The Right Sound for the Job: Live-Recorded Sounds vs. Virtual Instruments
This blog provides music producers with basic guidelines for choosing between the authentic character of live-recorded sounds and the versatile flexibility of virtual instruments.
The melody's there. You can hear it. That piano hook, that string line, that guitar riff. But now comes a difficult decision: start positioning mics and warming up hardware for recording, or stay in the box and load up some instrument plugins?
It's a question every producer has wrestled with at least a few times during the production process. But what if the answer isn't a definitive "either/or," but a more nuanced understanding of when each approach is most effective? Let's walk through some situations where your project likely benefits most from live-recorded sounds and when virtual instruments tend to be the best solution.
Is the production style organic or processed?
Take a sparse arrangement where acoustic sounds are prominently featured: while virtual instruments can work, especially with careful programming, they sometimes struggle to fully replicate that organic character found in a live performance. Plus, in these situations, hitting 'record' on the real instrument is often faster and more straightforward than tweaking a virtual one to sound equally convincing.
On the other hand, sometimes virtual instruments can be a better choice, especially in songs that feature more processed sounds. While live-recorded instruments with the proper FX applied can still fit well into the song, virtual instruments tend to offer more flexibility. For example, if you ever need to replace the instrument, you can easily swap it out in your DAW instead of re-recording.
Are you auditioning sounds or laying down tracks?
Virtual instruments are also useful early in the production process, allowing you to quickly audition various sounds and vibes. Once you pick the instrument you like and get an idea of the part you're going for, you can record it yourself, or if it's an instrument you don't play, you can use a site like Performidi to easily replace the virtual instrument with a custom recording.
What is the instrument's role in the arrangement?
The choice between live and virtual often depends on the instrument's role in the song. For main melodies or solos in need of an authentic feel, live performances usually nail it best. But when layering background pads or subtle supporting parts, virtual instruments will often do the trick. Of course, this is just some general guidance; plenty of amazing tracks feature expressive virtual leads. And live-recorded layers are awesome for background texture.
Does the sound fit your genre?
Listener expectations, heavily influenced by genre, also play a crucial role in your decision. Organic styles (e.g., folk, blues, jazz, indie, rock) are typically associated with authentic instrument sounds and a human feel, often best captured via live recording. However, electronic genres (e.g., house, techno, trap, hyperpop) usually lean heavily on digital sounds and in-the-box processing, so virtual instruments tend to be the standard tools for the job. Naturally, these lines blur constantly in modern music, but the core aesthetic of the genre can provide a major hint for which approach might be best.
Live recordings or virtual instruments?
So, live recordings or virtual instruments? As we've explored, there's no single "right" answer. Ultimately, deciding between tracking live or using virtual instruments comes down to what best serves the song. However, historically, the reality for many producers has been that incorporating live instrumentals is typically neither straightforward nor cheap. Unless you could play the instrument yourself and had the gear to record, you'd need to find a musician to work with, either locally or online. This process has many potential pitfalls: finding the perfect musician for the part, dealing with scheduling issues, a deep time commitment, and high costs. This often resulted in producers simply opting for virtual instruments instead of live, even when live-recorded instruments were the ideal choice.
Luckily, adding custom recordings to your music just became easier than ever. With Performidi, you still follow the same music production workflow that you would with virtual instruments and emulators:
- You can use virtual instruments to compose and arrange your music, and then simply upload the finished MIDI file to Performidi to replace the digital sounds with live recordings.
- Then, up to three session musicians send you a custom recording of your part.
- You can immediately pick your favorite performance and add it to your track, or you can collaborate on revisions with your musician of choice.
Ready to get the best of both worlds — the authentic sound of live recordings with the ease of your digital workflow? Stop compromising with virtual instruments. Try Performidi and hear the difference.
About the Author
Adam Davault is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist who has produced music for 10+ years. Before that, he was a member of multiple rock and alternative bands and had the privilege of playing at festivals like Sweetwater 420 Fest and Shamrock the Station. Witnessing the struggles musicians and producers face firsthand, he made it his mission to shed light on the industry's often-guarded secrets.