Is a Computer an Instrument?

Freebase Dali · 11-08-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirty

I see what you're saying but I don't think we need to analyze and get technical about everything. It's like in the 'Is Meat Murder' thread. Technically people are animals... but when i hear the word 'animal' I don't think of people. I think of dogs or cows or whatever. And when I think of a computer, the word 'instrument' never really enters my mind and vice versa. But if I would hear 'trombone' or 'guitar' then I'd think of 'instrument' almost immediately if it's a word-association thing

Well obviously... but you wouldn't get anywhere in this discussion, or any that requires any kind of critical reasoning at all, without thinking beyond a generic association. I meant my comment in context with that, and I wouldn't have posted it if we were playing a word-association game.

~~Dirty~~ · 11-08-2010, 01:09 PM

Well that's how the mind works. You hear words and you associate them with other things. Technically a computer is an instrument by definition, because it produces sound. But if someone came up to me and ask "Hey, you think a computer is an instrument" my reaction would be to say No.

Freebase Dali · 11-08-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirty

Well that's how the mind works. You hear words and you associate them with other things. Technically a computer is an instrument by definition, because it produces sound. But if someone came up to me and ask "Hey, you think a computer is an instrument" my reaction would be to say No.

The whole point of this thread is to debate whether a computer can be a musical instrument. It's also serving as a pretty good indicator of how many people apparently don't realize that... unless, of course, they're silly enough to consider "reactions" good arguments.

~~Dirty~~ · 11-08-2010, 01:25 PM

Believe it or not, I'm actually not here to have a professional debate. I just don't consider a computer an instrument. I don't associate the two.

SATCHMO · 11-08-2010, 01:28 PM

You know, anything, from a tuba to a kazoo, is just a tool to get something from your brain converted into something that manipulates the air around you. You can beat someone over the head repeatedly with a 67' Les Paul; Does that make it a weapon? Yes, Yes, it does.

But people make much to much of a fuss over this topic, just because at the end of the day it's pretty unlikely that you're gonna' have calluses on the tips of your fingers from creating a musical composition on your computer. The real question is, Are you being true to your own vision, or are you just ****in' around with some beats? No matter what the answer is, you're still making music, and the computer which has facilitated the process, is the instrument with which you've accomplished that feat.

neverthesame · 12-04-2010, 09:34 AM

I used to be a snob about this, but now I think a computer allows someone with crazy talent to not be constrained by the standard sounds available in the local music shop, or by their prices. It's a bloody good instrument.

blackdream123 · 12-11-2010, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I would say the computer is more equivalent to an amplifier while the software is more of the equivalent of the instrument itself.

Yea! Amplifier u can use it as....
also it great thing to use your PC like an Guitar Sound Processor...it' so usefull

Certif1ed · 12-23-2010, 05:38 AM

A computer is as much a musical instrument as anything else.

Except in many ways it's better than other instruments - it can be anything you want it to be, except naturally acoustic - so it's not an acoustic instrument (unless you count the case, which you can hit and produce a sound from).

It's an electronic instrument no different essentially to other synthesisers that also use software to manipulate audio digitally (and there are a lot that do that - the days of analogue synths are now a misty memory, except among revivalists).

The big difference is that a computer can not only synthesise digital or analogue synths via software, and be controlled by a keyboard, you can also hook up acoustic instruments to it, and manipulate the sounds of those easily through software.

You can even imitate specific guitar amplifier models, so if you don't own a Marshall or a Mesa, you can simply buy a cheap piece of kit that pretends to be one, and crank up your axe and get into your favourite pose before sounding exactly like your favourite guitar hero. I said "sounding exactly", not "playing exactly"...

By running a DAW, you can be an entire band without actually owning anything other than a cheap guitar and a microphone - and it's possible to synthesise both of those too, so neither are actually necessary any more.

