Comments on: How to Use a Moog Modular http://createdigitalmusic.com/2005/06/14/how-to-use-a-moog-modular/ The latest gear, software, and techniques for electronic music production and performance Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:27:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: admin http://createdigitalmusic.com/2005/06/14/how-to-use-a-moog-modular/#comment-1127 admin Wed, 15 Jun 2005 21:20:40 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2005/06/14/how-to-use-a-moog-modular/#comment-1127 That's really sad. I've seen similar situations at other institutions -- off the top of my head, Columbia University, Wisconsin Madison . . . places that had a reputation for electronic music. (When I was last at UW Madison, they'd nearly retired the whole lab!) Weirdly, it's students who are calling for vintage equipment -- even reel-to-reel tape -- to come out of mothballs. And I agree, you learn differently from this equipment. I don't necessarily agree that it's impossible to recreate sounds on a computer; most of what you can't recreate are specific sound characteristics and things like analog tuning drift, ironically, the unreliability of the gear. But the fact that programs are retiring equipment suggests to me that they don't really have a handle on what the gear is about -- that instruments have to be learned and mastered. Doesn't necessarily have to be a Moog Modular, and many programs that don't have them couldn't afford to buy old equipment. But it does suggest programs are approaching latest and greatest tech as tech rather than as instruments. I know there are many people who feel that way. Let us know if you get on any of those modular systems. And I'll keep figuring out how the heck to master Reaktor . . . hmmm . . . ;) That’s really sad. I’ve seen similar situations at other institutions — off the top of my head, Columbia University, Wisconsin Madison . . . places that had a reputation for electronic music. (When I was last at UW Madison, they’d nearly retired the whole lab!) Weirdly, it’s students who are calling for vintage equipment — even reel-to-reel tape — to come out of mothballs. And I agree, you learn differently from this equipment. I don’t necessarily agree that it’s impossible to recreate sounds on a computer; most of what you can’t recreate are specific sound characteristics and things like analog tuning drift, ironically, the unreliability of the gear. But the fact that programs are retiring equipment suggests to me that they don’t really have a handle on what the gear is about — that instruments have to be learned and mastered. Doesn’t necessarily have to be a Moog Modular, and many programs that don’t have them couldn’t afford to buy old equipment. But it does suggest programs are approaching latest and greatest tech as tech rather than as instruments. I know there are many people who feel that way.

Let us know if you get on any of those modular systems. And I’ll keep figuring out how the heck to master Reaktor . . . hmmm . . . ;)

]]> By: pollojack http://createdigitalmusic.com/2005/06/14/how-to-use-a-moog-modular/#comment-1126 pollojack Wed, 15 Jun 2005 20:58:02 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2005/06/14/how-to-use-a-moog-modular/#comment-1126 ATA: Those E-Mu's are nice, aren't they? I just graduated from UCSC as a music major/ E-Music minor. The Moog modular is no longer in use there, but their vintage E-Mu is. The school has a long history with E-Mu, as they were located in nearby Scott's Valley until very recently (about a mile from my house is their old building next to a Creative High-tech research facility). Its a shame that more University studios (UCSC's Included) are moving towards computers and soft-synths, as I feel the modular boxes give a better insight into syhthesis techniques than soft-synths such as Tassman can. I've done things with that box that I wouldn't even know how to begin recreating on a computer. Oh Well. I wonder If I can get studio time as an alumn. ... ATA: Those E-Mu’s are nice, aren’t they? I just graduated from UCSC as a music major/ E-Music minor. The Moog modular is no longer in use there, but their vintage E-Mu is. The school has a long history with E-Mu, as they were located in nearby Scott’s Valley until very recently (about a mile from my house is their old building next to a Creative High-tech research facility). Its a shame that more University studios (UCSC’s Included) are moving towards computers and soft-synths, as I feel the modular boxes give a better insight into syhthesis techniques than soft-synths such as Tassman can. I’ve done things with that box that I wouldn’t even know how to begin recreating on a computer. Oh Well. I wonder If I can get studio time as an alumn. …

]]> By: atomic_afro http://createdigitalmusic.com/2005/06/14/how-to-use-a-moog-modular/#comment-1125 atomic_afro Wed, 15 Jun 2005 01:10:41 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2005/06/14/how-to-use-a-moog-modular/#comment-1125 This is my school's (Western Washington University) electronic music studio: WWEAMS <a href="http://www.wwu.edu/depts/wweams/img/pac178wide.jpg" rel="nofollow">2X the flavor!</a> I'm proud to say that I'm one of the lucky few that has had the privilege to work with a modular synth first hand (an E-MU modular no less!) <a href="http://www.wwu.edu/depts/wweams/" rel="nofollow">WWEAMS Homepage</a> ATA This is my school’s (Western Washington University) electronic music studio: WWEAMS
2X the flavor!

I’m proud to say that I’m one of the lucky few that has had the privilege to work with a modular synth first hand (an E-MU modular no less!)

WWEAMS Homepage

ATA

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