Broadway Musicians Replaced With Synthesizers 319
wooferhound writes "Sophisticated synthesizers and computer-manipulated recordings are increasingly taking over orchestras. Sounding almost like real players, while costing much less, they're especially popular with provincial or touring companies. But until mid-July — when 'West Side Story's' producers announced that a synthesizer was replacing three live violinists and two cellists, or half the orchestra's string section — staff violinist Paul Woodiel thought that at least the classics would be immune to the trend. There are computer programs able to read and play back music scores — a boon to composers who can now hear their work as they write — and software allowing conductors to control the tempo of the machine, in the same way that they direct live players."
Broadway, last bastion of resistance (Score:3, Interesting)
software allowing conductors to control the tempo of the machine, in the same way that they direct live players.
I did something like this with an Apple IIe in the early days of MIDI in a scene where an actor had to fake playing the piano faster and faster as the scene progressed. Up in the booth I tapped up the tempo following the actor, rather than have the actor have to follow a recording.
What's amazing about Broadway is that it has held out so long. In large part that's due to unions, but I think also audience expectations. One isn't surprised a low budget production in the boonies would cut corners, but if you shell out for a Broadway ticket, you want the full meal.
maybe they'll work it into the script (Score:1, Interesting)
The Jets designated geeks will sit in front of the stage controlling the music on Windows PCs during their musical numbers, while the Sharks use MacBooks.
Neat Technology (Score:2, Interesting)
What I haven't heard is a really good synthesizer. My God, Have you heard CATS? That shit sounds like it was done on the Casio the kids have in their bedroom.
In the long run though, this should make the "ARTS" more accessible to the public. I find that to be a good thing.
Re:Broadway, last bastion of resistance (Score:5, Interesting)
Live performance different from film (Score:5, Interesting)
There is a major difference. The big moment that happens at 93:27:34 in the movie will always happen at 93:27:34. There is no such dependability in live performance.
I've made a few paychecks as a pit musician and I can't imagine how the synths will be controlled. If it is a person at a keyboard with a super advanced tone module then you are really just replacing a few musicians with a single one, not exactly groundbreaking, and it's frequently done with a standard piano covering parts that can't be hired (your local production of Fiddler on the Roof likely has a piano covering the accordion part).
If this is a computer, like the one FTFA that is mentioned to keep crashing, well, I can't see this actually being ok for any real performance where people are paying money. Crashing is one thing, but even if the program works perfectly, now everything has to cue off the computer. What if someone is late on an entrance? What if there is a technical problem? What if an actor drops a couple lines? An entire verse? There is a very delicate interplay between the actors, the stage manager, the conductor and the musicians to make everything match up every time. It's why opera is, for my money, the most stressful job I have ever taken as a musician.
Re:Neat Technology (Score:3, Interesting)
While in theory I agree that machine-read music is feasible, I'm skeptical as to the extent which it's going to be good, even from a quality synthesizer.
Re:What is the issue? (Score:5, Interesting)
You are _mostly_ right. The sheet music doesn't contain full information. A good part is missing and has to be re-added by a musician every time the composition is being played.
But... what if you record _that_? Or, create good enough algorithms that can guess that missing information?
You get the same effect as live musicians -- and if you want little errors here and there, they can be introduced as well, just like deBeers' claims that mined diamonds are "better" can be derailed by adding some junk to diamonds being grown.
computer synthesis based on live performance (Score:3, Interesting)
Avatar uses real human actors and capture their action as well as facial expression and emotion [youtube.com], and then use that as the basis to synthesize a performance. Notion3 is actually similar but the motion/emotion capturing is much more primitive. The live performance mode in Notion3 allows a conductor---or a technician following a conductor---to use just one key on a MIDI keyboard to play a score. The MIDI keyboard captures the dynamics by recording key velocity as well as tempo. They then use that information to synthesize a performance based on audio samples recorded from London Symphony Orchestra.
While Avatar probably wouldn't be successful if they only had one person play all characters, the success of Notion3 where one person plays the whole orchestra is kind of interesting. It shows that when you're part of an orchestra ensemble, the amount of individual character you contribute to the group is negligible. This would probably motivate more musicians to pursue a solo career, or inspire a music genre where all the instrument pieces are part of a dialogue rather than just playing in unison.
Re:What is the issue? (Score:3, Interesting)
I am not a big fan of Jimi Hendrix but the recording of Voodoo Child (Slight Return) is an absolute masterpiece of what you are describing. Every note is hit perfectly, and yet he somehow makes it seem like he is playing with the timing. The overall effect is 11 on the dial. :)
Rock on.