Real vs Synthesized Symphony Orchestra

[LIGHTRONIX]

The synthesized version was horribly done, they used horrible samples and didn't manipulate dynamics or take advantage of effects at all. I also don't get why people are so anti synthesis. I think it's because they're jealous that they spent their whole life trying to learn what I can make in half an hour.

[cprostudio]

An orchestra is a placement of instruments in an acoustic space. Instruments are tools for the function of sound manipulation. Music is a human invention to construct a sensual language via the control of sound. There is no such thing as a real orchestra, real is totally context dependent, the same as truth/fact and beauty. There is no 'VS' in this video, both have equal statue within their own sonic context. Synthesized sound resonates with me much more than acoustic instruments.

[ccandrew111]

depends which synth was used to make it tbh... if they've used a slightly older or a cheaper keyboard then it won't sound anywhere near as good as a real orchestra... but use something like a yamaha s90xs or a korg oasys along with maybe a tiny bit of eq and effect tweaking and there won't be much of a difference at all... to some extents the sound will be improved because there won't be with the synth de-tuning...

[MrRexTV1]

the synth is not bad but its still very obvious that its not a real orchestra

[muzikman2008]

Whatever the final result of Music... as long as "your ears" enjoy it and it appreciate it.. it does not matter one bit how it ended up being recorded, what equipment is used, or what it is played on... that is why i love music. Not because of someones snobby attitude telling me how to make and listen to music. If it affects you emotionaly or makes you want to listen it has done its job! Rich or poor! Music is powerful with no discrimination, or favour of "instruments" electronic or analog....

[baadc0de]

@muzikman2008 Finally a voice of reason

[r5t6y12]

So what's the name of the tune?

Is it something as fabulous as Copland, or Berlioz, or Stravinsky?

[Koopiac]

Synth instruments are good compliments to a live orchestra, but a smart musician should never ever think that synthesizers can pull off the whole piece.

[kajiuzu]

...The synthetic violin in this sounds like a badly tuned oboe section...

[edwinstar100]

The orchestra does not try to duplicate the sound of a synthesizer!

[mahler151]

PLEASE tell me you're going to release a full video of the synth version!

[MisAnnThorpe]

Despite your apparent lack of modesty, (well you are German after all!) it's certainly true that very few people could have achieved what you've managed here. Considering the equipment this has been done with, this is truly quite astonishing, and I would imagine hugely time consuming. Yes; I must concede, you really are some kind of genius!

[natapitapeta]

pffffffffffffffff abismal difference

[musiko83]

you can still hear the difference

[supernigger2000]

jesus shut up you obnoxious faggot

[walkandlookup]

synthetic: lacks some 'pastyness' sounds light, a bit too metallic, otherwise keep trying

[TioPablo2009]

What if Mozart had the chance to get its hands on this technology?

How many beatifull things went into thin air because of wasting?

Hold the line!!!

Keep creating folks!

[GjonetoOfficialPage]

the original has that thump...5/5

[galaxytrip]

sounds very thin, not as warm and almost metalic

[jdb83xl]

what text to speech software did you use for the narration.

[maxqubit]

Indeed, very well done

[keysersozeh]

Dont forget people.. this is an analog synth... very well done!

[clarification007]

More jobs cut because the new technology is moving supperbly.

[Dubwise4u]

Well done! Superb, I love watching live orchestras and nothing can beat that sound. But, I also love synths. I just sold my DX.7 Most people can't tell the differece between a Digital synth and Analoge one. Great job

[mysticradio]

I HAD THAT SOFTWARE.. i dont ever remember the Moog Modular sounding like an orchestra

[dylandio]

damn good for analog synth..

[dougiehammett]

I thought it was really impressive that you got all those synthesised sounds from the Moog Modular. Some of those timbral variances you were able to create; especially those of the strings, were quite special!

[314noceu]

Still not as good as using something like the Vienna Symphonic Library. Sampling will always be superior to synthesis for this little comparison.

[golafs]

if you really did this with the moog then it´s really impressive what you have done using subtractive synthesis!

[bsartist]

It seems like the synthetic one makes any slight dissonances much more noticeable, I assume because of the lack of overtones.

