This is a rather simple thought that probably crossed most peoples mind at a certain point in their lives.
If you look at the world today,the way it evolves,technology,our habitat,from cars to home gadgets.
Its all about perfection and fast implementation of ideas,desires etc...
The one thing that suffers the most is art.

If we focus ourselves on music we realize that perfection is actually the biggest enemy to the process of music production.
When you start producing,writing you aim for that perfection,but the older and more experienced you get,the more knowledge you gain,the more you embrace mistakes,errors,off grid recording,the more you realize its like trying to tame a tiger.

Its about details and small mistakes that may not be noticeable to amateurs or casual listeners,but when it goes for the general feel everyone can sense if a production has heart or no and a perfect production is not exciting.
Greatness yes,perfection no.
What do you think?

 

Now that was a guitar player, thanks for the memories.

 

Sometimes these 'imperfections' actually perfected the overall production. Fact is that they're not 'imperfections', they're an exact, honest snapshot of a great musical moment, journey caught on tape. They're great. They're often left in because the overall take had such energy and intent that the little glitch or slip would be a fair trade-off to the rest of the take.
The ability today to etch-a-sketch out every minute error or glitch, is at the top of the list why most music made today has lost that particular soulful shine and human feel. Some of these albums were made under enormous time-stress and cost that in some cases there simply was 'no time' to fix these glitches or do-over certain takes. One of my favorites; Stevie Wonders - Another Star where you can hear him hit the mics with his drumsticks on more than one occasion, but that drum track is so full of energy and the magic of Stevie that mr. Martin insisted on keeping it. What a track.

 

quantize to grid , midi, editing bad notes later, autotune, super accurate tuning, high-end gear, too much money(not talent) = all kill vibe

 

On the other hand, some music styles rely on bit-perfected performances. Take nu-metal or radio pop and dance music. Like it or not, younger audiences feel it right when vocals are clipped distorted, when the pulse is perfect. For them (not me), that music moves their autotuned, quantized spirit and we gotta learn to deliver. It's the sign of the times. Of course, I can't stomach a whole song, but we gotta admit that more than technicalities destroying current music, it is us that listen to those gold/golden albums with nostalgia, with an emotional attachment. Kids who get hooked by this overproduced-to-perfection music have the same attachment and it is them who can't fathom those magical imperfections that are the sign of the greatest sonic art ever produced.

 

Not just music but everything (like p**n). I actually believe nothing wrong with the technology or perfection. The problem is amateurism and inexperience of musicians and producers and also minimalism.

Everyone wants to be a producer without even knowing the alphabet of music. The uninitiated always degrade the value of every production.

 

Yea, verily!

At any rate, changes in technology change the way that music is made, and "delivered." The technology used influences the creative process – either augmenting, guiding, or deteriorating it; one should be aware of those effects. For example, if the only technology available is wooden flutes, gut-strung gourds with sticks, and hollow logs with animal skins stretched across their openings, then certain music will be made accordingly.

Another force which influences popular musical forms and sounds, and the public's perception of what "music" is, is marketing. Consider also how this or that style of music, over the past century, along with attendant modes of extenuating culture, has been marekted to younger people and influenced their thinking, behavior, and expectations of the world or their views of themselves.

 

Besides, there's another side door opened with technology advance. I'm gonna rub some people the wrong way, but I believe it's true: Music technology has allowed DJs with rock star delusions to become mainstream artists. Then they go from Numark to M-Audio and they become record producers, skipping the whole musicianship required to make quality music. I'm not saying it's everyone, but there's some validity to this observation. Yesteryear's record makers were trained musicians who got pulled by technological needs or engineers who wanted to push the technical envelope for the most part, or a combination of both.

 

It's not problem with technology, it's problem how you use it and for what!

 

Why? Who cannot sing and have money could buy Waves Tune Real-Time...
No more problems to barking like Justin Bieber!!!

 

Music is just one of many human ways used to deliver entertainment and/or feelings. Many many many years ago callygraphy was both an art and a way to spread culture. Then everyone learned how to write (ugly) and calligraphy became a niche - and humanity as a whole didnt suffer any cultural or any other kind of losses. There is no reason for the music to be privileged. Music must pass through all the shapes and sizes. For the simple fact that in the past someone developed a black & white keyboard and a theory around it, there is no logical or practical or sane reason for that matter to stick to this way in making music. Let's not forget that jazz was for a long time called "devil's music". I just want to point out that mentalities change a lot and there is no reason for us to stick with a certain mentality. Let's do each our job and in the end things will settle.

 

quintessential "band"... 4 kick drums? it's even mic'd...

the musicianship, and also the showmanship, diamond Dave was a wild man on stage, this is an example
of an ultimate party band, fueled by massive talent, what do we have now? posers with knobs, flinging their
headphones for dramatic effect...? just can't forget the David Guetta vid... and in contrast to VH...

maybe my ears are not so golden.. I couldn't hear it.. it's a pretty busy track.. so maybe it just blended in with
all the other percussion, and singing.. but indeed a fine performance..and I never knew Stevie drummed on his own tracks
nice one @artwerkski

 

Sound Engineer's Hard Work...

...technology helps.

Seriously... How many Classical Music poor recording have been helped by technology... How many time Michael Jackson producer (Quincy Jones) has thanked technology for his pupil success?

P.S.
The 2nd video is a way to remember you about Milli Vanilli story.

 

Last edited: Aug 13, 2016

i think back in the days the music was made by little imperfections, since we entered much more into the digital world we miss those and you pretty much can recognize a track being made full in a daw or in a console with tapes and real saturators and analog stuff ...even the rhythm of the beats, quantizing and all that stfuff wasnt so so important as today, if you listen to edm every beat seems so perfetct arranged that it misses something ...even swing ...is awful and too perfect ...when i make drums i always play with arranging beats into midi line ...i looking for little imperfections in rhythm!

 

Horrible clothes!

 

@Von_Steyr You mean like this?

https://audiosex.pro/threads/what-are-you-listening-to-now.10042/page-28#post-211412

 

Gadgets are going to cause serious mental health problems.

 

Me hates new music
No more tribal, no more stones, no more connection to nature. Only piano music and Mozart now!
Me really hates new music...

 

This ^^^

Back in the day they even blamed Pink Floyd for using excessive amounts of modern 1970's technology, to which Roger Waters replied that it's not about technology for the sake of technology. It's about using it applying your talent and skill. It's not like you could give VCS3, Minimoog and Prophet to a random guy and expect him to write all of Pink Floyd synths. It's not like you present some guitar player all of Dave Gilmour's rocket science pedal rig and suddenly that guy has any of Dave's talent. No, it's not happening. It doesn't work that way. "You don't just give a Gibson guitar and Marshall amp to a man and expect him to be the next Eric Clapton". I think that's how Roger put it. And mind you, this was circa 1971, some 45 years ago.

So I wouldn't blame the technology. Mediocre artists and talentless hacks - YES, ABSOLUTELY.