Sequence stration

These articles describe MIDI techniques to make better sounding MIDI recordings and playbacks. In Watson's article, he uses the word 'Sequence-stration' to describe the technique of layering instrument sounds to produce more accurate MIDI sounds. One major drawback of MIDI is that the MIDI files sound tinny, nasal-y, fake, etc. etc.. Sequence stration addresses this problem by layering MIDI sounds to make the sounds more realistic. He uses 'timbral alchemy' to describe what he does with the MIDI files. If he wants to add a warm quality to a string quartet's lower voices, he uses a low register horn sound for the cello instead of the standard MIDI cello file. He also describes ways in which you can layer MIDI sounds together to create new and surprising sounds.

I think that this is an interesting way to create better sounding MIDI. I have not experimented with it yet, but I think the idea has potential to create more realistic MIDI sound files. One big problem that I perceive with the 'sequence-stration' is inherent to sounds that are created by a computer. I don't hear the natural overtone series, ever, in any digital MIDI files. The MIDI sounds dead to me. The overtone series is a phenomenon that happens in nature. For example, the trilling of a bird activates a host of other sound waves that occur in nature. This is part of the reason that birds, humans, dolphins, insects, dolphins, etc. can communicate with each other, and part of the reason why it is so easy for humans to hear the difference between digital files and sounds in the environment and in nature. I think that when people just can't pin down why it doesn't sound right, this is the reason. Can a MIDI file create a perfect fifth that is completely in tune and resonates with all of the natural overtone series? I don't know. It might. I'll have to try it. But I have a feeling that a bird wouldn't mistake a mating call created by the MIDI for the real deal.