where next with software instruments?

[ckatrun411]

Alchemy is interesting because it is an additive synth (well, more than just that).

I'm wondering on what the whole, noise oscillator, thing in Alchemy is. Is it some really extensive white noise generation system? Futuristic, imho....

[whyterabbyt]

I can't think of a better way for computers and instruments to communicate, control, and synch up with each other.

Really? A 31.25kbaud serial interface, which can only handle 16 device channels, is limited to 127 note values (restricted to the context of semitone-based scale increments, no less), and only defines a horribly limited number of parameter controllers which have a precision of a mere 127 values? You cant think of anything better? Wow.

If there were, MIDI would have already gone by the wayside.

Fallacy. Just because it hasn't been replaced doesn't mean it couldn't have been replaced.

[aciddose]

when you buy a new hardware drum machine or sequencer and you need to sync it, and all you have is midi don't come crying back to me

[gnu23]

I can't think of a better way for computers and instruments to communicate, control, and synch up with each other.

Really? A 31.25kbaud serial interface, which can only handle 16 device channels, is limited to 127 note values (restricted to the context of semitone-based scale increments, no less), and only defines a horribly limited number of parameter controllers which have a precision of a mere 127 values? You cant think of anything better? Wow.

If there were, MIDI would have already gone by the wayside.

Fallacy. Just because it hasn't been replaced doesn't mean it couldn't have been replaced.

Speed? RTP-MIDI.

Semitone-based scale? MTS.

Horribly limited? HD-MIDI (not on the standards track yet, but the MMA seems to like it)

MIDI hasn't been replaced because there isn't a pressing need to replace it - just as much because there isn't anything markedly better as because MIDI is a standards-track protocol, and an open one at that. Retrofitting of existing products to some new standard would be a nightmare. Extending and enhancing the well-known MIDI standard will do the job nicely. Just because MIDI could be replaced doesn't mean it should.

No I can't think of anything better than MIDI. I didn't say, however, that MIDI should remain a static standard.

[Benedict]

MIDI with better resolution than 128 steps and maybe a few doohikkies like Note Pan would be great but you know what, we wouldn't make any better music with it.

[whyterabbyt]

Speed? RTP-MIDI.

Semitone-based scale? MTS.

Horribly limited? HD-MIDI (not on the standards track yet, but the MMA seems to like it)

so MIDI, as it currently exists, does need replaced then. thanks.

MIDI hasn't been replaced because there isn't a pressing need to replace it -

and thanks for agreeing that its not because there's nothing better.

No I can't think of anything better than MIDI. I didn't say, however, that MIDI should remain a static standard.

Ah. So as long as its retrofitted on top of the existing old serial MIDI with all its limitations, then its fine, and its still MIDI so it doesnt need replaced, but god forbid that the need for those 'enhancements' should indicate that MIDI itself needs rethought. That makes sense.

[herodotus]

MIDI with better resolution than 128 steps and maybe a few doohikkies like Note Pan would be great but you know what, we wouldn't make any better music with it.

It's not about music.

It's about the gear: buying it, playing with it, doing benchmark tests on it, putting it through it's paces and getting giddy as it performs flawlessly or angry when it malfunctions.

I thought people understood this.

[mellotronaut]

Collapse of modern civilization ........ back to acoustic instruments only, yay!

not a bad idea ... better for our social life

Yeah, but then we'll have to rely on musicianship instead of using technology and millions of new sounds to cover up the fact that we're not musicians.

at least, we are camp-fire pirates

[Uncle E]

only defines a horribly limited number of parameter controllers which have a precision of a mere 127 values?

Sorry if this has been brought up already but Kore goes way beyond midi in precision and feels substantially better for it.

[eduardo_b]

This theme arises every so often, and it really is about gear versus creativity. Given how much mediocre music is being produced with the huge variety of tools already available, I simply don't accept the premise that software and music technology need improvement. It's the users who need improvement. They can't accomplish much with what they have now, so we can only expect no better in the future.

Sorry, this really is an irritating topic. I can hardly wait for the parade of "music" from those who snapped up Omnisphere as if finally, now, they can create the music they've only dreamed of.

Talent is so much more important than tools that they're not even in the same planetary system. Never will be.

/rant off

Carry on.

[Uncle E]

Given how much mediocre music is being produced with the huge variety of tools already available, I simply don't accept the premise that software and music technology need improvement.

A couple years ago, I went on a trip of trying to make electronic-sounding music with all live instruments. It was a fun experiment and it made me a much better engineer trying to coax the bottom end of electronic instruments out of acoustic drums and electric basses. Everybody should try it at least once.

[eduardo_b]

Given how much mediocre music is being produced with the huge variety of tools already available, I simply don't accept the premise that software and music technology need improvement.

A couple years ago, I went on a trip of trying to make electronic-sounding music with all live instruments. It was a fun experiment and it made me a much better engineer trying to coax the bottom end of electronic instruments out of acoustic drums and electric basses. Everybody should try it at least once.

And...?

What conclusions did you come to as a result of these experiments? What did you learn from an recording/mixing perspective? Sounds (no pun intended) like a very interesting project.

[Uncle E]

What conclusions did you come to as a result of these experiments? What did you learn from an recording/mixing perspective? Sounds (no pun intended) like a very interesting project.

It's too OT to discuss here. I'll start a new topic in Production Techniques.

[kuniklo]

This theme arises every so often, and it really is about gear versus creativity. Given how much mediocre music is being produced with the huge variety of tools already available, I simply don't accept the premise that software and music technology need improvement.

Look at what's been done in computer animated films in the last ten years. There's no question that giving people more powerful and expressive tools has made their art more expressive too.

[eduardo_b]

This theme arises every so often, and it really is about gear versus creativity. Given how much mediocre music is being produced with the huge variety of tools already available, I simply don't accept the premise that software and music technology need improvement.

Look at what's been done in computer animated films in the last ten years. There's no question that giving people more powerful and expressive tools has made their art more expressive too.

Giving talented people better technology may indeed result in more expressive art. For everyone else, the results may be expressive, but it won't exactly be art.