Boards of Canada and why you’ll never come close with a iPad.

bygjohn

I fell for the clickbait title, too. Will have a look at that documentary later, hopefully.

Interestingly (or maybe not, I dunno…) I’ve only heard one album by BOC, which turns out to be The Campfire Headphase (had to check my iTunes to see what it was). My partner ordered two by accident and gave it to me. I found it instantly forgettable, but reading the comments above I should probably listen to some of their other stuff.

Similarly I’ve only heard the odd track of Aphex Twin, so I’m obviously not one of those who regard these artists as two of a holy trinity. Eno, yes, though I’ve not heard that much of his more recent output.

Definitely agree that trying to sound like someone else is largely futile, unless you’re in a tribute band (in which case, fair enough, but they aren’t my cup of tea). But everyone has their influences, whatever they do, and they often show. Particularly while you’re finding out how you want to use a new instrument or whatever.

And I also agree that BOC using an iPad would sound like BOC. It’s never about the tools, always about the artist.

This ends up being a version of the zillion discussions we’ve had over the years about whether or not you can make “professional” music (whatever that is) on an iPad/iphone. Depends what you’re aiming at, but I’m of the opinion (YMMV) that most musicians could make something interesting with a couple of sticks and a dictaphone if that was all that was available (NB hyperbole warning). It may be different to what they’d do with a room full of expensive kit, or whatever, but creativity is creativity. In the words of that tape loop piece on the first Yazoo album: force the tools available.

Jakob Haq did a recent video on this, not restricting your creativity by fetishising a certain technology. Specifically not rejecting apps because they aren’t AUv3 in that case, but the theme is more general than that.

So, to conclude my ramblings, you’re not going to get close to sounding like BOC on an iPad, but not because of the iPad, but because you aren’t BOC.

colorsinspace

Funny I was just browsing the Elektron forum and saw this..

https://www.elektronauts.com/t/where-have-the-boys-from-boards-of-canada-gone/156595/363

colorsinspace

and yeah sorry about the clickbait. I firmly believe we all could make a great album using an iPad only these days. It’s crazy how amazing the apps have come. Even without Logic Pro. Cmon Ableton give us Live on a iPad…

dendy

Most of people are failing to understand that speciffic “sound” of given band / musician is not about particular gear they use, bur just about their methods, workflows, their vision of music, their knowledge. Like Ricky Tines is saying “Knowledge is power”. There is always multiple ways to get identical result in music, do not fix too much on gear used by your facourite musician It’s never about gear.

Gavinski

@dendy said:
Most of people are failing to understand that speciffic “sound” of given band / musician is not about particular gear they use, bur just about their methods, workflows, their vision of music, their knowledge. Like Ricky Tines is saying “Knowledge is power”. There is always multiple ways to get identical result in music, do not fix too much on gear used by your facourite musician It’s never about gear.

Amen. And yet people keep wasting huge amounts of money, huuuge amounts, because they have bought into this idea. It's kinda tragic.

colorsinspace

@Gavinski said:

@dendy said:
Most of people are failing to understand that speciffic “sound” of given band / musician is not about particular gear they use, bur just about their methods, workflows, their vision of music, their knowledge. Like Ricky Tines is saying “Knowledge is power”. There is always multiple ways to get identical result in music, do not fix too much on gear used by your facourite musician It’s never about gear.

Amen. And yet people keep wasting huge amounts of money, huuuge amounts, because they have bought into this idea. It's kinda tragic.

well that’s a whole other subject. I went down the rabbit hole with Eurorack for a while.

id_23

@Gavinski said:

Maybe it's better when you're stoned,
>
All music sounds better when you’re stoned!!!😂

Stuntman_mike

Following artist gear explains why so much music sounds the same lol

Blipsford_Baubie

@id_23 said:

@Gavinski said:

Maybe it's better when you're stoned,
>
All music sounds better when you’re stoned!!!😂

It’s so true. It doesn’t even have to be actual music to sound like music. One time, I spent a couple hours sculpting a snare. Eager to listen the next day, to my disappointment it sounded like a fart. That’s when I decided to stop. Too much of a hindrance for me.

MrStochastic

@Slush said:

@cyberheater said:

@Stuntman_mike said:
We are all unique, BE YOU 💯

This should be mandatory to look at before you can become a member here.

😄

HotStrange

@Gavinski said:

@dendy said:
Most of people are failing to understand that speciffic “sound” of given band / musician is not about particular gear they use, bur just about their methods, workflows, their vision of music, their knowledge. Like Ricky Tines is saying “Knowledge is power”. There is always multiple ways to get identical result in music, do not fix too much on gear used by your facourite musician It’s never about gear.

Amen. And yet people keep wasting huge amounts of money, huuuge amounts, because they have bought into this idea. It's kinda tragic.

For sure. It’s one thing to spend money on your hobby but there are people who can’t pay their bills or afford to do anything else from spending thousands and thousands of dollars on gear year after year. At some point it’s gotta end lol

Raggamuffin73

Listened to a fair amount of it. Not my cup of tea. Lots of same note droning and random drum fills.. but its well made ..

Fingolfinzz

@colorsinspace said:

@Gavinski said:

@dendy said:
Most of people are failing to understand that speciffic “sound” of given band / musician is not about particular gear they use, bur just about their methods, workflows, their vision of music, their knowledge. Like Ricky Tines is saying “Knowledge is power”. There is always multiple ways to get identical result in music, do not fix too much on gear used by your facourite musician It’s never about gear.

