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Re: Is looping an effect, a instrument or something else?



there's lots of this thread that went off-list by mistake,
so I brought it back again:-

Matthias Grob wrote:
> I see your point Andy
> 
> but anything can turn into an instrument
> we have a famous sambist fat woman here who only plays a standard 
> porcelan dish with a spoon
> does this mean that a dish is an instrument?

A ghatam is an instrument.
...so why not a plate.

Anyway, you just said that "anything can turn into an instrument",
so I would be just contradicting you if I said her plate didn't turn into 
one. :-)




> 
> I think for the ordinary people, a musical instrument creates sound
> and a live looping tool on principle only repeats sound



A sampling keyboard just repeats sound too .


Anyway, the edp even has features in it's design which 
are intended to be used as an instrument.
You can load up to 16 samples and play them from a keyboard.

Maybe it's not so interesting whether we call a looper an instrument,
clearly it just depends on how we define "instrument".

Perhaps we could ask,
"If a looper is an instrument, what kind of instrument is it?"
"In what ways does this new instrument make new musical forms possible?"

andy butler



> 
> yes, why is this off list now?
> 
> Matthias

possibly because Rune has his email address in the <Reply To> field.
(and I didn't realize...got caught out again)

> 
> 
> On 29 Aug 2008, at 06:03, andy butler wrote:
> 
>>
>>
>> rune fagereng wrote:
>>> Hi !
>>> Butler wrote;
>>> very obviously many of us are playing the looper like an
>>>> instrument,
>>>> and some are essentially playing an instrument which
>>>> incorporates the looping device.
>>> This is interesting; so its how you use it thats the matter?
>>> Rune F.
>>
>>
>> :-)
>> Yes, that simplifies the idea in a very clear way.
>>
>> Actually, I'm surprised that Matthias appears to think otherwise,
>> as the loop device he invented can be used to play back a set of 
>> triggered samples, and is the most instrument like of
>> all looping devices.
>> (and he's been in the room when I've been using the edp as an 
>> instrument;-)
>> andy
>> ps,
>> I notice you replied off-list,
>> feel free to post it back to the list if you think the discussion will 
>> be worthwhile.
>>
>>
>>>> ok, I'll assume for now that we're talking about
>>>> live looping here,
>>>> and not the numerous other techniques also called
>>>> "looping".
>>>>
>>>> Re: Is looping an effect, a instrument or something else?
>>>>
>>>> It's a bit like asking "is an amplifier an instrument?"
>>>> The obvious answer is no,
>>>> ...but then we hear what Jimi Hendrix did with his guitar,
>>>> and wonder if that music was even conceivable without the
>>>> amplifier.
>>>> So we migh think that in this case the instrument is
>>>> guitar+amp.
>>>>
>>>> It's just as obvious that a guitar(for instance) is the
>>>> instrument,
>>>> and the looping device an assistant in some way.
>>>> I couldn't apply that to much of the music that's
>>>> made with looping devices though.
>>>> Very obviously many of us are playing the looper like an
>>>> instrument,
>>>> and some are essentially playing an instrument which
>>>> incorporates the looping device.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> andy butler
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> rune fagereng wrote:
>>>>> Grob wrote;
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> as I see it, its neither instrument nor effect,
>>>> its a tool
>>>>>> for  composition or improvisation
>>>>>> of course I tried many times to define it
>>>>>> its simpler today, as most people have seen it
>>>> happening
>>>>>> and you can  put a link to some video
>>>>>> my latest descriptions are on livelooping.org and
>>>>>> aurisis.com, you are  welcome to grab them!
>>>>> Hi and thanks !
>>>>>
>>>>> I will look at your websites - thanks.
>>>>> I had a short vitit at your personly website, and
>>>> noticed you also are sceptic about electronic instruments.
>>>> If
>>>>> thats so - count me in. I will look into how and why
>>>> you feel so. Hope I dont offend anyone.
>>>>> best regarding Rune F Norway
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 28 Aug 2008, at 08:14, rune fagereng wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi !
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am to write a little something regarding;
>>>>>> instruments - effects -
>>>>>>> looping - sampling - digital sound...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Does anyone have some writings about looping
>>>> defining
>>>>>> what it is -
>>>>>>> and are some pictures or figures showing - or
>>>>>> illustrating what
>>>>>>> looping is - for someone who dont know? Best
>>>> if not in
>>>>>> pdf - so I
>>>>>>> can borrow pictures.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Rune F.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>> _________________________________________________________
>>>>>>> Alt i ett. Få Yahoo! Mail med
>>>> adressekartotek,
>>>>>> kalender og
>>>>>>> notisblokk. http://no.mail.yahoo.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> _________________________________________________________
>>>>> Alt i ett. Få Yahoo! Mail med adressekartotek,
>>>> kalender og
>>>>> notisblokk. http://no.mail.yahoo.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>      _________________________________________________________
>>> Alt i ett. Få Yahoo! Mail med adressekartotek, kalender og
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> 
>