testing instruments - short jazz track

[kitz]

Unfortunately, I have been verry disappointed in the samples and music software used to reproduce wind and brass instruments. Even strings. So I almost never use them. I always thought that if I spent enough time tweaking the note length, attack, vibrato and timbre of a sound that I could make it sound real. I gave up long ago. I use it when I'm writing just to figure out parts but when it comes to recording I have to say it's not worth them time and effort because you're never gonna get a real sound without a real player. You might come close but the payoff in time spent just isn't worth it IMO. Real players do it better! And you get to make new friends!I am growing my own! I have a great 12 year old trumpet player, a great 18 year old french horn player and a 10 year old who plays great piano, violin, french horn and recorders etc. Just a thought but maybe you could recruit some players from the taxi world if you can't find them in your area bars, churches, colleges or high schools.Kitz

[geo]

Nov 22, 2008, 9:03am, kitz wrote:Unfortunately, I have been verry disappointed in the samples and music software used to reproduce wind and brass instruments. Even strings. So I almost never use them. I always thought that if I spent enough time tweaking the note length, attack, vibrato and timbre of a sound that I could make it sound real. I gave up long ago. I use it when I'm writing just to figure out parts but when it comes to recording I have to say it's not worth them time and effort because you're never gonna get a real sound without a real player. You might come close but the payoff in time spent just isn't worth it IMO. Real players do it better! And you get to make new friends!I am growing my own! I have a great 12 year old trumpet player, a great 18 year old french horn player and a 10 year old who plays great piano, violin, french horn and recorders etc. Just a thought but maybe you could recruit some players from the taxi world if you can't find them in your area bars, churches, colleges or high schools.KitzGrowing my own... too funny!!! I have a niece who can't keep her hands off my guitar, writes lyrics .... just got her first guitar.... and her brother a Casio style keyboard... Peace, Geo

[geo]

Nov 22, 2008, 8:22am, anne wrote:"as this is clearly an attempt at a muted one--since i'm sure you'll be using many tracks with unmuted and more "normal"This was completely unintentional... again, just shows how much learning there is for me to do!Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm sure you can relate that, after working on something for a while, you really stop hearing what is going on and need to step away from it. For instance, the notes on the bass - that never crossed my mind because I was so focused on learning how to use the horns....Now I know to go back and tweak that track !I just picked up some cds with some similar songs and so now I will spend the time a/b - ing the sounds to work on getting them somewhere in the ballpark. I'm excited to finally have the time to work on this - I think my writing will be faster overall, once I'm not struggling so much just to use the VIs. I know what you mean Anne.... I'm learning Logic as I go .... wish I could stop and just concentrate on actually learning it... Good luck!!Peace, Geo

[hummingbird]

At the Road Rally, at one of the panels, they said that the hardest thing to replicate well with samples are brass and strings. However, there are folks here (like Mazz) who knock your socks off with their brass and strings. So it's gotta be possible.I agree with the comments above though - when using samples, it's better not to have them out front, use them to add depth to what you are doing. And make sure you have one or more live tracks in your mix. Here's one of my (signed) tracks that uses strings & brass from EWQLSO Gold (mixed with a tiny bit of techno).http://www.vikkiflawithmusic.com/audio/ ... to_Run.m3u

[orest]

Yes, if you want some lead instrument it's always better to use real people playing them! I myself have been playing the trumpet for 12 years (but not anymore), maybe I should dig it up again? Played mainly in big bands and brass band, lead. I agree with everyone else. The sax sounds better then the muted trumpet, it's very rough and in your face. If you use real people for the lead, I think the background parts works fine then!