"Improving" Sound of Virtual Instruments
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 13 posts since 16 Jan, 2013 from Connecticut, USA
When you enter virtual instruments through a midi keyboard. Does the quality of your preamps on your USB interface ( say Focusrite 212 vs. Forte) have any bearing on the sound begin recorded? I guess the output to your monitors/headphone on playback would be affected,but not what's going in your DAW.
I'm trying to deduce "If u like bagpipes/ bouzouki or (pick your instrument), spend the time/$ on THAT specific virtually instrument cuz that is what is going DIRECTLY in when you record.
I'm not usually this dummm
Thanks,
Scott
I'm trying to deduce "If u like bagpipes/ bouzouki or (pick your instrument), spend the time/$ on THAT specific virtually instrument cuz that is what is going DIRECTLY in when you record.
I'm not usually this dummm
Thanks,
Scott
Scott
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 13 posts since 16 Jan, 2013 from Connecticut, USA
Thanks Padillac
Your answer . "If you mean plugins in your DAW, no, the preamps will have no effect on the sound." Brings up another question:
So is there a way to improve your virtual instrument sounds? It seems the loops that come with my Mixcraft DAW sound better when "played" than when the same instrument is selected through virtual instruments. Thanks, Scott
Your answer . "If you mean plugins in your DAW, no, the preamps will have no effect on the sound." Brings up another question:
So is there a way to improve your virtual instrument sounds? It seems the loops that come with my Mixcraft DAW sound better when "played" than when the same instrument is selected through virtual instruments. Thanks, Scott
Scott
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- KVRist
- 48 posts since 22 Jan, 2009
No, your midi keyboard is just sending midi signals to your DAW. Midi is a not-to-complicated digital format that has nothing to do with the preamps in your USB interface. As long as it works, the cheapest Midi interface is going to send the same signal that the most expensive Midi interface will send. And the Midi interface part of your USB interface is pretty much completely electronically separate from the audio part of the interface.
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- KVRAF
- 1698 posts since 2 Jul, 2007
It's all based off of your D/A converters which will allow you to hear the sounds coming from within your daw correctly. Your Monitors, and your room.
The next question is what converters did the sound designer use? Do certain plugins sound better then others?
Sure they do, now that you know these things, prepare for the endless battle of finding the right sounds,right gear, etc. Welcome to the STUDIO world my friend!
The next question is what converters did the sound designer use? Do certain plugins sound better then others?
Sure they do, now that you know these things, prepare for the endless battle of finding the right sounds,right gear, etc. Welcome to the STUDIO world my friend!
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- KVRian
- 746 posts since 27 Nov, 2011
Honestly I'm not sure what you mean by this. How are you "playing" the instruments differently from choosing them through virtual instruments?ScottBari wrote:Thanks Padillac
Your answer . "If you mean plugins in your DAW, no, the preamps will have no effect on the sound." Brings up another question:
So is there a way to improve your virtual instrument sounds? It seems the loops that come with my Mixcraft DAW sound better when "played" than when the same instrument is selected through virtual instruments. Thanks, Scott
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- KVRAF
- 2163 posts since 17 Jan, 2008
i think he means that his DAW comes with pre-written MIDI loops that use a virtual instrument that also comes with his DAW. the loops are more convincing than his own performances.padillac wrote:Honestly I'm not sure what you mean by this. How are you "playing" the instruments differently from choosing them through virtual instruments?ScottBari wrote:Thanks Padillac
Your answer . "If you mean plugins in your DAW, no, the preamps will have no effect on the sound." Brings up another question:
So is there a way to improve your virtual instrument sounds? It seems the loops that come with my Mixcraft DAW sound better when "played" than when the same instrument is selected through virtual instruments. Thanks, Scott
that's just because whoever put the MIDI loops together is better at putting together MIDI parts.
macbook pro 2.88 GHz Intel Core Duo, 10 gigs ram, 750GB HD, Logic Studio 9
my blog and some music:
http://rabbitearsmotel.wordpress.com/
my blog and some music:
http://rabbitearsmotel.wordpress.com/
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joeinternet327 joeinternet327 https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=285711
- KVRist
- 72 posts since 8 Aug, 2012
Virtual instruments are self contained, so the sound that they produce by themselves is limited to whatever controls are available on that instrument.
If you want to change the sound beyond that, you need to run the output of the instrument through some form of effects processor, such as distortion, filter, EQ, etc.
Theses effects can either be software or hardware.
