Guitar profiling technology in metal music production: Public reception, capability, consequences and perspectives

Abstract

This empirical study explores the guitar profiling technology and its consequences for metal music production. After briefly introducing this technology, the article investigates its public reception in reviews and online discussion boards to explore the subjective perspectives. A subsequent acoustic experiment tests the capability of the technology. The findings show that many guitar players and producers have been highly skeptical of digital amplification technology because of tonal shortcomings. However, meanwhile many musicians seem convinced of profiling technology due to its good sound quality that has been confirmed by the experiment too. Since for most metal music genres the sound quality of the electric guitar is very important, the creative practices and economic conditions of its production may likely be hugely affected by this technology. The article concludes by discussing the consequences of profiling technology regarding issues such as democratisation of production tools, changes in professional services, creative potentials and future applications of the technology that may radically change metal music production.

Old sounds with new technologies? Examining the creative potential of guitar ‘profiling’ technology and the future of metal music from producers’ perspectives

“…They also experimented with modern technologies and incorporated them into their practice when evaluated positively, which however was not always the case. This general attitude distinguishes the producers of this survey from many of the amateur and semi-professional musicians and producers who were analysed in the initial study (Herbst, Czedik-Eysenberg & Reuter 2018) based on online discussions and magazine reviews. For example, all 24 analysed reviews showed a principal distrust in digital technology, "Our culture is bound up in ritual, superstition and myth -and we like it that way.…”

“…xii In other words, as profiling technology means a huge benefit for aspiring musicians and producers alike regarding the availability of both a variety of sounds and sounds of professional quality (Herbst, Czedik-Eysenberg & Reuter 2018), the established producers' preference of traditional working practices and tools could be interpreted as their attempt to retain distinction between their proven craft and the threats posed by newer technologies managed by rivalling producers and studios. Similarly, even though all producers demonstrate a high level of technical skills, creative intentions mainly motivate their work, which means that the artist is more important than their personal agendas.…”

“…The outlook of the initial study (Herbst, Czedik-Eysenberg & Reuter 2018) highlighted the prospect of creating innovative sounds with profilers and the potential to create new subgenres of metal music, "With the guitar steering increasingly towards the digital domain due to this newly established high quality, guitar sounds may change more radically than they have in the last two decades -and along with this also the sound of the metal genre". All producers as well as inventor Kemper make it clear that drastic developments are neither expected nor desired in the near future.…”

“…Surprisingly, the huge impact of profiling technology on musical practice has not stirred an academic debate so far. Only one study by Herbst, Czedik-Eysenberg and Reuter (2018) has recently explored this technology in a metal music studies context. With an experimental design, the study confirmed the high quality of profiled guitar sounds.…”

“…How do producers and music instruments developers imagine the role of music technological inventions for future metal music? Based on the initial study (Herbst, Czedik-Eysenberg & Reuter 2018), research on guitar players (Herbst 2016) and metal music production (Mynett 2013;Williams 2015;Herbst 2017), it was assumed that producers are more interested in finding new approaches to create innovative guitar sounds than guitar players are. Accordingly, a positive view of technological innovation was expected.…”