linuxaudio.org

On Sun, Sep 06, 2009 at 08:28:36AM -0400, drew Roberts wrote:

quoted text
> On Sunday 06 September 2009 07:36:23 Hartmut Noack wrote:

> > These presets do not need to be particular useful in a music

> > production but they should demonstrate the capabilies of the software to

> > easily enable the user to build his/her own custom, perfect sound with

> > as much ease as possible.

>

> I think I disagree with this. I think that the software should come with a

> nice library of *useful* presets or that there should be a community site

> where they can be easily had.

>

> The is nothing wrong with the software being fun for the kid in grade school

> who starts out going the preset route. Sure, let it be open ended for the

> serious artist but give the dabblers something to play with as well.

>

> Plus, we don't always know where people's talents lie and where they lack. We

> don't know if they are currently plugged in with a group who can supply the

> lack or if they would be at sea at the moment if not for the presets.

>

> Say they have an idea and aren't plugged into a group right now. They can't

> get the knack of sound design. But with good presets they can come close to

> their vision. They put out the "good enough" version using presets and it

> gets enough interest that someone with sound design talents hooks up with

> them and together they get the intended sound.

> >

I'm late to this party, but figured why not throw my US$0.02 as well.
In the last 4 months or so, I have more or less abandoned my only partially-successful attempts to be any kind of sound designer or synthesist, and have instead gone "back to basics", studying theory and technique, using "classic" sounds and patches. And, incidentally, getting lots of work doing that too. So, basically, I'm relying on the old workhorses like Rhodes, Clavinet (thanks Fons for the auto-wah!), Hammond B3, and that fantastic PMI Steinway piano for LinuxSampler (thanks Julien for the tip!).
I did a gig Tuesday night where I played the (real, not synthesized) B3 almost all night. It's a fascinating and deep instrument, totally analog, and I'm finding I'm only beginning to discover its possibilities.
Last night I worked as a side-man and played Rhodes and Clav most of the night, occasionally firing up AZR-3 on a couple tunes and a Vox Continental soundfont for a Fela-like Afrobeat song (haven't tried Connie yet, but will).
The Steinway piano Gigasample is also very deep and there are lots of subtleties I'm learning for the first time to hear, let alone how to actually control and use (having only in the last few months started to take piano lessons).
So, in short, not everyone is a synthesist or a sound designer. I'm very glad that those who are good at it publish and share (or sell, in the case of Gigasamples) their patches for others to use.  Presets-- and databases of patches, samples, and instruments-- are essential for those of us who are just playing instruments rather than designing them.
-ken

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