April 2, 2018

Bumper music: Count Basie’s Orchestra featuring Lester Young on saxophone.  Segue to Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode, borrowed from Lester, or Louis Jordan. Rarely does a truly original idea come along. We build on or repurpose others’ ideas. It’s all fun and games until someone gets a lawyer. See Bridgeport Music, Inc. vs. Dimension Films, 2005.

The technology of early audio sampling is interesting. The “Mellotron” was probably a nightmare to maintain, but performed a unique function. Next came turntable sampling, which gave way to digital samplers. Innovators in sampling concerned themselves with the mechanical “how” to sample, while nobody cared about the issue of intellectual property.

I do believe DAW software created music is indeed a lot like Wonder Bread. All the components are there, but it’s not quite right. As if going through the transporter on Star Trek, and arriving at your destination transformed as well as transported.

April 4, 2018

Class canceled today.