Realistic Strings

[dynamicalan]

Hello,

I wanted to start a post on creating realistic strings using sound libraries.

I wanted to call it my strings have many different bowing but I thought that might be a little out.

When you thinking about all the things a live string section has over a computer processed one the individual character of each player really adds to the realism and after all; it's real. The things to consider among others are bowings, the individual sound of each instrument, the volume, intonation and so on.

I have been reading a book on midi orchestration recommended by a good friend and in the book it states the "VSL" library is a choice but the price tag for a main string library is roughly between $1000.00 and $5000.00 I use the "vsl" library included inside Native Instruments "Kontakt" and while this isn't the complete "vsl" library but it may still be workable. I also read it's necessary to have a secondary library. I have to admit "Hollywood Strings" would be is a very good choice but that requires an iLok. However, with Komplete 9 we have Session Strings which might qualify as a secondary library.

Using Kontakt there are ways to edit the instrument - adding samples detuning some of them but one thing I'm not sure about is bowings but there are more elements that help to create realism in a string section.

The thing that's interesting is that these samples are made with a live orchestra so a lot of these things are built in but without the variation.

[orest]

To me it always depends on the situation.
If I want more laid backs strings inside a production, I can use the strings in Omnisphere.

But, when I produce songs with more "in your face" strings, lead parts, then I use 8dio, Embertone and Cinematic Strings 2.
They have way more editing options and are deep sampled libraries.
I do have the Vienna special edition and also Quantum Leap Platinum Orchestra and I sometimes use them as well.

I like to use easy good sounding libraries.
My next choice might be the CineStrings.

[Jennerstein]

I also use Omnisphere Strings. I recently wrote something that incorporated Omnisphere and Session Strings Pro and Action Strings. Session Strings Pro and Action Strings are more pattern based, and not a full blown string library. But they can be helpful in layering.

But in my quest for great string sounds, I've been researching the more higher end libraries trying to decide what I want to purchase. A couple d ays ago I found a good thread on vi-control.net where people try and mock up Celli spiccato from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves using their various libraries. Various string sample libraries are used as comparison, VSL, EW, Spitfire, Cinestrings, etc.

http://www.vi-control.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35910

I'm guessing you'll find the above link useful, like it was for me.

Regards

-J

[Cruciform]

A couple d ays ago I found a good thread on vi-control.net where people try and mock up Celli spiccato from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves using their various libraries.

hehe, I have a demo in that list. It actually wasn't that great but that soundcloud account is only a freebie so I can't replace the file and it's not important enough to worry about getting them to change the link in the thread. So for better or for worse, my not-very-happy-with-it demo is there.

There are heaps of choices for good strings these days but it's always a case of knowing how to use the tools. The more control the library gives you, the more you need to know how to bring it all together.

I'd say the best options for getting going are Cinematic Strings 2 and 8Dio Adagietto. They're very playable out of the box. If you want to get more indepth and a lot more features and control, then you'll really need to step up to something like 8Dio Adagio, Spitfire Albion and/or Sable, Berlin Strings, Cinestrings, Hollywood Strings, LASS, etc.

[Len911]

I also use Omnisphere Strings. I recently wrote something that incorporated Omnisphere and Session Strings Pro and Action Strings. Session Strings Pro and Action Strings are more pattern based, and not a full blown string library. But they can be helpful in layering.

But in my quest for great string sounds, I've been researching the more higher end libraries trying to decide what I want to purchase. A couple d ays ago I found a good thread on vi-control.net where people try and mock up Celli spiccato from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves using their various libraries. Various string sample libraries are used as comparison, VSL, EW, Spitfire, Cinestrings, etc.

http://www.vi-control.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35910

I'm guessing you'll find the above link useful, like it was for me.

Regards

-J

Thanks for the link J. I downloaded the midi just to see how bad my celli spiccato paled in comparison. I was surprised, not as bad as I thought. Most of the difference I heard was the effects or lack of them for some.

[dynamicalan]

Hi,

thanks for the library ideas. They sound like they would be great.

On Kontakt 5 you can drop samples into it and do some editing such as delay and pitch modifications to thicken up the sound but as far as bowing goes I don't know of an easy way. I searched the internet and there's a script mentioned. The url is: http://www.native-instruments.com/forum ... SL-strings if this is helpful to anyone. I haven't done any scripting in Kontakt though.

[Len911]

There should be samples in a library containing the different articulations such as up bow, down bow, alt (alternating).

I suppose if you only had samples of each string on an instrument, you could use a midi editor to delay each string a few ticks or so
to emulate either a down bow or upbow, depending on whether the higher or lower string was the basis for the note delays.
Or,lol, if each string was on a separate track, you could do a hillbilly delay, nudge every track over a little more to the left or right depending on whether it was an up or down bow.

[dynamicalan]

I thought about using solo instruments and adding instruments inside Kontakt. Your right by delaying the individual instruments it would create a richer sound and one that's realistic. I will have a look at the samples inside one of the ensemble string instrument to see what it looks like. But, it may not be separated by the individual instrument if some were sampled together. However, I looked and I never saw any samples with names like up bowing down bowing. It's funny, when I didn't have it I always thought Kontakt was better for orchestra when all I used was Logic but the Logic samples in the EXS are named up and down bow. I don't know if the EXS has changed but it looks the same. I think if it is different that would make an interesting discussion.

I thought about editing a copy of the samples in the sample editor in order to start some of them after other ones but I haven't tried it to see if that works. I think, if you go to the symphony and watch the string section on a legato section they would all look like they are bowing together but there are slight differences. The timbre of each instrument is different in a real orchestra. This may come through the ears as a slight difference in the harmonic series which could be emulated by a slight alteration in the harmonics but there may be more to it such as the time it takes for the individual instrument to speak. These type variations, speaking to the variations knobs on the consoles of modern day software instruments seem to be half done or not complete.

[Kolstad]

I struggle with this too, but have read some excellent advice in this thread http://composersforum.ning.com/profiles ... tic-legato

Somehow it sounds to me that the strings libraries I have (the vsl in NI Kontakt, Session strings pro, Omnisphere, EWQL Gold, NI Kore) are scooped in the mids, and have a very breath'y high end, making the sound lack definition and focus. I can't figure out how to mix them to my likings, not even in a pop/rock context..

[dynamicalan]

Thanks for posting this link. It looks good. I'm sure it has some good points to consider.