Hi Danny-

GPO opts for realism by design. If you expect to get a great sound by just pressing a key on your controller, then you'll be disappointed. Proper use of the Mod wheel to mimic the actual friction and tension of the bow moving across the strings is crucial.

That's very interesting! I have whatever GPO limited version that comes with Dim Pro, and I definitely want more realistic strings, but the Mod wheel doesn't seem to do anything. What should the Mod wheel be assigned to for more realistic bowings?

Thanks-

-Susan

GPO limited version that comes with Dim Pro ... What should the Mod wheel be assigned to for more realistic bowings?

There isn't much control over articulation written into this version, Susan. Not at the GUI level (MIDI Matrix), nor within the core .sfz files. From a quick glance, I see the occasional sustain pedal or CC20 encoded. More can be done, but you'll have to roll up your sleeves and dive into some .sfz format editing. Combining Elements with crossfades and such (front panel tweaking) is another option.

ORIGINAL: Susan G

Hi Danny-

GPO opts for realism by design. If you expect to get a great sound by just pressing a key on your controller, then you'll be disappointed. Proper use of the Mod wheel to mimic the actual friction and tension of the bow moving across the strings is crucial.

That's very interesting! I have whatever GPO limited version that comes with Dim Pro, and I definitely want more realistic strings, but the Mod wheel doesn't seem to do anything. What should the Mod wheel be assigned to for more realistic bowings?

Thanks-

-Susan

Hey Susan,

I don't have experience with the limited version of GPO, but their website has some good documentation on how to get the most expression and feel out of "playing" the software:

GPO Controls

GPO definitely takes more time and effort. You have to really "think violin" and use the controls to provide expression...as opposed to just play a keyboard. As many of the examples on their website show, the results can be quite stunning.

I just purchased GPO for Reason. Although several of the patches have mod wheel dynamics (with the 'down' position of the wheel as 'loud'...thank goodness ...the original had the reverse behavior, which sucked IMO) much of the library was reprogrammed for round-robin sample alternation (great for increasing the realism of the solo patches) as well as a bank of 'velocity' banks that work for existing sequences.

The bottom line, the programming of the GPO material in DimPro is different than the original instrument plugin, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I have been using Garritan GPO for a few years now as incidental parts behind pop/rock tunes. I am not saying it is the best library out there, but it will serve you well if you put the time into it. (I sometimes spend half a day just getting the voicings right for a single tune.) Trust me on this, you won't get convincing orchestrations until you get into the controller data, detuning, and layering of section and solo instruments with slight variations in phrasing and dynamics. Ambience is important too. (I don't know if the LE verision supports these controllers or voicings.) Also spend some time doing some simple orchestartions and use realistic voicings that a composer/arranger would use. You can't just play a chord like you would on piano and hope to hear anything convincing. If you like, the Garritan site has a free on-line version of the Rimsky-Korsakov text on orchestration (with audio examples) which may be a good place to start. It's a bit like guitar patches: if you don't think like a guitar player when you construct your chords and strum patterns, it will always sound fake. The same applies to orchestral patches.

Thanks to all for your replies! I've played violin and cello just enough to know not to "play" them as I would a keyboard, and to not be in love with most of the string samples I've heard/own. I've listened to a few of the GPO demos, and I think it would definitely give me better results than what I'm getting now. Just being able to get more realistic articulations/bowings would help a lot.

I actually have Rimsky-Korsakov's Principles of Orchestration around here somewhere...

I might go ahead and spring for GPO rather than spend much time with the Dim Pro subset, since it sounds like the parameters are handled differently and I don't want to learn one way only to have to learn another.

Just thinking out loud, as you can tell, but thanks again for the input! I gather GPO is the best orchestral library near this price range (always a consideration)? $200 at zzounds, but I haven't shopped around.

Oh, and what do you think of the woodwinds & brass? I read one very good review of the flutes somewhere today.

-Susan

Hi Susan,
I have just begun to introduce more reeds (and french horn) into my arrangements. Mostly I do brief string sequences to beef up a bridge of a song that has already just about peaked dynamically. It gives a nice boost that is often followed by a break (for contrast) and a gradual rebuilding of intensity out to the end. I have not used the reeds solo yet, but more to reinforce or soften a string line. The little I have used them, they seem to be adequate, following predictable curves of stridency and darkness at the ends of their range. If you do get full blown GPO, look into the on-line tutorials available there on achieving realism in your sequences. It can be a bit labor intensive, and not everything turns out stellar, but I'm generally happy with the results.

I still think that GPO is a great package to start off with. It gives you quite a few string articulations including both 1st and 2nd violin sections. The woodwinds are quite good and very playable. The weakest part of the library is the brass. I like to mix Project SAM Solo Sessions brass with GPO. I also use the VSL Special Edition library for the 1st chair part of each section. I prefer GPO strings of the VSL strings. VSL SE strings don't have much vibrato plus they are missing mutes unless you get the extended library. GPO brass does have mutes which is very helpful as many library seem to skip over these.

Jim