Re: Software Re: Looping Drummers who play tabla

["shreeswifty" <ppagano@bellsouth.net>]

Someone already has emile
did you not see my post?
http://www.swarsystems.com/SwarShala/Cafe/
Pat Pagano, Director
South East Just Intonation Society
http://indians.australians.com/meherbaba/
http://www.screwmusicforever.com/SHREESWIFT/
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Emile Tobenfeld (a.k.a Dr. T) <emile@foryourhead.com>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2001 8:24 PM
Subject: Software Re: Looping Drummers who play tabla


> 
> A software version of this would be really cool. (I used to write 
> music software, but I'm way too busy with video software these days, 
> so don't ask me.) Someone who knew Max and Indian music theory could 
> probably cook one up.
> 
> At 8:00 PM -0400 6/21/01, James Pokorny wrote:
> >>I also have a "tabla machine"
> >>
> >more info please.....michael
> >
> >Sure.  Tabla machines have been discussed on-list before, and the 
> >archives contain some pointers for sites to listen to some of these 
> >devices, as well as places to purchase them.  
> >
> >Basically, the "tabla machine" is an electronic device preprogrammed 
> >to play the "theka" or basic pattern of beats in a "taal" (rhythmic 
> >cycle) of Indian music.   I've worked with two different machines, 
> >the Taal Mala and the Riyaz Master Pro.  Each of these has a 
> >selection of preset taals, most of which are in common use in Indian 
> >music, some more obscure or lesser-heard taals are represented as 
> >well.  There are controls for volume, pitch (since the smaller drum 
> >of the tabla pair is tuned to the tonic of the vocalist or 
> >instrumentalist), and tempo.  There are also controls for "speed" 
> >(as opposed to tempo) since the theka usually changes when playing 
> >at different speeds.  This control varies the theka for "vilambit" 
> >(slow), "madhya" (medium) and "drut" (fast) speeds.  Within each of 
> >these speeds you can also accelerate/decelerate the tempo.  
> >
> >From my experience with the two machines I've used, I prefer the 
> >Riyaz Master Pro.  However, to be fair, the version of Taal Mala I 
> >had was from about 10 years ago -- in fact, it was the first 
> >"electronic tabla."  It used very plinky/thuddy synthetic tones that 
> >tried to replicate the high and low drum sounds of the tabla, and 
> >had a very tinny speaker that only seemed to function properly at 
> >distoring volumes.  But I've heard an updated version of the Taal 
> >Mala which uses sampled tabla and sounds very good.  The Riyaz 
> >Master Pro also uses sampled tabla sounds and has a good speaker.
> >
> >One major caveat, though - none of these machines are going to sound 
> >anything like a live tabla player.  They were designed as a practice 
> >tool for vocalists and instrumentalists.  In India you generally pay 
> >a tabla accompanist a fee to come over and practice with you, 
> >particularly if the tabla player is senior to you in terms of age or 
> >experience.  While practicing, perhaps 95% of the time the tabla 
> >player will play a steady "theka" while the vocalist or 
> >instrumentalist practices rhythmic improvisations within the 
> >framework of a composition.  So the tabla machine serves this same 
> >purpose - to give that "theka" to practice over.  
> >
> >My advice if you're interested in a tabla machine (or any other 
> >Indian instrument) is to see if someone you know is going to India, 
> >then ask them to bring one back for you since the markup in the West 
> >tends to be shockingly extreme. 
> >
> >James
> 
> -- 
> 
> "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable man 
> persists in adapting the world to himself. Therefore, all progress 
> depends on the unreasonable man.
> 
> --  George Bernard Shaw
> 
> Emile Tobenfeld, Ph. D.
> Video Producer Image Processing Specialist
> Video for your HEAD! Boris FX
> http://www.foryourhead.com http://www.borisfx.com
>