Quote:

I'm a sax player so no matter what horn sample or product you use, I'm not going to be satisfied with the sound.



Jacob,

I couldn't agree more. I don't know how other horn players here at the BiaB forum feel, but IMHO the MIDI horns are nothing more than something to give you a 'sampling' of what it MIGHT sound like if it were played by a real horn. It's a 'filler' sound. I'm not convinced (from the posts I've read here and elsewhere), that trying the hit/miss method of buying and installing different software drivers is EVER going to feed my need for good sounding horn solos and brass sections. To me, they're always too much of this, or too little of that and I simply don't see how you can tweak MIDI into sounding just the same as my real horn. That's why I enjoy the RealTrack product I guess. I'm almost certain that the electronic syth / piano players will completely disagree with me here and that's okay.

I would especially not consider using a MIDI sound for recording purposes however. As a trumpet player myself, I've mentioned here that the MIDI I've heard so far hasn't sounded any different than a car horn. And yes, thanks to all here, I now have an understanding of the mechanics of MIDI and where the sound or tone is actually produced from (I understand analog / acoustic / digital concepts). But, I've listened even to high-end electric pianos in the music stores and I guess I'll always say that my horn sounds better than the 'mock' version. I can do things that the electronics simply cannot reproduce as effectively as I can with the real thing -- Yes, I'm prejudice about that and yes, I believe that my ears ARE that discriminating.

So far, the ONLY thing I've heard that might satisfy my ears are either composing with all RealTracks (no MIDI at all and playing your own track), or perhaps something like the Garritan Jazz & Big Band product I'm looking at. Garritan seems to be my winner so far since one, it's only $200 bucks. Two, it's got tons of real horns. And finally, the demos on their site sound fantastic -- as close to any sax or trumpet I've ever heard.

Also, I think it was Mac who suggested I look into this MIDI sound processor (a hardware device). Can't recall the name just now. I did check this out thoroughly and there seems to be high praise for it, but when I reviewed the horn sounds, I wasn't happy with what I heard. Some were almost adequate. The piano, bass and guitar were very good. However, the price was way off the mark as compared to the Garritan product (IMHO).

For me, I want to be able to use BiaB for backing performances and backing recording. Thus far, I wouldn't do either with the sound's I've heard thus far (except for RealTracks and maybe the Garritan).

These are just my opinions (or misunderstandings from a novice, whatever the case may be), and I don't mean to step on some very experienced toes here (especially given the high degree of musical talent here at this forum).

But I agree with you Jacob -- it's a subjective thing and we're all going to squirm once in a while at some of the sounds that our PC's are making -- they're still electronic, trying to simulate the real world and I can see that some of these electronic simulations will be the perfect fit for some musicians. Not for me though. So far -- my finished-product will contain RealTracks or real instruments, but not MIDI.

Jacob, we've probably opened up a HUGE can of worms here! That's okay, I'm bound to learn what's wrong with my newbie theories somehow!

Ike