Inu-Liger: This was music that Brian wrote programmed on a MIDI synth, transferred to cassette from a diskette, and discarded the disk afterwards (which ended up in legitimate hands).
This was for the 1990 production of Macbeth.
John S. Stuart: Due to size and space, the material on the diskette only featured a few more tracks. (The main theme being priority and lasting about 5 mins long).
However, the 'live' version is indeed much longer - although it too is a bit 'patchy' and a collection of very short pieces - rather than a truely elongated classical piece. It is also a very poor audience recording.
If anyone of you 'musical midi guys' are interested, (I am neither musical or PC literate enough to do this personally), I could certainly share the bootlegged live version (editing out the above downloads), but would it be possible to re-create these as 'studio midis'?
In other words, if the 'real thing' is not 'out-there', would it be possible to re-create, using the live version as a template? I know it would NOT be genuine in the sense of Brian's playing, but it would still be authentic in the sense that it would be a 'Brian May composition'.
I mean - if 'Beethoven's' 'Fifth Symphony' can be performed by the likes of 'Herbert Von Karajan', or, 'The Russian State Symphony Orchestra', or, 'The University of Stirling Radio Chorus', and STILL remain 'Beethoven's Fifth', why not the 'Macbeth Suit' performed by the 'Queenzone Midi Performers'?
Obviously, it would work better if each 'composer' chose an allocated 'movement' and thus avoiding duplication, but as a general idea, I think it holds water.
My only reservation is that having visited some internet midi sites, the final product sounds cheap and tacky. Therefore, is it possible to re-create a midi to sound like 'quality' - or is such a project doomed by tinny Casio technology?
Just a thought!
john bodega · Member since
This is a most interesting idea. Yep - as long as a recording is clear enough, anyone could probably transcribe it into MIDI. From there you could keep it MIDI, or - use the MIDI with real brilliant samples to make it sound all kick-arse and symphonish.
EDIT: in fact, using things called Soundfonts can usually make a MIDI sound heaps better (depending on the quality of the soundfont you've got on your computer).
Hmmm.
Adam Baboolal · Member since
Soundfonts are old news when it comes to symphonic stuff. Native Instrument's BandStand is a big general midi pack and sounds pretty cool. Now, that's the worst it could sound - http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=bandstand_us&flash=7
But maybe someone on here has a really massive symphonic pack to play with... ahem... :)
Peace,
Adam.
john bodega · Member since
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Adam Baboolal wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Soundfonts are old news when it comes to symphonic stuff.
[/QUOTE]
But of course, the technology behind soundfonts is no longer front-page stuff in anyone's book. But, I merely brought it up as an option for people who didn't have any other ideas.
John S Stuart · Member since
Without getting too technical, let's remember that this was originally recorded in 1990.
OK, I realise that it was professional and cutting-edge eqipment THEN, but NOW, 26 years later, isn't it possible that home recording equipment has advanced so much - that it has even superceded Brian's studio stuff?
I don't thnik it needs to be 'kick-ass', but it would certainly need to 'sound' like Brian's original, and bits where the red special are needed, would either need to be farmed out to a red special guitarist as overdubs - or avoided, as I do not think adding this element with an 'overdrive guitar sound' would do such a project justice.
However, 'if' this project 'was' viable, would anyone be interested in recreating the suite, and should I upload the live version so that you guys can hear what you are dealing with?
john bodega · Member since
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]John S Stuart wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
However, 'if' this project 'was' viable, would anyone be interested in recreating the suite, and should I upload the live version so that you guys can hear what you are dealing with?
[/QUOTE]
Would that you'd asked this question before TAFE started... all my music has gone out the window and is being eaten up by Music stuff from school...
Hypothetically, if I had shitloads of free time I'd love to work on something like this.
FriedChicken · Member since
I've got a pretty good orchestral library, maybe I can give it a try?
FriedChicken · Member since
Already did a quick version of the 'Fanfare' track.
I don't have the cheap sounds Brian has. LOL (Which were high tech back then!) I used samples where you could here which instruments it is supposed to be, but which are not as good so you can still here it's computer made
John S Stuart · Member since
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]FriedChicken The Almighty wrote: [/QUOTENAME]There you are.
I don't have the cheap sounds Brian has. LOL (Which were high tech back then!) I used samples where you could here which instruments it is supposed to be, but which are not as good so you can still here it's computer made[/QUOTE]
It's not bad.
I think the original has a 'beefier' sound to it than this re-make. (Having uploaded the 'original' - Perhaps others would like to comment?)
Nevertheless, I would still say your version is worth maybe an 8/10.
It certainly bodes well if the remainder of the Suite could be transcribed as accurately. The only snag is that could it be done as easily from a poor audience recording?
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]FriedChicken The Almighty wrote:
I used samples where you could here which instruments it is supposed to be, but which are not as good so you can still here it's computer made[/QUOTE]
Why do you want it to sound like a computer, wouldn't it be better to sound like a real orchestra?
FriedChicken · Member since
Well it's the computer that makes it 'beefy'
FriedChicken · Member since
Thanks for your comments John.
I also did the "Track One" bit. I don't know how hard it would be transcribing from the audience source. Since I never heard that version I don't know how good you can hear it..
If it doesn't have lots of fast notes like Track One it wouldn't be that hard..
