Acid

Les Pierce · From: Shreveport, LA

Hey fellas,

Just finished messing around with ACID 4.0, and I think that we'd better take warning.

I love classic licks and riffs, but it would be wise to develope more melodic lines more closley linked to the song, itself.

Keep in mind that short, universal riffs and licks can, and are, being sampled and looped to be used in ACID and other programs like it. I couldn't believe it when I found many tried and true blues and rock licks waiting to be plugged in. I would imagine that in somebody's loop library, there already exists most every great old steel lick out there. I haven't heard them, but I have hear Dobro loops.

I knew that ACID was used for drums, (who must be top on the endagered musician list), and Hip-Hop/Dance grooves, but I didn't realize how powerful and extensive this looping thing is becoming.

These are .mp3 files, of actual instruments, and are not fake sounding, AT ALL. Someone good at editing could turn out professional recordings and not use a single musician on the session.

I'm just saying it might be wise to keep looping in the back of your mind when you create fills and solos, so you have other things in your arsenal beside the "standard" licks.

Just my 2 cents,

Les

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

I thought this thread was going to be about about LSD.

The 60s may be over, but the memories remain.

Dave Boothroyd · From: Staffordshire Moorlands

THe problem with all the programs like Acid is the whole concept of loop based music. Because of the way it's easy to work, people tend to put their "songs" together by endless repetition of a miniscule number of musical ideas.
OK there are some players who do that too, but not many of the good ones.
There is one sucessful writer I know who goes beyond that, even though he does use samples as a basis. For example he recorded a trumpeter playing Jazzy riffs for half an hour, then cut the track into tiny phrases. Then with each sample assigned to a key of his master keyboard, he played the hook phrase of the song. This was a phrase that the trumpeter had never actually played, but was put together in the studio from separate notes and trills.
Simple looped stuff does seem soulless, however well the original loop was played, just because a real player would not merely repeat.
Drumming, on the other hand, has a far larger proportion of reptition, and is a lot easier to automate.
I think that steel, with all its expressiveness and the ability to respond to any variations in intonation, has less to fear from the loopers than most instruments.
You still have a memory Mike? You must have known when to stop with the old sugar lumps!
They say that if you remember the Sixties then you wern't there!
Cheers
Dave

[This message was edited by Dave Boothroyd on 25 December 2003 at 01:45 AM.]

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

The 60's are over ??

When did that happen ?..I think I missed it..

T

Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

Like....Wow..Man........

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I don't know what's worse...recording studios using "loops" instead of a real steelplayer, or steelplayers making recordings using their own "studios".

I seriously doubt either is getting a really "professional" sounding recording.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Donny, it depends on the quality of the studio. A cassette isn't going to give you the same quality as a 2 inch 24 track, but a lot of semi-pro gear made by firms like Tascam and Fostex sounds pretty darn good.

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

These loops are killing "Jingle Gigs" for all kinds of musicians.

Royalty-Free and Low Cost.

Here's some audio samples.

Like it or not, the future ain't what it used to be.

Tom Olson · From: Spokane, WA

Memories about LSD? That's an oxymoron, isn't it?

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

60's memories are still there, they just glow a bit paisley.
It's the 80's I want to forget.

It is possible to do finely crafted music using loops as a basis, but you can't beat a good drummer. I have looped some african drums and done pieces, and I like them a lot, but don't expect to release them.

But the ACID loop phenominon is mostly powered by those who haven't bothered
to learn an instrument proficiently... such as the proliferation of "DJ's" that think they are "producers".
Find a sexy girl who wails soulfully, add one rapper with bad attitude, remix some old soul lic,k and lay it all on top of several loops.
And a bit of 2 finger synth playing.

And also a smattering of those with such poor personalities or chops or voice, that they can't get a band to play together long enough to record...
or can't afford the studio time.. Pick One.

In the right hands loops CAN do magic, but they are usually not in the right hands.

A case in point of the right hands and something realy quite different is Danny Barnes's Bad Livers CD. Quite cool and totally unexpected.

JMHO. I suppose I am a bit old school in this respect. I started recording when 4 mics into 2 track tube recorders was what you did.
But I do create and use loops sometimes in some formats.

No offence intended to those assembling their songs with loops to get a good version down... so the band can learn it less painfully.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 25 December 2003 at 01:22 PM.]

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I bought it to see what all of the fuss was about. After fooling with it for about an hour, I concluded that it was a program for non-musicians.

Beyond that, it's a lot of work to construct something that sounds good with Acid. It's easier to just play a musical instrument!

People who use this tool are missing out on the basic joy of music - playing with other musicians. I have no use for it.

------------------

Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Scott Henderson · From: Camdenton, Missouri, USA

The bad part about acid fro our needs (steelers) is the lack of loops for country and jazz. I have given up on trying to find drum loops that are countrified. even the live drummer loops you find they dont know what a four four shuffle is supposed to sound like. I have went back to Band in a Box now that i have found tone generators that dont sound so midi-ish. I love the roland VSC and the new yamaha is great too.
I go a step further and record them track by track into a digital software program so I can EQ each individual instrument. It's working great for me as you will see on my next two projects. yes i agree drum loops will hurt certain parts of our industry but for some of us who need to watch cost on projects they would be a God send if they would work.I talked to a rep for Roland one day who was pitching a new keyboard/sequencer to me which was nice but had no use for me because the country side of music was ignored on the presets. he told me there is just not enough market to constitute the work and hard drive space. They cater to those no-talent record spinners who trying to express themselves(hehehe) I do not agree with steel fiddle or lead guitar loops as that is just silly to think a loop could replace feeling.
I chose band in a box for one reasons i'm not a drummer!ACID??? nice place to visit but wouldn't want to live there

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

Don Walters · From: Saskatchewan Canada

I'm not disagreeing with b0b when I say it like this:

Eric Myers · Posted 2 Jan 2004 11:19 pm

There is already a PEDAL STEEL LIBRARY loop set on cd for acid http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/loop_libraries/ShowLoop.asp?PID=850
Personally I love Sonic Foundry's stuff -ACID, sound forge, and vegas -between the three of em I am king of the world! =0
Eric

Les Pierce · From: Shreveport, LA

Well, at least it would be a great source of practice licks!

The original intent of this post was to try and shock some of us new, and not so new comers to develope some individual style along with all those comercial licks.

BTW, the sample song sure is typical of what non country pickers/producers think country music is supposed to sound like. They just don't get it, never have and never will.

Take care,

Les

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