I feel there is a real symbiosis that occurs when the rhythm section is made up of humans who actually like the song they are playing. Lots of little subtle accents and early or late hits let the bass and drums tell a story as well as just keep place and keep time.

Some might say a program has feel because there is a human to program it. To me that is like having sex with a toy. Occasionally interesting, but it can't take the place of the real thing. If it's a program, all the players have to play to it. If it's a real rhythm section, there can be a dialogue among the musicians.

I have used drum machines and loops for demos, you can end up with some nice stuff, but once again, you've got to go with the groove they hand you. I've heard some bass programs that aren't bad, but they don't cut the note off occasionally, leaving a window for the snare, nor do they use a little fingernail occasionally to make a note "stand out". I've even heard some major label stuff that sounded real good...but:

1. I could tell it was sampled and/or synthesized.

2. It was most likely programmed by a real musician, so it didn't save money, it just kept everything sounding "even" in the mix.

Well, I guess it's obvious I come down on the side of the Human.

What are your thoughts on this?

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music