| Trained musicians, composers and directors in rock, | | | | sample or play up to a thousand or more separate |
| jazz and classical...and their loyal fans ... face a new | | | | instrument "voices" or sound textures. Play it alone, one |
| breed of computer-based "slave" performers who | | | | voice at a time, or simultaneously play several |
| offer perfect pitch fidelity on every note, don't need to | | | | instruments. |
| be paid every night, never get over time pay, don't | | | | * Multi Track Recording At A Finger's Flick. When your |
| complain, and even remember instantly every note of | | | | Mom taught you how to play the piano...on that prized |
| every past and present performance. Who are they? | | | | family heirloom upright acoustic piano...you played notes |
| The R2D2-like synthesized "voices" imbedded within | | | | and scales and learned the do-re-mi of rudimentary |
| digital grand pianos, oboe, acoustic and electric guitars, | | | | and benign tonic scales and patterns. However...where |
| even layered-up entire orchestras are the new wave | | | | was the "music"? Modern instrumentalists, striding |
| of in-your-PC performers! | | | | across digital and electric keyboards don't have to |
| What's In It For Play-At-Home Performers? Think | | | | wait. With a keyboard command, a modern player and |
| unlimited playing possibilities to bring out the very best | | | | instantly build an entire band, or orchestral sound. The |
| of your music. No longer limited by training, technical | | | | digital piano is one platform. The nearby PC and |
| virtuosity, money, nor the aggravation of acoustic | | | | screen is the other platform. |
| instruments constantly requiring expensive tuning, the | | | | Getting Great Musicians And Great Performances At |
| best digital piano designs reflect contemporary digital | | | | Bargain Basement Prices. Let's say that you're an |
| sampling at its best. 88-note keyboards...absolutely | | | | enthusiastic budding song writer. For a few thousand |
| stunning fidelity based on digitized sampling of the | | | | dollars you can buy an off-the-wall fully loaded Korg or |
| world's greatest acoustic grand pianos...add in perfect | | | | Roland digital piano. You practice, lay down some |
| pitch instrument voices from rock guitar and tenor sax | | | | tracks and musical fragments, develop some recursive |
| to oboe, flute, organs, acoustic guitars....add playback | | | | feedback "loops", add drums. Any extra costs so far? |
| and sampling of your favorite CD's...instant recording of | | | | Nope. But, your compositions begin to "push the |
| musical phrases...countless drum and rhythm beat | | | | creative envelope" and you decide that you've got to |
| choices. Pay once...and big dollar discounts over | | | | have a more complex sound fabric, with the talents of |
| old-fashioned acoustic instruments...and a future of | | | | truly professional musicians. Where do you find these |
| virtually infinite compositional combinations unfolds. | | | | performers? How much will they cost? What about |
| Full Orchestra Lurks Within Electronic Music Keyboard | | | | studio time, and production costs? |
| And PC Combos. "What will you have...mock turtle | | | | * Money Matters & What Technology Buys |
| soup or real turtle soup?" No more an | | | | Today. A few years ago money would become the |
| Alice-in-Wonderland question, the line separating "real | | | | ultimate barrier-to-entry for budding composers. Throw |
| music" from fully synthesized audio art is rapidly | | | | out $50,000...money which you don't have, must |
| obscuring any former quality advantage that "real" | | | | borrow...all for a total shot-in-the-dark artistic roll of the |
| musicians may have held over 1st generation electronic | | | | dice. Now, exploiting the best digital piano on-board |
| piano or "canned" rhythm set programs. | | | | technology plus rent-an-orchestra PC based "virtual |
| * Multi Instrument Play. Any number of | | | | orchestras" means you might do the same production |
| latest-generation digital stage piano designs can | | | | for under $1,000. |