Thursday mr. Umpio was doing one of his modular synth & reaper workshops here in library of Lahti. Not NOISE per se, but abstract modular synth sound patching and editing. Having both physical modular as well as virtual one. Screen on the wall showing all things he was teaching and people sitting in their tables with their own laptops.
Most of it was explaining modular synth basic. What does what, how he likes to connect them, how connections work, useful little things to get started.
Reaper lecture wasn't something I feel I need, but it is still useful to see someone who knows the program in such detail, so show and explain some things. Earlier same day he came to my store (due being next to train station) and we were already talking about Reaper program, what are different ways to mass export separate wav files from larger project etc etc. Not really anything about noise making, but just the technical final work that speeds up the process. So clearly I have things to lear and fast & east methods to take in use.
Anyway, after the workshop / lecture was over, older man walked to check out the modular synth close and started his conversation "It warms up my engineer mind to see...". Explained to be retired engineer, who already back in 70's and 80's was interested in synthesizers and electronics music. Perspective clearly being less about "art" more about technical solutions, technical advancement, pure logic of sound creation.
I know plenty of guys who are somewhat technically oriented, but I doubt I have ever before been in situation in-person, when you hear someone with... should one say "engineer mindset", to talk about sound creation.
If one is unfamiliar what are the core properties of the engineering mindset, its easy to check out internet for quick reference. Indeed, it sounds exactly like building sound from "modular synth". hah.
I remember years ago talking with artist who had harsh noise cut up piece almost done. He insisted he needs to buy pedal that cost few hundred dollars, because it was needed for one moment in song, that would finally complete it. He knew there is a technical problem or flaw in a song, that last just few seconds, that needs to be fixed, and then its ready. At the time, I was too bound into my own ways of doing things, that I absolutely couldn't get why that couple seconds matter? Why not something else there? Why that pedal? Not that I would oppose, just wouldn't understand why noise would be something that to fix the song, you need that exact part to make it work, almost like engine missing something, and that something must be it. Or engine won't work.
Artistic approach, for me, feels more like it has very little of practical or problem solving issues. Less about breaking down complexity into manageable small pieces, rather trust the instinct & emerging vibe. Most of the time, not really knowing how something emerged, just recognizing by gut feeling that this is it.
I am not saying either approach would be better or worse, just seems different mentality. Like dude that needs that specific synth to make something. Its like solving problem of noise making with tool that he needs as opposed to just, being more focused on idea. Artistic mindset often connected with curiosity, accepting imperfections and the doing of things can be pure gamble and quality or value is measured in the end.
Sometimes its hard to even decide what it is. I remember funny moment of discussion concerning the traditional pedal chain order. Ending up in discussion where someone insist that delay must be AFTER distortion, because that's how its mean to be. When my view would be, that what if I don't want delay to echo the distorted sound, but I want sound of delay to be distorted! Who knows is this "engineer solving the problem" or "artists not giving a fuck about the rules". Nevertheless, both revealing something about creation of noise or even listening to noise.