Amen. And yet people keep wasting huge amounts of money, huuuge amounts, because they have bought into this idea. It's kinda tragic.

well that’s a whole other subject. I went down the rabbit hole with Eurorack for a while.

Eurorack takes a lot of discipline for sure. I’ve managed to keep mine to 1 3u 84hp rack and 1 1u rack and then lots and lots of constant resistance

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

@cyberheater said:

@Stuntman_mike said:
We are all unique, BE YOU 💯

echoopera

This band is so sacred to me. Love everything they've done.

cramdog

-I personally feel BoC-ishness(?) in BASS presets folder of moog Model 15 app. More accurately, I feel Roygbiv-ishness.
-Am I posting the video below because I am hoping that the subliminal—or supraliminal—effect will cause people to buy AudioKit’s new app NERD SYNTH A2X? (Who nords?)

echoopera

In honor of BOC; https://on.soundcloud.com/jD21iBAxWtsBhNNEA

Antos3345

I think it’s all very possible. An iPad now is basically the same chipset as in the new MacBook Pro. Anyway, with this cpu power, processing and effects are at one’s disposal. I think with even knowing how to use proper saturation and using creativity, anything is possible. There are so many creative sound tools for the iPad, The main tool also is your mindset. I think if you’re a Drambo master, that’s all you need. Also, BOĆ uses loads of effects and tape loops.

BroCoast

@Antos3345 said:
Also, BOĆ uses loads of effects and tape loops.

That’s really the difficult part, other than the high level of skill.

@Gavinski said:

@dendy said:
Most of people are failing to understand that speciffic “sound” of given band / musician is not about particular gear they use, bur just about their methods, workflows, their vision of music, their knowledge. Like Ricky Tines is saying “Knowledge is power”. There is always multiple ways to get identical result in music, do not fix too much on gear used by your facourite musician It’s never about gear.

Amen. And yet people keep wasting huge amounts of money, huuuge amounts, because they have bought into this idea. It's kinda tragic.

Hmm, I have bought all the gear I have because I heard it on a record and wanted that sound. Is that wasting money?

I think the most important thing for music is development. If you’re just buying gear and not developing then that can be very bad.

On the topic of sounding like BOC or anyone else. The easiest way to do that is to drag a track into the DAW and start imitating. The last 10% is having the actual gear.

Stuntman_mike

@echoopera said:
In honor of BOC; https://on.soundcloud.com/jD21iBAxWtsBhNNEA

Dope!

kirmesteggno

@Gavinski said:

@dendy said:
Most of people are failing to understand that speciffic “sound” of given band / musician is not about particular gear they use, bur just about their methods, workflows, their vision of music, their knowledge. Like Ricky Tines is saying “Knowledge is power”. There is always multiple ways to get identical result in music, do not fix too much on gear used by your facourite musician It’s never about gear.

Amen. And yet people keep wasting huge amounts of money, huuuge amounts, because they have bought into this idea. It's kinda tragic.

Samples and creative layering and filtering of different texures play a much bigger role to achieve great results than most people think. Many non modular synths fall short in this regard and don't offer ways to layer custom samples between oscillator and amp envelope.

It's also striking how close visual arts/design are to audio when it comes to the general concept of layering and feel. If you know how you can get good results with blend modes, layers and filters in Photoshop you can use that knowledge for audio production as well.

Danny_Mammy

like many hobbies or art, what is overlooked quite a bit is the process, meaning how you interact with the tools.

Playing with real tape, synths that only half work, a guitar with that special neck, a broken guitar or amp that you fix yourself. its a different experience than working on an iPad.

i paint and some paints actually give a more joyful experience to me than others. unfortunately, the paint i love is pretty expensive and i could just use a cheaper paint but then i don't have the same experience. The experience will reflect on the end product.

The question isn't if an artist can make the same music on different platforms, the question is what tools gave them the most enjoyment to experience art.

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

@Danny_Mammy said:
like many hobbies or art, what is overlooked quite a bit is the process, meaning how you interact with the tools.

Playing with real tape, synths that only half work, a guitar with that special neck, a broken guitar or amp that you fix yourself. its a different experience than working on an iPad.

i paint and some paints actually give a more joyful experience to me than others. unfortunately, the paint i love is pretty expensive and i could just use a cheaper paint but then i don't have the same experience. The experience will reflect on the end product.

The question isn't if an artist can make the same music on different platforms, the question is what tools gave them the most enjoyment to experience art.

Agreed. The process is the reward. I like to play instruments with maximum expressive capabilities—which means acoustic instruments first. GeoShred and synths with a lot of knobs are a distant second in enjoyability for me.

NoncompliantBryant

@Danny_Mammy said:
like many hobbies or art, what is overlooked quite a bit is the process, meaning how you interact with the tools.

Playing with real tape, synths that only half work, a guitar with that special neck, a broken guitar or amp that you fix yourself. its a different experience than working on an iPad.

i paint and some paints actually give a more joyful experience to me than others. unfortunately, the paint i love is pretty expensive and i could just use a cheaper paint but then i don't have the same experience. The experience will reflect on the end product.

The question isn't if an artist can make the same music on different platforms, the question is what tools gave them the most enjoyment to experience art.

Very well said.

Thelast27

How random - I just watched that doco 2x days ago after searching everything I could on how to construct their sound.

This guy gets prettttttty spot on in ableton -