Is a Computer an Instrument?

Urban Hat€monger ? · 09-24-2010, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HVYMTLROCK

Here is the definition posted on the first entry. Read it.... Producing musical sound... A computer does not produce musical sound. It may produce music/noise via speakers but it is programmed to produce these sounds. Everything is coded and programmed on a computer for eventual output of some sort.... It is not an instrument....

So you're saying a computer isn't an instrument but software is.

Got it.

Stone Birds · 09-24-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HVYMTLROCK

in·stru·ment
/ˈɪnstrəmənt/ Show Spelled[in-struh-muhnt] Show IPA
–noun
A contrivance or apparatus for producing musical sounds: a stringed instrument.

Here is the definition posted on the first entry. Read it.... Producing musical sound... A computer does not produce musical sound. It may produce music/noise via speakers but it is programmed to produce these sounds. Everything is coded and programmed on a computer for eventual output of some sort.... It is not an instrument....

a computer does make a musical sound because ALL SOUNDS can be classified as musical sounds. please don't be an idiot.

this is part of the earliest form of computer music

anything with a computer chip that processes ANY amount of data is technically a computer

Stone Birds · 10-20-2010, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicmandigg

Nope,its not a Instrument.Computer is a machine which is a combination of software and hardware.

and how exactly does that declassify it as an instrument?

non-computer instruments you could say are ALL hardware, does software declassify music, so if a guitarist uses a pedal that contains software on a computer chip what ends up coming out of the amp is not music?

**Janszoon** · 10-20-2010, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicmandigg

Nope,its not a Instrument.Computer is a machine which is a combination of software and hardware.

You know what else could be described as "a machine which is a combination of software and hardware"? This:

GuitarBizarre · 10-20-2010, 08:09 AM

Or a guitar with a modelling amp. Or an electric piano.

Dom · 10-20-2010, 12:42 PM

What discounts or at least detracts credibility from a computer being an instrument is the fact that in it's not you playing the notes as and when you want to play them, it's you giving the computer a schedule of when to play what note. What I mean by this is that, say on guitar you wanted to play a song, you'd have to play the right notes in the right way at the right time. On a computer you tell the computer what notes to play and then rearrange what time it plays the notes. You couldn't "play" a computer live in that way. This is talking about sequencing, rather than if by "computer" you mean more loosely, such as a synth pad or something

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 10-20-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom

What discounts or at least detracts credibility from a computer being an instrument is the fact that in it's not you playing the notes as and when you want to play them, it's you giving the computer a schedule of when to play what note. What I mean by this is that, say on guitar you wanted to play a song, you'd have to play the right notes in the right way at the right time. On a computer you tell the computer what notes to play and then rearrange what time it plays the notes. You couldn't "play" a computer live in that way. This is talking about sequencing, rather than if by "computer" you mean more loosely, such as a synth pad or something

A laptop paired with a midi controller could just as easily output to a PA, and be as equally real time as anything else. In fact, with it, you pretty much have by far the most cost effective musical instrument available.

Plus, I personally think there's an amazing quality, and variance of sounds that can be achieved through modern VSTs. It's really stunning how big of a wasted potential VST technology is at the moment.

~~AC9333~~ · 11-02-2010, 02:10 AM

Of course,it is dude

Mr.walrus · 11-06-2010, 11:31 AM

it's possibly not even the software but the plugin but if i go this far you guys wil probably kill me.my opinion is that the computer is used for many years as an instrument for example the 303 groovebox is a computer made for music using the piano like keys to make your melody,bass,drums,.... if you ask me even the electric guitar is a bit of a computer, definitely if you use a distortion of some kind.My conclusion if you say a computer can't be an instrument i do not agree.

grtz Mr. Walrus

~~Dirty~~ · 11-06-2010, 12:21 PM

Technically, it may be by definition. But when I hear the word 'instrument,' I don't think of computer at all... I don't really consider it one.

10-20-2010, 12:42 PM	#136 (permalink)
Dom Music Addict Join Date: May 2010 Location: UK Posts: 120	What discounts or at least detracts credibility from a computer being an instrument is the fact that in it's not you playing the notes as and when you want to play them, it's you giving the computer a schedule of when to play what note. What I mean by this is that, say on guitar you wanted to play a song, you'd have to play the right notes in the right way at the right time. On a computer you tell the computer what notes to play and then rearrange what time it plays the notes. You couldn't "play" a computer live in that way. This is talking about sequencing, rather than if by "computer" you mean more loosely, such as a synth pad or something __________________ Last.fm No more stories / are told today / I'm sorry / they washed away // No more stories / the world is grey / I'm tired / let's wash away.

11-02-2010, 02:10 AM	#138 (permalink)
~~AC9333~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5	Of course,it is dude

11-06-2010, 11:31 AM	#139 (permalink)
Mr.walrus Groupie Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 5	it's possibly not even the software but the plugin but if i go this far you guys wil probably kill me.my opinion is that the computer is used for many years as an instrument for example the 303 groovebox is a computer made for music using the piano like keys to make your melody,bass,drums,.... if you ask me even the electric guitar is a bit of a computer, definitely if you use a distortion of some kind.My conclusion if you say a computer can't be an instrument i do not agree. grtz Mr. Walrus

11-06-2010, 12:21 PM	#140 (permalink)
~~Dirty~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 981	Technically, it may be by definition. But when I hear the word 'instrument,' I don't think of computer at all... I don't really consider it one.