For a reminder on why not to post angry, please refer to the above post.
Nonetheless -
There's one thing I try never to do: talk about things I don't have experience with. I have been using sampled instruments since my first Ensoniq Mirage, now I use Gigastudio, and on the other hand, I've been fortunate to track with arguably the finest film and studio musicians on the planet, here in LA. In my experience, in the experience of working with directors and on projects professionally for 15 years, there's no comparison, whatsoever. That's my experience, upon which I depend to satisfy my clients, uphold my professional reputation, and make a living. So it's an opinion, albeit an informed one. There's no other place I can speak from.
That being said, I own Gigastudio! And I just had to use it for a TV gig, and a couple more upcoming. It has been an invaluable tool for communicating ideas to younger directors and nervous studio executives. But I also think the best use of electronic instruments is in contexts that precisely CAN'T be replicated by any other means; as truly unique instruments unto themselves.
I grew up "digital," and have no elitism about it - I use technology and virtual instruments every day, and love it. But there's absolutely no way I can pretend, after an entire career's worth so far of information to the contrary that sampled orchestras could ever hope to communicate musically what human beings do. In fact, the mere suggestion is so utterly dismissive of the mastery of craft exhibited by the world's best players, that I can't believe it's coming from a musician. I know one thing; it isn't coming from a virtuoso.
Anyway, if I'm full of it, and elitist, blah, blah, blah, then you have certainly nothing to fear from my ignorance and shortsightedness. Hardly seems to merit getting upset over. Clearly, you have nothing to fear.
Unless you put your virtual stuff up against my live stuff, that is.
Then again, we can always agree that wisdom - as in all things - is in the middle somewhere - and that electronic instruments have a unique place in music. However useful the approximation, thus valuable, ultimately that place just isn't in trying to replicate what it can never replace. That's where I come down.
_Mike
Nonetheless -
There's one thing I try never to do: talk about things I don't have experience with. I have been using sampled instruments since my first Ensoniq Mirage, now I use Gigastudio, and on the other hand, I've been fortunate to track with arguably the finest film and studio musicians on the planet, here in LA. In my experience, in the experience of working with directors and on projects professionally for 15 years, there's no comparison, whatsoever. That's my experience, upon which I depend to satisfy my clients, uphold my professional reputation, and make a living. So it's an opinion, albeit an informed one. There's no other place I can speak from.
That being said, I own Gigastudio! And I just had to use it for a TV gig, and a couple more upcoming. It has been an invaluable tool for communicating ideas to younger directors and nervous studio executives. But I also think the best use of electronic instruments is in contexts that precisely CAN'T be replicated by any other means; as truly unique instruments unto themselves.
I grew up "digital," and have no elitism about it - I use technology and virtual instruments every day, and love it. But there's absolutely no way I can pretend, after an entire career's worth so far of information to the contrary that sampled orchestras could ever hope to communicate musically what human beings do. In fact, the mere suggestion is so utterly dismissive of the mastery of craft exhibited by the world's best players, that I can't believe it's coming from a musician. I know one thing; it isn't coming from a virtuoso.
Anyway, if I'm full of it, and elitist, blah, blah, blah, then you have certainly nothing to fear from my ignorance and shortsightedness. Hardly seems to merit getting upset over. Clearly, you have nothing to fear.
Unless you put your virtual stuff up against my live stuff, that is.
Then again, we can always agree that wisdom - as in all things - is in the middle somewhere - and that electronic instruments have a unique place in music. However useful the approximation, thus valuable, ultimately that place just isn't in trying to replicate what it can never replace. That's where I come down.
_Mike