{"id":13104,"date":"2023-06-17T00:23:39","date_gmt":"2023-06-17T04:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/audioapartment.com\/?p=13104"},"modified":"2023-06-17T00:32:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-17T04:32:28","slug":"can-you-use-virtual-instruments-convincingly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/audioapartment.com\/culture-and-community\/can-you-use-virtual-instruments-convincingly\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Use Virtual Instruments Convincingly in Your Songs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As we navigate the digital revolution, one of the most intriguing questions posed by music enthusiasts is, “Can you use virtual instruments convincingly in songs<\/strong>?” With the advent of digital technology in music production, it’s worth exploring whether we are past the era of recording real instruments entirely. There seems to be a fine line between what is real and what is fake in music production. This blog post is all about exploring that line, analyzing the efficacy of virtual instruments, and demonstrating how they can be used convincingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you create convincing music with virtual instruments?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There’s no denying that keyboard players<\/a> have the upper hand when it comes to virtual instruments. However, even those whose keyboard skills might not be virtuosic have tools within their grasp to craft convincing music. The trick with virtual instruments is truly comprehending the broad spectrum of sounds they can produce and knowing how to harness that potential to its fullest.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps, the best way to understand the power of virtual instruments is to consider the words of Andrew Sheps, one of the most esteemed mixers in the music industry. In a talk at Oxford University, Sheps said, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

All that matters is what comes out of the speakers.<\/p>\nAndrew Sheps<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This simple yet profound insight captures the essence of music production. The audience doesn’t care about the specifics of how a piece of music is created. Instead, they care about the sound that they hear. It doesn’t matter if a song was recorded live with real instruments or using a virtual instrument; the focus is on the sound quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, modern film scores often take form entirely within the realm of sample libraries. The sophistication of today’s virtual instruments is such that they can emulate everything from the warm, resonant tones of a piano or bass, to the percussive heartbeat of drums, to the sweeping majesty of strings and brass, and even the pulsating buzz of organs and synths, with accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can virtual instruments mimic real instruments?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A piano, perhaps the most obvious example, can be convincingly replicated using virtual instruments such as EZ Keys. Even a tool like EZ Drummer can replicate an entire drum performance with real recorded drums that were then sampled. For the bass, IK Multimedia has a great plugin called Moto Bass. It is becoming increasingly popular amongst artists who want to play MIDI bass notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, strings and brass instruments can also be convincingly replicated using virtual instruments. While it is more challenging to convincingly reproduce the sounds of trumpets and trombones, as long as these instruments are not the primary focus of the song, it is possible to convincingly use virtual instruments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How important are real instruments?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the progress made with virtual instruments, some elements of music production require a real instrument. <\/strong>Guitar, for instance, is an instrument that is challenging to convincingly replicate using virtual instruments. The nuanced sounds produced by a real guitar cannot be easily replicated. However, you can get creative and mix virtual guitar plugins<\/a> with other elements, especially if your song is more oriented toward electronic or pop music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of vocals, it’s recommended to use human singers, especially for the lead vocal. There’s just something about the raw, unique quality of a human voice that breathes life and emotional depth into a song in a way that’s impossible to replicate. It’s a critical part of the recording process, so it’s worth the effort to get it spot on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you choose between virtual and real instruments?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The choice between real and virtual instruments often comes down to several factors. Let’s break down each of them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Image
Image of virtual instruments in a daw (digital audio workstation). Source: unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n