The free $1000 techno machines
I sometimes don't like to admit it, but I am nostalgic. I
like 80s music, old type computer games (Street Fighter,
Defender..come on!) and classic techno making machines.
Why?
I think they forged through and made todays music what it
is. Machines like the TB303, TR909, JD800 and the famous Moog-
what an effect they have made on dance and techno music! The
rise in popularity of techno, i.e, with the makers and in the
audience, was down to the cool sounds and the general
compatability (sound wise) between the machines were the key.
In some cases limited numbers were made and the increase in
popularity only meant two things. 1) An increase in the
same old songs, rehashed versions that sounded similar in
everyway, and 2) The price went into overdrive. Machines
like the TB303 were selling for silly money. This trend is still
being seen today. You can buy one of these machines for between
$600-$1000.
And why?
The old favourite answers are "because you can see the lights
moving", "Its just great twisting those dials"- and so on. This
is where to me nostalgia stops, especially when you want to make
techno. Sure they were great sounding machines, sure if you
didn't have their sounds in your music you were classed as old
fashoined...but for $1000!
This isn't ravings from a person who never had one at all. I
have a Roland MC202. I love the little box of tricks. The little
rubber keyboard is novel and the sliders are cool. However, once
all the fiddling is out of the way. Once you have gone
oooOOhhh...there isn't really anything left. Thats the problem
for me.
Once the coolness has worn off, you have to go through extra
work to hook it up into your set-up. Do you sample the loops off
the machine? Do you buy a synch box? Do you MIDIfy it (costing
extra cash)? I don't mean to be all doom and gloom, and if you
do have one, keep it- they are cool to work with. But if you
don't...well, look at the other options.
There are two great alternatives out there in Internet land that
can help us out.
1) Sample sites. Nowadays they house great sample loops,
and single hit sounds from the various machines. Housed in
sample packs, you will notice that the sounds sound similar to
each other because the sampler has twisted the dial a little and
then sampled the sound. Now you have loads of sounds altered
slightly. These are pretty cool. The only problem is that
you get the samplers idea of a good sample. Also you don't get
all the dials being twisted together- too restricted. However as
a free source of nostalgic sounds they can't be beat.
So we have identified one sound source (for free), however we
have also noticed some problems- a lack of freedom, and
because we are a creative bunch, we have to find another way.
2) VSTs. Wow, what a revolution to the music world. A
fantastic resource that should help musicians who are looking to
make music with little, or no cash. VSTs are either effects
(like distortion) or they are some sort of music sounding device
(like synths (called softsynths), drum machines etc). Some are
stand alone programs, or some need a host program. The most well
known softsynth has got to be Rebirth, the TB303 and
TR909 emulator. It is really cool, emulating the machines really
well, however, the best thing about this softsynth is that it is
free. Now there are plenty of VSTs out there that are
free, offering great synth sounds or great effects.
The possibility of sound creation using VSTs has now become
infinite. The actual sound of the sounds has become endless, so
now there should be unique sounding musics out there. Are there
any disadvantages? Well not really. Some sound the same, and
some of the pay for ones are expensive, they are cool, but too
expensive.
So what you can do, is add VSTs together, add an effect
plug-in over a synth VST. The cool thing is. Nostalgic sounds
can be processed through these plug-ins to bring them more
up-to-date, and to add a flavour of your desire.
So, going back to our original question do we need a $1000
techno machine. Well as every diplomat states, yes and no. If
I had a TR909 I would keep it, sample it, and then add VST
effects to give the sounds more spice, because they are good, no
doubt, but music moves on and you have to follow. If I didn't
have a TR909 I wouldn't be upset, I would search out the
samples from the various sample sites, add again the VST effects
and get the sound that I want...for free.
If you have a low budget (or no budget), there are now no
obsicles to stop you recreating those sounds that make your
music sound like it was made with a $1000+ set-up.