guylarge
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Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
Hello everyone, happy Friday to you.
I'm looking to create some film music, and am wondering what YOU
use to create string-section music?
The obvious problem is that using a MIDI keyboard to play strings is
the lack of smooth transition from note to note / chord to chord, so really
that would be the biggest selling point for me.
Look forward to hearing from you!
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Oaf_Topik
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 18:00:46
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tarsier
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 18:01:35
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For years we've been using the Vienna Symphonic Library in Gigastudio for our orchestral stuff and it's been terrific. We just recently got the Vienna Special Edition which runs as its own VST and it sounds fantastic. They've specifically developed it so that you can play it from a keyboard controller and still get realistic sounding lines. I was really impressed with the Special Edition, read about it here. You can get started with it for $500, or get the whole Special Edition for around $2200. Or then go to their whole Super Package for $20,000! The Vienna Instruments have a bit of a learning curve, but what they can do is amazing.
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tfale
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 18:02:51
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Greetings. I use GPO (Garritan Personal Orchestra). It has several different articulations available, and can be used as a vst plug-in or stand-alone with a keyboard controller. It's also reasonably priced, and the support has always been excellent. www.garritan.com I'm sure others here on the forum will offer additional ideas. tf
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Fog
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 18:05:33
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ultimately it depends on your budget. starting with things like GPO and ermm others around that price range.. then they get to serious money thousands of dollars, loads of GB of sound etc. there are plenty of tricks to use to get a convincing sound though. Although getting session players in to play the parts is the best way after you have done the arrangement and then multi tracking them to get that organic / real sound. edit: last year http://www.garritan.com/ had a christmas sale.. maybe Gary will this year again.. so I would keep an eye on the site also and wait to see if he has one this year.
post edited by Fog - 2008/12/05 19:22:25
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bapu
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 18:24:12
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guylarge,
I just got Miroslav Philharmonik (the one with orchestra and chiors) for $199 (less 15% at music123.com this month). Since it's an IK Multimedia product, you'll get a free package of equal or lesser value (they have SampleMoog, SampleTron or SonikSynth) and even though these may not be what you're looking for, they may "spice" up some of your film tacks.
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DaneStewart
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 18:56:13
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The EAST/WEST Platinum Strings (or the whole orchestra) is extremely good and less than $2,000.00
But seriously, if you're going to spend as much as 2-5 thousand bucks on some samples - you really owe it to yourself to just write the parts from a keyboard or whatever and then hire real players to do real strings. You'll probably end up ahead money-wise and career-wise if you do.
To thine own self be true. ~TheDane
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garrigus
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 19:40:54
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Jimbo 88
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 22:03:51
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Vienna is easily the best. Nothing compares. If you can't get the full blown system try getting Kontact 3 and VSL SE together. Kontackt 3 has VSL samples included and along with VSL SE you can compete at a pretty high level of Orchestrating if you know what you are doing. EWQL Symphonic is very good also. Garritan and Miroslov libraries are ok, but you will not hang with the big guys with those libraries. They are good for filling out the Orch without overloading your computer.
post edited by Jimbo 88 - 2008/12/05 22:06:25
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kbauer
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 22:38:51
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D K
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 23:30:42
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ORIGINAL: kbauer
You should check this out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4NeJ1ANgv4
Kirk
WOW!! - This thing sounds incredible!! If I were doing a lot of film scoring I would definitely be giving this one a serious look - Very nice!!
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Rbh
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 23:31:05
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That Symphobia demo is amazing. Pricing is in the 1300.00 dollar range.
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Oaf_Topik
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 23:43:55
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Really impressive, and a tremendous time saver.
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kbauer
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 23:48:14
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Symphobia is really amazing. I was at FloridaMusicCo and met Chris, the guy that did the demo and he gave me a tour of his studio. I heard some of his music and I was blown away. He uses Symphobia for a lot of his stuff and if I had the money I would have bought this on the spot. Unfortunately I had already purchased Omnishpere from him. He is such a great guy to talk to and get a first hand review from him and "no I do not work for FloridaMusicCo"...
Kirk
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Oaf_Topik
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/05 23:49:57
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kbauer
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 00:00:29
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jshep0102
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 00:59:56
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papa2004
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 06:42:38
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ORIGINAL: guylarge
I'm looking to create some film music, and am wondering what YOU
use to create string-section music? I primarily use EWQL (the version that uses the NI Kompakt engine, not the "PLAY" engine) and/or Garritan. I also have some excellent string samples that were specifically formatted to be used on my Ensoniq ASR10 sampler/sequencer. Depending on the complexity of the desired sound I'm trying to affect, I'll sometimes mix combinations of various "real" string sample sets (i.e, EWQL & Garritan) with synthesized string sounds and/or pads. Properly mixing the various combinations often results in a great sound that couldn't be achieved by using only one program. The obvious problem is that using a MIDI keyboard to play strings is
the lack of smooth transition from note to note / chord to chord, so really
that would be the biggest selling point for me.
