With multi-track recording programs like GarageBand, Pro Tools, and Logic becoming nearly ubiquitous, it’s easier than ever to take your own music all the way from first inspiration to finished audio file without leaving your room. But just because these high-powered tools are available, it doesn’t mean we all know how to use them well.
One big stumbling block that many up-and-comers encounter is learning to deal with virtual instruments (VIs) – the sampled pianos, guitars, drums, strings, and synths – that you can trigger from your keyboard, via a MIDI connection, and record internally in these programs.
Given that many such sounds often come standard with recording software, it can be tremendous fun to lay down a virtual drum groove, record a virtual bass line on top, add a virtual organ pad, and so on. Regardless of how cool your composition is, though, and how inspired your performance may be, the end result can still end up sounding mechanical and rather lifeless. But what’s to be done?
Making your virtual instruments breathe with the music, sound more realistic, and convey the true emotion of the song is a craft unto itself. To help you bring your own pre-packaged sounds to life – regardless of whether you’re using GarageBand or Pro Tools, Logic, or Digital Performer – here are some tips from the pros.
1. KNOW THE REAL INSTRUMENT
“It all starts with thinking like a player,” says Ronen Landa, a composer who has had his music played on the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and MTV. “If your virtual trumpet doesn’t take breaths like a real trumpet player would, it will ring false. Understanding the limitations and capabilities of the actual instrument will allow you to create a more realistic representation. One hint – despite your ten fingers on the keyboard, most guitars only have six strings!”
Emilio Palame – a pianist and composer who has worked with Peggy Lee and Chuck Mangione, and has composed and arranged for Nickelodeon shows – agrees. “For horns, think unison lines or octaves, and then maybe two- or three-part harmony at the most,” he says. “Unless you’re trying to emulate a big band, in which case thicker chords can possibly work.”
2. KNOW YOUR VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS
One of the best ways to make your VIs sound natural is to spend lots of time playing with them before you hit record. The more you absorb the nuances and idiosyncrasies of your new virtual instrument, the easier it will be for you to bend that instrument to your musical will once the red light is on.
Getting to know your VIs means, among other things, paying attention to how both the beginning and the end of a note sounds. “To make a solo track sound natural, you have to place your notes carefully, so as not to unnaturally cut off the previous note,” says John Montalbano, a bassist and composer who has recorded with Public Enemy and composed music for Comedy Central, VH1, and Fuse. “You’re kind of limited to the timing of the VI samples you have to work with, so it’s very important to know your samples.”
Knowing your VIs also means knowing their strengths and weaknesses – and specifically, how to maximize the former and cover up the latter. “For a pad instrument that is underlying the main focus of the track, it’s not quite as critical to have a pristine sounding virtual instrument,” says Montalbano. “It’s more important to have the flexibility to adjust the timbre or tone quality of that virtual instrument so it sits well in the mix. If you’re using it as a solo instrument, the focus of the listener will be on that instrument, so it’s much more important to use a sound that has greater fidelity and detail, and to spend more time making it sound realistic.”
Finally, knowing your virtual instrument means knowing all of the internal tools and parameters you can use to tweak its sound. “Many VIs now offer different mic positions, tonal variations, modulation expressions, and so on,” says Landa. “Use all of these tools to help achieve a realistic sound that balances well with the rest of your track.”
3. AUTOMATE DYNAMICS
“Watch out for long sustained notes,” warns Landa. “They can trap you in a vast expanse of boring dynamics, so handle with care.”
Indeed, Palame says that, when it comes to horns and strings, the most glaringly unrealistic thing you can do is create static tones. “You don’t want a note just to sit there,” he advises. “That’s not how people play. Use crescendos and decrescendos as much as possible. To get more realistic sounds, do a lot of volume automation. Even if you’re only changing volume a slight amount, it just makes the instrument breathe more.”
If you have a recording control surface attached to your computer via USB or FireWire, you may be able to simply move a fader up and down as the track plays back in order to automate volume changes. And even for more basic recording programs like GarageBand, you can also draw in volume curves below the track itself to add more realistic ebbs and flows to your music. Be sure to check out your recording software’s instruction manual for specifics.
4. BEWARE CUT AND PASTE
Whether you’re working with repeating drum parts or bass lines, string pads or guitar leads, adding variation to each repetition of a part can help your music sound less mechanical. “Playing the lines into your recording software, rather than cutting and pasting them, can help you achieve some subtle variations in performance,” says Landa.
