While synths are still alive and well, using them for mimicking real instruments is a slowly dying art. So even though I don't expect a lot of action in here I figured it might be nice to have a place for talking about the theoretical and practical aspects of imitative synthesis. Basically, the difference between this subforum and Virtual Instruments is that the latter focuses on specific instrument plugins and synth sounds while this one deals with more universal methods, i.e. things you can apply to any synth with the right capabilities to imitate real instruments.
A subforum about playing real instruments with 0 threads looks kind of bad on a VO forum, so let's do this to start things off
I'm a reasonably proficient rock/metal/prog guitar player. I can fake it on a bass guitar and I have some idea of how to play a mandolin. Keys is not my forte, I use keyboards for entering midi notes but I'm not a pianist and never will be.
I started playing whistles in 2008, and have dabbled with keyless flute as well, but I do this far too seldom to be more than a complete noob even after all these years.
On good days I like to think that I can pull off a passable vocal or small percussion performance.
DAW: Logic Pro X
Genre: Piano instrumental
Sample: Vienna Bösendorfer Imperial (without any EQ-ing/mastering/whatever!!! - just play-bounce-upload - I'm really in love...)
Genre: Tango
It's a real recording... with real people... I think we have a lot of great stuff out there but this stays (and will stay) the best forever.....
To be clear, this isn't about realism and high quality samples at all. It's a small, basic orchestral template using roughly 1GB of samples for use on my netbook. You can read more about it here if you're interested.
Roland strings layered with Miroslav, Advanced Orchestra brass, Miroslav winds, Roland percussion plus a few freebies. ValhallaRoom reverb.
I have added an additional section to the Code of Conduct dealing with warez and the redistribution of copyrighted material. Please take a moment to read it. Thanks.
Really good source of all kind of knowledge, going from usage of various effects, mixing tips and tricks, learning how music business works, learning the mindset of the leading people in the industry etc.
(maybe would like to highlight some of them: interview with Andrew Scheps, Chris Lord Alge, Alan Meyerson, Dough Rogers, 'Producing Indian Music')
While I have always been a fan of Williams and Goldsmith and Horner and all the movie greats that I grew up with, and I've also come in contact with a lot of brilliant classical music throughout the years, it was game soundtracks that truly sparked my interest in writing orchestral music. To this day that's where my heart is, and I don't know exactly why.
Anyway, I have a selection of favorites that I always return to:
1. Outcast. Lennie Moore's score for this game is beyond amazing. This is literally THE game that made me want to do game soundtracks.
2. Basically anything by Jeremy Soule. Morrowind, Oblivion and Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 in particular.
3. Baldur's Gate & Baldur's Gate II. While I prefer Howard Drossin's sequel soundtrack with its lovely folky parts over Michael Hoenig's original music, they're both important parts of the same franchise and sound.
4. Dragon Age Origins. I had never heard of Inon Zur before this game, but the soundtrack blew my mind. In fact I think the music is better than the game itself.
I've had shorter flings with other game soundtracks (Age of Wonders I/II/SM, Fable, Archlord, WoW) but they haven't lasted the same way as the above.
So... I'm guessing I have missed a lot over the years. What's your favorite game scores?