I think Tucker Carlson said something along the lines, if I cannot smell it, it may be fake. In today's digital age, AI can create sounds and images. The only way to know if something is real anymore is whether it has an odour or not. Live imperfect music is so different from anything created in a studio.
Also when CD came out the mixing was horrible with too much treble and bass turned up to trick people as if a CD was way better.
Another pet peeve, freaking zoom calls have horrible audio, and you can't blame the connection because video looks fine. It's like they're stingy with the audio codec, even though CD quality audio would use a tiny fraction of the useless video feed...
So true, every direct connection between us is being severed where possible. What surprised me was people even submitted to the no handshake con. I never stopped and while there was the odd surprise was never turned down. Perhaps it was the look in my eye, I don't know.
Thanks for everything Doc and compliments of the season.
I can learn so much by the way a person shakes my hand. We still do it here, but you are correct it is being done less and less. Hugs to do seem to be back in style.
Love your literary style Doc. I didn't realize just how fake it had all become. They can stick their Metaverse right up their exhaust, I loathe and detest lies, half truths and anything fake. Only truth and reality will preserve our sanity. Our connection with free nature is our only hope, the birds and the bees and trees, and most importantly our true honest companions. Resistance is not futile, that was a lie too.
Oh my gosh you are so spot on! So many of my friends use streaming as a source of their music. I cannot stand it, it just doesn't sound right. It is tainted music. You have provided a missing link for me. I miss the days of a crackling album on the turntable. On Sunday afternoon I listen to an old time radio show, the purity of the music is why I love the program.
One of my other peeves is when "artists" playing live use their phones or other such devices to read the lyrics, it is nothing more than glorified karaoke w/live guitar, but it seems to become standard practice w/pub musicians these days. They are too lazy to learn and memorize a song. And none of them seem to no longer have the ability to play by ear. It is weird I don't mind a cheat sheet of paper, but I despise the device thing. Watching them pause and scroll drives me nuts.
I have a friend that knows well over a thousand plus songs by heart, that is what I grew up with. You holler out what you want to hear and he sings it, and yeah, he might miss a word, or mess up a line, but it is real, it is genuine, and it is live. More and more I feel blessed to have grown up when I did.
Apparently, Milli Vanilli were ahead of their time!
Scary ... Toys that come alive.
I have seen photoshopped images, rather primitively done at the time, but still generally believable enough, that showed exultant crowds greeting nazi invaders. Imagine the confusion and damage those images were responsible for!
What I have been noticing now, is that computer-generated imagery is getting more lifelike and I find this disturbing because inevitably the time will come when created images will serve not as entertainment but as propaganda to convince us that something artificial is real. All these tools, CGI, pitch correction, image filtering, are types of theft because they manipulate and damage the art of the creative imagination. They steal what is human and true and replace it with nonexistence. Ironically, it all started with a crude rendition of Mickey Mouse. Still at it and perfecting it, are various subdivisions of the Walt Disney Company, for example, Pixar, now a Disney affiliate, but created by George Lucas and Steve Jobs, who never guessed to what ends their inventions may be used.
A profound observation ... you are right on! When the deceptive artificial becomes more real than reality and we're immersed in a confection we will be done for. But those of us who refuse to will buy it survive.
Thank you soo much. I first read this on Global Research. I have been transcended by the early recordings of Montserrat Caballe…was deep into the study of Pranayama and Kriya at our studio 2019, disappearing into Shakuhachi and the sax of Pharaoh Sanders…bathed in the breath of Brahma…I can give examples all day long, but could the skam/mask of all skams be more obvious? Could it be more profane? The assault on the essence of the Atman and the sacrilege of res/spirito sanctity. Let’s conspire or breathe together unhindered friends and sweet brothers and sisters.
and thank you so much for your very kind and much appreciated words here! They make all the difference -- one always wonders when writing what will 'strike a chord' ...
Cheers Manny, nice way to start the day. I saw Steely Dan, the ultimate studio band, live about ten years ago. They were proof that great songs and superb musicianship cannot be faked
I love your article. I’ve been nauseated by the decade long trend towards pop music written by algorithms and now it’s worse than ever.
