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Re: a moronic question



Interesting question.  But I'm not sure what you're asking!

Are you asking if samples are synthetic?  Yes. But so is all digital music - CDs included.  Do samples sound real? They're still working on it.  But some are REALLY CLOSE.

As the Buddha and many wise folks have said, nothing is really real. We're all in the matrix sort of.  And that's definitely true now and always has been true of recorded music. 

Are you asking because a friend or client doesn't want anything 'synthetic'?  If so, samples are synthetic.  I've been through this with clients.  If they want a real symphony orchestra, better shine up the wallet before waving it goodbye. You CAN layer some real strings with sampled strings and get an incredibly convincing sound.  Same for horns somewhat, drums etc.  Actually I have a drum library that came with Strike that is really amazing.  

The really awe inspiring sample libraries tend to cost more.  

The trick about samples is the layers of samples per note.  In a perfect world, there would be a bunch of samples per note - for all the different ways you actually can play a note on any given instrument.  The definition of bunch depends on who's talking.  I've heard guys talk of nine or ten samples per note.  Oooh weeee.

I've never heard a guitar sample I liked.  At least for non distorted guitar.   

I have some very nice tabla samples.  Wouldn't work for Ali Akbar Khan or a Zakhir Hossain (did I get his name right?) level of musician but certainly works for most Western ears. 

now, speaking of samples, does anyone have the original SampleCell disks?  Oh man.  I loved some of those sounds and my machine croaked that had samplecell in it and my original disks look like chipmunks went ice skating on it.  I guess those disks are about 15+ years old now.  I'm feeling my age!  The horn section was my fave of all time.  Definitely not going to put the Memphis Horns out of business, but I liked it.  Anyhow, I would pay for a copy of those disks. I liked the tuba in it too.  

When possible, real instruments are better.  But the players have to be good and their axes have to be great.  And very nice mics and mic pre's. One nice thing about samples is the level of manipulation available with MIDI.  You can improvise, play crazy and then go back later and make it as tight and harmonic as you want. 

Sorry this was so long. I was resting my ears and had a minute to blow off words.

hammer on!

Richard  



On Nov 29, 2008, at 9:44 AM, SP Goodman wrote:

From: "Bruce Gilman" <cuica@interworld.net>

I have a question for composers or performers who use samples.

Sorry to wave my ignorance.  Please indulge the ignorant.


If you write or play with samples, let's say string samples, are you using synthesized sounds?


Again my apologies for interrupting,
B.G.

Hi Bruce,

The source of the sample would determine whether the sound being used is synthesized or not, I'd guess.  I never found a way to satisfactorily replicate Tablas, for instance.  When I got Fruity Loops (now FLStudio) and a sample-set of Tabla sounds I could 'do' as such without having to resort to synth programming-fiddling.  Moreover if one uses FLStudio one is using non-synthesized samples in many cases.  I lean towards the use of 'real' but then I'm a grumpy old fart to some.

SP Goodman
*
http://www.youtube.com/spgoodman
http://www.last.fm/music/Stephen+Goodman