Virtual
instruments put the power to create everything from the unmistakable growl of the Fender Rhodes
electric piano to the circuit-bent psychedelic tones of the classic Moog synthesizer right at your
finger tips; even when the instruments themselves aren't accessible. Since most home recording
studios don't have the resources, let alone the space, to house the hundreds of different
instruments we all wish we had, taking advantage of virtual instruments with your recording
software is an effective and efficient way to expand your home recording capabilities.
Types of Virtual instruments for Your Home Recording Studio
The types of virtual
instruments available for your home recording studio are basically endless. With the digital audio
workstation software used today, you can successfully re-create everything from an electric guitar
to digital synthesizers to acoustic sounding drums. The sheer power virtual instruments add to any
digital audio workstation make you and your home recording studio not only incredibly powerful, but
versatile and dynamic as well.
With that being said, it's important to understand the two distinct types of virtual
instruments available today.
Sample Based Virtual Instruments – When a Virtual Instrument is said to be sample
based, it means that the sounds that are produced are based on real life audio samples created by
recording the actual instrument. Sample based virtual instruments use a large library of recorded
sounds to emulate how the instrument would sound if it were actually in your home recording studio.
For acoustic instruments like a violin, guitar, and many drums, sample based virtual instruments
are often said to be better at mimicking the intended sound more accurately.
The
M-Audio
Drum and Bass Rig Virtual Instrument package is a great example of what sample based virtual
instruments have to offer. With a stunning collection of drum and bass tones sampled and stored in
the sound library, you'll be able to assemble an entire rhythm section right on your computer.
Plus, the M-Audio Drum and Bass Rig can work as a stand alone unit, or in conjunction with most
recording software, allowing you to create authentic sounding beats for all your home recording
projects.
Sound Generating Virtual Instruments – Unlike sample based virtual instruments,
sound generating virtual instruments rely on the software to generate the sound itself. Since
instruments like synthesizers, keyboards and electronic drums are digital instruments that have
always relied on a computer to generate their sound, emulating their tone is often best done by
sound generating virtual instruments that can closely mimic the original software.
The
Arturia
Analog Experience The Player takes virtual instruments to the next level with a thousand
synthesizer sounds based on some of the most prolific synthesizers in history. Everything from the
Jupiter-8V to the Classic Moog are all faithfully reproduced and ready to go with the Arturia
Analog Experience package. And, to sweeten the deal, the Arturia Analog Experience even includes a
midi-keyboard so you'll be able to use all the amazing synth sounds right out of the box.
