Re: the power of limits

[SoundFNR@aol.com]

I like the approach of taking what gear (or compositional techniques) you 
have and just getting on with making music, most of the time I work in 
that 
way. Sometimes, however, the sound/structure I want just occurs in my 
head, 
for no particular reason. It then becomes a matter of seeking out the 
'gear' 
I need  if I ever want to hear the result. Once I'd tried out the simplest 
looping boxes (a sampling delay stompbox, probably by Boss) I started to 
want 
the 'recording studio live' scenario. The setup I have now allows me to do 
that, (but of course I now get sidetracked into the other possibilities on 
offer. )

I guess there's 2 types of creativity involved here, for instance I can 
spend 
a whole evening creating a patch(morph)  for the Lexicon Vortex,  trying 
out 
stuff fairly analytically and looking through the manual. 
Then later I can dial up that patch and make music, and by responding to 
what 
I hear I can often find possibilities in the patch that i hadn't designed 
for.
The first process here isn't usually as gratifying as the second, all the 
setting up can be a bit tedious. The part I really enjoy is getting to 
respond to, and play with the new sounds.

So maybe there's:-
Working to extend the limits, which can be a somewhat dry intellectual 
experience.
and
Working within the limits, which is more immediate (and fun).

just ideas (please pull apart)

andy butler