Palame points out that cutting and pasting when it comes to drum parts can sometimes work – but only if done carefully. A dynamic and well-crafted four-bar phrase, for example, can be repeated and still sound fresh. “Each of those four bars has to be different when it comes to the velocities of each drum hit, especially the hi-hat and kick,” he said. “If the snare is only on the beackbeats, consistent velocity there is good because you want the backbeat to be fat.”
And while four bars is usually enough to trick the mind, don’t be lazy as you program the drum hits for your repeating phrase. “Be sure to do slight variations of open and closed hi-hats, and add modest fills to transition to the next section. Of course, you should think about adding cymbal crashes for accents and on the downbeat of each new section.”
5. RECORD IN MIDI, PROCESS IN AUDIO
“Convert your virtual instrument MIDI tracks to audio before applying effects,” says Montalbano. “Some virtual instrument suites have effects built in where you can add reverb, compression, and other effects while still in the MIDI state, but I prefer to convert before applying effects. It just gives me a better picture of what the audio sounds like overall.”
Palame agrees: “Virtual instruments are easier to process once they’re in audio,” he says. “I always wait until the end to do that, though, so if there are any note changes I have to do, I don’t have to go back and process things more than once.”
6. PAN FOR REALISM
Where you pan certain parts (where you place them from far left to far right) can make a big difference in how realistic a virtual instrument may sound. “With strings, pan the violins and solo violins more to the left, violas to the center, and celli and basses more to the right,” recommends Palame. “That’s how they would appear on an orchestra stage. If you put a stereo mic in front of a real orchestra, that’s how you would hear things.”
Quick tip: if you’re not sure how to pan any given virtual instrument, pop on a favorite album that features that instrument prominently and listen to where it appears in the recording, left to right. Placing your own virtual instrument in the same space will be a great place to start as you build your own track.
7. CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLUG-INS
In addition to the sounds that come included with any given piece of recording software, you can easily beef up your VI arsenal by purchasing plug-ins – add-on software programs that can give you more sounds to work with. There are tons of useful virtual instrument plug-ins available, and more being developed on a regular basis.
“For rhythm section sounds, the basic two that everybody should have are Spectrasonics Stylus RMX for drums and Trilian for bass,” recommends Palame. “As far as keyboards are concerned, Synthogy Ivory is the best virtual acoustic piano I’ve heard. Both the EVP 88 that comes in Logic and the Elektrik Piano from Native Instruments are great for Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos.”
“Some of the packages out there have fantastic detail,” continues Montalbano. “For classical and strings, I use the IK Multimedia Miroslav package, mostly. They even have samples of the violinist breathing!” For percussion, Montalbano recommends software from Toontrack, a company that creates a popular line of drum-based plug-ins.
To help you choose the right plug-in for your music, many manufacturers offer sound samples on their websites; some also make demo versions of the software available for free download. Getting opinions from the larger music community is also helpful – publications like Electronic Musician, Sound on Sound, and Keyboard regularly publish in-depth reviews of VI plug-ins, and online music production discussion forums are also great places to mine for opinions and recommendations.
It’s worth noting that some VI plug-ins are significantly pricier than others (some high-end orchestral VIs cost thousands of dollars), and not all plug-ins work with all pieces of recording software, so make sure that your recording setup, and bank account, can accommodate the VI of your dreams before you buy.
8. APPLY EFFECTS … CAREFULLY
Whether you’re working with digital effects inside your recording software, or running your audio out to external effects processors, treat your virtual instrument audio like you would treat a live recording, recommends Landa. “I EQ each individual instrument for a final mix,” he says. “Sometimes I’ll run much or all of an ensemble through a single reverb to create the feeling that all the instruments are in the same room.”
Montalbano also recommends adding custom reverb to your virtual instruments, and using another powerful tool as well: “You may want to use some compression to bring out the nuances of the VI,” he says.
While effects can make your virtual instrument sounds pop and sizzle, they can also get in the way. “Some arrangers add chorus to virtual strings to try to make them sound more real,” says Palame. “It can create an interesting sound and texture for sure, but it does not make strings sound more realistic at all.” For horns, Palame recommends a specific effect: “Add a slight, 180-millisecond slapback delay,” he says. “It gives them more ambience and impact, especially if you’re using shorter notes.
Disc Makers’ regular contributor Michael Gallant’s debut trio album Completely received a four-star review from DownBeat magazine and a five-star review from Critical Jazz, which stated: “This, my friends, is the future of jazz. Fresh, invigorating, progressive – there are simply not enough positive adjectives to list here.” Learn more, download through iTunes, jam along with the new JamBandit app, or purchase through CD Baby. Follow Michael on Twitter at @Michael_Gallant or on Facebook.
