This dog hunts guitarists

[Me$$iah]

Heres a great vid of Jordan Rudess, showing off his Haken Continuum Controller

ClikyClik

And on this page theres an audio example of the controller being used in a recording (Dream Theaters Octivarium btw)


This looks like its great to use.

Take a look here for more unusual insuments and controllers, along with the Haken


Cheers

[bassdude]

I don't know about hunting guitarists! How does it sound with chords and fast fret work without all the effect? But an amazing controller none the less.

[hubird]

true, all of it
it's like with the early synth time area: the instrumentalists started to use them according the usual concepts (brass, bass, or even guitars etc.), then the new kids went for the pure oscillators and filters

[astroman]

is it just me...
or why do all those dudes pictured with that controller look so damn f*cking important with their kiddy stuff ?

bored, Tom

[dawman]

He's got great taste.

He is also a big MOTM fan.

I met him when he had hair back at NAMM '96 I believe. I was there to see Herbie Hancock demo the UE wireless ear monitors, and ended up at the private party that Young Chang ( Kurzweil ) threw. Jordan was doing an improv demo for the K2600. He got real touchy when he asked me how I liked the Kurzweil and I replied is the 48 voice limitation of polyphony 24 stereo voices. He replied what would you need more polyphony for? Well to play more realistic piano samples where a true sostenuto pedal can be used.

Since all of his gear was free, he had to defend his sponsor. I then said I really like your music , and thanks for a cool improv demo. I didn't want to tell him that my GEM controller had 128 voice polyphony.


It was a great show that year. Emerson played, Jordan, Herbie, Eddie Van Halen. Those were the days. I try to stay away from them anymore, especially after having Scope, what could they possibly entertain me with? Ah,..the girls from Mansion House West maybe?

The Haken is used with serious Kyma Capybara DSP guys also, they demo it very well doing real time morphing of Harley Davidson Motorcycles turning into Lions Roars and all of that real musical stuff.

[synthetic88]

I thought Rudess was a Dotcom user, not MOTM. I would be a huge Dream Theater fan if they learned how to write songs. You listen to old Genesis or Yes and there are hooks all over, not so with modern prog.

[astroman]

...but Rudess'es playing has a lot of hooks to old Genesis and Yes

to be honest I didn't know who he is when watching that clip the 1st time.
he's better on the piano than as a fake guitarist, for that I'd call his performance gimmicky.
Fortunately some of the other examples are more creative and inspiring, but it's a matter of personal taste anyway. Never mind...

[dawman]

He can play trust me.

I have had to change and comprimise many times when performing in a group.

The needs of the many outwiegh the needs of the few, or the one.........................Leanord Nimoy as Spock in Star Trek V, 1988.

[astroman]

...I have had to change and comprimise many times when performing in a group...

that same thought entered my mind considering keyboarders from a more general point of view
the man is commercially successful, so who am I to rant...

nevertheless this solo performance on the funky controller sounds really humble compared to a well-played guitar (imho)
he doesn't extend the musical scope, but rather stays below what's 'standard' for decades.
no question at all that it's an interesting controller, but it doesn't make Rudess a guitarist, even if he tries to fake it - an air-guitarist, possibly

no matter if I kid about it or not... the audience will applaude anyway

cheers, Tom