Can a Computer be considered an Instrument?

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-- Can a Computer be considered an Instrument?

Posted by Sarcoman on Jul-05-2002 03:42:

Can a Computer be considered an Instrument?

Many of my anti-trance friends (yes, i have friends that hate trance... I still talk to them cause we go way back) say that trance/techno/ electronica is not real music because it is made using synthetic sounds made by computers. I always argue to them "Why cant the computer be considered a Musical Instrument?". If a musical instrument is defined as a "device for playing or producing music", does the PC qualify?

Do you think the computer can be considered a musical instrument, and why?

I think it does (and Im guessing that many of you will feel similar), but post your thoughts anyway.

Posted by Strike on Jul-05-2002 04:11:

yes
i feel it can be a musical instrument
i dunno y it wouldn't be one
hell...even pots and pans can be...
did any1 watch the musical Stomp?
cuz i know i didn't!

Posted by Matt on Jul-05-2002 04:27:

what a lot of people don't understand is that in many cases, the computer itself is not the actual instrument.

Most professional electronica artists use several hardware synths (keyboards, which I believe ARE an instrument), and use computers for composition.

Posted by Blue. on Jul-05-2002 04:38:

Pretty much everything is electronic otherwise we'd be listening to Britney Spears live, she wouldn't lipsync the words and nobody would like her.

Posted by nate735 on Jul-05-2002 04:55:

most of those rap/pop songs are made with computers and synthesizers. Mostly all music this day in age is made by computers synths etc.. The only songs that dont use computers are those rock songs. Computers deffinatley classify as a musical intrument.

Posted by MYSTERO on Jul-05-2002 05:29:

I makes sounds like a piano . Isn't it a music instrument? The kind of sound is unimportant.

Posted by trancaholic on Jul-05-2002 06:43:

Well, tell those rock friends of yours that when they listen to a CD of their favourite artist on their stereo, they are actually listening to the output of a computer (albeit a very small one, it has to be admitted). Similarly the rock band is very likely to have tweaked their recordings using computers before the CDs went into the press.

All sound is just differences in airpressure, and for me I cannot see what makes one source (objectively) any better than another one. Maybe, trying to have your frinds come up with an definition of what constitutes an instrument could help you...

Posted by Eu4ea on Jul-05-2002 09:55:

Re: Can a Computer be considered an Instrument?

quote:
Originally posted by Sarcoman
Many of my anti-trance friends (yes, i have friends that hate trance... I still talk to them cause we go way back) say that trance/techno/ electronica is not real music because it is made using synthetic sounds made by computers. I always argue to them "Why cant the computer be considered a Musical Instrument?". If a musical instrument is defined as a "device for playing or producing music", does the PC qualify?

Do you think the computer can be considered a musical instrument, and why?

I've had this exact same convo with several of my friends before, and I get pretty frustrated! They are implying that the artist sits back while the computer itself arranges some assortment of sound and voila there's a track. They think the sound isn't personal. They forget that composing on a computer is far more intricate, difficult, and has many more possibilites. Remind them most of the music today; rap,r'n'b rock, and esp. pop, has been incorporating synthesisers. You've got infinite and intricate control over every aspect of sound. A computer is the most advanced instrument we have.

cheers
Ilina

Posted by matt_a on Jul-05-2002 11:26:

But its true computers are not instruments otherwise it wouldnt be electronica. All music that is made on computers is Electronica. Electronica is not electronic instruments like Electric Guitars. Computers are not instruments as they cannot be played (unless we are talking in games hahahaha) but instruments are manipulated at that second by the musician. Using computers to make music is sequencing other samples that have been preset into the software. Sure you may change the sounds etc but they are not your own original sounds.

Don't get me wrong I dont think that making songs on computers is easy, I actually think it would be harder than playing an instrument as there is so much more possibilties.

But if your friends are ignorant enough tell them that you can make you own sounds and stuff. Don;t tell them that its mainly sequencing and effects etc otherwise you will get the old line
"I could make a trance song in about 5 minutes!"
Ignorant Wankers.

Posted by dark_ice on Jul-05-2002 11:45:

YEAH IT CAN

respect

DI
lol

Posted by Mr.Mystery on Jul-05-2002 11:55:

"electronica"...

Posted by DJ Sunburn on Jul-05-2002 13:17:

even alot of rock bands these days are using electronic synths in their music...and I'm sure most bands these days are produced with computer software because it's better for layering and processes better sound....

and no we really don't use the computer as an instrument....most of the major electronica producers out there use hardware synths and stuff to be produced onto a computer...but due to our new age sound we have here...we are rejected

hey! the saxaphone was rejected as an unusual instrument when it first came out...now look at it...people respect it alot more....

Posted by Verona^My on Jul-05-2002 19:40:

Re: Can a Computer be considered an Instrument?

quote:
Originally posted by Sarcoman
Many of my anti-trance friends (yes, i have friends that hate trance... I still talk to them cause we go way back) say that trance/techno/ electronica is not real music because it is made using synthetic sounds made by computers. I always argue to them "Why cant the computer be considered a Musical Instrument?". If a musical instrument is defined as a "device for playing or producing music", does the PC qualify?

Do you think the computer can be considered a musical instrument, and why?

I think it does (and Im guessing that many of you will feel similar), but post your thoughts anyway.

what do they listen to? Most modern music is largely programming, and most rock uses electric guitar, /as opposed to the "real" acoustic ones, that one could've played in the 1700's.

Your friends arguments are lame, unless they are amish and truly disagree with any element of technology in music; but then they would be against recorded music as well.

Posted by Verona^My on Jul-05-2002 19:44:

quote:
Originally posted by nate735
most of those rap/pop songs are made with computers and synthesizers. Mostly all music this day in age is made by computers synths etc.. The only songs that dont use computers are those rock songs. Computers deffinatley classify as a musical intrument.

I disagree in the sense that a computer is an instrument in the purest sense though. Computer's require a middle man to operate (electricity), like synths and Electric guitars, without electricity much of the music made post 60's wouldn't have been possible; period.

Computers are however a nice vehicle to making modern art, such as music, visual graphics, etc.