Related Posts
The wide world of licensed music in video games
Going mobile: A look at music making apps
Placing your music in video games: advice from Halo composer Tom Salta
Virtual synths and the art of imperfection
MIDI FAQ for beginners
Using a MIDI Controller In Your Home Studio
I really like your writing style, good information, regards for posting :D. “Inquiry is fatal to certainty.” by Will Durant.
Great informative article.
Love this information, especially the part about dealing with VIs.
Hi, i have a question … can I use Trilian Bass connected with my instrument in line with Cubase ?? or it only works with MIDI keyboard?
Really instructive as well as superb structure of articles or blog posts, now that’s fantastic.
excellent issues altogether, you just gained a logo new reader.
What would you recommend in regards to your submit
that you just made some days ago? Any certain?
You really make it appear really easy together with your
presentation however I in finding this topic to be actually something which I feel I’d by no
means understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely huge for me.
I am taking a look ahead for your next submit, I will try to get the hang of
it!
It’s actually a great and helpful piece of info.
I’m glad that you simply shared this useful information with
us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Meanwhile, fluctuating gas prices, sky rocketing vehicle costs, and far less cargo volume has only
pressured delivery companies to simplify costs by displacing
more of them onto drivers. Trees are a big help when it comes to defense strategy.
The Westmount real estate market features many century old properties.
If some one desires expert view concerning running a blog after that i
suggest him/her to pay a quick visit this webpage, Keep up the nice work.
I was recommended this web site by way of
my cousin. I’m no longer sure whether this put up is written by way of him as no one else
recognize such distinctive approximately my difficulty. You’re amazing!
Thank you!
Great weblog right here! Additionally your website lots up fast!
What web host are you using? Can I am getting your affiliate hyperlink
on your host? I desire my web site loaded up as fast as
yours lol
Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or
did you download it from somewhere? A theme like
yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog jump out.
Please let me know where you got your design. Thanks a lot
Whether capitol roofing your needs are. This can lead to dents on your metal roof.
You will find basically four primary kinds of reflective roofing material.
Some contractors don’t like to do your research and inquire about experience
and references before hiring a contractor that supplies you
with quality results.
When someone writes an piece of writing he/she keeps the idea of a user in his/her brain that how a user can understand it.
Thus that’s why this post is amazing. Thanks!
Hello my family member! I wish to say that this article is
awesome, nice written and include almost all
significant infos. I would like to peer extra posts like this .
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I’ve truly read through anything like
this before. So great to find somebody with genuine thoughts
on this issue. Seriously.. thank you for starting
this up. This site is one thing that is required on the
internet, someone with some originality!
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more
of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.
If some one wants to be updated with most up-to-date technologies afterward he must be pay a quick visit this web
site and be up to date all the time.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right
here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you
wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably
come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this
hike.
Jim Thompson House is an attractive traditional Thai house that is a repository of antiques and Thai handicraft.
Win Motoesai are motorcycle taxis stands that accommodate one or two passengers which are convenient
for shorter journeys. Their specials are the Flamenco
Nights on Mondays, and the jam sessions on Sundays which are the people’s
favorite.
Good site you have got here.. It’s hard to find excellent writing like yours these days.
I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
Good post. I am dealing with some of these issues
as well..
Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against
hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve
worked hard on. Any tips?
Each of these jobs capitol roofing is necessary and can be
manufactured in numerous finishes, textures, and colours.
These organizations are committed to the overseeing of professional service delivery, and
capitol roofing it’s fire-proof too. Flooring2Roof
com to learn more. Dura-Ply Roofing in Addison, IL, roofing project or
roof maintenance is NOW! But what If you don’t it’s possible you’ll find your roof
failing an inspection. The good thing is that most of the times we’re not in a position to identify the leak early, you will also be able to
help until the weather subsides.
If you wish for to grow your know-how only keep visiting this web page and be updated with the most recent information posted here.
This paragraph will assist the internet users for building up new web site or even a blog from start to end.
Hello i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting
anyplace, when i read this paragraph i thought i could also make comment due to this
good post.
Hey there, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your blog in Opera, it looks fine
but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, terrific blog!
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your site.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable
for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out
a designer to create your theme? Exceptional work!
If some one needs to be updated with latest technologies therefore he must be go to see this website and be up to date daily.
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative.
I am going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you
continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Unlike news delivered by these other media, news that appears on blogs
does not have to travel through a series of editors
and administrators before it reaches the public eye.
Card associations are also gung-ho for contactless payments.
You could eventually find yourself in front of large sums of money heading into your account in no
time.
Hi i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anywhere, when i read this paragraph i thought i could also create comment due to this brilliant post.
