What are your thoughts on Synthesizers and music created by Synthesizers.

[Gray]

All this old stuff is just old.

...and all the new stuff is just new Ian.
As long as you like it, that's all that matters 👍

 

[Gray]

Penguin dance!

I can only dream about being as cool as them......seriously 😆

 

[AJM1981]

I like the blend of a synthesizer with non synthesizers as a good middleground. What a track like the original 'Chase' by Moroder sets apart from its fully "synthesized" remakes (like on these 'synthesizer greatest' albums recorded by others) is the 'human touch' on the drums. Subtle shuffle and expression difference on the snares and hihats etc.

What is written online about the origins of the drums here is actually a bit vague. Some sources state tape loops were used, some mention a drum computer, though it might have been an actual drummer. Whatever it was, the main point being is that the final result feels less like a clinical conveyor belt drum pattern, which elevates it.

 

[Rodolfo]

Depending on your level or breath of interest, and if you would especially appreciate a musician/producer's perspective, I can recommend two CDs by Bob James: Rameau, and The Scarlatti Dialogues. I specifically recommend the liner notes in the CDs in which the Rhodes Scholar describes and reflects on his synthesizing experiences and production --interesting heady thoughts on "authenticity" and creativity. The Dialogues notes, in particular, are a creative, fascinating, and fun technique wherein he simulates a dialogue with Domenico Scarlatti on the subject.

I much prefer listening to wonderful Tharaud and Horowitz recordings of Scarlatti, of course. (Rameau, I don't even recall what I might have.) But, I've surely reflected more on James's notes over the years, including whenever synthesizer queries like yours surface.

 

[Steve983]

Not sure how many people are familiar with Bandcamp but there is a ton of modern independent synth music there. Whether ambient or more sequencer based sounds are your thing, there is plenty to choose from.

I can certainly recommend the following artists, have a listen and if you find something you like you can buy lossless downloads or any format you like.

Martin Sturtzer

Spaceport, by Martin Stürtzer

7 track album

phelios.bandcamp.com

Subdream

Nameless Constellations, by Subdream

7 track album

exospheremusic.bandcamp.com

Extraworld

Starless, by Extraworld

8 track album

exospheremusic.bandcamp.com

Lisa Bella Donna

Moogmentum (Presented by the Bob Moog Foundation), by Lisa Bella Donna

12 track album

lisabelladonna.bandcamp.com

 

[manicm]

This is a different, interesting track from Jarre.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFjAwG_WjA0

 

[Revolutions]

View: https://youtu.be/q2d5VeE22uU?si=OF1n6dhCVCB1Ybx5

 

[RJW232]

The fun thing about synthesizers (or electronic music in general) is that you can create a soundstage which is almost impossible with "real" instruments. Also the use of the audio spectrum can be optimized in a way that's very difficult otherwise.

Of course it's not comparable to a recording of acoustic instruments, but it's just another way of creating music, or even just sonic landscapes.

And I think that if Beethoven or Mozart could have access to electronics, they would have used it.

 

[record_spot]

I'll add Larry Fast (aka Synergy) and Kitaro to the list. Also Isao Tomita who did his take on electronic versions of some classical works in the 70s.

 

[Rui]

always late , there are lot´s of good artists that have great sounding records mainly with old electronic keyboards, as an example, Moog , Melotron, Juno and electric pianos like yamaha, ampex, etc. lot´s of forgoten gems

 

[froze]

I like synthesized keyboards because a human is interacting with it, but I don't like synthesized music coming from a computer, that to me is fake music with no human intervention.

This sort of fake music is going to be hitting us hard soon as AI will be creating and singing its own music, but that is not creativity from a human, and I know there will be people who will love this AI created crap, but I won't be one of them.

 

[Deliriumbassist]

As a musician, I love using synthesizers, whether keyboard controlled or 'piano rolled.' I am primarily a bass player, but using things like the Roli Seaboard can be so expressive. But even if I'm plugging into a sequencer, the tone shaping and composition are extremely creative endeavors.

And that's the thing - the vast majority of non-AI synthesized music is not 'press a button and music comes out.' And just like 'real' instruments, there is a learning curve, and people have different levels of ability to take what's in their head and translate it to the medium.

Way too many people conflate 'I don't like thing' with 'That's bad/untalented/unemotional/too technique heavy' and other such crap.

 

[AJM1981]

An album really worth buying on any medium is the Soundtrack of Midnight express.

Why it is a bit of an overlooked album is the fact that Giorgio Moroder's name is just mentioned almost hidden in the top right corner and many people who have seen the movie only remember the track 'Chase' as being 30 seconds long and to-tally different from the version released on the album

The long album version of Chase (8:30) alone is worth it. In the same way as some famous work by The Beatles Kraftwerk or Oldfield is worth buying a copy. It is by far Moroder's best track in my opinion.

 

[RJW232]

As a musician, I love using synthesizers, whether keyboard controlled or 'piano rolled.' I am primarily a bass player, but using things like the Roli Seaboard can be so expressive. But even if I'm plugging into a sequencer, the tone shaping and composition are extremely creative endeavors.

And that's the thing - the vast majority of non-AI synthesized music is not 'press a button and music comes out.' And just like 'real' instruments, there is a learning curve, and people have different levels of ability to take what's in their head and translate it to the medium.

Way too many people conflate 'I don't like thing' with 'That's bad/untalented/unemotional/too technique heavy' and other such crap.

A few years back there was a Dutch TV documentary about electronic music. Andy McCluskey of OMD was interviewed and one of the questions was about whether is was "real music". He grabbed the camera an panned over the keyboards and asked the question: "Wheres's the button 'Make a hit record'?".