Best string library?

Lagerfeldt · Post by **Lagerfeldt** » 11/02/2004 - 8:38

Any recommendations? Price is not an issue.

I'm using EXS24 as sampler (for Logic), so I prefer ready-2-use setups for EXS24 not AKAI libraries cos they don't translate well even using CDXtract.

Pex `Mahoney` Tufvesson · Post by **Pex `Mahoney` Tufvesson** » 11/02/2004 - 8:45

My opinion:

Easiest string library = Steinberg's Halion String Edition.

I won't say that it's the best, because it isn't. But if you don't have the patience of Markus Schneider (which I obviously don't have), then you can get better-than-average-strings fast and fun.

Don't use it for solo parts, but otherwise, great!

If money and time isn't an issue, check out Vienna Sound Library.

Lagerfeldt · Post by **Lagerfeldt** » 11/02/2004 - 9:06

Thanks

Ok, the Vienna String Library (First Edition) seems to fit the bill, http://www.timespace.com/VSLs.asp

It's around $1.500 in Denmark, and is made for Giga and EXS24 MkII, perfect!

Infamous · Post by **Infamous** » 11/02/2004 - 13:06

1500? damn i could drink ALOT of beer with 1500......

I find the best way to get really good strings is to hire 4 big men and a van, and then wait outside any practasing orchestra's... then when the performers come out... nab em.

take them to the nearest decent acoustic place and then threaten to play the cheeky girls at them for 2hours straight through a PA system if they dont play you 2hrs worth of proffesional sounding strings percussion etc.

this though i admit usually leads to being arrested... but bail is cheaper than Ã‚Â£1500 so weyhey!!!.

*disclaimer - infamous does not endorse the abduction of orchestra's unless they are naked swedish ones.

ty.

Markus Schneider · Post by **Markus Schneider** » 11/02/2004 - 13:21

Well, people are still not sure about the best string library.
I can recommend 3 products here for you consideration:

a) Vienna Symphonic Library:
Here it is a must to invest into the performance set since you can play real legato passages and repetitions. If you don' t head for Gigastudio 3.0 you should get the EXS24 version which is soonish available. The EXS24 version has the advantage that you can crossfade trough the 'Legato Performance' e.g. fading trough wheel from 'p' to 'f'. This is a feature I DO very miss on the GS 2.5 version.
Listen to the Performance demos on http://vsl.co.at !This makes a difference which let it sound real (where I am still working on

).
The handling is definately not out of the box.

b) Garry Garritan Library: which is still a top product and contains the most articulations afaik.

c) EWQLSO: which is known as a Hollywood out of the box product

FYI I bought a). since I go trought the whole path of their future developments like convolution reverb and placing the instruments in the room via special tool. And and and ...

If you need more infos regarding VSL, just let me know.

Lagerfeldt · Post by **Lagerfeldt** » 11/02/2004 - 18:18

Thanks for that very detailed info Markus.

I'm currently considering Vienna and Garritan, which are exactly the two a dealer recommended me.

What I need is mainly a very simply but good sounding orchestral string section, used for chord play.

So I really only need 1 good sound mainly, although I could sometimes top it with some extra sounds. But what I need is just 1 good realistic string "pad" type sound.

Chris Abbott · Post by **Chris Abbott** » 11/02/2004 - 18:39

If that's all you need, you could just as easily do it with one of the Roland XV patches on the orchestra card, which are very sweet when played with chords. I've got the earlier one for the JV and it sounds really nice.

Chris

Lagerfeldt · Post by **Lagerfeldt** » 11/02/2004 - 18:40

I have the JV-2080 and also the Orchestral expansion card.

But no offence, Chris, I think it sucks big time. All of the sounds.

I'm looking for a far better sound in terms of realism and "wood" sound.

Chris Abbott · Post by **Chris Abbott** » 11/02/2004 - 18:52

Meh, well, I think "Slow Violins" sits in a mix quite well as a pad, and the sound only sucks if you're expecting too much of it other than to sound nice and fill a space. I wouldn't have suggested it if you hadn't implied it wasn't going to be a high profile sound.

