Music is now too easy to make
- Thread starter tuga
- Start date
kjb
Proof reading not always a strength
I think that’s overly, but understandably, pessimistic. Some have in the past have said the same about sampling or drum machines.
I quoted the example discussed by Richard Williams in another thread
Artistry in algorithm
This morning’s newspaper headlines included one suggesting that artificial intelligence will play a significant role in the UK’s coming general election. My first response was that, giv…
thebluemoment.com
Here they use AI as a compositional tool not to produce a final, complete product which is where the creative interaction may start. AI may not make good music but it might be a component of good music, in the right hands.
Steve Lehman: Ex Machina album review @ All About Jazz
Steve Lehman: Ex Machina album review by Karl Ackermann, published on September 5, 2023. Find thousands jazz reviews at All About Jazz!
There might perhaps be possibilities for the elevator music generated by AI to be the library music of tomorrow - I’ve a Basil Kirchen record somewhere in the collection.
Here’s an interesting take on AI in image generation from Eno
Brian Eno on AI (he's a fan) and the Sundance documentary that bears his name
The prolific artist, musician and producer has never agreed to be the subject of a documentary until now. "Eno" uses AI to be different each time it is shown.
www.latimes.com
I was interested in his (rather vague) response to the question
“And so what is there to be done about that? How do you draw the distinction between creative applications of AI versus the more destructive ones?”
My guess would be whatever good come of AI in music will begin in the avant garde / modern classical realm rather than popular music and influence the latter over time. But I fear a whole load of AI dross will have been produced before then.
kjb
Proof reading not always a strength
Fair point but he certainly comes across as set against it on principle and he rarely embraces much from this century with any enthusiasm as demonstrated by any of his "Best xxxx of all time" episodes.
I quite like Beato but I wouldn’t go to him to find something new or innovative
Last edited:
kjb
Proof reading not always a strength
My nan's favourite singer demonstrating that old folks moaning about the world changing isn't anything new. This seems to sum up Beato's conclusion in that video
I should add that I agree with him 100%. Being a child of the 70s ( I'm 2 yrs and 5 days older than Mr Beato) I'm absolutely convinced buying an LP, taking it to friends to share is a better way to enjoy music than streaming and sharing a playlist. But I also recognise that view is at least 90% nostalgia.
I should add that I agree with him 100%. Being a child of the 70s ( I'm 2 yrs and 5 days older than Mr Beato) I'm absolutely convinced buying an LP, taking it to friends to share is a better way to enjoy music than streaming and sharing a playlist. But I also recognise that view is at least 90% nostalgia.
Last edited:
paulfromcamden
Baffled
Though Orphy Robinson once curated a series of 'Uneasy Listening' gigs : )
paulfromcamden
Baffled
Tony L
Administrator
That is kind of the opposite of my point. I’m hugely in favour of all new music technology and lived through the utter absurdity of the Musicians Union trying to ban drum machines and sequencers back in the late-70s. FWIW I’d far prefer to go out for a pint with a TR-808 than a member of the MU!
A lot of my favourite music is programmed, sequenced, sampled etc. These technologies expanded creativity, and I’m sure AI will too, though no 808, 909, DMX or whatever has ever created a hit on its own. No AI will either. They are all just creative tools. Good new tools and attitudes will always scare the old-guard. This is always to be encouraged. Move forwards…
les24preludes
pfm Member
Drummers are jealous of drum machines because they can play in 13/8 without taking cocaine....
tuga
Legal Alien
I'm sure there's some degree of personal (Beato) preference involved. My taste also doesn't align with his (although that thing you posted, bloody hell).
Mike Hughes
pfm Member
It really isn’t. Remember Martin Isherwood? Taught songwriting at the University of Salford. Thought to be too classical in outlook so decided to demonstrate to his students how easy it was to write a pop hit. Wrote a song for Eurovision back in 2003. Thanks to some interesting connections and machinations that song was pushed extraordinarily and somehow got selected ahead of much better ones. You may also recall that the UK came last that year with zero points.
I’m sure he’d argue to the contrary but he disappeared with his tail between his legs to LIPA. I am unaware as to whether any of his students have written a hit song since. Not seen it mentioned since.
paulfromcamden
Baffled
I enjoyed the bit where he quantised a John Bonham drum track and it sounded rubbish.
"There! See! Computers destroy music!!!"
"There! See! Computers destroy music!!!"
kjb
Proof reading not always a strength
Apologies - I misread the nuance in your comment. I read "AI will never make any good original music. It will never lead a trend or create a genre. It can’t. It just doesn’t work like that." as "No good, original music will ever be made with AI"
Actually we seem to have a very similar views on the subject. I'm looking forward to hearing what Richard D James does with AI.
Tony L
Administrator
Notice how he left the DAW bleeping metronome in on the quantised version, off on the actual recording. Very cynical, I guess he felt some may prefer the quantised version.
paulfromcamden
Baffled
Hilarious that he quantised a drum track then complained it was quantised.
And completely ignores that fact that you can use an existing recording to quantise to a groove if you wish.
He either has no idea how to use the software or he's being intentionally disingenuous. Either way gets a resounding meh from me I'm afraid.
CTank
pfm Member
My middle son astounds me with the breadth of his musical taste. He seems to dive into a genre a week. His starting point is modern underground rap (Ken Carson, Semetary) some of which is astonishingly new and innovative to me. But he also listens to Tame Impala, Metallica, Shoegaze, House and Garage, Drum and Bass, classic Jungle etc etc. I was flabbergasted when he knew who the Cocteau Twins were! Despite many people’s assumptions, he does listen to whole albums as well. He got into My Bloody Valentine after an artist he likes sampled them. Exactly as I got into vintage funk & soul through golden age Hip Hop.
The kids are alright, and they’ll find a way to make AI bend to their wills.
The kids are alright, and they’ll find a way to make AI bend to their wills.
gustav_errata
pfm Member
Yeah I accidentally posted some recommendations there without reading the room first.Yawn. I feel like I’m trolling here these days.
Even this thread is full of old man’s music…
Best electronic/ dance/ rave/ Albums
I’ve just listened to the Fat of the land by the Prodigy and it really stands up as a great album. I realised I have a paucity of what I’ve called above electronic/dance/rave albums in my collection. I’m particularly bad at describing these genres but what I’m trying to say is that I have...