One challenge I like to take on is to see what I can do with GM voices. You'd be surprised at what you can get from them with very little editing, and no inserts or MFX.

Here's a few measure of one of my all time favorite compositions "Pachabel's Canon" (didn't play it in the original key..sorry) IMO this piece has one of the best progessions I've ever heard. Simple, yet so damn sweet.

I just slapped this together real fast using GM voices, did about 2 minutes of tweeking a few voices too. Timing may be off a bit, and mixing isn't perfect either. Anyone else play with their GM voices? There's just so much talk about presets, that often the power in the GM voices goes un-noticed.

Here's the MP3. It sounds freakin great on my Behringer monitors, so I don't know how it will sound on other systems.
http://www.esnips.com/doc/ed329501-6e5b-4348-9161-fdf610f9a4d6/Pach.-Canon

Hi Squeak,

As usual, you never disappoint me. You keep impressing me with your tweaking and editing abilities.

Pachabel's Canon is also one of my favorite compositions.

Thanks Taike.... I didn't even use any of my custom voices either. I just picked GM voices and tweeked them on the fly.

People here I think often misjudge me too. Sure I'm a modern music lover who's into Hip Hip, Rap, and R&B, but not many here I guess know my roots are in "classical". If there is any type of music I really appreciate playing it's classical. Sure a funky lemon fresh beat is nice, but what really takes talent and work IMO is putting together a classical comp. No styles, no arranger, just press the record button and gooooooo.. Straight linear sequencing baby, and no quantizing

Squeak, I had the pleasure of listening several times to what you're capable of when it comes to putting together a classical composition.

I urge everyone to check out Squeak's other examples of his accomplishments. You'll find them at the same link he has posted above.

One thing I would like to mention is that Squeak always backs up what he says by giving examples which only underscores his great talent in tweaking voices, styles and editing.

They are GM voices from what?

Lot of difference between Quicktime Player and Colossus.....

Hi Spueak_D
If you like classics played straight, you may like this video, and it is played live using the Wersi OAS 6 software and Bose PAS speakers. (Cant think what the new name for the speakers is)
Enjoy

Bill
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6aVyX_6EBS0

Diki, they're the GM voices from my Roland RS-70. I like presets, but I enjoy a challenge too. GM voices tend to get overlooked, and when properly edited you can end up with great results. There are tips and tricks to editing string voices, but one of the biggest mistakes I've seen done is to drown the sound out in reverb (done this a few times myself). Often the sound requires little reverb. String sounds (when editing GM) usually require you to bring out the "bow" sound. The sound often needs to have the filters opened up. If your keyboard has individual EQ on each track as well, the use of the EQ will really make the sound stand out in the mix.

Squeak

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 03-22-2007).]

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Hi Spueak_D
If you like classics played straight, you may like this video, and it is played live using the Wersi OAS 6 software and Bose PAS speakers. (Cant think what the new name for the speakers is)
Enjoy
--------------------------------------------

Bill sounded awesome! Takes a lot of talent to do play like that Ya gotta have a good understanding of "orchestration", and a good understanding of how these intruments work to properly emulate them on the keys. Guys like this give us a good name!

Squeak

Have you tried it with GM2 or Yamaha's XG? Will it sound much better without tweaking?

My Roland is GM2. I wasn't too impressed with the XG voices in that department. Always felt they needed a little extra TLC ya know.

Squeak