If a synthesizer can make any sound, what is the point of having other instruments?

Answer 1

First, it's not true. Second, most instruments have complex overtones that are difficult or near impossible to duplicate. Third, many are digital, and are focused in specific areas ie: horns, or pianos, or organs, or synthesis. There are even different types of synthesis, FM, additive, subtractive. This is why there are many different manufacturers and musicians have favorites. My Korg tone wheel is great at Hammond Organ sounds, but not very good at true piano. The old analog synth's are making a big comeback right now. Tascam's gigastudio has many great sounds.....And none of them really have great guitar sounds.....

Answer 2

The synthesizer can produce any sound, but how accurate and how good the quality of sound produced is another issue.
And also, for some of the instrumental techniques, its much more difficult to perform on the synth, for example wind instruments, wah wah for the guitar (BUT still possible).

I own a Korg trinity and trition, though the sound is actually quite close to the actual thing, but there is still something missing from it. Call it a soul or maybe an unheard frequency, but definately something.

Anyway, for most, a synth is to create backdrop noices, act as keyboard support, and maybe some sound effects.
For myself personally, I can recreate a concert from it, but not too well ^_^

Answer 3

A synthesizer makes the approximate sound, but not the actual sound. Take for instance a most horns, percussion instruments, or reed instruments. The string instruments the sound is almost exact but you still don't have the sliding effect of the strings.

Answer 4

The idea that a synthesizer can make any sound is a misconception because the word "any" is to all encompassing. It is true, however, that a synthesizer can make a great many sounds of several different kinds, but some sounds are just too complex for a synth to handle. Synths are to sound what paint-by-number is to photographic images. Yes, even one sound like the sound of a canoe paddle stroke in water is made up of several miniscule parts and each paddle stroke sounds different in almost countless ways because of the element of randomness in the conditions of the water, the paddle, and the one making the stroke. Just the sound of a splash of water contains steady frequencies, modulated frequencies, pink noise, white noise and a host of other elements that are of all different intensities, attacks, decays, and lengths of time. I hope you're beginning to see the complexity of what it might take to synthesize even common sounds.

Answer 5

There is a sense of realism one can only get by having the actual instruments play the music. Sure, people like Jeremy Soule are doing quite well using only their computers and synthesizers, but if you ever listen to their music, you can tell that there is something about the sounds that are non-organic, meaning, they are mechanical. Soule may create wonderful arrangements for video games, but in order to get a real soul in music, you have to have a live band playing it. Listen sometime to Jeremy Soule's music, then listen to similar music. You'll notice the difference.

Answer 6

You can't get the same expression out of a synth than you can out of an instrument. Also, it is hard to beat a full-scale orchestra for real beauty of sound. With all of those musicians in the room, everyone's mind and creative activity are going into making the best music possible.... and the music becomes dynamic... exciting and alive.

Synths, no matter how good, can not replicate the nuances of a real musician or group of musicians.

Answer 7

the art of making music.. plus a synthesizer can never produce quality sound that a real instrument can create

Answer 8

In addition to synthesizers not being able to replicate all the finer nuances of a piece that's being played, who wants to see the equilivant of one person musically masturbating onstage?

I have been to a few concerts and I know, I wouldn't have enjoyed the Mannheim Steamroller or Yanni concerts if they were performed by just one guy!

Answer 9

I actually own an analog synth. It's a korg Ms2000b, and I love it. It's more for making odd noises rather than replicating other instruments. If anything, the only instrument it replicates is the bass and piano.

Answer 10

well if you're talking about performances the AFM (american federation of musicians) prohibits music only being performed on the synthesizer and a certain # of people to play instruments.

also it does not sound as good.