How much do you use presets? [Poll]

[The_Hidden_Goose]

If "pushing boundaries" is the mark of a good sound designer then there really haven't been any for decades, back when synths were in their infancy and the radiophonic workshop were still painstakingly editing with tapeloops!

It's about the sound you LIKE or WANT TO HEAR...not the sound that nobody has ever heard.

And frankly, I don't care if people who are making preset collections calling themselves sound designers. They design sounds. It's descriptive enough, and you can fight the changing trends in terminology until the cows come home - you'll always lose! I'll still reserve my own judgement as to whether they are good sound designers or bad ones. And that's what every else will do.

I still think the reason there's so much shitty music around isn't because there are so many shitty soundsources - it's because people keep on buying shitty music. They always have. Probably always will!

[Wormhelmet]

What an odd outlook on things. Particularly because everyone is borrowing or adding on established music ideas in the first place. to be entirely original would put someone making an entirely new genre of music. Sounds very elitist to me, but horses for courses. Everyone has their own opinions on what is a real musician or sound designer. If this works for you, great, but I would find it limiting on my music enjoyment.

Carry on!

I've always had this idea that everything i create should be original. If i've heard something like it, i change. I want to make what hasn't been made yet. Inventing a new genre, yes please.
I can't see how that would be elitist, at least not in a bad way. Maybe it's just having high demands on yourself?

Well, have you invented a new genre yet? Do people like it? More important I guess is if you like it. That's what really matters. Again, I would find that limiting. I like so much music out there. Love pandora and picking an artist I like and getting a bunch of artists with similar styles. If everyone created their own genre a lot would not get listened to and we all would be limited, in my humble opinion.

Presets really show off a synth and what it can do, so I agree with mcnoone on that. It is often what sells it. I don't think it's putting high demands on yourself as much as confining yourself to unrealistic demands or ignoring the fact that everyone borrows something from something that has already been done. If entirely original, not just new genre, but new instruments would be needed. I sure don't see a lot of traditional instrument use that is entirely original. Maybe chapman stick or someone comes along with 6 fingers on each hand and plays the keyboard different, but even then some ideas are borrowed then changed.

At the end of the day though it doesn't really bother me if people place those constraints on themselves. I'll listen to your music if I like it or reject it if I don't.

As long as someone is happy making music the way they want to make it. I usually don't research how it was made unless I really really like it a lot and get curious, then after reading, it never changes my opinion, unless I hear some guy is a complete a-hole or condescending towards others. Then I won't listen out of principal.

[mcnoone]

What an odd outlook on things. Particularly because everyone is borrowing or adding on established music ideas in the first place. to be entirely original would put someone making an entirely new genre of music. Sounds very elitist to me, but horses for courses. Everyone has their own opinions on what is a real musician or sound designer. If this works for you, great, but I would find it limiting on my music enjoyment.

Carry on!

I've always had this idea that everything i create should be original. If i've heard something like it, i change. I want to make what hasn't been made yet. Inventing a new genre, yes please.
I can't see how that would be elitist, at least not in a bad way. Maybe it's just having high demands on yourself?

It isn't elitist until you start trying to discredit people who make presets for sale or presets included with other plugins.
Chances are, for most of us on this forum.
We got into synths, because of someone else who created sounds for a synth, that you heard, in a song, or played with at the music store, when you first tried out that new synth...and were inspired.
For me, came from listening a lot to a compilation of recording called the Windham Hill recordings, new age artists, then a D20.
Those things inspired me to make sounds, more than continue playing the guitar which I had been doing since I was 8. That's being inspired by both musicians, and Eric Persing. Thanks to them, I've found something I love doing more than anything else.

[trimph1]

What an odd outlook on things. Particularly because everyone is borrowing or adding on established music ideas in the first place. to be entirely original would put someone making an entirely new genre of music. Sounds very elitist to me, but horses for courses. Everyone has their own opinions on what is a real musician or sound designer. If this works for you, great, but I would find it limiting on my music enjoyment.

Carry on!

I've always had this idea that everything i create should be original. If i've heard something like it, i change. I want to make what hasn't been made yet. Inventing a new genre, yes please.
I can't see how that would be elitist, at least not in a bad way. Maybe it's just having high demands on yourself?

It isn't elitist until you start trying to discredit people who make presets for sale or presets included with other plugins.
Chances are, for most of us on this forum.
We got into synths, because of someone else who created sounds for a synth, that you heard, in a song, or played with at the music store, when you first tried out that new synth...and were inspired.
For me, came from listening a lot to a compilation of recording called the Windham Hill recordings, new age artists, then a D20.
Those things inspired me to make sounds, more than continue playing the guitar which I had been doing since I was 8. That's being inspired by both musicians, and Eric Persing. Thanks to them, I've found something I love doing more than anything else.

And good ones at that.

[The_Hidden_Goose]

Tangerine Dream's early albums for me...and I still love that obvious arpeggiated bassline rhythm thing wherever I hear it...be it modern or old.

