Print sounds

So I imagine in the future I could hear a solo guitar and then play my electric straight into the DAW and tell the computer to match the sound of the solo guitar I am listening to.  The computer would analyze all the frequencies, spacial elements, stereo spread, etc.  and then apply it all to my direct guitar.  Then, voila!  My guitar sounds exactly like the one I was hearing.  
 
This seams to be something like the new term "printing".  In Star Trek, you could order a dinner from the kitchen and the computer would create it for you.  In other science fiction books I have read, nano technology would create gizmos and machines to match anything you could imagine.  
 
For music, I would like to be able to have the computer recreate sounds that I hear.  It seems that we are getting close to that technology.  However, now a days, we listen to drums, keys, and guitars that have sounds created by the programmer.  What I look forward to is presenting a sound to the computer as in my example above and have the computer figure out how to create it for me.
 
Rimshot
 

Next thing you know someone will invent a program that actually plays the parts for you..........

Rimshot
So I imagine in the future I could hear a solo guitar and then play my electric straight into the DAW and tell the computer to match the sound of the solo guitar I am listening to.  The computer would analyze all the frequencies, spacial elements, stereo spread, etc.  and then apply it all to my direct guitar.  Then, voila!  My guitar sounds exactly like the one I was hearing.  
 
This seams to be something like the new term "printing".  In Star Trek, you could order a dinner from the kitchen and the computer would create it for you.  In other science fiction books I have read, nano technology would create gizmos and machines to match anything you could imagine.  
 
For music, I would like to be able to have the computer recreate sounds that I hear.  It seems that we are getting close to that technology.  However, now a days, we listen to drums, keys, and guitars that have sounds created by the programmer.  What I look forward to is presenting a sound to the computer as in my example above and have the computer figure out how to create it for me.
 
Rimshot
 

Rimshot, would you believe I actually use this technology on a daily basis? Yep, it already exists in one form or another already. There is a catch though or it will not work. I'll explain. Just make sure you read my entire post before you search the links I'm providing.
 
I was first introduced to this technology with a program called HAR-BAL which you can buy here: http://www.har-bal.com/
 
You bring in the file you want as your source file, it scans it, then you bring in the file you want as your target file. You choose the intuiMatch button and it grabs the eq curve of your source file and then puts it onto the target file.
 
Now, don't let this get you TOO excited because it's not fool proof. First you need a piece of audio as your source file that doesn't have other instruments playing with it. For example, you'll need a spot on a CD that showcases an instrument by itself to get the best results. You will also need to get your target sound as close as possible before you bring it into HAR-BALL for this to really make a difference for the better. The company likes to try to sell this as a mastering program, but in my personal opinion, though it could be used that way, it's not something I would recommend. It's a fun tool if you are trying for some sort of authentic sound and are close already, but that's about it. It won't turn an old Kent snare drum into a Ludwig. LOL!
 
The next form of technology is probably very similar, but comes by way of hardware. It is so scary authentic, it's made its way into my every day life now. Recently, my favorite guitar pre-amp went down for the count. I have years invested into that pre-amp and have about 6 of them here. When my main one went down a few weeks back, it forced me to do some rig searching to get something built in today's times.
 
I settled on Fractal Audio's AxeFxII and it was one of the best purchases I have ever made. http://www.fractalaudio.com/ I not only have the sound of my old pre-amp to where I cannot tell the difference, I have tone matched every amp I own and I sincerely cannot tell a single difference now that I know how to use the thing. The cool thing about it....you guessed it...it can tone match anything. Drums, bass, keys, anything you put into it and you can turn it into a sample if need be and trigger from the unit. Though HAR-BAL would be a better choice for the "all purpose" musician in need of this capability, it sure is nice to know that I can do this from anywhere and be nearly 100% accurate.
 
Keep in mind, none of these things will add effects. You're basically copping an eq curve as close to the source as possible. But they can help do what you were talking about in your first paragraph exactly to the numbers. Honest when I tell you, it's so close, it's scary. I can put in a lead solo of someone (if you search Youtube or even the net in general, you can come up with multi-tracks) and have the exact sound in the push of a button. But like I say, you have to do the work FIRST and get it as close as you can or it will fail.
 
Prime example....I play in a Van Halen tribute band. I've always thought I was fairly close to Eddie's tone when I play with that band....close enough for me anyway. Well, after a few days with this AxeFxII, I got a tone that is so much more like Eddie's, the hair on my arms stands up because it's so close...it's kinda creepy. It nails bass tones too...it's just simply amazing. The only problem with is....the price is insane at $2200 including shipping. But it's well worth it in my opinion now that I've had the chance to mess with it for a month now. I can't see anything coming close to topping this thing. The software included is incredible and they keep adding more and more things to it each month. But again, if you want to do some of the stuff you mentioned, HAR-BAL will help you and it's nowhere near the price of the AxeFxII. Good luck man.
 
-Danny

Hi Danny, 
 
Thanks so much all the info.  I will check out those tools.  From what you said, I can definately see where this idead could go in the future.  
The thought is how technology is and will advance.  I don't want the computer to create for me but guess what - it may do that some day if we want it too.
I can imagine saying this to my DAW in 10 years:
"Build a blues track in the key of E
Set tempo at 80 BPM
Use a shuffle feel
Make a standard 12 bar blues chord progression.
Add bass, drums, and basic piano.
Open a new stereo guitar track using the Jim Blues 1 preset.
Stand by."
 
The computer could do all of that in seconds.  
 
I could then say, make my lead guitar tone similar to Danny Danzi's solo in the "Keep Rockin" song from his 2018 album.
 
