Two forwards for retro pizz. strings S210324KT

[cantilena]

Hi everyone! I'm really happy to report that I submitted two pizzicato string pieces to Opportunity S210324KT, https://www.taxi.com/listings/S210324KT, and they were both forwarded! Not only that, about 24 hours later I heard from the client that they wanted to add my tracks to their library!! I'll post my deal separately, but am so excited I had to mention it here too.

Here are links to the tracks if you'd like to listen. I worked about 2 weeks on these, and was really happy with how they turned out:

Your Shoe's Undone
Trip to Tahiti

Andrew Gilpin

[Merryband1]

Congratulations, Andrew! Both your pieces are just delightful, and fit right in with the references! Bravo!

Merry

[JuanMacias]

Congrats Andrew!! those are very cool tracks.

I'm curious about what sample library are your strings from?

Juan

[cantilena]

Congratulations, Andrew! Both your pieces are just delightful, and fit right in with the references! Bravo!

Merry

Thanks so much, Merry! Thanks for listening.

[cantilena]

Congrats Andrew!! those are very cool tracks.

I'm curious about what sample library are your strings from?

Juan

Thanks so much, Juan! I appreciate the feedback.

Great question about the library. I used Symphony Series String Ensemble from Native Instruments, plus Symphonic Orchestra and Hollywood Strings from East West.

In order to get a more realistic sound of live musicians all plucking at slightly different times, I manually recorded 15 different string tracks in real time (4 Vn. 1, 4 Vn. 2, 4 Vla., 3 Vc.) and did NOT quantize them. The only tracks with quantize on are percussion and bass. Winds were recorded manually as well.

I also drew in CC curves manually on EVERY string track (no copying) for more realistic expression. Time-consuming? Oh, yeah. lol. Worth it, though. This approach gives you subtle differences that the old copy-and-paste won't.

Obviously, doing things this way won't work for an EDM track, lol, but for something from this time period, that human touch is essential.

What kind of music are you working on for TAXI right now?

~Andrew~

[Merryband1]

Wow, I'm impressed with all the work that went into those tracks, Andrew! It was definitely worth it, though. Using all the different libraries together really made it sound like a live orchestra! I'll keep that in mind for the day when I can afford more virtual instruments! I really love the effects you got. Thanks for sharing your technique, too, as well as the tracks! I really hope the library picks these up, right away!

Merry

[Peterg]

Fantastic sound and composition. Sounds like a lot of work went into it but it really paid off!

Peter

[cantilena]

Wow, I'm impressed with all the work that went into those tracks, Andrew! It was definitely worth it, though. Using all the different libraries together really made it sound like a live orchestra! I'll keep that in mind for the day when I can afford more virtual instruments! I really love the effects you got. Thanks for sharing your technique, too, as well as the tracks! I really hope the library picks these up, right away!

Merry

For sure. Sometimes you experiment and hit on something that works, you know? It was my first time sequencing that kind of track, and I was going for as realistic as possible.

I know the VSTs can run into some serious $$$. East West at least has Composer Cloud, which you can pick up on sale fairly frequently. I was finally able to use that because I recently got unlimited internet so I can actually download the samples! lol. I live out in the country, and having high-speed and unlimited has been a long time coming.

I'm always happy to share how I do stuff. I'm learning all the time, and I GREATLY appreciate those people who throw up 3-hour YouTube videos about making trailer music, or using Cubase, or whatever else. We're all in this together!

~Andrew~

[cantilena]

Fantastic sound and composition. Sounds like a lot of work went into it but it really paid off!

Peter

Thank you, Peter! Yeah, after a while I felt like I was going overboard and spending TOO much time on these, but they did the trick.

The composition was a lot of fun. I don't always get to write those kind of melodies that were popular decades ago (might not work for dramedy! lol) but I love to do it when I can.

~Andrew~

[JuanMacias]

Congrats Andrew!! those are very cool tracks.

I'm curious about what sample library are your strings from?

Juan

Thanks so much, Juan! I appreciate the feedback.

Great question about the library. I used Symphony Series String Ensemble from Native Instruments, plus Symphonic Orchestra and Hollywood Strings from East West.

In order to get a more realistic sound of live musicians all plucking at slightly different times, I manually recorded 15 different string tracks in real time (4 Vn. 1, 4 Vn. 2, 4 Vla., 3 Vc.) and did NOT quantize them. The only tracks with quantize on are percussion and bass. Winds were recorded manually as well.

I also drew in CC curves manually on EVERY string track (no copying) for more realistic expression. Time-consuming? Oh, yeah. lol. Worth it, though. This approach gives you subtle differences that the old copy-and-paste won't.

Obviously, doing things this way won't work for an EDM track, lol, but for something from this time period, that human touch is essential.

What kind of music are you working on for TAXI right now?

~Andrew~

Hi Andrew! Right now I'm focus on listings requesting Edm/pop, Trap/Hiphop and dramedy instrumentals. I'm trying to perfect my craft on this 3 genres but lately I've been interested in trailer music. By the way; do you have any good recommendation of a good youtube tutorials in trailer music?

Juan