TW #114 — Live Tracking (xiagox)
A reply to Behemoth's claim (#113) that "you cannot perform tracking live" (see s-tw114-commercial-tracking-debate).
Key claims#
- A concrete live setup: for a talent show xiagox tracked "bass'n'drums techno stuff on ST3" (scream-tracker-3) and put a 486dx2/66 on stage next to a synth, guitar, tin whistle, marching-band bass drums, recorder and a Speak & Spell; "the song wasn't planned out, all the changes were based on visual cues", so he "pre-programmed the different parts of the song but … had to 'play' my computer on stage" — changing patterns on cue. Tracked music works live "as a part of a larger picture".
- Feedback is the draw: in his "conventional" bands "it's really hard to get feedback from your musical peers", on #trax "I can get all sorts of insulting comments made about my stuff within minutes".
- Accessibility: "low hardware requirements, low economic requirements" — even his drummer tracks.
- Distribution advice: "go indie" — record on a 4-track, print tapes, sell to friends, learn from local bands.
Relevance#
The clearest description in the archive of pattern-switching as a live technique — see live-tracking; also compos (feedback) and commercial-tracking.