A Process for the Restoration of Performances from Musical Errors on Live Progressive Rock Albums

Evans, William (2023) A Process for the Restoration of Performances from Musical Errors on Live Progressive Rock Albums. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

In the course of my practice of producing live progressive rock albums, a significant challenge has emerged: how to repair performance errors while retaining the intended expressive performance. Using a practice as research methodology, I develop a novel process, Error Analysis and Performance Restoration (EAPR), to restore a performer’s intention where an error was assessed to have been made. In developing this process, within the context of my practice, I investigate: the nature of live albums and the groups to which I am accountable, a definition of performance errors, an examination of their causes, and the existing literature on these topics. In presenting EAPR, I demonstrate, drawing from existing research, a mechanism by which originally intended performances can be extracted from recorded errors. The EAPR process exists as a conceptual model; each album has a specific implementation to address the needs of that album, and the currently available technology. Restoration techniques are developed as part of this implementation. EAPR is developed and demonstrated through my work restoring performances on a front-line commercial live release, the Creative Submission Album. The specific EAPR implementation I design for it is laid out, and detailed examples of its techniques demonstrated.