kaden]

I came out of a 10 year retirement to drum in a Rawk band.

And I only use the V-Drums on about half of the tunes.

K

[Hink]

lol if i went back in time i would just go back to fruityloops 2

I remember drooling over the first tascam 4-track porta studio...I had a cutec 4-track, one of the first...it had buttons called send for bouncing, 4 faders, no eq, no fx loop, no noise reduction, real vu meters and that's it...I paid 300 for it used...

BTW Chase I mean it, when you're up here ol grandpa Hink would love to meet yah...

[geoffrey]

Hink,
I used a Tascam 244 portastudio until 5 years ago, when I jumped on the Pro Tools,(then Logic) bandwagons. Wish I still had that damn thing. It had just been totally refurbished and recalibrated. Seriously thinking about just going back to hardware recording..
Geoff

[shamann]

I thought this was going to be about turning off the electricity, rethinking your destructive lifestyles and reverting away from the dogma of property and politics. But your just saying "should I get rid of my playstation 3 and just go old schood with my super nes? Those zelda games really were a more perfect reflection of nature."

You really are a screwed up bunch of people.

[Hink]

I thought this was going to be about turning off the electricity, rethinking your destructive lifestyles and reverting away from the dogma of property and politics. But your just saying "should I get rid of my playstation 3 and just go old schood with my super nes? Those zelda games really were a more perfect reflection of nature."

You really are a screwed up bunch of people.

hey I started with two tape decks, two mics and two speakers bouncing mud...I know basics...if I went back to that my ears would probably run away in the night...

[ammoniad]

Earlier this year, I was on tour with Assemblage 23 (I am the live keyboardest) and had a chance to see an Aussie act called "Angel Theory" who opened for us in NY and Philly. I spoke to the singer Charles, and he told me that all he uses is a Juno 106 and Acid. He knows his stuff and does not get bogged down with the choice we Cubase folks have. His stuff is oldschool EBM from the F242 school. Sounded great and he is a nice guy.