Pretty nice post. I juswt stumbled upon your
blog and wanted to say that I have trully enjoyed surfing
around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing too your rss feed
andd I hope you write again soon!
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your
sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark
your website to come back later on. Many thanks
Google Voice is not, a carrier replacer(Welll at least not yet).Also,
the team has to have an accredited professor heading the team before it can be fully registered for the challenge.
In short they gave me all the information I needed to know to generate my sales strategy for the coming year.
I drop a comment whenever I appreciate a article on a site or if I
have something to contribute to the discussion. It is caused
by the passion communicated in the article I looked
at. And on this post Using virtual instruments: Eight home recording tips to make
your tracks sing – Disc Makers Echoes. I was actually excited enough to drop a comment 😉 I actually do have a few questions for you if you do not mind.
Could it be just me or does it appear like a few of these comments come across like written by brain dead people?
😛 And, if you are posting on additional social sites, I would like to keep up
with you. Would you make a list the complete urls of your community pages
like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?
Thiѕ text iѕ invaluable. Ԝhen can I find out more?
I quite like reading a post that will make men and women think.
Also, thank you for allowing for me to comment!
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who has
been doing a little research on this. And he actually bought me breakfast due to the fact
that I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword
this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to discuss this topic here
on your site.
Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog website?
The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed!
Very helpful info particularly the last part 🙂
I care for such information much. I was looking for this particular info for a very long time.
Thank you and best of luck.
fantastic issues altogether, you just gained a new reader.
What could you recommend in regards to your publish that you simply made a few days in the past?
Any sure?
Phuket is aptly termed the pearl of Thailand and is a traveler’s paradise.
Search for credible reviews and apt testimonials to support your decision as you do not want t o
go there and find a completely different situation. Phuket
villas are located around many Phuket top beaches.
I enjoy reading through a post that can make people think.
Also, thank you for allowing for me to comment!
Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers?
I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any recommendations?
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long
as I provide credit and sources back to your site?
My blog site is in the very same niche as yours and my
visitors would truly benefit from a lot of the information you provide here.
Please let me know if this okay with you. Cheers!
Hi there to every one, the contents existing at this web site are genuinely remarkable
for people knowledge, well, keep up the good work fellows.
Іt’s amazing to pay а visit tɦis site
ɑnd reading the views of аll colleagues oon thе topic ߋf tɦіs post, աhile
I am also zealous оf ցetting know-how.
Superb post however I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this topic?
I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
Many thanks!
You should be a part of a contest for one of the greatest sites online.
I will highly recommend this website!
Greetings! Quick question that’s totally off topic.
Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My weblog looks
weird when viewing from my apple iphone. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to correct this problem.
If you have any suggestions, please share. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your efforts and I will be
waiting for your next write ups thank you once again.
Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly
useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back
and help others like you helped me.
If some one needs expert view about blogging and site-building after that i propose him/her to pay a quick visit this website, Keep up the good work.
Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to check out your blog on my iphone during lunch break.
I really like the info you present here and can’t
wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at
how quick your blog loaded on my cell phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways,
wonderful site!
Valuable info. Fortunate me I discovered your web
site by accident, and I am stunned why this
accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked
it.
I know this website offers quality dependent posts and extra material, is
there any other website which provides such stuff in quality?
I will right away take hold of your rss as I can’t find your
email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve
any? Please let me know in order that I may subscribe.
Thanks.
Very good information. Lucky me I recently found your site
by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve saved as a favorite for later!
This is really fascinating, You’re a very professional blogger.
I have joined your feed and stay up for in the hunt for extra of
your wonderful post. Additionally, I’ve shared your web site in my
social networks
Thanks on your marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you happen to be
a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and may
come back later on. I want to encourage yourself
to continue your great posts, have a nice afternoon!
Wow, incredible weblog format! How long have you
been blogging for? you made running a blog look easy.
The total glance of your site is magnificent, let alone the content
material!
Hi! This is my first visit to your blog! We are
a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a
community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You
have done a wonderful job!
I am actually glad to read this webpage posts which includes tons
of helpful data, thanks for providing these information.
This makes access for regular maintenance a bit more common choice in Milwaukee replacement windows capitol roofing require
being developed a certain way.
Thanks to my father who told me on the topic of this website, this webpage is really awesome.
Hi there everyone, it’s my first pay a visit at this web page, and article is actually fruitful designed for me, keep up posting these types
of articles or reviews.
Good day I am so thrilled I found your site, I really found you by
error, while I was searching on Digg for something else,
Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a fantastic post and a all round enjoyable blog
(I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the
moment but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot
more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.
Ridiculous quiest there. What happened after? Thanks!
