[Guy 13]

Hi all Audio Circle members.
Some of you purists and/or perfectionists or simple music lovers will say that computer generated/created electronic music is not real music; well that’s your opinion.
For me; it’s music with high definition, no or extremely low distortion, deep bass and much more.
18 months ago, I have purchased some Animusic DVDs;
I’ve liked the music so much, that I have ordered the same, but the CD music version only.
With my GR Research V1 speakers and my Nightshade Audio amplifier it sounds fantastic.
Guy 13

[lonewolfny42]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toXNVbvFXyk

How about a little theremin music....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-ywH1Vj8_U

[JLM]

Its real computer generated music, and more honest than most that has been tweaked in the mix.

Except for voice, all music comes from some sort of man made device.

I'm sure the same arguments have been made a million times back when electric guitars came out.

[django11]

Define "real".

[Diamond Dog]

Define "real".

+1.
 In an era where Pro Tools and pitch correction defy Ronnie Hawkins' old adage that "you can't shine sh*t", is music actually generated by a computer any less artificial than the latest heavily-tweaked offering from ( insert name of latest pop-tart confection here ) ?
If by someone's definition it is music, it is certainly sterile, emotionally barren music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baZWVPcpaOM&feature=related

D.

[mjosef]

As REAL as it gets...really Real.
At least in my Reality.
YRMV.

[Crimson]

The computer is just an instrument. Creativity is required. So yes, it's real music.

[Guy 13]

The computer is just an instrument. Creativity is required. So yes, it's real music.

Hi Crimson and all Audio Circle members.
Yes, you are right.
Creativity is required, however, with Animusic video (DVD) they also have plenty of originality and exclusivity.
Now that I have listen to both versions (DVD and Music CD) I prefer the DVD with the animation.
Guy 13

[Diamond Dog]

YRMV.

My reality used to vary but now I just say "No"...

I guess you'd have to separate the "computer-generated" from the "computer-created" in the OP to even begin to try and resolve this question. And then while we are defining "real", we'll also need to define what "music" is. I absolutely agree that a computer can be used as an instrument and in the hands of a creative artist a computer can certainly be used to create interesting music but what happens when the creative artist is removed from the equation ? If the "music" is "created" by a computer, is it actually music or just a collection of sounds? Are we willing to subscribe to the theory that computers can achieve creativity at this stage or is it just sound unless human imput is involved? My understanding is that the Animusic is created by humans using computers but what about music where the computer does the "composing" ?

Guy13, you just blew my mind...

D.

[mjosef]

And then while we are defining "real", we'll also need to define what "music" is.

Good luck with that. 
SOme of the comments I get when I play "music" that appeals to my sensibilities...'what is that noise?'...'you call that music?'... 'that is not jazz.'...'when is the music going to start?'...'can we go now?'...' let me tune in the station better.' etc. etc.

As you would discern, I am outside of the established accepted musical norm. And I consider myself normal...its everyone else who seems abnormal. 

YMRWV. 

[Wayner]

MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) has come along way since the days of the simple keyboard sequencer. Now there are sampled banks (of real instruments) by a host of keyboard manufacturers like Roland, Korg, Yamaha and so on, that can, in the hands of a MIDI expert, fool almost anyone into thinking they are listening to live music. The scary fact is, they are, at least the samples are recorded live.

However, when you go to an unplugged music festival, you soon realize that there is a difference. That is what perhaps separates the musicians from the recording artists.

Wayner

[Mike Nomad]

Absolutely. Frank Zappa's Jonestown, or an early Whitehouse record may not be to some (most) people's taste, but it is still music.

For a less extreme example, I've used (not recently) Koan software to create music for art installations. I established the parameters for the software, and the generative components did the rest. When I (occasionally) got good at it, some people thought it was a Brian Eno record.

[pardales]

The computer is just an instrument. Creativity is required. So yes, it's real music.

I agree.

[soundbitten1]

If it's good I'll listen to it.   

[baumer]

This is some of the best real music I've ever heard...

[Diamond Dog]

If it's good I'll listen to it.   

"There are only two kinds of music...good and bad."
                                    Duke Ellington

D.

[emac]

Speaking as someone who has essentially only listened to electronic music for the past 15 years, I've struggled with this question.  In the end, I find a different question to be better.  If electronic music is not "music", then what is it?  Noise?  A collection of random sounds?

By any definition I can think of, it's music.  Now, is it different from music that is produced on instruments or sung?  For sure.  Electronic music just sounds different.  You often do not get the depth of texture or nuance that instruments or vocalists can provide (though there are many exceptions).  But, in essentially every other respect, electronic music is the same as traditional music.  There can be terrific dynamics (it's not all compressed to death), precision, soundstaging, creativity, etc.  And, most importantly to me, there's a huge range of sounds that are used in electronic music.  It isn't just beats and synthesizers.  So, especially w/ the good artists in any electronic genre, you never know what you're going to get. 

Another point to throw out here is that it's also difficult to define what "electronic music" is.  If you take Air or Zero 7, which are typically considered to be electronic groups, they have singers and instrumentation.  So, even the line can be somewhat blurry at times. 

However, when you go to an unplugged music festival, you soon realize that there is a difference. That is what perhaps separates the musicians from the recording artists.

Wayner

If you listen to some of the live recordings of some of the great electronic acts like Orbital, Underworld, or Future Sound of London, it is like unplugged music.  These groups rearrange the tracks on the fly and create new and different experiences that are only somewhat related to the original.  And they also change the sound of the samples so they only sound vaguely like the original that was used in the recording.  Unfortunately, there aren't too many electronic acts that can do this, but thankfully some of the more experimentally inclined DJ's (e.g. Sasha) are now doing this thanks to programs like Ableton Live. 

[FullRangeMan]

Hi Guy13,
Iam sure you will love this CD from Larry Fast, it is a computer software generatec music in early 1980,
looks Ambient Music, very good to relax..Strangely there is a emotional tension in this music,
Listen this Amazon samples. Price are 14.63 dollars, I pay around 30 at the time.
http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Experiments-Vol-1-Synergy/dp/B0001KJO7Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297016324&sr=1-2

> Never go to a psychiatrist, adopt a cat or dog from the street. On the streets pets live only two years average.

[srb]

I use a software program called Band-In-A-Box by PG Music (I don't know how similar Apple's Garage Band may be).  After you input a chord progression, the software can generate on-the-fly bass lines, rhythm accompaniments, drum tracks and solos based on the chord structure.
 
An interesting aspect is that you can choose styles from a library of artists so that the created parts emulate a particular musicians style.  It's very interesting to hear an algorithm that trys to emulate a Bill Evans piano solo for example.
 
It seems that each time a part is regenerated, that it is different and unique from the part generated previously.
 
Since it is a MIDI program, the quality and realism of instruments varies with the sound module used.  It is not intended to be music for consumption per se, but instead is a tool for musicians to practice and learn with.  Still, quite fascinating.
 
Steve

[low.pfile]

Thanks for posting this Guy (and Chris for the link). I hadn't seen this. very entertaining.

Whether it's a wooden spoon or a circuit board, if it moves me, it is music.

More fun... Literal computer/electronics generated music video and this too(a bit more musical)