Tweaking Sax Sounds

[fireincairo82]

Ok. Now here is a question that I should be able to ask without getting hammered about being in the 'wrong forum'.

On the M50...has anyone tweaked a realistic tenor sax sound?? If so, could you pass on your secret. If not, could you still send me in the right direction on what I should actually be adjusting to get close?

Thanks!!

[xmlguy]

Unfortunately, you'll never get close to a realistic tenor sax on the M50. You'll never fool anyone. It will always be obvious that you're playing a sampled sax on a keyboard. It's missing the full range of natural expression and articulation of a professional sax player, such as done on a sax solo. That's not to say that you can't do better than just hitting the notes without expression, since you can use an expression pedal or midi wind controller to improve upon the basic sampling. But good luck trying to reproduce the sax solo on a keyboard of Supertramp's The Logical Song, for example. It's a very reasonable question to ask, however. Bands still need good sax musicians for good sax music, and I expect it will be that way for a long time to come. If all you need to do is a few background sax section stabs, then I don't think any harm will come of it playing those parts on the M50. Playing a sax solo on a keyboard is just embarrasing or laughable to anyone who knows what a real sax solo should sound like. Sax is defined by how you play in between the lines, phrasing, and attitude. Shades and a fedora hat helps, says my friend Zoot.

[Rishat]

I think I have made a good Sax.. Will send it tomorrow. Give me your email Id..

[outsider9]

I wouldn't say it's impossible to make at least a decent sax sound, having all this tweakability in our hands.
It'd be cool to hear a sample (mp3) of that sax, Rishat.

[xmlguy]

I also wouldn't say it's impossible to make at least a decent sax sound, which is why I didn't say that. I was very careful to use the word "realistic", because there is a huge gap between "realistic" and "decent." The Yamaha SuperArticulation Saxophones are very good, but they still fall short of being convincing for a sax solo like the one I describe from Supertramp. If you expect realistic, you're likely to be disappointed. If you willing to settle for less, then it's more a matter of how unrealistic the sax can sound and still be acceptable.

[fireincairo82]

Perhaps I should have chosen my words more carefully. I meant a 'more' realistic sound than it has currently by tweaking it. I certainly know better than to expect a 'real' sax sound any more than you can get a 'real' guitar sound.

I'm just looking for something that I can use that will sound better than the current sounds for the little parts in songs like 'Rumpshaker' etc when we play live.

All input is appreciated!!

[Synthoid]

Unfortunately, you'll never get close to a realistic tenor sax on the M50. You'll never fool anyone. It will always be obvious that you're playing a sampled sax on a keyboard.

You won't fool a sax player, but most people in the audience won't know the difference.

[xmlguy]

Unfortunately, you'll never get close to a realistic tenor sax on the M50. You'll never fool anyone. It will always be obvious that you're playing a sampled sax on a keyboard.

You won't fool a sax player, but most people in the audience won't know the difference.

Yeah, but most people in the audience wouldn't know the difference between a $200 Casio WK-200 and a Steinway Grand.

REALLY High Quality Example that's Really Cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nlGUThklW0

[mocando]

Shades and a fedora hat helps, says my friend Zoot.

Or as he said in Sax and Violence video: Before playing your sampled sax, just look up to the sky and say: "Forgive Me Charlie Parker, whenever you are"