Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!aurs01!whitcomb From: whitcomb@aurs01.UUCP (Jonathan Whitcomb) Newsgroups: comp.music Subject: Re: WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS NEWSGROUP? Message-ID: <59924@aurs01.UUCP> Date: 15 Jun 91 14:25:50 GMT References: <9106120249.AA20142@lilac.berkeley.edu> <1871@culhua.prg.ox.ac.uk> <2100@anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu> Sender: news@aurs01.UUCP Reply-To: whitcomb@aurw08.UUCP (Jonathan Whitcomb) Organization: Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh NC Lines: 76 The answer to that question is that the group has gotten more interesting because of it's diversity. In article <2100@anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu> sandell@ils.nwu.edu (Greg Sandell) writes: >In article <1871@culhua.prg.ox.ac.uk>, sdpage@prg.ox.ac.uk (Stephen Page) writes: >> However, I would add that I am thinking of turning off this gateway, as >> I am getting very fed up with throwing out messages on synthesizers. After all, hitting the "n" key is so very time consuming! >Sigh. It would be very sad if this newsgroup went away, especially due >to the traffic from synth-heads. I'm giving some thought to some grass-roots >action here. Every synth posting I see (that doesn't belong under this >group's charter), I write back and ask them to post on rec.music.synth >instead, and if their site doesn't have it, complain to their SysAdmin! >Anyone want to join me? Well, perhaps if you posted the charter regularly people would stay closer to your original intent. As it stands, a newcomer sees a group called "comp.music", which would seem to invite discussion on all topics concerning computers and music. Synthesis is certainly one of them. Discussion of the best computer platforms for music software and commercial music software packages would seem very logical to someone who hasn't seen a charter to tell him otherwise. >> What has happened to all the good people who promised summaries of articles >> they had read, conference discussions, etc., on the original aims? This sounds dangerously like a value judgement about the quality of people who post about different subjects. "Good people" post about the mythical "original aims" and "Synth heads" are trespassing with their discussion. Folks, this is not a heavily posted group! With between 10 and 25 postings a day, it really doesn't take much time to weed out the articles that don't interest you. I didn't see any complaints about the perpetual "perfect pitch" thread (which quickly degraded into a bragging session) that had nothing to do with computers and music after the first few postings. It seems that only certain topics are offensive to you. If it really is so important to have an exclusive topic, than why not start up a new, moderated group with a name that more accurately reflects your interests? Synthesizers are tools that allow people to explore computer generated music at it's most intimate level. Sure, folks might start out just playing back the preset sounds, but tools such as patch editors allow them to learn about waveforms and envelopes and all of the basic building blocks of computer generated music. Many sequencer programs also include tools that invite experimentation with algorithmic composition. Perhaps by allowing the "synth heads" to partake in the discussions, they will become interested in some of the more "serious" topics that you are interested in, and perhaps even you might learn how these tools can help you experiment with your interests. >It's ironic. You set up a newsgroup for researchers, but researchers >don't have a whole lot of time for the net. I'll bet alot of us read >comp.music and have ideas but are too busy composing, experimenting, doing >DSP or whatever to draft a thoughtful posting. Every day I see something >I'd love to followup on, but if I want to get my dissertation done by >December... Are you saying that you'd rather see no postings at all rather than postings you're not interested in? When the traffic starts to get out of control, you might have a beef, but for now it sounds mostly like non-constructive, petty territorial griping. Computers and music encompass a wide area. By naming the group comp.music you implicitly invited a wide range of discussion. Why not learn to appreciate and enjoy more of the aspects this involves rather than get yourself all worked up about having your private party crashed. ********************************************************************** Jonathan Whitcomb UUCP: Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh, NC Delphi: JBWHIT