Tips on making symphonic music more authentic.

TO MY EARS,
anything other than the real thing, sounds fake.
 
i've heard some really nice high end software working,
and it's more about the timing of things,
and individual player techniques,
that makes symphonic sound either natural or fake,
rather than the quality of the samples.
 
so, if you are going to try to make it more 'real'
i'd suggest putting in the human touch in every aspect you can edit.

eph221
This topic is probably beat to death, but does anyone have tips and ideas for making symphonic instruments sound like the real deal?  I was hoping for a list of some kind.  One that makes a difference.  I realize that in the end mixing depends on your aural talents, but was wondering if there are things that are common to all symphonic productions.
 
Thanks!

It's probably the most boring answer but learn about the instruments. Get to know how they work. Listen how an orchestra sounds and learn from that. Use of dynamics and playing articulations.
 
Making a real sounding symphonic mock up isn't easy and is going to take a boat load of time tweaking everything.

Some brilliant minds told me another thread about another topic in another forum that almost all samples have a full attack, when real musicians playing on string or wind instruments only first note in a sequence has the full attack and the others have different shorter attacks. So I'm told a good legato engine is key or some other way to not have a full attack on every note but only the first one or ones with a sufficient pause between notes.

DRanck
Here is an example of what can be accomplished with skill and patience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OsGjbl0vbY 

Cue batsbrew to say that it sounds fake and should have been done with a real guitar and amp.

Here's someone that will break your concepts:
https://soundcloud.com/mattiaswestlund
 
Mattias doesn't use expensive orchestral libraries, he mostly uses Soundfonts! Checkout his articles here: http://mattiaswestlund.net/?page_id=29
What he does with those libraries blows me away.

I'll go in a totally different direction here... btw, DRanck... your example tied to the Mars photo just blew me away!  Really... I just put it on 10 and was swept into nirvana!
 
Anyway, getting back to the OP... I think we have TWO approaches these days... Sample libraries AND Phrase libraries...I have lots of both... So far, the discussion has centered on sample libs and this is the overwhelming body of work available today...You can easily spend S10K on the available options!!!
 
Now, if you're looking for "Authentic"... you can consider Phrase Libraries!  Personally, I think they are fantastic... real people playing real lines!...if you are looking for periodic orchestral contributions, or just want some amazing orchestral riffs to embellish your creations... Phrase Libraries, like Sonokinetic's Sotto, Capriccio, Grosso, and Minimal OR Native instrument's Action or Emotive Strings offer an entirely different approach... they include ACTUAL orchestral PEOPLE playing various riffs which can be combined, modulated, layered onto songs... REAL stuff that sample libraries don't provide...People are PooPooing these like they use to PooPoo sample libs, but they ARE Fantastic tools...AND THEY ARE THE REAL DEAL
 
On a third/different plane you also have riff generators, like Spitfire's Ostinatum Generator, which is available in their Albion Range of instruments (DRank... others????) which you can use to create and play phrases.... really pretty amazing, although the OG gui sucks from my vantagepoints... it is TOO small.  You might consider getting Albion ONE and dick around with the OG... you'll love it... it comes with OOOOODLES of OGs you can select and use to learn to make ur own.... then, consider some phrase libs...
 
Have fun... you can spend days sorting thru the above... I'd urge you to do so.... unless you are flush and don't mind spending a lot more for things you may find aren't useful...