Is it real musicians, or is it computer generated?

[rojo]

For some, this is a touchy subject. Computer generated orchestral sounds. Nobody likes to think about the possibility of real musicians being replaced by a computer. I don`t really think that would happen anyway though. I fully support technological musical advances. But of course, I`ll take the real orchestra over the computer one any day, if I can get it.

I found this article to be quite interesting, giving some pros and cons.

The computer generated orchestral excerpts I have heard so far have left me unimpressed. I`ve done listening tests where one was supposed to not be able to tell the difference, and I`ve always spotted the computer generated example a mile away. But I must admit to having had trouble with this test. I had to listen to a couple of the examples twice in order to spot the computer generated one. I did pick correct one though. (phew!)

Funny that there are never any comparisons between two same excerpts. What does that say?....

Anyone want to give the test a try? And maybe tell us whether you were able to spot the fake?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117832128175492832.html

[Krummhorn]

What an interesting music audio test. I was baffled to discover that selection wasn't the fake ... Guess I need a remedial course in Music Appreciation Perhaps with longer sound bites it might have become more evident.

[falcon1]

I must admit that I picked a wrong one...

however, I have an excuse if you listen to the 4th version (which I picked) there's a small clitch in the recording which often can come when you do midi rendering.

Anyway I picked the right one on 2nd try.

[sparky]

Hello to all sorry to have to say I also did not get it right until the second attempt, I do not have an excuse although I will say it was a toss up between 2 and 4 but you must admit the fake is very good, so is the digital composer I would like to be as proficient. all the best to all cheers sparky

I must admit that I picked a wrong one...

however, I have an excuse if you listen to the 4th version (which I picked) there's a small clitch in the recording which often can come when you do midi rendering.

Anyway I picked the right one on 2nd try.

[Andrew Roussak]

Ooooops, I failed on my first attempt too! Really great FAKE!!

Actually I don't see a great potential danger in using the orchestral emulation software, even considering it being developed in a really giant steps the last time. The full version of the VSL described in the article costs app. 9000 Euro ( in EU ) ,it is the 550 GB ( !!!!! ) large,it wastes the resources of your PC without any mercy - it is sample-based. This is for sure not a low budget solution...Well, it may worth it on the long run.

One another side of it - in order to give a "human touch" to your recording, you have to work on every single nuance of every of your tracks - which are no less than 50 in case of a "normal" symphonic score. This is generally possible, and because of it we have failed to pinpoint a fake. But this work may take a month for a composition of a 20-min total time, and the live orchestra does the same job in exactly 20 min. Therefore it may save money, but in no way your time - which is rather critical for the film production, for example.

I hardly believe that the PCs will replace the musicians in the orchestral pits - technically, it could happen long ago, as the first studio tape recorders were invented. The opera singer could , in theory, perform with a playback - but nevertheless it didn't happen anyway.

On my opinion, the orchestra emulation software is an absolutely ingenous solution for the low-budget situations - home recording, music for PC-games,
advertising, documentaries etc. You could not even dream of such opportunities before in these fields, and the using of the orchestra live-recording was not affordable here in the past anyway - so, don't panic.....

[rojo]

I applaud everyone`s honesty here. It really was difficult.

I`ve got more ear tests for you, if you`d like to try; I think these are a tad easier-

http://www.artsjournal.com/music/red...904-65960.html

[sparky]

Hi Rojo Thanks for the test got the first 2 easily enough but must admit I got my copy of the Planets out & dusted it off and had a little listen before plumping for the wrong answer on the 3rd my excuse is there must have been dust on the origonal or maybe my ears were tired by then sorry only 2 out of 3 must try harder as my old music teacher would have said I remember the saying well and also the raps on the knuckles TTFN Sparky

I applaud everyone`s honesty here. It really was difficult.

I`ve got more ear tests for you, if you`d like to try; I think these are a tad easier-

http://www.artsjournal.com/music/red...904-65960.html

[Andrew Roussak]

Yep, this time it was not that difficult - maybe these takes were just a kind of demo-tracks, without a whole lot of job and time invested. I cracked them all anyway.

Good article - I quite agree with the author.

[rojo]

only 2 out of 3 must try harder

You know how the song goes; 'two out of three ain`t bad'... (Although I never particularly cared for that song. )

I remember... the raps on the knuckles

Gee, imagine the trouble I`d get into if I tried that teaching technique these days! Not that I`ve ever been tempted to do so anyway; that`s no way to teach, imo.

[falcon1]

Ok, got 3 out of 3 correct now