Heya i’m for the first time here. I found
this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot.
I hope to give something back and aid others like you helped me.
great issues altogether, you just gained a emblem new reader.
What might you recommend about your put up that you just made a few days ago?
Any certain?
Wow, fantastic weblog layout! How long have you ever been blogging for?
you make blogging look easy. The total look of your site is excellent, let alone the content material!
wonderful issues altogether, you simply gained a new
reader. What may you suggest about your publish that you simply made
a few days ago? Any positive?
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.
After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
After I originally commented I seem to have clicked the -Notify me
when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on each time a comment is added I recieve four emails with the exact
same comment. Is there a way you are able to remove me from that service?
Thanks a lot!
Hi there! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa?
My site discusses a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each
other. If you might be interested feel free to shoot me an email.
I look forward to hearing from you! Terrific blog by the way!
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post.
Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
Due to the inherently energy efficient and ecologically
friendly nature coupled with the ease in installation, metal roofing must
protect the family from fire, insects, and decaying. 10 Safety measures and quality programs need to be
suspicious of a roofing system capitol roofing which collects and diverts
rain water away from the roof.
Hello are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new tto
the blog world but I’m trying to get started and
create my own. Do you need any html coding expertise to make
your own blog? Any help woud be greatly appreciated!
Right on your user account. Get a lien release. Are They Insured You also need to cover the capitol roofing edges.
Nevertheless, without sufficient maintenance and regular care,
your roof should be chosen before material.
Alternately, it is often so expensive that just the roof may last
longer than others. Why choose anything else?
hi!,I really like your writing very a lot! share we communicate extra
approximately your post on AOL? I require a specialist on this space to resolve my
problem. May be that is you! Having a look forward to see you.
I am in fact glad to glance at this web site posts which consists of tons of valuable facts,
thanks for providing such statistics.
Awesome! Its genuinely amazing paragraph, I have got much clear idea about
from this article.
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you really know what you’re
talking approximately! Bookmarked. Please also
visit my website =). We may have a link alternate agreement among us
Having read this I thought it was rather enlightening.
I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this short article together.
I once again find myself personally spending way too much time both reading and leaving
comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!
If you desire to grow your familiarity only keep visiting
this web site and be updated with the most recent
news posted here.
Thanks for finally talking about >Using virtual instruments:
Eight home recording tips to make your tracks sing – Disc Makers Echoes <Loved it!
I pay a quick visit daily a few web sites
and sites to read articles or reviews, except this weblog gives quality
based articles.
My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s
to be just what I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers
to write content for yourself? I wouldn’t mind composing a post
or elaborating on some of the subjects you write concerning
here. Again, awesome web log!
What a data of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious experience about unexpected emotions.
Hello There. I discovered your blog using msn. This is a really neatly written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and return to learn more
of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.
Hello there I am so thrilled I found your weblog, I really found you
by accident, while I was browsing on Aol for something else, Anyways I am here
now and would just like to say thanks for a remarkable post
and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through
it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will
be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the fantastic
job.
Nice blog right here! Also your site lots up fast! What host are
you the use of? Can I get your associate hyperlink for your host?
I desire my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this
blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times
it’s very hard to get that “perfect balance”
between superb usability and appearance. I must say you’ve done a very
good job with this. In addition, the blog
loads very quick for me on Firefox. Superb Blog!
Undeniably believe that which you stated.
Your favorite justification seemed to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of.
I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people think about worries that they plainly do not know about.
You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing
without having side-effects , people could take a signal.
Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
My brother suggested I might like this blog. He used to be entirely right.
This post truly made my day. You can not believe just how so much
time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
This blog was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something that helped me.
Many thanks!
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed!
Very useful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information much.
I was looking for this particular info for a long time.
Thank you and good luck.
For most recent information you have to pay a visit internet and on internet I found this web page as a
most excellent web site for most recent updates.
Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after browsing through
some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be
book-marking and checking back often!
Can I simply just say what a comfort to discover an individual who truly
knows what they’re talking about on the net. You actually understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
More people need to check this out and understand this side of your story.
It’s surprising you’re not more popular given that you certainly have the gift.
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you need to publish more on this topic, it might not be a
taboo matter but usually people don’t speak about such issues.
To the next! Kind regards!!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and
wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing
your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing
to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read everthing at
one place.
My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be
precisely what I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs?
I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on many of
the subjects you write about here. Again, awesome site!
When I originally commented I seem to have clicked the -Notify
me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time
a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the exact same
comment. There has to be a way you can remove me
from that service? Many thanks!
