What's your preference on the 'realness' of an instrument?
 

Simple question: What's your preference about the 'realness' of a musical instrument that you're listening to? For the purposes of this thread, a 'real' instrument is one that creates sound acoustically through air movement or vibration of (parts of) the instrument.

I have a pretty strong preference for 'real' instruments. I enjoy the human element of performance and hearing people achieve something that I cannot do.


Disclaimer: I'm not suggesting that one is better than the other. If you are at the other end of the spectrum, that's koo :shrug:

I don't care and can't tell the difference unless I really try

yea, this

I tend to enjoy the timbre of 'real instruments' more, probably 'cuz that's what I'm familiar with. But like lots of music that's produced w/ virtual instruments sounds super incredible and I dig that kind of stuff too.

As far as virtual instruments trying to mimic irl instruments, I am not a fan. Is that what you mean?

When I'm listening to music I have no preference but I prefer playing 'real' instruments to electronic instruments. I might have a slight preference to 'real' instruments if I'm at a live show as well.

I like music with both but with all of that said I would say I have a slight bias towards 'real' instruments.

Edit:

This too. I'd rather just use a synth for those parts than try to play it off as real (Even though I have used a virtual piano before).

I voted option 1, but I think neither should be used at the expense of sound quality. I'd rather hear some really rich electronic sounds over some weak ass real sounds.

Radiohead gave me a lot of appreciation for electronic sounds because of how they mix it with bomb ass analog tone. As long as you have a commitment to creating a rich sound quality, you can use whatever you want to get there. I just feel like digital sounds often miss the mark.

strong preference for real but not totally opposed to synth.

Don't care as long as it sounds good. Both can be shit, both can be nice.

I think EDM is terrible lol

headaches all around

I prefer the natural sounds of the acoustic instruments but I also can't live without my electric guitar.

I hate synths and other electronic music shizzles though

Definite preference for real.


I get turned off from too clean production alone.

I'll say slight preference. I like prog, and a lot of prog has synth and stuff.

I prefer the real, mostly because a lot of, I guess "not real", or however you wanna label it, instruments have a specific sound that actually feels artificial. I don't like that much.

Are electric guitars a "real" instrument?

I have a slight inclination towards electronic instruments tbh. I enjoy the massive variation of textures

Partially. The initial sound is produced by acoustic vibration.

So is an Electric Guitar thru a Fender Blues deluxe not considered a 'real' instrument for purposes of this thread?

And what are we comparing these 'real' instruments too?

To me, an instrument is an instrument. Even a Midi controller is an instrument too imo, because it's a tool to control software instruments.

But, if you are asking about Acoustic instruments like a Banjo, Mandolin, Classical/Acoustic Guitars, Harmonica, etc... I do LOVE those types of instruments. But they would be worthless without microphones and/or on-board electronics besides just playing for yourself or a VERY small audience.

Erm...congratulations?

lol I can guarantee someone like you couldn't even be able to tell a professional mockup from a real orchestra.

Okay then, as an electric guitarist, I have a strong preference for real instruments.

Some electronic instruments can sound good when used in the right places.