Is it possible to produce a pro cd with all synths ?

[bbeck]

I own a studio where i do all my clients tracks from my keyboards and soft synths, most of my clients are singers. is this a common practice ? and is this a pro alt way to go if you only play keys? I cant afford to hire bass players drummers or horn players. I hear a lot of R&B and rap that sounds like all the instruments are synths with the exception of a few. I do contemporary gospel and traditional gospel, praise and worship.

 

[Mindset]

well, years and years ago, when the synth first came out & was used in the music industry, it wasn't accepted really by musicians etc... However, now-a-days, that has changed, there's many pro groups out there that have at least 1 (many times 2) synth on stage etc. They are commonly found, at least I think they still are, in various studios across the states. Many complex instrumentals that you hear are done on synth's. You can play like you have an orchestra behind you with a synth, they're very powerful. but remember.... the real thing always sounds better... most of the time

 

[chessrock]

no


.

 

[noisewreck]

Yes .

 

[fraserhutch]

no


.

Tell that to David Foster.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Check out the work of Isao Tomita, Larry Fast, Walter/Wendy Carlos, Vangelis and many others.

G.

 

[gummblefish]

Of course it is. Shit its possible to make a pro record using bin lids, cardboard boxes and spoons.

 

[RAMI]

Isn't most techno and even alot of pop these days nothing but synths and drum machines (If we can classify drum machines as synths)??? I don't think too many musicians are involved in alot of dance music recordings.

 

[Fishmed]

A major problem some people have when they record with synth instruments that are supposed to sound like a real instrument is they play notes outside that instrument’s range or in a way that is unnatural for that particular instrument.

 

[legionserial]

Music is music. You can do what you want with it. I could make a record with nothing but my arse if I wanted to. As far as pro goes tho, it depends what you mean by that. If you mean commercially viable then thats a different question...

 

[musicstew]

In the broadest sense it is possible to produce an amazing CD with only synths.

On the other hand since you are doing Gospel you may want to add some other instruments.

Steve Wonder did some amazing stuff with just synth, drum samples and voice as may many artist have.

 

[noisewreck]

A major problem some people have when they record with synth instruments that are supposed to sound like a real instrument is they play notes outside that instrument’s range or in a way that is unnatural for that particular instrument.

A major problem is some people using the term "real instruments" when referring to acoustic and/or electric instruments, thus implying that electronic instruments such as synths and samplers are any less real. It's kind of like comparing a horse carriage to a jet airliner and saying that a horse carriage is a "real transportation" because you get to smell the horse's ass.

Another major problem is expecting electronic instruments to sound and act like acoustic instruments, even when they don't share the same interface, thus making interaction idiomatic to a given acoustic instrument impossible. It's kind of like an orgasm. You can fake it, but in the end you're left with an unsatisfying feeling.

Treat the electronic instruments like the REAL INSTRUMENTS that they are, and reap the rewards.

 

[Fishmed]

A major problem is some people using the term "real instruments" when referring to acoustic and/or electric instruments, thus implying that electronic instruments such as synths and samplers are any less real. It's kind of like comparing a horse carriage to a jet airliner and saying that a horse carriage is a "real transportation" because you get to smell the horse's ass.

Another major problem is expecting electronic instruments to sound and act like acoustic instruments, even when they don't share the same interface, thus making interaction idiomatic to a given acoustic instrument impossible. It's kind of like an orgasm. You can fake it, but in the end you're left with an unsatisfying feeling.

Treat the electronic instruments like the REAL INSTRUMENTS that they are, and reap the rewards.

I am not saying keyboards are not real instruments; all I was refering to is when somone is trying to get a flute, basoon, etc out of a keyboard. If you play the keyboard using those sounds incorrectly, someone can definately tell it is a keyboard and not the other instrument it is trying to represent. If you have a keyboard that has great sounds and a musician who knows how various instruments are played and sound, they can make the music sound authentic.

 

[Beck]

I own a studio where i do all my clients tracks from my keyboards and soft synths, most of my clients are singers. is this a common practice ? and is this a pro alt way to go if you only play keys? I cant afford to hire bass players drummers or horn players. I hear a lot of R&B and rap that sounds like all the instruments are synths with the exception of a few. I do contemporary gospel and traditional gospel, praise and worship.

Sure, its been done as long as I can remember.

 

[noisewreck]

I am not saying keyboards are not real instruments; all I was refering to is when somone is trying to get a flute, basoon, etc out of a keyboard. If you play the keyboard using those sounds incorrectly, someone can definately tell it is a keyboard and not the other instrument it is trying to represent. If you have a keyboard that has great sounds and a musician who knows how various instruments are played and sound, they can make the music sound authentic.

Shhhhhh. I knew exactly what you said, and I agree with you... just don't tell anyone.

Although, even if you play within an instruments range, the keyboard is still a pretty lousy interface when trying to emulate strings and wind instruments. Even when controlling modules from a wind controller, unless the synthesis parameters are carefully programmed, it's still pretty difficult to convincingly emulate acoustic instruments. You can perhaps fool a casual listener, but a person that plays a given instrument will know that it's electronic.

My stance is asking electronic instruments to emulate acoustics is putting them at an instant disadvantage. I prefer to treat them for what they are, creating sounds that are very much electronic and ones that couldn't have been produced by other means. You wouldn't expect a guitar to sound like a bass clarinet now would you? Why should that be any different for electronic instruments?