Great post. I was checking constantly this weblog and I am
impressed! Very useful info specifically the final section 🙂 I take care
of such info much. I was looking for this certain info for a very long
time. Thank you and good luck.
Hi to every single one, it’s genuinely a fastidious for me to pay a quick visit this web site, it contains
valuable Information.
My brother recommended I would possibly like this web site.
He was totally right. This publish truly made my day. You cann’t imagine just how a lot time I had
spent for this information! Thanks!
Everything is very open with a very clear explanation of the issues.
It was definitely informative. Your site is very useful.
Many thanks for sharing!
I am acually delighted to read this webpage posts which contains plenty of valuable information, thanks
for providing such data.
What’s up, just wanted to mention, I liked this post.
It was funny. Keep on posting!
Hey There. I discovered your weblog the usage of msn. That is an extremely smartly written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read extra of your
useful info. Thank you for the post. I’ll definitely return.
Thank you a lot for shqring this with all of us you actually realize what you are speaking about!
Bookmarked. Please also discuss with my web site =). We may
have a link change arrangement between us
Pretty section of content. I simply stumbled upon our website and in accession capital to claim that I acquire in fact
loved account your weblog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing for your augment or even I achievement you get right of entry to consisttently quickly.
Asking questions are actually fastidious thing
if you are not understanding anything completely, but this piece of writing offers fastidious understanding even.
Hello! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have
done a wonderful job!
I like the valuable information you provide in your
articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
I’m quite sure I will learn many new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the next!
Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up fast!
What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Hello, after reading this awesome piece of writing i am also delighted to share
my know-how here with mates.
My relatives always say that I am wasting my time here at
web, however I know I am getting experience everyday by reading
such fastidious posts.
My family every time say that I am killing my time here
at net, except I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading such nice content.
What’s up to all, it’s actually a nice for
me to go to see this site, it consists of important Information.
Can I simply say what a relief to find an individual who truly knows
what they’re discussing on the internet.
You actually understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
More people must check this out and understand this side
of your story. I was surprised that you’re not
more popular since you most certainly have the gift.
Great beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for
a weblog web site? The account helped me a appropriate deal.
I have been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast provided vibrant transparent idea
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed!
Very useful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such info much.
I was looking for this certain information for a long time.
Thank you and best of luck.
Thanks in favor of sharing such a pleasant opinion, post is fastidious,
thats why i have read it completely
Thank you for some other informative blog. Where else
may just I am getting that kind of information written in such an ideal method?
I have a mission that I am just now working on, and I’ve been at the look out for such info.
Incredible points. Outstanding arguments. Keep up the
great spirit.
What i do not realize is actually how you are no longer really a lot more well-favored
than you might be now. You are very intelligent. You know thus considerably in relation to
this topic, produced me for my part believe it from numerous numerous
angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated except it
is something to do with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent.
All the time handle it up!
Pretty section of content. I simply stumbled upon your web site and
in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact loved account your
blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing in your feeds or even I
success you get entry to persistently quickly.
Very descriptive post, I enjoyed that bit. Will there be a
part 2?
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment.
I believe that you should write more on this topic, it
may not be a taboo matter but typically folks don’t speak about these subjects.
To the next! Cheers!!
I don’t even know how I stopped up here, but I assumed this publish used to be great.
I do not understand who you might be but certainly you are going to a well-known blogger
for those who aren’t already. Cheers!
It’s in fact very complex in this full of activity life to listen news on TV, thus I only use internet for that purpose, and get the most up-to-date information.
If you would like to improve your experience just keep visiting this website and be updated with the most recent news update posted
here.
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you so much, However I am
having issues with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I can’t subscribe to it.
Is there anyone else having similar RSS problems?
Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much
about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you could do with some pics to drive
the message home a bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog.
An excellent read. I will certainly be back.
516922 810867This internet internet site could be a walk-through for all with the details you wanted in regards to this and didn
Also, I forgot to mention, the reason behind making different tracks for all the drum sections is obviously so you can tweak their sounds optimal as well. Might be obvious but I believe many people don’t do this, while it really helps a lot, even if its just volume adjusting. You might need to throw them all over 1 bus to strap on a compressor over the whole package though, if you wanna delve in really deep and do it all right.
When talking about doing software drums correctly, what I found is that doubling them with different samples can make your drum sound more “full”. What I was working on is basically a pretty heavy rock song, in between metal and rock, and I used a Drumkit from hell, and a Studio tight kit for the bass kicks and snares. (I always make different tracks for all the drum sections, i.e. snare, bass, toms, cymbals, high hats.) I only doubled the bass and snares, and I did it somewhat in a 70% drumkit from hell and 30% studio tight kit volume ratio. You’ll need to tweak out the volumes a bit, but when done right it really sounds a lot more like a real drum sound than only one of the two (software) kits alone.
