"Fake" instruments v.s "real" instruments

Speakerfish wrote: I had an arguement with a friend about this. He saw nothing wrong with writing music on his own, but synthesizing the instruments on a MIDI notation software. I had a big problem with this. However, in what we are talking about, there is nothing wrong with synth instruments as long as there is some sort of humanity in playing them or arranging them.

What?  Whats your big problem with this?  If you don't like music made on a computer, don't listen to it.  Simple.

Speakerfish wrote: ...but synthesizing the instruments on a MIDI notation software. I had a big problem with this.

I've heard plenty of terrible music played by "real musicians" on real instruments, and plenty of profoundly beautiful and emotional music executed using computers and/or synthesizers.  Zappa's '80s Synclavier pieces were done using the exact methodology you describe  - entering data via a (computer) keyboard note-for-note.  I've never been a big-fan of composing using a piano-roll editor; I've always strived to sequence by "playing" the data using some sort of controller (keyboard, windsynth or percussion pad) with a minimum of "post-work" to keep it a fluid as possible and avoiding a "stiff" feel. 

I've recently stumbled upon a "better mousetrap" for writing orchestral scores, though...software that allows you to compose as though you were sitting in front of a score, triggers super-high-quality samples of the London Symphony Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road, and sounds as fluid as if you'd played each part in with a controller.  Electronic Musician named it one of their "Products of the Year" for 2005...

http://www.notionmusic.com/

Zappa would've LOVED this software!