Thanks for the feedback everyone.  

The sounds are from Sibelius piping its "mecanico" MIDI into NotePerformer.  The advantage of NotePerformer is that it will take board-stiff expressionless notation score MIDI (dynamics, bowing techniques, etc.) and turn it into something that sounds like it was performed by humans by interpreting the dynamics, slurs, articulations, etc, and even introduce good-sounding timing discrepancies.  The sounds themselves are physical models and not as realistic as the high-end orchestral samples, but the end result is more musical than if I had sent the same MIDI into VSL (which I have) or other high-end libraries (which I have as well).   The tone would be richer, but it would sound very stiff.  

I should take the time to play each part in, but that would easily make it 15 times the amount of work.    

bapu
More cowbell?

Yes, the East West Hollywood Scoring Storm Dm III cowbell is just what I've been looking for!
 

jsaras
Thanks for the feedback everyone.  

The sounds are from Sibelius piping its "mecanico" MIDI into NotePerformer.  The advantage of NotePerformer is that it will take board-stiff expressionless notation score MIDI (dynamics, bowing techniques, etc.) and turn it into something that sounds like it was performed by humans by interpreting the dynamics, slurs, articulations, etc, and even introduce good-sounding timing discrepancies.  The sounds themselves are physical models and not as realistic as the high-end orchestral samples, but the end result is more musical than if I had sent the same MIDI into VSL (which I have) or other high-end libraries (which I have as well).   The tone would be richer, but it would sound very stiff.  

I should take the time to play each part in, but that would easily make it 15 times the amount of work.    

Interesting. Is it possible to run VSL or the other libraries you have through that NotePerformer?
 
Thinking about this I think the Strezov Sampling's Cornucopia Strings would probably have a really good sound for this kind of a track... :)

That's not how the software works: http://www.noteperformer.com

Sibelius does have the capability of using other sample libraries and doing appropriate key-switching, but that's not the same thing.

jsaras
That's not how the software works: http://www.noteperformer.com

Sibelius does have the capability of using other sample libraries and doing appropriate key-switching, but that's not the same thing.

Bummer. I like the idea, but the sounds it generates sound bad to my ears.

I beefed up the piece with a lot more percussion.  The original link still applies.

I think the added percussions give an excellent boost. :)

very good piece for that mystery shock movie moment.  Impressed how noteperformer gives it human touch.  yep it often takes more time adjusting midi articulation to make it sound human, then it does writing the piece!  what's next, something in style of Stravinksy?  enjoyed it!

Thanks Kuusniemi and mikeinFL! NotePerformer feels musical even if
its strings aren't up to the standards of the higher-end sample libraries. As someone who is trained as a paper and pencil composer, it's a huge time saver.

I've done bits and pieces of Straviskyesque writing, but it's not something that I connect with emotionally. I'm primarily a jazz guy at heart.

I added a wood block part and tweaked the dynamics of some of the percussion parts, mostly the snare and triangle.  Same link applies.