[jenhorne]

It is sad to see people hearing little to no difference between the two. As a classical violinist myself, I find it horrifying to see that someone would be just as pleased with a synthesized sound rather than the sound that comes out of my violin. Technology is amazing, but it has also desensitized us to the point where we would be happier with a sub-par imitation.

Truly upsetting.

[AKITM]

I have yet to hear a good synthesized or even sampled cello. I don't think this video gives a very accurate comparison. Studio effects could have been used to make the synth example sound different than the real instruments. Just a thought.

[Elhardt]

To AKITM, for some reason you bring up sampled solo strings which are the most difficult to pull off. However, I've heard convincing sampled orchestra demos. But of course my demo here isn't about sampling. Saying it's not an accurate comparison and then making up something about studio effects doesn't make sense. All that was added was reverb and EQ. The fact that I placed the synth version right next to the real version and you can A/B them means I'm not trying to hide anything.

[Qiwolf]

I don't mean to be rude, but it really saddens me when I hear this viewpoint. There is nothing horrifying about any of it. One is a synthesizer one is an orchestra. They both sound nice to me. Neither one is better, only different. The only reason someone would bash a synthesizer is if they didn't understand it. You must have a point of reference when listening to music or else you won't like it. This is why people don't like the synthesizer. Get real please.

[CheeseheadTanner]

Don't be too upset.

The people who prefer a synthesised sound to a real equivalent (or can't even tell the difference if the truth be told) are the type who also think Hans Zimmer's Gladiator film score sounds nothing like Pirates of the Caribbean.

Do you know how many reviews I've read on iTunes that state the first score is "a great orchestral masterpiece"... What orchestra? The first score is 99% synth. Fortunately there are larger numbers of us who actually aren't as clueless nor ignorant.

[Elhardt]

To Cheesehead, I've never heard of anybody who preferred a synthesized sound to the real one. And confusing synthesized with sampled sound. If people mistook something as an orchestral masterpiece, it was a sampled orchestra. And samples are recordings of the real instruments, no synthesis involved. I like pushing synths to do complex acoustic sounding sounds because it's hard to do, much the same way I'm into photo realistic 3D rendering. Perhaps you think that field should go away too.

[CheeseheadTanner]

Well, I wouldn't say go away, I just don't really like it.

I've always regarded sampled orchestral sounds as still being a form of synth in some way. Not the normal type of synth, but at the end of the day an electronic process is still going on and being performed on a synthesiser.

The cheaper the chips in the keyboard and quality of samples, the less real the music sounds. That's what I meant there.

[thesoundtestroom]

@Elhardt

Hi I've just stumbled across this, and I think you have done a very good job of programming the sound. I used to listen to Tomita, and his skills were awesome to say the least, its nice to see someone still programming realistic sounds with synths, these days I use a lot of sampled stuff, mainly because of time, but to be honest I still think that a good programmer can sound as good as a sample. Anyway I am subscribing to your channel. Thanks

[Elhardt]

To jenhorne, first, nobody but me has ever sat down and made a concerted effort to synthesize the sections of a orch on an analog synth. Mine is close enough to sounding real as can be heard here, had I swapped the sounds, most wouldn't know. Considering there's probably nobody else on the planet that could have done this, it really shows a lack of appreciation for what's involved. Maybe you consider Rembrandt to be a sub-par imitation of photography too. My demo doesn't replace a real violin.

[GCom67]

I know how much effort you have put in to make this possible, and the results are just super!

Respect to you Elhardt!!

[thisisnev]

@Elhardt - Yes they have. Ever heard of Isao Tomita?

[reetgradely]

Truly upsetting? Don't be daft.

Sorry, I think that you're missing the point. This isn't about whether (newer) technology can replace or surpass your (old tech) violin, or an orchestra. It's about someone setting themselves a very hard task just, one suspects, for the challenge, the knowledge gained along the way and the satisfaction. And he's done a bloody amazing job.

Elhardt, I see that you're using an A6 in your later vids. Not using the MMV any more? Have you tried the U-He Zebra yet?

