how to get great sounding attacks using EWQL HOLLYWOOD strng

[MountainManMusic]

hi everybody! this is my first time posting on the forum,
i hear your mike lasko loud and clear.

anyway, i would like to know what those of you who use EWQL hollywood series libraries do to get crisp life like attacks? it feels like to me that the midi data has a lag to when i am hearing it. i have tried adjusting "attack" knobs but i dont hear anything changing.

is it a matter of layering multiple patches of section sizes?


does anyone have experience conecting M-audio Oxygen61 midi controller with Cuebase 6.5?

thanks
MMM


i am running windows7 64 bit, i7 3.6ghz, 164gig RAM, Cuebase 6.5

[mikeymike2000]

Hey 3M, welcome!

I don't use EWQL but if you are adjusting your attack knob and nothing happens you may have to engage the knob by pushing a button. When I move the attack level in VSL there is a noticeable difference. Look for some kind of on-off switch.

Also, if you have "velocity X fader" that would work really well too. I usually record the piece first and then playback and record the Xfader separate so I just listen to the notes and pretend to be a string player while moving the fader as the notes are going by.

Lots of people here use your same set up so I am sure you will get the actual answer soon. Maybe this hint helps.

[Cruciform]

Move the midi clips a fraction to the left so the height of the attacks align more closely with the beats. You can visually see how this trick works by bouncing the clips to audio and examining the waveform representation.

[stevepurdie]

Hi 3M,

well, it all depends on the PATCH you are working with in Hollywood Strings.

I noticed that you have to engage "attack" mode for strings that use staccato to bring the "bite" back into the song.

I dont use the Hollywood Strings that much right now (working on something else) but I will have a look this afternoon when I boot up my system.

When you speak of "lag", do you mean the strings are coming into the note slow, or does the sound "behave" differently than what you would expect ?

The sample library is large and complex, so it might also be worth having a search on YouTube for Tutorials, or explanations on "Orchestra Articulation in EWQL Hollywood strings"

I will try to find you something to help out too.

Peace,

Stevo

[davewalton]

I use Hollywood Strings and haven't really experienced the problems you've mentioned. As a matter of fact, the "lag" time for quick bow stroke articulations has improved over the previous Orchestral Platinum, Gold and Silver.

Having said that, there are essentially two sections called "Short Tight" and "Short Loose". I never really use "Short Loose" articulations because, like you, I'm wanting nice, tight, punchy strings. Within the Short Tight section, I've found the Spic RRx9 articulations to be the shortest, punchiest ones. I've yet to have the feeling that I need to "scooch" them over to get in line with everything else.

With the Orchestral Platinum I do have that need (especially with the brass) and what I do is to record a line or whatever, quantize it to a varying degree and then use a "Nudge" command in Sonar. All DAW's will have something similar. It just takes the selected midi notes and "nudges" them to the right or left (in the case to the left) so that they start just a shade before the actual beat and with the lag time, they play right on the money.

Anyway, no matter which thing I've used, I've never messed with the attack. If anything I "nudged" the midi notes over a bit and that always takes care of everything.

Hope that helps,

Dave

[MountainManMusic]

thanks guys, i think Dave nailed it for me. i was using a "loose" string and it was driving me nuts how inconsistent that patch was. after playing around with several other patches i have come to the conclusion that my problem was poor patch choice and not really anything to do with attacks. and i surmise that since this is a new install of library and keyboard that there is some buggy ness happening and im getting that worked out.


however, does anyone have a "cheat sheet" for what the hieroglyphic file names stand for in EWQL hollywood libraries? that would help me to choose my patches more wisely.

thanks,
MMM

[neuman]

I found the manual to be a pretty good explanation for the different articulation / attacks. Just got hollywood brass as well, love EastWest, Nick Phoenix is a genius!

download.soundsonline.com/docs/Hollywood-Strings-Manual.pdf

[MountainManMusic]

yeah, really need to look through the manual...

my motto is "learn by doing, confirm with schooling"