Speaking of Caruso, many years ago a record label named Nimbus issued Caruso’s early recordings, with a twist. Finding electronic playback of his mechanical recordings inherently flawed, they sought out the best records and constructed an acoustic playback rig complete with a “high end” low resonance horn from the period and cactus needles. They placed the rig in an acoustically superior space and recorded it in stereo as they would a live trio or quartet. A high end audio journal covered their method. Apparently the result was as profound as you describe your experience.
As a matter of fact I’m heading off to see if a CD is available by a reseller right now!
BTW, I recall Nimbus took the CD 1644 digital format seriously enough to use custom gear for best results and they were well received in audio circles.
thank you so much for this, your kind words and observations ... yes, I used cactus needles on my victrola and I DO remember those Nimbus CDs! Much appreciated!!
I think Tucker Carlson said something along the lines, if I cannot smell it, it may be fake. In today's digital age, AI can create sounds and images. The only way to know if something is real anymore is whether it has an odour or not. Live imperfect music is so different from anything created in a studio.
thank you, I agree!
Also when CD came out the mixing was horrible with too much treble and bass turned up to trick people as if a CD was way better.
Another pet peeve, freaking zoom calls have horrible audio, and you can't blame the connection because video looks fine. It's like they're stingy with the audio codec, even though CD quality audio would use a tiny fraction of the useless video feed...
Audio engineers suck these days.
yes, I've noticed the same about zoom audio ... trying different mikes hasn't solved my problems with it
Oh, yeah, there's some settings like normalize audio or auto gain or auto volume that can mess it up on other apps,
I just checked zoom on my Android phone and there's an option in settings -- meetings called "use original audio" which can help too in some cases.
Perhaps the System want clear visual angles of us, they've captured our voices in full audio clarity via our cellular monitoring devices.
So true, every direct connection between us is being severed where possible. What surprised me was people even submitted to the no handshake con. I never stopped and while there was the odd surprise was never turned down. Perhaps it was the look in my eye, I don't know.
Thanks for everything Doc and compliments of the season.
I can learn so much by the way a person shakes my hand. We still do it here, but you are correct it is being done less and less. Hugs to do seem to be back in style.
thank you and keep shaking hands: it's a litmus test, isn't it? The elbow bump doesn't do it for me ........
Seek out live music.
It's got goose bump character.
And, yes try singing in the shower for starters.
Maybe dance a little too.
But don't record it and don't *share* it online.
We've had enough of things *going viral*. Lol
Merry Christmas with jingle bells.
But they are even autotuning live music so we have to be vigilant ... happy holidays!
St.Andrews on The Terrace and St.Paul's have real people playing real music. Often lunchtimes.
Don't tell Melodyne!
We are well on our way to the world of 1984, with computer written and produced books and songs for the proles
yes indeed ... unless we stop it, unless we stop it somehow
Bravo, Doctor!
thank you!
Love your literary style Doc. I didn't realize just how fake it had all become. They can stick their Metaverse right up their exhaust, I loathe and detest lies, half truths and anything fake. Only truth and reality will preserve our sanity. Our connection with free nature is our only hope, the birds and the bees and trees, and most importantly our true honest companions. Resistance is not futile, that was a lie too.
beautifully put, thank you so very much! Yes, resistance is NOT futile! Hang tough.
Everything is so fake
Soulless
From the food we eat
To the faces we see
The news we hear
On TV
It's factory farming
Lab grown meat
Autotunes
It's lousy cheap
Plastic fantastic
Silicone tits
Lip fillers
Tossed in pits
And floating out
In the Pacific sea
On garbage islands
Of misery
very nicely done, Conrad, thank you!
Oh my gosh you are so spot on! So many of my friends use streaming as a source of their music. I cannot stand it, it just doesn't sound right. It is tainted music. You have provided a missing link for me. I miss the days of a crackling album on the turntable. On Sunday afternoon I listen to an old time radio show, the purity of the music is why I love the program.
One of my other peeves is when "artists" playing live use their phones or other such devices to read the lyrics, it is nothing more than glorified karaoke w/live guitar, but it seems to become standard practice w/pub musicians these days. They are too lazy to learn and memorize a song. And none of them seem to no longer have the ability to play by ear. It is weird I don't mind a cheat sheet of paper, but I despise the device thing. Watching them pause and scroll drives me nuts.
