I'm thinking of selling my Fantom...

phait, go to VSPlanet.com & VF16.com & the yahoo group for the AW4416. Before I found a drummer locally, I used to go to those sites. Bunch of nice people. Anyway, there was a Bass player, a Drummer, and a keyboard player that I used to send midi files to. They would take my ideas, and send back MP3/WMA files of my parts played live.

Unless you want to learn how to play all those instruments, that's fine too.

In my case that would mean getting a Rhodes, a B3, drum set, an Upright, and a Grand, a saxophone, a few trumpets.......I can't see me trading my Fantom for all that.

Oh, I do have a direct line going to my computer for the guitar, but there is also a mic going at all times.


FantomS
AW4416
Now all I need is talent.
Anyone selling any talent??
member # 55
registered 21 May 2003

If you don't have a very good skill level with the acoustic instruments you're considering replacing your Fantom with, you'll absolutely regret it.

I've been a competent but not particularly talented bass player for years, but as soon as I got my XV-5080 (and Alesis QS8.2. as the controller) I stopped playing bass when creating compositions. There were just too many things to go wrong--60 cycle hum, lousy tone, too much tweaking with Cakewalk's effects to get the tone to match the rest of the song, the need to re-record the bass audio tracks if any changes were made to the MIDI tracks, etc. For me, it's much easier to play the bass track using the 5080's internal bass patches.

I also picked up a couple of guitars on the way, and I am a horrible player. Since no one does good guitars, I had to record a guitar solo for a composition. It took about 2 hours to get it right, and it sounded totally out of place in the composition.

I certainly don't have years and years to become proficient in guitar or drums or brass. My goal is to produce compositions, not to become a one-man band. Unless you've got the musical proficiency of a Stevie Wonder or Prince, you're going to find yourself focusing on playing notes correctly rather than creating music. A Fantom may not be the most realistic sounding acoustic instrument emulator, but it certainly offers one of the easiest methods of creating multi-part compositions.

Just my .02.

Jeff in Boston

I agree that the Fantom makes it easier to write songs in a sense, but I've always felt if I could spend a week in a room full of instruments, I could learn most or each one of them and do something at least decent with them.

I already play guitar, have been for over 8 years. The thing is, I'm always willing to learn. So I don't see myself regretting buying actual instruments.

"...I could spend a week in a room full of instruments..."

Hi Phait,

I 'd like to make it a living but...


...just could not afford the 8!

Never sell your gear. You are throwing money away. Unless you are going to get more for it. That's how the companies get you. Only do it if money is no object to you.
cheers
Ian

"He conquers who endures." - Persius

I would strongly suggest keeping your gear. Now, when I record, I use nonkeyboard instruments as much as possible. One of the most real instruments is vocals! Utilize it and if you're not an experienced vocalist, dont worry about what other people think, or whether it is perfect. Lately I've listened to Ray Charles, and I suggest all people to listen to him. And, actually listen, and feel it. His vocals are not always in tune or timed perfect, but wow.
Also, have you played any wind instruments? I've played brass (trumpet, tuba, trombone) for 10 years and can say its unlike anything. Pianists, drummers, and guitarists, and especially anyone in a orchestra has no idea in the complexities that wind instruments are. When i try (always unsuccessfully) to emulate winds on keyboard, I imagine myself actually playing the horn, now think about where do you sneak a breath? This is tough stuff. I suggest embracing the knowledge of playing different instruments. As for recording, make it about the music, as you will with 'real instruments.' Well thats about all i've got.
Oddity