First of all , Thank you for suggesting these awesome Virtual Instrument ,
I thought NI was the best (They have great Ads & … they are Germans) But seeing IK multimedia is just … wow !! Great Strings Indeed !
About the debate here of making virtual instrument sound real… it depends on what you are playing.. if u r more into techno , Trance stuff ..then that wouldn’t be an important issue u just have to have a good sound.
But if you are into Other music category like rock, metal, jazz, fusion etc… having a real sound is PRETTY ESSENTIAL .
Average listener might not differentiate BUT he/she will appreciate a piece of music with real sounding then with “plastic/unreal” sound although he dont know why …Thanks again for this great Article
Are you interested in popularity in China?
http://88tc88com.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/the-ministry-of-culture-is-not-letting-approval-go/
Are your songs legal there?
We help you!
I am not a pro but have worked with VI’s for a very long time now. I was not surprised when I read this article and found that I had learned all these techniques on my own by just being incredibly obsessed with trying to produce a realistic sound. Being a drummer and keyboard player it was fairly easy to rationalize the specific techniques for those instrument groups. However, bass, guitar and horns proved to be more challenging. If you already are a player you can use your knowledge to more accurately emulate a true performance. If not, you must really try to “think” about what the instrument should be doing. I basically define what I do as “programming” even though I actually play the parts on my midi keyboard. The fun begins when I do the detailed editing which includes moving notes, changing velocities, adding volume changes etc and yes, applying a minimal amount of quantizing to tighten up the rhythm tracks. Hey, why not use the tools to make the music sound as good as possible; especially if you are not that technically inclined. Just be sure not to overdo it. Also, depending on what software you use, (I use Nuendo) the effects that can applied directly to the midi tracks are truly amazing. I have found no need to convert to audio until my processor gets maxed out.
All in all, a pretty accurate article for those who pursue making VI’s as realistic as possible. If you go to my website, click on samples and you will hear that I know a little about using VI’s. 🙂 -Greg Roz
Want a free tip from Michael Jacksons producer Bruce: ” Send the samples or VI to a pair of studio monitors. Put a stereo microphone a few feet away and record the “live” sound back to the DAW. Then mix the live sound with the VI track. Just remember to cut the low ends out to take out rumbling.” Here’s one tip from me what I do. Real-time recording of everything. Rendering don’t do it for me. It just sound tighter and better in real time. I discovered this with Cubase a few years ago. I use Nuendo in my studio and the grouping of tracks just rocks. Cubase 5 can do almost everything Nuendo can. One last tip from me. If you feel you’re tracks sounds stiff and mechanic there’s one way around that bump. Manually move the tracks a little bit out of sync to get a more live feeling. Be careful though, less is more. Have fun!
I have used these techniques as well and they do work nicely. I would like to add a few additional tips to this: Cubase 6 has better rendering than 5; Mixing real instruments with virtual instruments works as well as micing your VIs from the speaker, but with different results; If your program has tempo detection, you can take a quantized VI guitar, bass or drum (or mixture) track and render it to an audio file. Then do a tempo detection on the audio file. The tempo detection will base itself from slightly irregular transients of the audio file. Then quantize all additional virtual instruments to that tempo track for a more natural, yet tight sound.
First of all, I hate the term “virtual instrument”. Anything that creates a sound that can be played musically, is a real instrument! Besides that side note, what the article doesn’t talk about is the alternative to making your “virtual instruments” sound more real. Why not make your sounds less real sounding? After all, your “virtual trumpet” is not a trumpet, period! You can do interesting things that a real player could not do, or add effects to alter the sound all together, to create something novel and original.
I agree. When I record electronic instruments I make them obviously electronic. I don’t like trying to mimic acoustic instruments. I say embrace the electronic aspect of things and run with it. It’s also a genre thing, though.
Even though you might not like it, they are still going to be categorized as a virtual instrument which you have to use the keyboard to play with because people that play real instruments are not going to say that you play real instruments because that wouldnt be true. Thats like you saying to somebody that you play instruments but you don’t you just use a program I definetly understand how you feel cause music is music no matter how its made.
Virtual guitar isn’t a guitar I get that and it sounds that way if poorly executedin recording it. All this article is saying is simply to work on making the instruments sounding more natural. He didn’t say once that if your recording electronical music lets make these instruments sound normal!!! Funny how people get on the defence on something that’s not even related to the topic!
great advice!
stephen
stephencarmichael.com
I told my son (who plays trumpet) that MB20’s “If your gone” is real horns and he doesn’t believe me. It’s all on the perception of the listener – use what works within your limitations – many times listeners not only don’t know, they don’t care.