I have a friend that knows well over a thousand plus songs by heart, that is what I grew up with. You holler out what you want to hear and he sings it, and yeah, he might miss a word, or mess up a line, but it is real, it is genuine, and it is live. More and more I feel blessed to have grown up when I did.
Remember back in the day when artists would catch flack for lip syncing? This takes that to a whole new level.
exactly!!!!!
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
autotune was invented to habituate listeners to computer-generated "music"
hollywood films increasingly rely on deepfakery instead of live actors
ultimately the game plan is to computerize not only the arts but law, medicine, agriculture, childrearing and all other aspects of human existence.
obviously that's a sci-fi fantasy and could never work, but in the meantime we are inundated with digital versions of alvin & the chipmunks.
for extra laughs, check out microsoft songsmith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oGFogwcx-E
Green screens. Ugh.
Apparently, Milli Vanilli were ahead of their time!
Scary ... Toys that come alive.
I have seen photoshopped images, rather primitively done at the time, but still generally believable enough, that showed exultant crowds greeting nazi invaders. Imagine the confusion and damage those images were responsible for!
What I have been noticing now, is that computer-generated imagery is getting more lifelike and I find this disturbing because inevitably the time will come when created images will serve not as entertainment but as propaganda to convince us that something artificial is real. All these tools, CGI, pitch correction, image filtering, are types of theft because they manipulate and damage the art of the creative imagination. They steal what is human and true and replace it with nonexistence. Ironically, it all started with a crude rendition of Mickey Mouse. Still at it and perfecting it, are various subdivisions of the Walt Disney Company, for example, Pixar, now a Disney affiliate, but created by George Lucas and Steve Jobs, who never guessed to what ends their inventions may be used.
Enjoy Milli Vanilli, singing "Girl you know it's true" or is it "Girl you know it's fake, all fake." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVSUEQWbygo
A profound observation ... you are right on! When the deceptive artificial becomes more real than reality and we're immersed in a confection we will be done for. But those of us who refuse to will buy it survive.
Thank you soo much. I first read this on Global Research. I have been transcended by the early recordings of Montserrat Caballe…was deep into the study of Pranayama and Kriya at our studio 2019, disappearing into Shakuhachi and the sax of Pharaoh Sanders…bathed in the breath of Brahma…I can give examples all day long, but could the skam/mask of all skams be more obvious? Could it be more profane? The assault on the essence of the Atman and the sacrilege of res/spirito sanctity. Let’s conspire or breathe together unhindered friends and sweet brothers and sisters.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sinatana/p/strain-out-the-gnat-and-gulp-down?r=zickz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you for a lovely, deeply affecting essay, Dr. Garcia. I wholeheartedly agree.
and thank you so much for your very kind and much appreciated words here! They make all the difference -- one always wonders when writing what will 'strike a chord' ...
Cheers Manny, nice way to start the day. I saw Steely Dan, the ultimate studio band, live about ten years ago. They were proof that great songs and superb musicianship cannot be faked
Thank you, Keith!
Fascinating.
I love your article. I’ve been nauseated by the decade long trend towards pop music written by algorithms and now it’s worse than ever.
Speaking of Caruso, many years ago a record label named Nimbus issued Caruso’s early recordings, with a twist. Finding electronic playback of his mechanical recordings inherently flawed, they sought out the best records and constructed an acoustic playback rig complete with a “high end” low resonance horn from the period and cactus needles. They placed the rig in an acoustically superior space and recorded it in stereo as they would a live trio or quartet. A high end audio journal covered their method. Apparently the result was as profound as you describe your experience.
As a matter of fact I’m heading off to see if a CD is available by a reseller right now!
BTW, I recall Nimbus took the CD 1644 digital format seriously enough to use custom gear for best results and they were well received in audio circles.
Thanks so much for putting this issue into words
thank you so much for this, your kind words and observations ... yes, I used cactus needles on my victrola and I DO remember those Nimbus CDs! Much appreciated!!