Why I Work Alone
In some ways, it is a choice. In some other ways, it is the lack of one.
In my few and sparse experiences with bands, I have to say I am not impressed. Granted, it is partly my fault. I'm somewhat anti-social and that definitely creates an extra difficulty for leading, or even just playing in, a band.
This is not to say I haven't tried. But, as I said, I generally do not enjoy being around most people, and as such I don't know that many. And the ones I know who play instruments with the level of proficiency required, couldn't care less for and about music making.
Other difficulties might arise, and have arisen before, because of the level of control I want to have of how my music is played. Sometimes that means me ending up doing everything by myself. And in those cases, playing with other people is meaningless. Other times it just means that nothing gets done.
So I resort to VST (virtual studio instruments). Except for guitar, most other instruments are mostly recorded, or rather, composed, using a MIDI keyboard or straight construction on a MIDI grid.
Is something lost in the process? Does the fact that, other than guitar, most instruments in my music are not really played by human beings really matter to the music?
Well, unfortunately, yes. Sometimes it is very time consuming to tweak the notes on virtual instruments and to add what Frank Zappa called "the eyebrows". And even after all that time and work, it doesn't sound quite the same. Some other times, or even most times, there is no way to make it sound human, and not machine-ish.
But not only do I find "virtual musicians" to be less of a pain to work with, I also find them more reliable. They are always on time, whenever you want them to be. And the probability of a computer meltdown is lower than that of a musician not rehearsing enough. Or being drunk.
Of course, human beings can be professional too. If you pay them. Which is fine. I just don't have the money.
In my few and sparse experiences with bands, I have to say I am not impressed. Granted, it is partly my fault. I'm somewhat anti-social and that definitely creates an extra difficulty for leading, or even just playing in, a band.
This is not to say I haven't tried. But, as I said, I generally do not enjoy being around most people, and as such I don't know that many. And the ones I know who play instruments with the level of proficiency required, couldn't care less for and about music making.
Other difficulties might arise, and have arisen before, because of the level of control I want to have of how my music is played. Sometimes that means me ending up doing everything by myself. And in those cases, playing with other people is meaningless. Other times it just means that nothing gets done.
So I resort to VST (virtual studio instruments). Except for guitar, most other instruments are mostly recorded, or rather, composed, using a MIDI keyboard or straight construction on a MIDI grid.
Is something lost in the process? Does the fact that, other than guitar, most instruments in my music are not really played by human beings really matter to the music?
Well, unfortunately, yes. Sometimes it is very time consuming to tweak the notes on virtual instruments and to add what Frank Zappa called "the eyebrows". And even after all that time and work, it doesn't sound quite the same. Some other times, or even most times, there is no way to make it sound human, and not machine-ish.
But not only do I find "virtual musicians" to be less of a pain to work with, I also find them more reliable. They are always on time, whenever you want them to be. And the probability of a computer meltdown is lower than that of a musician not rehearsing enough. Or being drunk.
Of course, human beings can be professional too. If you pay them. Which is fine. I just don't have the money.