This is an absolutely fascinating short essay of the forty year old 1-4 bar drum loop that is probably the most heard and utilized bit of recorded audio EVER. It spawned full genres of music and can be heard every few minutes somewhere on the radio or television.

It's a bit of a tragic story.

The presentation of this mini essay is hypnotic, but if you want to really gain an insight into the real world impact of sampling and digital recording.

If you have 15 or 20 minutes, check it out:

VIDEO

This was brought to my attention by Mr. Bunny Knutson, MP and HC moderator and ringtone creator extraordinaire.

Sounds fascinating, right up my alley, but daunting on dial-up.
My loss. Perhaps overnight...

Thanks, though.

Peace,

wraub

That is so cool it hurts.

I agree, that was an interesting piece. It's amazing sometimes how something like that becomes ubiquitous. Thanks for posting that link.

Take the time to watch this presentation. It is completely fascinating.

OT on the OT, but I just wanted to say that the advert in 09's signature line is very, very funny indeed.

My dial-up says no.

Bummer, sounds like fine viewing.

Peace,

wraub

dcr, are you Melbourne Australia or Melbourne Fl? the reason I ask is I grew up in Melbourne Florida.

There's another interesting lecture by the same artist on his site: Nate Harrison\'s Webpage . Click on "bassline bassline" for his story of the Roland TB-303.

I say lecture because his videos are beyond boring while his words are interesting.

He likes the word "fetishization", which I'm not even sure is an actual word.

While he's at it:

Why did the sound of two instruments invented by Leo Fender (the Stratocaster and the Precision) become ubiquitous? Why did the Fender Twin become the amp sound that every boutique amp since has tried to emulate? Why is the most popular electric keyboard patch used on almost any recording these days some version of the Fender Rhodes?

I sense some sort of conspiracy here.

When will someone invent something new which changes the dominant paradigm?

(Finally, I have managed to use "paradigm" in a sentence!)

That TB-303 documentary is what got me to his pages in the first place. It's also really cool.

I wish there was more stuff like this on television and the Internet. I just saw a show on the DIY channel about FirstAct. They not only make instruments for Toys R Us...they are a first rate custom luthier, and I mean custom. You don't start with a set of basic designs. Every guitar and bass is from the ground up. The show had them building a guitar for Los Lonely Boys.

There's also a documentary of Robert Moog that was recently released, and I'm awaiting the F Bass documentary (I believe Adrian is actually in that one).

Hey Wraub, can I snail mail it on CD-ROM for you? PM me your address.

PM sent...

Peace,

wraub

Very cool listening. Thanks zero9.