And I'mn always happy when I come up with something that sounds similar. I don't always use it, mind.

I was listening to a Kuedo track the other day and was reminded how it sounded very much like the blade runner theme. It didn't make me like it any less! In fact, it was the general "I've heard this somewhere before"-ness of the whole album that made me buy it.

[idfpower]

I didn't think it sounded exactly like Blade Runner but was derivative of it. The problem for me was using the distinctive arp pattern unchanged which goes beyond just using a preset sound.

FWIW the arpp pattern is the foundation of the actual preset - that's why it's called BR

You hear patterns & presets, I judge a song as a whole and I'm interested in the energy / emotion / vibe it gives, and not in dissecting sounds

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@olikana: there's a difference between being up front & critical and being downright rude. The cancer of modern electronic music is negativity and the self-centered attitudine of some individuals that simply don't understand there's enough room for everybody; the cancer of modern electronic music, heck, of the modern music in general is perpetuating the same stupid myths and prejudice about "how things should be done in a "professional" manner - or what they think it's pro.

You know what's laughable? Taking about originality these days As long as an instrument is played or knobs turned by another fellow human, sooner or later that very same sound will be nailed by someone else.

An artist should be focused on making music - period. And music is music - it doesn't matter how you do it and what you're using as long as it sounds good. Now this is something that I've learned after all these years: the ppl you are making music for (you know, the audience) don't care a bit technicalities: they don't care about the amp settings of the guitarist, the type of snare the drummer uses or whether your synth is loaded with original presets or stock banks - they just want to hear some nice music, have fun and feel the vibe

Yes, good artists know their gear in and out - but what makes them great is their ability to create wonderful music in the first place. Have you heard a top artist saying "ppl, that song I've just played was made 100% with original presets" or "btw, that synth over there is X brand" while on stage? NO? Why do you think is that? Maybe 'cause...it simply DOESN'T MATTER?

[core]

I get inspired by the sounds of presets, and I treat them much like I would any other instrument: I simply use them to play my music. I don't see why using a preset of synth plug-in is any different from using my guitar.

Sure I tweak sounds a lot, and I do create my own sounds as well, but I don't think my music is inferior when I use presets out of the box. I play my guitar as is, and hey, I didn't create that sound myself. Virtual instruments are no different to me. They're all tools to shape my music.

[The_Hidden_Goose]

To be fair, some people who are listening to music do care about that. People who listen to Steve Reich might well dissect the compositional elements. Someone who listens to Alva Noto might be very interested in the process. That might be simply because the artist themselves put great emphasis on those things, so you could argue that as a responsive audience you might want to attempt to appreciate it on the artists terms.

But not every one will. And neither should they feel obligued.

[Crackbaby]

I don't think you can compare guitars with synth presets.. A guitar will sound different depending on who plays it .. picking technique, bends ... it all makes a difference!

[Lotuzia]

I don't think you can compare guitars with synth presets.. A guitar will sound different depending on who plays it .. picking technique, bends ... it all makes a difference!

Same with synthesizer and keyboards techniques Crackbaby, add to that real time controlers like PB, MW, PolyAFT, Expression pedal and Breath Control and I can assure you two synthetists are not at all likely to sound similar when playing the same musical instrument .... erf sorry ..... preset.

[zvenx]

strange enough I don't sound like Herbie Hancock when I play either the Piano or a synth that he owns.... try hard as I might
rsp

[idfpower]

I don't think you can compare guitars with synth presets.. A guitar will sound different depending on who plays it .. picking technique, bends ... it all makes a difference!

So guitars are played by humans and synths by robots Good to know

A synth is just an(other) instrument. It's the artist playing it that makes the difference. Or do you think the only thing that sets artists apart is the presets they're making/using - otherwise they'd all sound the same?

[The_Hidden_Goose]

All your presets are belong to us

[Crackbaby]

I don't think you can compare guitars with synth presets.. A guitar will sound different depending on who plays it .. picking technique, bends ... it all makes a difference!

So guitars are played by humans and synths by robots Good to know

A synth is just an(other) instrument. It's the artist playing it that makes the difference. Or do you think the only thing that sets artists apart is the presets they're making/using - otherwise they'd all sound the same?

Well, i expressed my opinion regarding two genres (psytrance and trance) and i don't think i've heard much pitchbending there. It's filter up and filter down and i bet it's often automated or lfo'd. So robot .. well, in this case, yeah.
If you start using mod-/pitchwheel, expression pedal and aftertouch, then you're moving into guitar territory i think.

I suppose there's also different kind of presets. Those that are "ready" and those that invites to further modding.

If you (anyone) make music and become happy, then i get all warm and fuzzy inside. Really!

[idfpower]

If you (anyone) make music and become happy, then i get all warm and fuzzy inside. Really!

That's what I was trying to say all along: make music & have fun "HOW" is not that important - whatever floats your boat is good