KVR Audio

Bunnyboy · Post by **Bunnyboy** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:59 pm

[Just wondering]

All those expensive synths now available for not very much (well, relativly!), all can be done by one person in a computer - from writing to mastering, and expensive time in a studio does not have to be taken into account anymore.

Can we (well, rather you) do a record like "Vienna" by Ultravox, or "Pacific State" by 808 state on your computer?

Of course this is quite an ephermeral question - after all, why would you want to do that?

But considering that other "traditional" musical instruments - guitars, drums, woodwind, brass - have kept their value over the years - and indeed increased with value in some cases, could an almost exact copy of, for say, the two records above, be made for very little money nowadays?

[/Just wondering]

donkey tugger · Post by **donkey tugger** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:06 pm

At a guess, £8.34

Right, to the hostelry!

Bunnyboy · Post by **Bunnyboy** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:11 pm

donkey tugger wrote:At a guess, £8.34

I was thinking 50p and a bottle of pop, but there you go

ebinary · Post by **ebinary** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:12 pm

Bunnyboy wrote:[Just wondering]

Can we (well, rather you) do a record like "Vienna" by Ultravox, or "Pacific State" by 808 state on your computer?

[/Just wondering]

Sure, you could easily do some 80s album exclusively in software + one excellent mic + good song writing + a great vocalist. However, Ultravox had lots of guitar work, if I recall. I think guitar is a must (although Yaz pretty much did without).

Eric

SuitcaseOfLizards · Post by **SuitcaseOfLizards** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:16 pm

Bunnyboy wrote:[Just wondering]

All those expensive synths now available for not very much (well, relativly!), all can be done by one person in a computer - from writing to mastering, and expensive time in a studio does not have to be taken into account anymore.

Can we (well, rather you) do a record like "Vienna" by Ultravox, or "Pacific State" by 808 state on your computer?

Of course this is quite an ephermeral question - after all, why would you want to do that?

But considering that other "traditional" musical instruments - guitars, drums, woodwind, brass - have kept their value over the years - and indeed increased with value in some cases, could an almost exact copy of, for say, the two records above, be made for very little money nowadays?

[/Just wondering]

I suspect that anyone with a decently equipped DAW and a pile of soft synths/effects could do it right now for cheap. I've come close to duplicating a lot of older Tangerine Dream stuff on my weak-arse computer with Orion Platinum and a couple of extra soft synths, and the cost of the gear alone back in the day would be more than I make!

Of course, cost is only a small part of the equation - having talent also helps, although maybe not with some old synthpop stuff

Bunnyboy · Post by **Bunnyboy** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:18 pm

ebinary wrote: Sure, you could easily do some 80s album exclusively in software + one excellent mic + good song writing + a great vocalist. However, Ultravox had lots of guitar work, if I recall. I think guitar is a must (although Yaz pretty much did without).

Eric

Probably a bad example then. An exclsively synth/electronic record is what I meant.

I think "Sex Dwarf" by Soft Cell is totally synth based.

Totally on the great vocalist and a great way to capture their performance. And, a bad workman blames his tools

xoxos · Post by **xoxos** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:11 pm

do me a big favour.. make a note to remember that i said "hahahahahahahahaha.." a lot in response to this.

just bookmark that sentiment for now, kay? i'll release the song soon..

intel · Post by **intel** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:12 pm

ebinary wrote:However, Ultravox had lots of guitar work, if I recall.

and violin.

but all that doesn't matter cos I can't sing like Midge Ure.

Bunnyboy · Post by **Bunnyboy** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:21 pm

xoxos wrote:do me a big favour.. make a note to remember that i said "hahahahahahahahaha.." a lot in response to this.

just bookmark that sentiment for now, kay? i'll release the song soon..

Still waiting

pHz · Post by **pHz** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:33 pm

if youre talking a pure synth 80s album (human league / heaven 17 / early depeche mode) then you could probably make it today for the cost of your PC and a host and a reasonable mic ...

(just wish my credit card understood that ... )

slainte

rob

Steven West · Post by **Steven West** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 2:54 am

I think it was Bones that did a quick demo of Ultravox's 'Sleepwalk' to show off one of the synths he made with SE. I was amazed how good it sounded in sound and music. It was missing the vocals - but everything else sounded just as good as Vienna did to me.

But I still think if you wanted to make ANY type of CD 'legitimately' today, it's still going to run pretty expensive? The synths and effects aren't that much, or maybe can be done for free if you know what to get and how to use/make them. But you still have to get a good PC, something like Orion, or Cubase, a good keyboard and soundcard and microphone and headphones. Mastering software like WaveLab, and WAVES plugs to get some good effects and such. And even if you get all that, make a hit CD - you should get it re-mastered (just in case you missed something?) and replicated - say 500 copies. This may all sound expensive still, and I imagine a price tag of $10,000 for EVERYTHING would be a good guesstimate. But considering Ultravox may have spent well over $200,000 for everything to do Vienna with with - gear, studio, albums... We down to 2.5% of the cost now. Without a big record contract, and years of playing dives and dumps.

I always remember the saying "No matter what job you get, you will never be paid enough to ever buy the company." Well, in music - that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

dystonia_ek · Post by **dystonia_ek** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 11:18 am

Bunnyboy wrote:[Just wondering]

All those expensive synths now available for not very much (well, relativly!), all can be done by one person in a computer - from writing to mastering, and expensive time in a studio does not have to be taken into account anymore.

Can we (well, rather you) do a record like "Vienna" by Ultravox, or "Pacific State" by 808 state on your computer?

Of course this is quite an ephermeral question - after all, why would you want to do that?

But considering that other "traditional" musical instruments - guitars, drums, woodwind, brass - have kept their value over the years - and indeed increased with value in some cases, could an almost exact copy of, for say, the two records above, be made for very little money nowadays?

[/Just wondering]

Do you mean INCLUDING mastering, pressing, printing the covers, etc, or just the songs?

CypherOne · Post by **CypherOne** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 11:21 am

50P in the electric meter.

The cost to make a 80s/90s electronic record nowadays?