Talk:Robot Rock (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Songs, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to songs on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.
Start	This article has been rated as start-Class on the assessment scale.

[edit] Weasel words

I edited this one to remove some weasling POV - it insinuated that Daft Punk had somehow been deceitful/plagaristic in their use of the Breakwater sample ("borderline theft"). This is daft (ahem), since Breakwater's Kae Williams is given a songwriting credit on the record sleeve, and also the sample acknowledgement is printed - thus the whole thing is cleary done through the normal industry publishing and sample-clearing channels, with nothing underhand or deceptive about it.--feline1 23:31, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

Thank you for your contribution. I clarified the issue by adding info on the clearance mentioned in the liner notes. Just64helpin 16:28, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Oscillator sync

I'm sorry, but it's ridiculous to say that noting the Breakwater riff uses an "oscillator sync" sound constitutes "original research". It's quite unambiguous to anyone familiar with analogue synths - no "research" needs to be done, any more than we can all say that Derek and the Domino's "Layla" features a guitar solo, or that Beethoven's 5th was played by an orchestra! There is no possible other plausible type of analogue synth sound which could be making that noise! (You do accept it is umambiguously an analogue synth, yes? And not a clarinet, harpichord, or set of bagpipes?) Please do not revert this again.--feline1 20:34, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm not going to entertain this. I've made changes that more specifically state that it sounds like (not certifiably is) whatever instrument you happen to think it is. Just64helpin 20:47, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

With all due disrespect, you clearly have little clue what you're writing about. Your replacement phrase is badly written and inaccurate - the phrase "sounds like an oscillating synth" barely makes sense and isn't a proper description. The timbre feature is a classic analogue synth sound, which employs two VCOs, once "synced" to the other, but modulated to give that searing timbre. It's standard terminology on pretty much every synth that employed the technique (eg ARP Odyssey)

It remains uncited from a reliable publication either way. Since you claim to be expert on the subject, why not report the information on "Release The Beast" to a reputable source of information? You certainly seem to have the time to do so. Just64helpin 17:54, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

It doesn't require citation, as it is clearly audible. There is not one single credible alternative for what it could be, and you, I imagine, are certainly not about to suggest one (timpani? glockenspiel? Spanish guitar and introducing acoustic guitar? kazoo??). There are no publications from "reliable experts" who list what type of synth sounds are used in pop records anyways!? Please just accept your own ignorance in the matter! "Oscillator sync" is a well known analogue synth technique (which is why there is even a wikipedia page on it) and it sounds distinctive enough to recognise when one hears it. Your other use of terminology is also rather eccentric. Why use the term "ensemble" to describe the riff? And "interpolation" is a mathematical term, quite an odd choice of word when what you mean is "they used a sample". The sleeve notes don't "document the clearance of the sample" - they give a songwriter credit, and copyright credit for the inclusion of the sample.--feline1 20:51, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

There are in fact publications and articles such as this which attempt to break down and analyze elements in popular music. What I asked isn't as nonsensical as you might think. Just64helpin 21:39, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

Yeah sure, and other magazines such as http://www.soundonsound.com sometimes do a whole article on a particular track. But it's not like I have declared what model of synth Breakwater original used (obviously, we could not know that for sure without an interview with them). I am just noting the generic type of analogue synth patch employed. It's as unambiguous as the article's use of the phrase "guitar power chords" (unless you'd like a citation for that as well?)--feline1 10:30, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

LOL - had to laugh at the quote from Stylus magazine - "a plastic guitar riff" - so much for citing professionals - it's not a guitar riff, it's a synth riff (using oscillator sync).