I Dream of Wires

[e@rs]

I mean, Trent Reznor is a hypocrite.

Good one!

[Robmobius]

It was a good doc. Nice to see that the scene has a lot of dedicated DIY users. Kinda' got me itchy for a euro rack. I love software, but nothing (imo) sounds like pure analog.

But ugh... Trent Reznor pop musician.

[SLiC]

I don't think there has ever been a time when modular synthesis has ever been so popular or relevant. I have worked my way from guitar player to DAW user to VSTi user, VSTi power user (in terms of owning just about every VSTi of note)...to full modular set up (18U of Mutable, Make Noise and a bunch of random stuff!).

VSTi is more flexible, powerful, convenient, easy to use, sync etc etc. I just bought Flacon for $200 that will do far more standalone than my 3 grand's worth of modules will ever do.....but until you stand in front of a modular wth a hand full of wires, I guess you just wont get it...its steampunk, retro but also total unique (to each user) and a paradigm shift in thinking and music making. Its deliberately difficult and techy and it doesn't care. Its a thing, it sounds different- I love it!

I predict even more people switching to some form of modular set up with the likes of moog mother 32 hitting the market. They don't call it euroCRACK for nothing, try stopping once you have a few modules and a module sized hole in your case...

[deastman]

What's in the hardcore ver. - more and deeper technical stuff?

I have the hardcore edition on Blu-ray. Four hours of modular goodness.

I've only seen the cut Netflix have, so Id have liked to have seen more chat with module makers too, rather than predominantly users. Any such thing?

That's a good question. I've only watched it once when it first came out, and my memory of the details is starting to fade. Maybe I should take it to work with me and leave it playing in the background.

[deastman]

It was a good doc. Nice to see that the scene has a lot of dedicated DIY users. Kinda' got me itchy for a euro rack. I love software, but nothing (imo) sounds like pure analog.

But ugh... Trent Reznor pop musician.

Trent was actually pretty important for this documentary. Jason has stated that it was only after he got Trent on board that a lot of other doors opened for him.

[Jace-BeOS]

It was a good doc. Nice to see that the scene has a lot of dedicated DIY users. Kinda' got me itchy for a euro rack. I love software, but nothing (imo) sounds like pure analog.

But ugh... Trent Reznor pop musician.

Trent was actually pretty important for this documentary. Jason has stated that it was only after he got Trent on board that a lot of other doors opened for him.

That's really interesting to me. Thanks for sharing that.

Regardless of his debatable personality quirks (which one of us lacks those?), Trent Reznor has demonstrated a lot of successful decision making (in the studio, in the executive chair, and in talking to his fan base), and he has created music that a large enough selection of music listeners enjoy and are influenced by.

If the issue of him being a "pop musician" is what makes him a "hypocrite", or somehow excludes him from being allowed to talk about modular synthesis, I think that is an arrogant, naive, and narrow perspective [edit: it reeks of elitism].

His music was never pop in its goal. He never planned for "closer" to be a smash hit single. His music is very inaccessible to the majority, but his success somewhat opened the way to large scale popularity anyway. He may use traditional verse-chorus-verse western song writing structure, but come on, that's how our culture likes it.

Reznor was inspired and influenced by those who came before him just like any of us. He loves technology (when it works), and he's currently enamored with, and actively using, modular synthesis because he finds it interesting and has the financial luxury to indulge in it. He actually went to school for computer engineering, so he's a technically minded individual. I actually wonder what is left for him to do to reinvent himself the next time, if he grows exhausted with modular gear workflow and the sounds that are most associated with it. Maybe he hit his nirvana with it, I don't know.

I don't see justification for the name-calling.

[Robmobius]

Trent Reznor has demonstrated a lot of successful decision making (in the studio, in the executive chair, and in talking to his fan base), and he has created music that a large enough selection of music listeners enjoy and are influenced by.

If the issue of him being a "pop musician" is what makes him a "hypocrite", or somehow excludes him from being allowed to talk about modular synthesis, I think that is an arrogant, naive, and narrow perspective [edit: it reeks of elitism].