On BIT 3 we used the Miroslav Vitous stuff, which was also nice, though limited. It sounded good to my amateur-non-professional studio-in-an-office ears.

I remember at least one high-profile producer saying that they got a realistic result but using quite scratchy strings and then layering a synth pad underneath to bulk it out: the end result sounded more realistic than the orchestral samples alone. But, if you've got the money to buy in sexy string orchestras, go ahead. I wish I could.

Chris

Markus Schneider · Post by **Markus Schneider** » 11/02/2004 - 20:56

Well, I am not sure if you are pleased with the more classical libraries when you search for the more string ensemble sound, which 'seems' to be presented by a strings pad. The technique behind a pad is chorus fx and multilayering. The origin strings sound comes from the scoring using 1st violins, 2nd violins, violas, celli and contrabasses in their best range. Further scoring techniques like doubling, unison and divisi, switching between small and wide chords etc. If you head for the first I can't recommend VSL because they only rarely support that 'one'shot' pad sound. I dunno how Garry Garritan does. VSL delivers a string enseble sound which consists of SUSTAIN, STACCATO adn TREMOLO. That's it. They only split the single instrument groups onto the range in one sample file.
Here is a in 30sec made demo of the sustain ensemble sound - dry:
http://schneidermusic.com/strings.mp3

Using 4 notes in the range of celli, violas and 2nd violins. Possible to expand then onto huge strings orchestrations. But as said it's better done with the instruments itself. If you are interested in scoring for strings have a look at the midi file of Edvard Grieg's 'Death of Ase'. I can mail it to you if you want. It shows a good (and huge) skill of scoring for strings and studying it helped me a lot.

madfiddler · Post by **madfiddler** » 12/02/2004 - 1:02

I have the Platinum EWQL library. It's really really nice.. However!!! I think to get really good strings, at least fast ones, you need a legato tool like Vienna and Garritan provide.

Of course, you could ask me nicely to record some real strings!!! and supply me with shit loads of vodka after the next BIT event. Having said that, I can only record electric at home

You think Vienna is expensive? EWQL cost me $3000!!!! And I don't have the bloody PC's to play it all

Markus, yes please send that midi file to me

Markus Schneider · Post by **Markus Schneider** » 12/02/2004 - 1:53

madfiddler wrote:Markus, yes please send that midi file to me

Done. Have phun !

PS: I use the legato strings for all sustained things when there's no divisi. It's much better then overlapping the notes and you hear the bow moving. Won't miss that. Only the upbow and downbow on short notes could be better on VSL. How do you like the EWQLSO ?

Chris Abbott wrote: I remember at least one high-profile producer saying that they got a realistic result but using quite scratchy strings and then layering a synth pad underneath to bulk it out: the end result sounded more realistic than the orchestral samples alone

A typical technique for Hollywood strings sound is done backing up the violins (as a sample) with a Solo Violin since it is used to have more vibrato.

Post by **tas** » 12/02/2004 - 3:14

Last time i said price wasn't an issue, i ended up spending 1.5k more than i expected.

madfiddler · Post by **madfiddler** » 12/02/2004 - 9:46

Well, I can't properly comment on EWQL yet. I've only installed the strings on my audio PC, installing the rest would be a waste of the registration code

So after 4 months or so, I still haven't heard it

Strings are great, apart from doing runs - but then I've still a lot to learn with using this sort of stuff.

I've got EWQL Silver too, and for $300 or whatever it costs (I got it for $50) - it's a bargain.

Lagerfeldt · Post by **Lagerfeldt** » 12/02/2004 - 10:34

Chris Abbott wrote:Meh, well, I think "Slow Violins" sits in a mix quite well as a pad, and the sound only sucks if you're expecting too much of it other than to sound nice and fill a space. I wouldn't have suggested it if you hadn't implied it wasn't going to be a high profile sound.

Chris

You're absolutely right, they fit well as pads, but I need something like a pad - but with more auhenticity. Like the "Hollywood" strings from Atmosphere!