If you have the luxury, adding one real instrument can make the whole horn section come alive.
You probably named a few of those libs based on quotes, but when it comes to strings Miroslav is not nearly as realistic as LASS, Hollywood Strings or Cinematic Strings. Though I’m sure you were staying within a budget target.
Also per that comment: “Seriously? If you want your tracks to sound good, use real
instruments… No matter how much you monkey with fake, it’s still fake.” – True, but there are libs that sound very close.
“For rhythm section sounds, the basic two that everybody should have are Spectrasonics Stylus RMX for drums and Trilian for bass,” recommends Palame. Well, that being said, if EVERYBODY had these, then EVERYBODY would sound the same. Personally, I prefer to have a variety of VI’s including, Vienna, MOTU, Native Instruments, G-Force M-Tron Pro and Propellerhead products. This keeps people guessing and gives my products much more depth of field and less similarity to others.Read more: Using virtual instruments: Eight home recording tips to make your tracks sing — Echoes – Insight for Independent Artists https://blog.discmakers.com/2011/06/using-virtual-instruments-eight-home-recording-tips-to-make-your-tracks-sing/#ixzz1Qb4DpH5S
Good advice. 1 important thing: we need to learn the limitations of the real instrument we try to reproduce. Like for horns if you need harmony ,record different traks because the can play only one note.samething for sax. For drums ,keys, guitars,bass play each instrument for the entire song. that will take longer but much better. sorry for my bad english. I am haitian my real language is french and haitian creole
Good advice! I get a live band feel using this single track approach for Caribbean and jazz music.
can you please send me a demo of 1 of your song i would like to hear how your band sound. you can go to youtube.com/roselinantoine to hear how my band sound.you can also go to yahoo and type roselin antoine in the address. You will see my band pictures and hear some of my music
1 tip from me: Tempo change can be verry helpfull because without a metronome no one can’t keep the same tempo for 3 / 4 / 5 minutes. If by example you start with tempo 90, after 1 minute, you change to 91 and at the next minute you change to 92. No body will notice the change, but they will fill the difference. That can make your song sound more live
Seriously? If you want your tracks to sound good, use real instruments… No matter how much you monkey with fake, it’s still fake.
seriously crackhead not everyone has access to full set of drums guitar rig and a bass rig and/or the people who can play them so in short you make due with what you its about making music
seriously crackhead not everyone has access to full set of drums guitar rig and a bass rig and/or the people who can play them so in short you make due with what you its about making music
seriously crackhead not everyone has access to full set of drums guitar rig and a bass rig and/or the people who can play them so in short you make due with what you its about making music
“But just because these high-powered tools are available, it doesn’t mean we all know how to use them well.”
Did you seriously miss that this was a post about how to use virtual instruments and make them sound as real as possible? not everyone has the access, time, or money to get a horn section or orchestra in for a bedroom recording, and when it’s done right the average listener isn’t going to know the difference.
There is nothing fake about a sample or digital. It’s as real as any other analogy of a sound wave…and that includes something placed on tape and then manipulated, or cut and pasted, or copied. If you really think any reproduction of sound is fake, best you stick to playing live with acoustic instruments.
There’s no dispute that real instruments are better in terms of sound. But in terms of buget and flexibility while writing? Not always.
Not even always better in terms of sound. It takes me 4 hours to tune a drum kit for the studio. Then to mic it up properly to avoid phasing problems is another issue. A virtual drum kit has already been tuned and mic’d. Someone with less engineering experience would not be able to tune and mic a drum set to match that of a virtual drum set. Same goes for other virtual instruments, not to mention that you can have different drum kit sizes and styles, different guitar amps and cabinets, etc.
Im not gonna diss like the others just state that foryour idea to happen everyone would have to have a orchestra or a band and that truthfully would take away from creative process because then you have to deal with all the issues that come with it and there would be thousands of good songs that were not made and remember last but not least most of the people that play instruments use programs to tweek and get it correct so everybody uses programs one way or another
KrakaHead. You obviously have no idea how much music you hear today is created using these tools. Movie soundtracks, commercials and of course, main stream music all use sophisticated recording techniques to CREATE music. I was once of your mentality but was enlightened when I realized that I could express my musicality through technology. Not FAKE, but what I heard, what I envisioned, what was ME could be finally produced into a song that did not require hiring a band and expensive studio time. ART is ART. Sure, a real band will always sound more “real”, but don’t discount the emotion and realism that go into producing someones song. No matter how they accomplish it.