hi Ian,


I think stating that the project is a fundraiser will aid in understanding
the motives and aims of the Call for Works, especially in a DiY
community--Xchange & others--that has, for the most part, already done this
type of promotion via their own self-made channels, forged their own
international links, developed their own artist's centres, projects,
broadcasts.

As an independent sound-artist, I personally don't have this kind of cash,
and for me, at least, such a fee for sonic publication is an economic
barrier to becoming affiliated with the CEC.

Although I fully understand that the CEC is transparent, and, as I noted in
the previous email, I find the CEC a very open and interesting organisation
that I am glad exists, and which I support in their most basic premises, I
think it often has all the right motivations but some of the wrong pragmatic
directions.

For example, Sonus.ca is great -- but hardly as groundbreaking as its
lengthy rhetoric claims. MP3.com for example, is still around, and has been
for awhile. Many artists have their own websites too. But besides that,
there's newmusiccanada.com which will also host your work, from the CBC, and
which is also free, and funded through Canadian taxes. While I understand
the drive to set up an entirely separate site for EA composers, the fact
that the PRESENCE project is used to fund Sonus also gestures toward the
fact that, for those of us kicking around on the Net, and for several years,
we've already got our work online .. we already run servers .. do broadcasts
(this is, afterall, Xchange) -- thus this already exists: so Sonus.ca might
be revelatory for the CEC, but redundant for many of us, and funding it
through what are exclusively rates for producing a simple double-CD is at
once both a dated gesture but also, as Sonus.ca is open to all of us, one
that we cannot refuse. If others are willing to pay the bucks, then should I
be reaping the rewards by using Sonus.ca? Sure, my Machiavellian mind says
.. but surely there couldn't be a way to consider taking the $2000 profit to
aiding _producers exterior to salaried positions within the institution_ who
cannot afford the rates the CEC requires? Moreover, sending the CDs to
people "already in the know" perhaps perpetuates a closed network of EA
listeners and does not work at developing links to distribution networks of
experimental electronic such as FUSION III or Forced Exposure. Were the CEC
CD promoted through alternative channels, the response might be that much
greater. I only ever heard of the CEC when a wonderful member brought a
sampler CD to this year's MUTEK -- that was a great step, but only the
first. This is what remains lacking and what keeps the CEC from developing a
more extensive and productive relationship with the non-traditional
experimental electronic networks .. which is the network territory we are
partially "in:" Xchange.

(Of note, I always produce my work at 44.1/16, so the dithering issue you
speak of has been somewhat already broached by the experimental electronic
community by not a priori relying upon the purity of the bestest digital
sound available on the market. Such is the DiY ethic, which allows art to
get OUT -- )

May I add: these are all qualitative suggestions.
Keep up the good work over there.

