Delving into EWQL Composer Cloud

It's been some time since I played around with my orchestral samples.  Hearing something like this makes me think about the things I'm missing.... 
 
Beautiful and luscious sounds well put together.  Another word I'd use to describe this is "soaring".
 
Yeah, I like this. 
 
It's amazing that we tend to gravitate to one piano or instrument in a sample set as opposed to another from another highly respected sample set.... just a matter of taste.  In another forum, we ran a comparison between the various synth piano's everyone had, using the very same midi file for comparison. That was rather eye opening. Of course, I thought the one I used sounded the best, but I guess everyone else favored their own as well.

I think it sounds like you worked hard at getting a very good sound and composition, quite convincing, I also enjoyed the piece it was sonically pleasant to listen too, was also engaging.  This mix translated well here with some very nice dynamics.

Wookiee
I think it sounds like you worked hard at getting a very good sound and composition, quite convincing, I also enjoyed the piece it was sonically pleasant to listen too, was also engaging.  This mix translated well here with some very nice dynamics.

Thanks!
 

jkoseattle
All the instruments sound great. I use EWSO Gold, and have a hard time getting to to sound this authentic. I don't even bother with the solo violin, it always sounds canned, but yours sounds really good. How much did that set you back, just curious (and envious)?
 
Around 1:30 when the violins get marcato, it gets really muddy in the cellos. First thing I would do is clean up that low string arrangement right there. 

I just signed up to the composer cloud - so it's $30 a month for all those instruments.  There's a lot back and forth about whether or not that's a good deal, but I've done the math back and forth and I think at worst, I'd break even in the long run.  Plus, I can swing $30 a month and get the instruments right now.
 
Much of the Solo Violin was actually using the Gypsy library.  Especially for the lines with heavy vibrato.  Some of the higher lines were using the Solo Violin library.  They are planning to release a Hollywood Solo Violin instrument - I'm really looking forward to that.  I was also impressed with Spaces.  I put that on the master bus and it really breathed some life into the whole thing.
 
It's interesting that you caught 1:30 - good ear!  That was the section that I struggled with the most and almost took it out.  I was using the Solo Cello instrument and I'm not sold on it.  I found that if I played the Cello section at really low volumes, it sounded a little more authentic when I A/B'd against recordings.  But perhaps I was overdoing it...  I might go back in and take that Cello section out and see if that takes care of it.

Very nice melodies. Sounds are too. Mix was good.

Very nice composition Mike - it took me off for a minute or two.
Mix-wise, spot on - clever use of panning, making space for each instrument.
  

mikebeam
Awesome.  Thanks for all the positive feedback.  I'm pretty happy with this.  
 

gusrogers
Btw I think the gypsy violin has a darker sound to it which helps the richness.

Totally agree!
 

daryl1968
 clever use of panning, making space for each instrument.

Thanks.  I referenced a chart similar to this one:  http://www.shanescott.com...ngineers/#.VstWl5MrJZ1

Very cool and thanks for the link.

Excellent composition my friend, what reverb are you using?

gusrogers
Interesting. I always put my double basses at about 80 to the right and I always felt that if I moved them out further then it would be too much. Will give that a go on the next one.

Well, notice on the Chart that the double basses cover 64%-100%.  I opted for being somewhat in the middle towards center and had them panned around 75/80.