I agree that the software is the equivalent of the strings - it's the strings that make the actual sounds, but without the instrument body, the strings are pretty useless - and the instrument body is responsible for not only amplifying the sound - as well as making actual musical sound possible, but also adding timbre and nuance.

With something like a flute, it's the hole, not the air that is the equivalence of strings. No hole, and there's nothing for the performer to connect with the instrument with, like strings. With a sax, it's the reed, with a trumpet, it's the mouthpiece.

So with a computer, it's the software that the musician interacts with in order to get the instrument to make music.

That's my take on it, anyways...

~~RockingGoat~~ · 12-23-2010, 06:06 PM

I think so. May we call it "soft instrument"?

Freebase Dali · 12-23-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockingGoat

I think so. May we call it "soft instrument"?

Flaccid penis joke?

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11-08-2010, 01:09 PM	#152 (permalink)
~~Dirty~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 981	Well that's how the mind works. You hear words and you associate them with other things. Technically a computer is an instrument by definition, because it produces sound. But if someone came up to me and ask "Hey, you think a computer is an instrument" my reaction would be to say No.

11-08-2010, 01:25 PM	#154 (permalink)
~~Dirty~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 981	Believe it or not, I'm actually not here to have a professional debate. I just don't consider a computer an instrument. I don't associate the two.

11-08-2010, 01:28 PM	#155 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	You know, anything, from a tuba to a kazoo, is just a tool to get something from your brain converted into something that manipulates the air around you. You can beat someone over the head repeatedly with a 67' Les Paul; Does that make it a weapon? Yes, Yes, it does. But people make much to much of a fuss over this topic, just because at the end of the day it's pretty unlikely that you're gonna' have calluses on the tips of your fingers from creating a musical composition on your computer. The real question is, Are you being true to your own vision, or are you just **in' around with some beats? No matter what the answer is, you're still making music, and the computer which has facilitated the process, is the instrument with which you've accomplished that feat.

12-04-2010, 09:34 AM	#156 (permalink)
neverthesame Groupie Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 21	I used to be a snob about this, but now I think a computer allows someone with crazy talent to not be constrained by the standard sounds available in the local music shop, or by their prices. It's a bloody good instrument.

12-23-2010, 05:38 AM	#158 (permalink)
Certif1ed Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 194	A computer is as much a musical instrument as anything else. Except in many ways it's better than other instruments - it can be anything you want it to be, except naturally acoustic - so it's not an acoustic instrument (unless you count the case, which you can hit and produce a sound from). It's an electronic instrument no different essentially to other synthesisers that also use software to manipulate audio digitally (and there are a lot that do that - the days of analogue synths are now a misty memory, except among revivalists). The big difference is that a computer can not only synthesise digital or analogue synths via software, and be controlled by a keyboard, you can also hook up acoustic instruments to it, and manipulate the sounds of those easily through software. You can even imitate specific guitar amplifier models, so if you don't own a Marshall or a Mesa, you can simply buy a cheap piece of kit that pretends to be one, and crank up your axe and get into your favourite pose before sounding exactly like your favourite guitar hero. I said "sounding exactly", not "playing exactly"... By running a DAW, you can be an entire band without actually owning anything other than a cheap guitar and a microphone - and it's possible to synthesise both of those too, so neither are actually necessary any more. I agree that the software is the equivalent of the strings - it's the strings that make the actual sounds, but without the instrument body, the strings are pretty useless - and the instrument body is responsible for not only amplifying the sound - as well as making actual musical sound possible, but also adding timbre and nuance. With something like a flute, it's the hole, not the air that is the equivalence of strings. No hole, and there's nothing for the performer to connect with the instrument with, like strings. With a sax, it's the reed, with a trumpet, it's the mouthpiece. So with a computer, it's the software that the musician interacts with in order to get the instrument to make music. That's my take on it, anyways...

12-23-2010, 06:06 PM	#159 (permalink)
~~RockingGoat~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 18	I think so. May we call it "soft instrument"?