One of the major factors in creating "realistic" string parts in the MIDI world is to think like a string player. In most cases, play single note lines for each instrument. Record them on individual tracks. Other than "double stops" (most commonly a root and fifth interval, typically assigned to cello and/or viola to place an emphasis on the final part of an ending phrase) individual string players (Violin I, Violin II, Viola I, Viola II, Cello I, Cello II, etc.,) are rarely presented with arrangements that require them to play a "chord"...The same principle can be applied to getting realistic horn tracks when using MIDI software sampled sounds... It can be (and frequently is) a lot of work and very time-consuming but the results can be very satisfactory.
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wigworld
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 07:01:37
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Some of the string libraries are great, but it's hard to get the right sound, without a lot of time, skill and experience. I got symphobia a couple of months ago, and it gives a great result very quickly, without too much knowledge/expertise of writing scores.
It's expensive (I think most of the other string libraries have budget versions available), but it might be worth the cost for the time you'll save. (I won a free copy in a competition - best thing I never bought!).
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jackn2mpu
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 09:12:26
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ORIGINAL: guylarge
Hello everyone, happy Friday to you.
I'm looking to create some film music, and am wondering what YOU
use to create string-section music?
The obvious problem is that using a MIDI keyboard to play strings is
the lack of smooth transition from note to note / chord to chord, so really
that would be the biggest selling point for me.
Look forward to hearing from you!
One that would work for you, at least as it's touted, would be the East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra set with the Play engine. Unfortunately that version requires a dongle to work. Their older version using the NI Kompakt engine which is what I use which is nothing to sneeze at. You just have to be mindful of which articulation to use where; some are selectable via keyswitching, some aren't. Sometimes I end up using multiple tracks just to get a particular articulation where I want it.
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Large Style
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 10:12:35
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Some of the string libraries are great, but it's hard to get the right sound, without a lot of time, skill and experience Couldn't agree with that more. I use EWQLSO PLAY Platinum which albeit is ultimately brilliant, you generally don't get immediate results with it. The PLAY library is huge (top package is 194 Gb) and it's excellent for total orchestral control down to per insrument atriculation detail, but it can all get a bit overkill at times. I can therefor only really recommend EW products for experienced and knowledgable orchestrators who have plenty of time and desire to achieve very certain sounds. I've used VSL (Cube and Performance set) which imo had lovely legato, portamento (and other) effects, but the orchestra sounded more like a traditional (classical) orchestra rather than larger film-orientated ones so I gave that one a miss. Even though I'd never heard of Symphobia, it looks brilliant for quick results and a simple straight-forward approach. so for a quick fix it looks and sounds ideal (I'm off to investigate it further now) 
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guylarge
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 12:04:02
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noldar12
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 17:00:50
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As others have said, VSL has by far the best reputation and the most complete options (I am hoping to get SE while it is on sale). I do have EWQLSO, and for starting out with film scoring, Gold would be a good choice (though Platinum is better). It is also true that the "Play" software isn't yet where it needs to be long term. VSL for the most part does have a more "classical" sound while EWQLSO is designed more for a "film scoring" sound. GPO does make a good starter library (have that as well).
If you really do want to get into film scoring, at some point it would be a good idea to study orchestration, to have some idea of what the real instruments are capable of (for example: why for real players a ppp on "middle C" doesn't work well for an oboe, and why fff on "middle C" doesn't work well for a flute). The more you know, the more convincing your results may be (of course if one isn't after emulation, this may not matter). In the long run, IMO, there is no substitute for actually knowing what you are doing, and why you are doing it.
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guylarge
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 18:52:03
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Particular thanks to you for pointing this one out - not as well known as the others but really sounds pretty incredible and if it wasn't for the price I would have ordered it already!
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spindlebox
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 20:02:53
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I've used Cakewalk studio instruments for background stuff and it's worked fine. Then again, I'm poor.
If I had $1300, I'd buy a Fender Jaguar.
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dexterflex
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 20:41:02
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The best sounding strings I think are sonivox's strings. Expensive but sound awesome.
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keith
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/06 21:48:36
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pierdolic
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/07 08:19:56
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I use the SampleTank Symphony Strings expansion pack, which the salesguy on the phone (from Sam Ash) let me have them for something like $79. Don't laugh and dismiss it, they sound really good in lite rock and pop tunes. I recently recorded my own version of Bocelli's Con Te Partiro, and these strings sound great and sit extremely well in the mix.
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Jimbo 88
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/07 11:09:34
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Here is the thing, if you want to create film music you'll be going up against real orchestras and the top Orchestral libraries. You can't really get there with anything but the best library. All these libraries are nice for home and demos or mixing in pop tunes. Nothing compares to VSL's legato function or its different articulations and ability play repeated notes. Start with VSL SE if you can't go big. You won't regret it.
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guitartrek
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RE: Best STRING SECTION Vst virtual instrument / samples??
2008/12/07 11:45:33
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ORIGINAL: D K
ORIGINAL: kbauer
You should check this out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4NeJ1ANgv4
Kirk
WOW!! - This thing sounds incredible!!
If I were doing a lot of film scoring I would definitely be giving this one a serious look - Very nice!!
It not only sounds awsome, but it looks very easy to use! For me, speed and simplicity are important factors. I don't like fumbling with different articulations.. This looks pretty nice.
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