Then I could connect with you Danny and you could play the solo live on my system or send it to me.  
I do the vocals and other parts.
 
Now, getting ready to mix, I could also pull from a wide variety of mix styles - all directing the computer with my voice.
 
I just know this will all be common place someday.  
 
Jimmy
 
 
 

drewfx1
Though I think the premise is fascinating, one of the interesting things I've heard is that there's an actual change in one's brain that occurs when one learns an instrument - all of that repetitive practice makes one more cognizant of the nuances that very subtle changes in technique brings.
 
The question is, if you make it too easy do you lose that nuance?

Drew, I love when you stop around and post stuff like this to make people think. :) I'll give you my take for what it's worth being a guy that's been chasing tones and playing styles his whole life.
 
If you make it too easy to learn something, you learn but you don't live it. Example....
 
I deal with thousands of kids on the net playing guitar. Quite a few of them can obliterate me with technique to the point of a person saying "wow, how did they get this amount of feel and tech at such an early age?" Tabs help immensely where guys like me were stuck using rolls of quarters on a turn-table or finding a turn-table with speed 16 to slow an album down. These days between tabs and phrase samplers, you'd be an absolute dope not to be able to play like your favorite players.
 
That said, though it sounds like a slight on the new guys that are obliterating me in their 5th year while I'm working on my 38th year, they miss a whole lot of in-between things that are not only important, but essential to creating who and what they are.
 
Now I've just mentioned "playing" let's take a look at tone creation. I learned what I learned from being a tone chaser. It helped me with every aspect of music and sound because during this search for tone, I made mistakes while creating myself all by accident. The way *I* learned licks, you did the best you could be ear which ended up in a lick sounding "inspired by" so and so, yet played by you...which in turn, the lick became your own because it wasn't an exact rip-off.
 
The same with tones...while chasing tones, I had to play while doing this. Sometimes I played crazy stuff that further helped me to create my own identity. Not only that, but I learned what a good tone was and what a bad tone was in the recording realm. I didn't just "use effects" I understood their real purpose. I didn't just step on a compressor pedal, I made sure it was making the difference it was supposed to be making when I did step on it.
 
All these things walk hand in hand to me and literally help you to learn the instrument (as well as other instruments you encounter on your journey) and do what a lot of the kids are not doing these days...and that is, living it. They live it alright...they play 5-6 hours a day working on licks and tabs, but they aren't quite living it the way we did. I don't say any of the above meaning to sound like an old fart. I've embraced the young whipper-snappers and love them to death. They are very inspirational and some are way beyond their years. But most of them are a bit stagnant and learn to fly before they can even crawl. This is where making things too easy not only messes with the nuance, it forces the player to have to go back in time at some point and learn to crawl.
 
With tones, this is a catch 22 in my opinion. Not everyone is going to take MY stance on that. To be truthful, too much tone chasing can ruin a person. Especially if they are not really a guitar player. (or insert other instrument here)
 
Let's say Rimshot being a drummer, doesn't want to spend 16 hours coming up with that Danny D solo sound. It could make him lose his creativity...it could allow his chops to go south....it could put him in a "screw this" mode....the list is limitless as far as the deterents go.
 
I think for some people, presets or "easier ways" are a good thing. Some guys don't want to live an instrument, they just want to hack their way through it, play the part and show people their song, ya know? I've spent the majority of my life playing instruments for real. I'm not proficient at any of them due to being lazy at times, and at other times, truly not having the desire to be a master of anything.
 
When I play bass on a song, I strive for a great bass sound to the best of my ability and usually come through with an acceptable outcome. But I'm not a "bassist" as much as I could be. I still can't use my fingers, so I cheat and use a felt pick which softens the blow a bit and stops that horrible percussive attack from lashing out. I could be a better guitar player if I learned how to play in standard tuning...but I have no desire and enjoy what and how I play. I could be a better drummer (used to be pretty good as this was my first instrument) but only play when I have to these days. My point in the above is...for those instruments where I may not be as pumped up to play, it sure makes it more enjoyable if you have a sound that is there for you or you can create one like Rimshot mentions. Yes, it definitely takes some of the nuance away in more ways than one, but you can also get the job done and get your ideas out in a timely fashion.
 
Heck man....these days in this economy, just about everyone is working 2 jobs just to survive if they don't have one killer job. This means the time spent recording is limited. Then people have families and other obligations....so now your time spent recording is even less. It's a catch 22 as I said...but having been on both sides of that fence as well as seein others that have beein in that same boat, you either embrace the new technology and accept that you will miss more than a few chapters and that additional nuance(s) you spoke of....or you do it the old fashioned way and live the instruments while most likely completing less of your creations.
 
-Danny

Hi Danny, 
 
I totally understand your point.  However, in my thinking, I look at it like paint and colors.  It is what we do with the paint and how we work it.  It is not just the paint itself.  In my vision, the technology is bringing us loads of new colors.  It is up to us as the artists to figure out what we want with the colors.  The touch on a guitar string, drum or keyboard.  The musical parts we write.  The way we mix.  On and on it is about the creation more than the tool.  I know you get that but that is where I was thinking with the future.  I don't see it sad but totally thrilling.  Check out that Lunar Madness song I just posted.  It was done 35 years ago on my 8 track in my living room and it still holds up today!  That's worth alot in my book.  The creativity is still there but now I want the computer to really work for a living.  I want to be able to talk out what I want as I create.  I don't want it to create for me except in the basic building blocks if I want it to.  
 
Life is good.  I love music and creating.  Things are getting better.  
 
All the best.  
 
Jimmy