His music was never pop in its goal. He never planned for "closer" to be a smash hit single. His music is very inaccessible to the majority, but his success somewhat opened the way to large scale popularity anyway. He may use traditional verse-chorus-verse western song writing structure, but come on, that's how our culture likes it.

I didn't say he was a hypocrite... I just think he's a git (all be it talented one) and I think his music is trite. His music, in my opinion, was orchestrated to cash in on American radio - where they are much more open minded to sanitized alternative music. He was very lucky with the timing (and audience) from there they took off.

I don't see justification for the name-calling.

Poor Trent how will he ever survive after my scathing attack.

[Jace-BeOS]

I was referencing someone else's use of "hypocrite". Since we're talking... Why do you think he's a git? I have a few things in mind that bug me about him myself.

Yeah, your attack is irrelevant to him. I just think it's off base, so I commented. I think your assessment about his goals is incorrect and sounds kind of presumptuous. It also reminds me of people that crusade against popularity (ie the hipster mentality of "if it's popular, it's garbage/a sellout").

Do you know the guy? If you know him personally, then I guess that changes things.

But seriously: sanitized? What level of artistic integrity are you expecting if "I wanna f**k you like an animal" is considered "sanitized alternative"? Reznor states he was shocked to be told that song was chosen by the record company to be a single. He said he apologized to the label when he turned in the master because he felt there were no singles on it. He does readily admit to aiming at the traditional verse-chorus-verse structure common to pop music, because that's what he likes. That's the only comment I've read that showed intent to make his music at all accessible, and what's wrong with that? It's like the thread about pop music being "inherently stupid"...

Who doesn't want to make a living off of their hobbies?

Some of his stuff is trite, yes, but the majority of it works for me. When his lyric writing fails, usually his sounds don't. (my own taste)

[Numanoid]

But, so many of those elitist bungs are so wrong. I mean, Trent Reznor is a hypocrite.

How so?

He claims to have listed to Telekon constantly while making PHM. As PHM sounds nothing like Telekon, I don't get why he did that?

[Robmobius]

Who doesn't want to make a living off of their hobbies?

What the fek has that got to do with anything? I don't care how Trent makes a living... He could be an astronaut for all I care.

Don't care that you don't think America's Rock radio crap is sanitized or not. It certainly is with the popularity of such junk as Blink 182 and all those pop metal/industrial bands.

Oooh... he used a dirty metaphor - All those emo kids lap that crap up...

[Jace-BeOS]

That's not what I said but whatever.

[Jace-BeOS]

But, so many of those elitist bungs are so wrong. I mean, Trent Reznor is a hypocrite.

How so?

He claims to have listed to Telekon constantly while making PHM. As PHM sounds nothing like Telekon, I don't get why he did that?

Because it inspired him? Should he have made his album sound like someone else's? I thought the whole ideal was to be inspired by, but not copy, the works we enjoy?

I'm still not seeing the hypocrisy. "I listened to this album while I made mine, but mine sounds nothing like his" isn't hypocrisy. It's maybe counter-intuitive, but see above.

[Numanoid]

Because it inspired him?

To do what?

PHT makes me think it was Machine + Soul Reznor listened to 24-7

[incubus]

I'll go further with Reznor, and it's not the first time he's done this, he tries to come off as this "purist" but he isn't one.

I have nothing against him, I have nothing against purists, but please don't bullshit me with that elitist attitude, you used digital just like 10's of thousands before you and you made mad-cash because of it. Saying how much you like that stuff would be a completely different thing, but probably wouldn't sell or cause as much "discussion" on music forums

What's next, someone trying to tell me that netflix/DVD/blueray/HD tv is a shitty digital medium to deliver that drivel on?

[deastman]

NIN has always been a little hit or miss for me. Even PHM had its stronger songs. And if his music isn't your cup of tea, nothing wrong with that. But I would hardly describe him as mainstream. Actually, it's more like the mainstream moved a bit to the side and embraced his more unconventional sound. I certainly wouldn't compare him to the slew of copycat industrial-tinged rock groups which followed. And okay, he works in a fairly conventional song structure, and he isn't exactly Throbbing Gristle, but that doesn't make him any less credible as an artist.