[reetgradely]

Ahw, don't be upset now. I don't think the intention is to show that a synthesizer could replace or surpass an acoustic instrument, or an orchestra. Rather, Elhardt has set himself a very difficult task, one suspects, as much for the challenge, the knowledge and fun gained along the way, as for the final result (which AFAIC is bloody astonishing). BTW, as a classical guitarist, I love the sound of subtractive (virtual or real) analog synths.

[HoweGavin]

for real, like it would be possible to synthesize a whole orchestra, but now you're adding a whole extra step, not only do you have to compose the piece, but you have to synthesize every instrument, and play every sound yourself, and then you only get an audio recording, if you wanted the same sound live you'd have to set up nearly 50 speakers arranged in an orchestral fashion

[MrFabianschmidt]

@jenhorne

I disagree. I think it is wrong to compare such different instruments. They both have their quality of sound.

Fabian=)

[tastelesstouch]

@jenhorne i disagree with you. Coming from a small town with no musical scene I am delighted to know that I have a musical production studio at my fingertips for a fraction of the time and space. Electronic music encorporates all of classical music theory with the science of synthesis technology. It is the best of both worlds IMHO. Music is simply the organization of tuned vibrations. It's the same with digital art vs painting and how your senses perceive. The only real difference is the timbre.

[AoiKageNoChikara]

@jenhorne True very true, though I think Synth and Orchestra can support each other :3

[kazzymax]

@jenhorne As much as I like techno and synth music, I believe it sounds cool has it has it's own style but I also agree with you that it should NEVER be used to replace or be a substitute for real instruments. There always seems to be a sort of wavering to the sound and also the build up of each note (the attack?) seem to be to sudden similar to striking keys of a keyboard.

[OmenFrankfurt]

@jenhorne I think the difference is really obvious, for this classic synth sound really is not realistic at all. But one shouldn't miss that modern synthesizers can do way better. Regarding the preference of synthetic or realistic sound, I think it's definetly wrong to accuse the synthesis fans, because enjoyment indeed is a matter of habit. What I mean is,that you should'nt think of one who prefers the synthetic-violins' sound over the original as someone who doesn't know what is "real" and

[OmenFrankfurt]

@OmenFrankfurt what is fake, but someone who just prefers the synthetic sound, BECAUSE it does'nt sound like a violin, but as a part of modern technology, culture and society, fitting his lifestyle, because he is a human living in the 21st century, who actually likes some futuristic and modern feeling.

So Everyone knows, that "There's no accounting for taste " and the taste is the real reason making a human like the one or the other, not a lack of knowledge or "cultural responsibility". :)

[legaata]

@jenhorne I am personally a big fan of synths, but I also think that synths should be a complement, not an alternative to real instruments, and used to create sounds which cannot be achieved using real instruments. Music played by real instruments is "alive" in the sense that it is being created in the moment it is played, in the form of small differences in timing and loudness. But this said, electronic music is a wonderful tool to study and experiment with the natural product.

[saeir]

@jenhorne its not about imitating an acoustic instrument, there 2 different worlds. They both have uses, there shouldn't be a comparison. If you want an acoustic sound, then use one. same goes for analog and digital sounds.

[Elhardt]

Thanks for the comment. As for sustaining notes, I'm not quite sure what parts that's referring to, but one problem with this Moog Mod V synth is its messed up and limited way of attaching performance controls, such as an expression pedal or breath controller to functions. As a result, other than velocity, I don't have any other expression patched up in this demo, for example, to control the loudness of a sound while it's sustaining.

[joeocho88]

AMAZING!!!!!!!! AMAZING!!!! I CAN BARELY TELL THE DIFFERENCE!!!!!!

You can tell the synthetic one does not sustain notes very well but it is still NICE to hear!

[iain010100]

Those little robot people are cool. Can I get some for my house?

[badtoguro]

hi ken!

very nice videos! i hope you up some more of your sound creations for us.

that moog orchestra sounds great, will you some day make some tutorial videos of synthesis and sound creation?

thanks!

[Elhardt]

I just got a new digital camera with good movie capabilities, so I'll probably do some videos in the future showing how I synthesized some of my sounds. I still have a lot more videos to create using audio tracks I already have done.