Instrument curiousity

[Blu-RayDisc+50GB]

A long time ago, I started a thread about a song which I love. There is an instrument in it which I am in love with. However, because it is a video game theme, they don't say wether it is orchestrated or synthesised. I put a link to many videos of other people playing that part of the game where the music plays in the background. Many said it is synthesised, while one said it may have started out as a "Digital Piano with an FM Synthesis". I have a link to a YouTube video of the song below that has just the music. My favourite instrument starts at 1:16 and ends at 2:05. I would like to know your opinions. Is it synthesised, or orchestrated? What would your estimate be?

 

[tyhjaarpa]

I would say that the whole song is synthesised, that is quite common in game musics. Could be wrong tho.

 

[Blu-RayDisc+50GB]

I would say that the whole song is synthesised, that is quite common in game musics. Could be wrong tho.

Thank you for your input.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

My favourite instrument starts at 1:16 and ends at 2:05. I would like to know your opinions. Is it synthesised, or orchestrated? What would your estimate be?

Even synthesized instruments can be orchestrated, so I assume you want to know if it’s a synthesizer or real horns.

I was in band in junior high and high school, so I’m familiar with the sound of the various horns and woodwinds. The one you’re hearing in that passage could be trombone, French horn or euphonium / baritone. They all have a similar sound, as you can hear from samples of each here. You can also search “[name of horn] sound clip” and find examples of each on YouTube.

The trombone has a rather prominent “raspy” sound, as does the baritone, but less so. Of the three, the French horn has the “softest” sound, which would suggest that it’s the instrument in question.

However, it would be easy enough to “tame” the trombone and baritone via EQ or mixing techniques (i.e. make them sound “softer”), and once buried in the mix of a track with ample mid-bass content, like this one has, you wouldn’t be able to tell one from the other.

That said, I also vote that it’s all keyboard or computer-generated synthesizer and not an actual horn. It makes no sense to track down professional horn players, book studio time, engineers, etc. for something that could just as easily be accomplished by a guy at a work station.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Mark of Cenla]

"That said, I also vote that it’s all keyboard or computer-generated synthesizer and not an actual instrument."

A keyboard is an instrument. Peace and goodwill

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Point taken. Post edited to specify “horn.”

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Blu-RayDisc+50GB]

Even synthesized instruments can be orchestrated, so I assume you want to know if it’s a synthesizer or real instruments.

I was in band in junior high and high school, so I’m familiar with the sound of the various horns and woodwinds. The one you’re hearing in that passage could be trombone, French horn or euphonium / baritone. They all have a similar sound, as you can hear from samples of each here. You can also search “[name of horn] sound clip” and find examples of each on YouTube.

The trombone has a rather prominent “raspy” sound, as does the baritone, but less so. Of the three, the French horn has the “softest” sound, which would suggest that it’s the instrument in question.

However, it would be easy enough to “tame” the trombone and baritone via EQ or mixing techniques (i.e. make them sound “softer”), and once buried in the mix of a track with ample mid-bass content, like this one has, you wouldn’t be able to tell one from the other.

That said, I also vote that it’s all keyboard or computer-generated synthesizer and not an actual horn. It makes no sense to track down professional horn players, book studio time, engineers, etc. for something that could just as easily be accomplished by a guy at a work station.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Thank you for your input, that French horn sounded similiar to my fav instrument in that song.