Thread: The use of imitation instruments

I'm not a huge fan of software instruments that create almost lifelike real instruments such as piano or guitar.

That said though, real instruments like that are outside my budget right now, and I do feel that, used correctly, they can work.

By "used correctly" I just mean keeping their use limited to simple tracks that don't take "center stage" so to speak.

I think when the fakiness really shows in the music is when the composer tries to create spectacular solos and whatnot with a fake instrument as though it was a real one.

I mean, if all you are asking is some simple tonal patterns as a background, it can sound pretty good, but it's like if your gonna carve a statue, it's better to use something natural than plastic.

Anyway that's my opinion at the moment, but my opinions change with the wind and I'm curious about what yall think about it... whether such imitation instruments can be used well or whether they are just better off being left alone.

I listen to quite a bit of electronic music. I've never knowingly listened to any artists that feature imitation instruments prominently in their music. If someone can't get their hands on the real thing but desire its sound it may be better to find a sample of the instrument and manipulate it to suit their needs. Or even better find someone who can play the part for you. Give them a writing credit, barter for something, and/or pay them.

I'm not a musician myself. Take those suggestions with a grain of salt.

Originally Posted by JonG

I listen to quite a bit of electronic music. I've never knowingly listened to any artists that feature imitation instruments prominently in their music. If someone can't get their hands on the real thing but desire its sound it may be better to find a sample of the instrument and manipulate it to suit their needs. Or even better find someone who can play the part for you. Give them a writing credit, barter for something, and/or pay them.

I'm not a musician myself. Take those suggestions with a grain of salt.

I think that's just it, they just can't be featured prominently in the music. I think of it as only using them as part of a larger sound made up of other instruments so that you really have to listen for them to even notice them. I think as long as I stick to that principle I can still make nice music.

There are majority of people who love music and cannot live without it. They consider it one of the most effective ways to express emotions and passions. It is a great world of creativity and art to express one's emotions and feelings.

Uhhhh.... cost of an orchestra? Mucho.
Everyone can live without music. In the WW2 concentration camps,
music was used to keep people calm, easier to manage, but when taken away, nobody died.

OK, don't want to blow my own trumpet here but have a listen to the tracks at http://www.auralscapes.com. Curious to hear which instruments you think are real and which are not.

How do you use imitation software instruments to compose your own music ? I'm very interested in this !

Steve, it works something like this. I normally come up with the music on an acoustic guitar (my main instrument). Then I use sample libraries like Vienna Strings or EastWest or Soniccouture (sp?) or Arturia etc to find the sound of the instrument that I want. This is then played into a DAW (digital audio workstation - essentially a recording studio in a PC), in my case I use Samplitude 11 Pro, via a controller (usually a keyboard but it can be any midi-enabled controller). In the case of drums, I normally program the structure into a package called Artist Drums then send it off to a guy called Marc Norgaard in Baltimore who then follows my layout/structure and adds his own twist to it. This is then imported back into the DAW once he has prepared the different tracks for the different elements of the kit (usually 10) and mixed in with the rest of the tracks. You can emulate most instruments but I find that guitar just cannot be done convincingly in software. Being a guitarist anyway that does not really pose a problem as they are all recorded live anyway. Sometimes an authentic performance is required (cello/banjo) etc and that gets farmed out to session musicians who copy my original synth-generated part. Most movie soundtracks are done this way these days although there are studios that insist on authentic instruments. Video/PC games are nearly all software emulations of instruments. The advertising world is a mix of the two - some real,some fake. It takes a lot more time to do it this way but you do have greater control over the sound selecton and you are able to try out the same notes/sequence with various different instruments to find out which works best. It keeps the cost of composition down. Hope that sheds some light on the process. If you are unsure about anything, give me a shout and I will try to explain further. If you are thinking of doing it yourself I can give you some tips on what programs to avoid and which are the best/most reliable to use. Essentially you need a powerful computer, an audio interface, a midi controller keyboard, a sequencing program and a sample library to get started. And of course the most important ingredient - imagination!

Jerome,

Is some of the Fashion Television Music especially the Brit shows from London - RAW FASHION in particular done this way ?? I can't seem to find any FT music and it's freakin great music !!! I started watching Fashion Television with my wife when I over heard the music and said
" Who's that" ? The gals aren't bad either and I know you guys are all closet fashion show peepers... so don't snicker !!!

I was interested in experimenting with computerised self made music since I have been exposed to a lot of "sounds and technique" for the past 48 years or so. I think it would be an absolute blast ! However it looks a little too overboard for me to do what I intended to use it for...just to mess around and experiment basically.

I'll investigate though, thanks J.

If you want I can send you one of my earlier programs that I no longer use and you can try it out with no cost involved. You can also get free sample libraries off the web, although they are probably not good quality but at least it will give you some idea. Obviously your PC needs to have a sound card as well. Don't know anything about Fashion Television Music??!!??