Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Linux and Music Composition

Posted by timothy on from the notes-in-a-row dept.

bigattichouse writes "'On music, computers, creativity, A.I., and GNU/Linux with Greg Wilder' The folks at ileriseviye.org recently arranged an interview with Greg Wilder that covers a wide spectrum of music and computer related topics, including open-source software, computer music courses, computers and the creative process, artificial intelligence, and improvisation. The interview was primarily intended for a Turkish speaking audience, but you can read a complete English version here"

14 comments

  1. Best quote by micromoog · · Score: 1
    From the good doctor:

    At least 95% of my professional musical work takes place in a GNU/Linux environment. In my estimation, GNU/Linux is absolutely the most suitable platform for people interested in having access to the greatest number of creative options. Generally speaking, the majority of commercially available music software produced for MS Windows is designed for the quick and easy production of American popular music. By definition this means that the software is created in such a way that important musical decisions have been pre-made for the user. Many times, the user isn't even aware that this is happening - if the option is never presented to you how can you miss it?

    This is absolutely brilliant. Linux tools are harder to learn, in the same sense that the violin is harder to learn than the tambourine.

    1. Re:Best quote by BinLadenMyHero · · Score: 1

      True, but quick and simple tools are also valuable.
      I'm a newbie in this area, but I miss something straighforward like Fruit Loops, on which I created a (rather bad) song using only unedited Quake 3 sounds.

      In fact, I tried many Linux trackers, but Fruit Loops was the only one I was able to easely understand and use, though I have not tried really hard.

    2. Re:Best quote by chochos · · Score: 1

      The problem is, once you learn to play the violin, you want to focus on that. If learning to record your music in Linux is going to be as hard as having learned to play it, it won't be attractive. Perhaps the Linux music tools should by default be simple like the Windows apps, but should let the user modify all those hidden options once they're comfortable with the basic use of the program. Take an Apple-like approach to those tools. I've used GarageBand and have never read any manual, and it's very simple, yet you can do cool stuff like play around with the software synth generators to get weird sounds different from the pre-programmed ones. And it has an API so you can even write your own plugins. Reminds me of Aphex Twin. I read an interview with him somewhere, and it said that the guy writes his own software for sequencing, looping, and doing some other weird stuff.

      --
      Go hug some trees.
    3. Re:Best quote by sevinkey · · Score: 1

      not linux, but http://www.renoise.com/ is a great tracker. Old school retrofitted to the new technology.

  2. Need a notation program by bach37 · · Score: 1

    We need something like Sibelius in Linux. I would in fact pay for a Linux version of Sibelius (I've emailed and told the company that). And no- Note Edit or Rosegarden are not notation programs. Saying so is as ridiculous as saying pico is a Linux equivalent of MS Word.

    You can make and edit electronic music on Linux, Mac, or Windows (which is what this guy does it looks like). But for notation: only Mac or Windows unfortunately.

    1. Re:Need a notation program by micromoog · · Score: 1

      Have you looked at Lilypond?

    2. Re:Need a notation program by andfarm · · Score: 1

      Lilypond + denemo = notation happiness. (Lilypond is like LaTeX for music.)

      --

      TANSTAAFI: There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free iPod.

    3. Re:Need a notation program by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lispers working on that score editor front: http://dept-info.labri.fr/~strandh/Projects/Gsharp /

  3. no, a REAL notation program by bach37 · · Score: 1

    I mean something like this. You can't compare Lilypond or others to Sibelius. It's just like me saying I use Adobe Photoshop for my profession, and someone replying to say, "Have you tried Mario Paint?"

    1. Re:no, a REAL notation program by divbyzero · · Score: 1

      Sibelius provides a GUI-based interface for complex music notation. Lilypond provides a non-GUI-based interface for similarly complex music notation. Different users respond better to different types of interfaces. That shouldn't imply any sort of value judgement.

      (That said, I find Lilypond's syntax awkward and its list of dependencies excessive, but those issues have nothing to do with its level of power and sophistication when it comes to notation.)

      --
      But my grandest creation, as history will tell,
      Was Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell.
    2. Re:no, a REAL notation program by bach37 · · Score: 1

      its level of power and sophistication when it comes to notation.

      I'm sure, but you are still comparing pico to MS Word, or Mario Paint to Photoshop.

    3. Re:no, a REAL notation program by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think Adobe Acrobat to LaTeX would be a better comparison.

    4. Re:no, a REAL notation program by micromoog · · Score: 1

      Oh, I see. You're here to bitch, not to learn. The appropriate venue for this discussion is here.

  4. Gobble Gobble by Scaba · · Score: 1
    The interview was primarily intended for a Turkish speaking audience...

    And just in time for Thanksgiving!