[Fmpro] Unions and samples vs. live

[MVPROD@aol.com]

James.


You are referring to Virtual Orchestra (VO) which is run by a "musician" 
(cough) 
> pounding in a beat on a keyboard to follow the conductor. The whole score 
> is on the synth and they add or subtract tracks based on what instruments they 
> want to use at a particular theater. It is hell to play with and really 
> doesn't sound that good. It doesn't phrase and the pitch is to arbitrary. 
> Unfortunately it will probably get better. The Federation has acquiesced to 
> management and is allowing the machine on Pamphlet B tours. This is the beginning of 
> the end of live music in most theaters thanks to the poor judgment of the 
> Federation, TMA (Theater Musicians Association) and many local contracts. It may 
> take 1 year or it may take 5 years but the bottom line is that theater will 
> end up like television. Largely synthesized.  
> 
> So much for the protests from the AFM, not.


 
MV


> 
> 
> On the other hand, there is a device that they are currently freaking out
> about that worked its way into Broadway plays called the orchestra machine
> or something like that.  It's apparently a sample player that can follow a
> conductor and has the entire orchestra stored in it, I suppose, something
> like the VSL or Philharmonik.  It needs a musician to drive it, but again,
> apparently sounds real enough that it has garnered official protests from
> the AFM.
> 
> James