Lyricist Lin Xi finds on-screen work helps post-inspiration chores

It is inevitable that art and artists will forge closer links with computers as technological developments continue to make great strides. For Lin Xi, one of Hong Kong's most popular songwriters, his art has become inseparable from technology. The Canto-pop world first heard of Lin Xi in 1986, when he was still an undergraduate at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and decided to try his hand at writing songs. He came up with the lyrics for the smash hit, The Smoking Woman, sung by now-defunct duo, Raidas. Today, Lin is a force to be reckoned with in the world of Canto-pop lyricists. In the past 10 years, he has created the lyrics of nearly 1,500 songs, many reaching the Top 10 radio charts. Last year alone, he wrote more than 200 for local singers, including big names such as Jacky Cheung Hok-yau, Aaron Kwok Fu-shing and Andy Lau Tak-wah. But where pen and paper first served him well in his profession, Lin has found a more effective tool in recording his words of love and affection - a Macintosh computer. 'It does not actually help with the inspiration for the songs, of course. After all, it's like being in an air-conditioned room; just because you are in one, does not make you do better work,' said Lin, now the creative director of the commercial production and programme development department of Commercial Radio. 'But I find that using the computer makes everything look neat and tidy, and it helps me with the writing. That's why even when I go on holiday I will take along a computer, because I can write songs then.' Naturally, Lin now finds he keeps a better record of his work with the help of his computer - except for the one occasion his computer broke down. The Internet also helps him with his research into certain song topics. 'I have always thought that technology can have a link with humans. 'It is a cyber world now, and the Internet has helped make the world a smaller place,' he said. Q. What computer do you use? A. I have a desktop and a laptop. The desktop is a Macintosh Quadra 840AV with system 7.1, 40 megabytes RAM and a 17-inch NEC monitor. The laptop, which I usually take to the office, is a Macintosh 540C with Ram Doubler. I chose the Mac because it is more popular in the music business. Sound studios all use the Mac. Q. How long have you been using computers? What made you start using one? A. I started using a computer six years ago. At the time, I was working in Music Factory. Lo Dayou, who was the boss, was a computer buff then, although he seems to have lost his interest now. He encouraged us to computerise the office because it was tidier, and there wouldn't be so much paper being wasted. It was very useful, especially when keeping a record of the record company's repertoire. Q. In your opinion, what was the hardest part about learning how to use a computer? A. Getting to grips with the normal workings of a computer for simple, basic use isn't really that difficult. Once you get in the 'door', there is a menu to help you. It is only when tiny problems crop up now and then that makes things difficult. Q. How long did it take you to learn? A. Actually, I just took about four hours to read the manual. I find the Macintosh really user-friendly. I have to admit that I don't know all the more complicated functions, but I know enough to carry out the basic tasks I need to use. Q. Do you have any special tips for helping new users that will make their learning easier? A. My advice is to take time out to read the manual. Sure, it takes four or five hours to read it all, but it helps a lot. Q. Do any of your friends or relatives use the computer? A. None of my family members do but the people I work with, especially in the sound studios, are all very computer-literate. In fact, they are the ones who recommend the latest software to me. Q. Do you think the computer has changed your life? A. I don't think my life has changed that much, although the computer has made things more convenient for me. I mean, nowadays, I can just go on the Internet and check on the latest property prices. I don't use e-mail much, because I just don't have enough time. Q. Do you find that the computer helps you a lot in your work? A. Yes, it does. For some reason, I find it a lot easier to write song lyrics on the computer, because everything looks neat and organised. Also, song lyrics usually go through several drafts before the final version is accepted, and with the computer it is easy to go back and rewrite a bit here or move the lines around, without having to write it all out again. The whole writing process is just easier. Q. What do you think will happen if all the computers in the world suddenly stopped working? A. The whole world would be affected. There would be great chaos. Can you imagine no one being able to access bank data and other kinds of financial information? Q. On average, how much time a day do you spend on the computer? A. I spend about four hours a day on my computer, but this is just the time I use it to write songs. I don't have much time for other things. When I first started using a computer, I was on it for longer periods of time. I remember playing SimCity the whole night. Q. Has your computer ever broken down? How many times? A. Yes it has. It was a virus or something and the whole desktop crashed. I lost all my information on it, including the lyrics to all the songs I had written in 1993 to 1994. I didn't keep any hard copies or back-up disks, which I regret very much now. So if I want to get back the lyrics, I shall have to get them from all the CD jackets. It was really inconvenient, and I had to resort to my laptop to do most of my work then. This reminds me that I should go and make backup disks right after this interview! Q. What software programs do you use on your computer? A. I'm not really sure. I'm very greedy and install a lot of programs, but I usually only use ClarisWorks for my writing and Global Village for faxing. Other than that, I have PhotoShop and VideoShop as well. Q. Do you use a printer? A. I have a colour Stylewriter 2400, and also a Paperport scanner which converts hard copy into electronic copy with OCR (optical character recognition). Q. Do you play games on the computer? A. No, I don't play games anymore. I don't have the time. Besides if I wanted to play electronic games, I think I would prefer to play on a PlayStation. Q. Do you access the Internet regularly? What are your favourite sites? A. Only to check the property prices and to look at some of the record company home pages. I usually visit the Centaline real estate site or listen to the Taipei radio stations. Sometimes I use it to research some topics for lyrics. For instance, if I wanted to write a song about sexual equality, I can look around and see what else other people have written. Q. What would you add to your computer if money were no object? A. I saw a picture of the new commemorative model for the Macintosh that looks rather metallic or aluminium, and very attractive. It's not available yet, but when it is I will certainly seriously consider buying it. A computer's design and the hardware are both important. A lot of points go towards the design, I think. Q. Who do you go to for technical help? A. Whenever I need any help, I turn to my friends in the sound studios, since they know all about computers. Q. Do you think that in this day and age everyone should be computer-literate? A. Anyone who hopes to keep up with the world should, I think. You get so much of the unexpected with a computer, especially on the Net. When you buy a magazine, you know the topics will be limited. When you browse the Net, you never know what you might find. I mean, if you are 60 and retiring, then maybe one might not have the incentive to learn how to use the computer. I believe that every office should be computerised with a network system which links every room. It would save so much time and paper.