best, tobias



> 
> 
> maex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 
>> strange posting indeed. what is this synpatico.ca-project about?
> 
> Sympatico.ca has nothing to do with the PRESENCE IV project. It is simply my
> connection to the internet.
> 
> 
>> is this culture-art releated or just a plain capitalistic
>> moneyearningmaschine?
> 
> The Canadian Electroacoustic Community (CEC) is Canada's national arts
> organization for creators working in the broad field of electroacoustics
> (including radio arts). As the CEC is a non-profit, project-funded arts
> service
> organization, it is fairly far away from a capitalistic adventure. The CEC is
> run by a volunteer board of sonic artists and composers.
> 
> PRESENCE IV is a promotional project for participants, and a fund raising
> project for the CEC. The work is done by volunteers, and the costs to
> composers/artists is set to cover the manufacturing/mailing costs, with the
> remainder of the budget headed to aiding other CEC projects (see below). In
> the
> past, about $10 000 was raised to pay for the double-CD and the CEC managed to
> 'not-spend' close to $2000 (this is the fund raising part).
> 
> 
> If you dont want to support the CEC and its activities, I suggest now is a
> good
> time to use your delete button. But before you delete this email, try having a
> look at some of the other projects the CEC is doing on less than a shoe-string
> budget:
> 
> http://www.sonus.ca
> http://econtact.ca
> 
> I think a few discordant voices on this list might prefer the sonus.ca
> project.
> It is, after all, free to you to use, enjoy and contribute to. PRESENCE IV is
> one way of aiding SONUS.
> 
> Getting into the nitty gritty...
> 
>> i mean 120$$$/min...1200/10minutes...and you can
>> easily produce 500 copies at you own.....
> 
> To clarify:
> Regular Rates $2 USD/second
> 
> Discounted rates:
> - Permanent Members of the CEC $1.50 CAD/second.
> - Members of recognized national / international ea/cm organizations ( ** see
> below for examples) $1.50 USD/second.
> - Non-Permanent CEC members and other Canadians $1.75 CAD/second.
> 
> There is nothing stopping anyone with a 10 minute piece from joining the CEC
> ($60 CAD or $45 USD) and taking advantage of the discounted rate: $1.5 x 60 x
> 10
> = $900 CAD = $675 USD. Including the membership costs, this is fairly far away
> from your $1200 USD quoted above.
> 
> The little prices:
> 
> If you are not interested in the quality of the sound, the commercial Canadian
> price for duplicating CDs is about 80 cents per CD for a minimum run of 500
> CDs.
> The films (2 colors) are $15 per film. PRESENCE IV is a double CD.
> 
> Like I said,these are the prices if you are not interested in the quality of
> the
> sound. If you are interested, then I suggest you read:
> 
> http://cec.concordia.ca/pep/mastering_e.html
> 
> as it will open some eyes to how people making music are losing sound quality
> just about every time they go through a step from audio on the computer to the
> final pressed cd.
> 
> If you are interested in the quality of the sound you need to take into
> account
> the dithering issue of going from 96/24 to 44.1/16. You also need to concern
> yourself with a correct glass master and a compatible pressing plant.
> Pre-mastering is a totally different issue, and I wont go into it here.
> 
> Back to the budget:
> 
> A booklet can be about 200-400$ for printing for 500 copies, but can go higher
> depending on the printer. Usually the CEC prints twice the number required as
> the CEC CDs usually go into a second pressing. (Meaning 2000 copies get
> printed).
> 
> Translation can be anywhere between 10 and 25 cents per word. Sometimes the
> translation is donated.
> 
> The artwork, layout, editing, proofreading etc is done by volunteers.
> 
> The CEC uses a sleeve rather than a jewel case as this allows the CEC to take
> advantage of the present Post Canada mailing rates. Jewel cases are heavy (and
> ugly but this is besides the point) and since this project is very much aimed
> at
> getting copies mailed to people, the final package weight is important. The
> CEC
> easily spends $3000-4000 on mailing.
> 
> The CDs are sent to people and institutions who are 'friendly' to ea, meaning
> that if they are radio hosts who will play the CD, they get a copy, etc. There
> are reviews of the past issues on http://cec.concordia.ca/cd/ and
> http://www.electrocd.com and the performances in concert and on radio are
> tracked by a volunteer.
> 
> The database of addresses is maintained by a paid administrator.
> 
> There is probably more to write here, but I have to go. If you would like more
> info, please write to:
> 
> presence@xxxxxxxxxxx
> 
> 
> If you are still interested in attacking the CEC's credibility, then I suggest
> you take a look here:
> 
> http://cec.concordia.ca/eflash/2003_sept.html
> 
> You would be hard pressed to find a comparably transparent arts organization.
> 
> I was not paid to reply to this email.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Ian
> 
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tobias c. van Veen -----------
http://www.quadrantcrossing.org
http://www.thisistheonlyart.com
------------- tobias@xxxxxxxxxxx
---McGill Communications------
ICQ: 18766209 | AIM: thesaibot


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information&comunication channel | for net.broadcasters
http://xchange.re-lab.net  (Xchange)  net.audio network
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