just me? or do youtube demos all suck

[visceralvoids]

No way, if you think all YouTube synth demos suck then you haven't seen this one:


There haven't been good demos made of certain models, yes, but to say all YouTube video demos suck is overgeneralizing a bit too much.

EDIT: DIGITALSCREAMS and HarlemNights are two more VSE members who make YouTube videos that slay.

[tekkentool]

^^^(solderman) /thread.

[Automatic Gainsay]

^ /thread.

Seriously? As fun as that was, it wasn't a demo. There is a difference between having fun and playing something on a synth and giving a demonstration of a synth.

[Black Tomorrow]

I agree with the OP. If it's vintage gear you're after, there's usually not much chance to demo a piece in person. So the best way to hear what a synth can do is often through Youtube. So it does get rather annoying when all you can find for a given synth is morons making a bunch of pointless noise, rather then showing how the synth can be used musically. Is it the end of the world? Nah, I'll get over it in no time. But it's a bit of a disservice to the gear. Also, if you're going to demo a synth, demo just the synth without adding effects. But AG has already made this point before.

Don't watch them or make your own great ones. Or here is an idea...go make some MUSIC!

Excellent point. It is for this reason that I've started to do exactly that. I haven't been cranking them out, but every so often I'll put a video together demonstrating how a particular synth can be used musically.

[griffin avid]

I think it's a timing issue an the fact that good music doesn't need an impressive process to be going on during its creation.
Timing Issue: When are you the most excited about gear? When you first get it. That's when you want to make a video and that's when everyone cares to see it/hear it. And that's also when you can't do anything more than noodle. See monotribe. It's a race to be first and not best.

It takes me a long time to learn a new toy inside and out and maybe even longer to find a trick or hidden gem. By then, who cares? Does anyone want to see my tip and tricks for using an MPC200XL? JK.

Seriously, I think those that make good music could care less about what someone else thinks about their set up or gear and have no desire to inspire a bunch of clones copying "that cool thing you did at 2:46".

And to be honest, there isn't a difference in what I am doing when I'm making a Titan and a Turd.
Same process, same physical movements, vastly different results.

Mostly I look for sonic quality and ignore the compositional aspects.
That's a raw sound that shines through the (sometimes) crappy youtube audio quality.
You don't have to be a great musician or make a great tune to show me how a synth sounds.
Usually (Yes, I will admit it) scrolling through the presets and turning a few knobs tells me all I need to know.
If I NEED to pull out my Vast Knowledge of Synth Programming and Masterful Experience in Sound Design to make a lazer stab, then that's a synth I won't be exploring anyway.

[depulse]

Well, what annoys me the most is when people (guys) use the microphone of their cam corder to record the demos. Youtube sound quality is already bad at best, using a crappy camcorder mike makes the demos sound even worse. Connect the synth and your microphone to a mixer and record this. Is it that hard?

[man-009]

not a vid by JEXUS! IMHO...

[tekkentool]

^ /thread.

Seriously? As fun as that was, it wasn't a demo. There is a difference between having fun and playing something on a synth and giving a demonstration of a synth.

No that was meant to be for Solderman's thread-ending quote....it just missed.

[DLovas]

The expectation of the OP, I must assume then, is that anyone who makes a video is entitled to both meet the highest standards in how to be entertaining and to grok their machine utterly before hitting record on their camera; Anything less is a discourtesy to the viewer and a waste of valuable time spent sitting at a computer doing something other than making music.

This sort of impatient, passive-aggressive temper tantrum smells suspiciously of thinly-concealed gear envy, or at least some insatiable hunger to be amused by people who own material things that you don't.

Either that or it's like watching an Ed Wood movie and saying, "I can make something better than that", and running out to tell complete strangers about it, without actually doing anything.

But I get it. I've felt the exact same way, but have since decided to grow up and relax. My experience was that no video was truly beneficial. It either encouraged more gearlust or made me envious of talent I would never possess. Actually getting to finally play some of them was a privilege, but the only real means of satisfaction.

Maybe there are some good instructional videos, like AG's, but what good will it do you if you don't own the synth? Watching Jexus just pisses me off. If I had the time and talent, plus the means to acquire the gear affordably, I certainly wouldn't be interested in someone else's noodling.

well like i said before, when making purchases of synths that i am unable to test out for myself, i like to have some sort of idea of how it sounds... youtube so far is the only source other than obscure sites linked to whatever the synth in question is. i agree jexus pisses me off too

plus i would make demos if i had sufficient recording equipment... now that i have purchased some today, maybe ill make some demos soon

No way, if you think all YouTube synth demos suck then you haven't seen this one:


There haven't been good demos made of certain models, yes, but to say all YouTube video demos suck is overgeneralizing a bit too much.

EDIT: DIGITALSCREAMS and HarlemNights are two more VSE members who make YouTube videos that slay.

I take it back THAT guy is AMAZING

Well, what annoys me the most is when people (guys) use the microphone of their cam corder to record the demos. Youtube sound quality is already bad at best, using a crappy camcorder mike makes the demos sound even worse. Connect the synth and your microphone to a mixer and record this. Is it that hard?

tell me about it.

those people saying, stop complaining cause you didnt like there video, cause it wasnt top notch, sense of entitlement bla bla bla... if i were to make a demo i wouldnt want it to sound like c**p, the purpose of a demo, as i've said, is to showcase a units possibilities.... if your gonna record in crappy quality, or if your gonna mess around with poorly programmed FX noises or random arpeggiated patters with no musical value.... please titile your video one of the following.

NAME OF SYNTH: PLAYED POORLY BY ME PLEASE COMMENT RATE SUBSCRIBE YEA!!!!!

NAME OF SYNTH: RANDOM ARPEGGIATED NOTES WITH NO MUSICAL VALUE

[Nannerfan]

My favs are by SyntheticMachines

check him/her out.. http://www.youtube.com/user/SyntheticMachines

[DLovas]

My favs are by SyntheticMachines

check him/her out.. http://www.youtube.com/user/SyntheticMachines

hm... doesnt sound bad i must say

perhaps i should've titled this topic most youtube videos

anyhowz ... i went out and bought a decent audio interface finally... so maybe ill make some demos of my own soon.

[JMP]

anyhowz ... i went out and bought a decent audio interface finally... so maybe ill make some demos of my own soon.

They'd better be good or you're in for a slating.

[tekkentool]

They'd better be good or you're in for a slating.

I'm readying the head pike.

[DLovas]

They'd better be good or you're in for a slating.

I'm readying the head pike.

uh oh

[HideawayStudio]

hope you're not lumping mine into that category... I had to spend several months before could even contemplate playing the beast!! ...still nearly 30,000 views makes me grin