If you want to change the sound beyond that, you need to run the output of the instrument through some form of effects processor, such as distortion, filter, EQ, etc.
Theses effects can either be software or hardware.
All DAWs sound alike... except when they don't.
- KVRer
- 18 posts since 19 Aug, 2009 from London
It's likely that the loops (presuming that is what you mean) are actual recordings of the real live instrument being played by a musician and being recorded through a preamp and fx chain.
Simulating the musicianship will be tough but you can simulate the FX chain via many of the high quality emulators out there such as PSP Vintage Warmer or many plugins in the UAD suite. Also adding some ambience via a a reverb (early reflections only - minus the tail) is a useful quick improver. Waves IR series and TruVerb work wonders here.
Simulating the musicianship will be tough but you can simulate the FX chain via many of the high quality emulators out there such as PSP Vintage Warmer or many plugins in the UAD suite. Also adding some ambience via a a reverb (early reflections only - minus the tail) is a useful quick improver. Waves IR series and TruVerb work wonders here.
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"I had to check AC Sabre out and it immediately lived up to the hype...surreal and instinctive" (Discchord)
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- KVRian
- 746 posts since 27 Nov, 2011
fair enough. that's what I was thinking...the way to make MIDI sound better is to play with more expression. and/or process the resulting audio.michael2 wrote:i think he means that his DAW comes with pre-written MIDI loops that use a virtual instrument that also comes with his DAW. the loops are more convincing than his own performances.padillac wrote:Honestly I'm not sure what you mean by this. How are you "playing" the instruments differently from choosing them through virtual instruments?ScottBari wrote:Thanks Padillac
Your answer . "If you mean plugins in your DAW, no, the preamps will have no effect on the sound." Brings up another question:
So is there a way to improve your virtual instrument sounds? It seems the loops that come with my Mixcraft DAW sound better when "played" than when the same instrument is selected through virtual instruments. Thanks, Scott
that's just because whoever put the MIDI loops together is better at putting together MIDI parts.
as someone else pointed out below, if OP is comparing live-performed audio loops to his own MIDI sequences, that could account for a difference in sound quality
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- KVRAF
- 2163 posts since 17 Jan, 2008
i know that the MIDI loops that came with my DAW (Logic) are waaay more convincing than anything I can get out of them. when I look at them versus my own stuff in the piano roll, I feel like a caveman.padillac wrote:fair enough. that's what I was thinking...the way to make MIDI sound better is to play with more expression. and/or process the resulting audio.michael2 wrote:i think he means that his DAW comes with pre-written MIDI loops that use a virtual instrument that also comes with his DAW. the loops are more convincing than his own performances.padillac wrote:Honestly I'm not sure what you mean by this. How are you "playing" the instruments differently from choosing them through virtual instruments?ScottBari wrote:Thanks Padillac
Your answer . "If you mean plugins in your DAW, no, the preamps will have no effect on the sound." Brings up another question:
So is there a way to improve your virtual instrument sounds? It seems the loops that come with my Mixcraft DAW sound better when "played" than when the same instrument is selected through virtual instruments. Thanks, Scott
that's just because whoever put the MIDI loops together is better at putting together MIDI parts.
as someone else pointed out below, if OP is comparing live-performed audio loops to his own MIDI sequences, that could account for a difference in sound quality
macbook pro 2.88 GHz Intel Core Duo, 10 gigs ram, 750GB HD, Logic Studio 9
my blog and some music:
http://rabbitearsmotel.wordpress.com/
my blog and some music:
http://rabbitearsmotel.wordpress.com/
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- KVRian
- 746 posts since 27 Nov, 2011
how about midi drum loops? "oh...so it's not just a bunch of 16th notes"michael2 wrote: i know that the MIDI loops that came with my DAW (Logic) are waaay more convincing than anything I can get out of them. when I look at them versus my own stuff in the piano roll, I feel like a caveman.
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- KVRAF
- 2163 posts since 17 Jan, 2008
haha.padillac wrote:how about midi drum loops? "oh...so it's not just a bunch of 16th notes"michael2 wrote: i know that the MIDI loops that came with my DAW (Logic) are waaay more convincing than anything I can get out of them. when I look at them versus my own stuff in the piano roll, I feel like a caveman.
actually a lot to be learned there. someday.
macbook pro 2.88 GHz Intel Core Duo, 10 gigs ram, 750GB HD, Logic Studio 9
my blog and some music:
http://rabbitearsmotel.wordpress.com/
my blog and some music:
http://rabbitearsmotel.wordpress.com/