I have a question:
Should I write individual parts for bass, cello, viola, and violin sections, or should I just use the "full strings" soundset? I tend to want to write the individual parts, but I was wondering what is the most common choice.
Miro: "Full Strings" or individual string sections?
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- "The" Jazz
- 4617 posts since 18 Aug, 2004 from California, United States
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- KVRAF
- 7886 posts since 24 Feb, 2003 from Earth, USA
That is such a delicate balance. Really, it depends. How many players do you want playing? Playing a triad from a 24 piece section is 72 players playing the 3 notes essentially. This is why it's nice to have smaller sections.
Now building large sections out of solo instruments is next to impossible to get it to sound 'right'. In some areas, you want multiple violins playing the same note in the same octave.
Also, ranges overlap between each of the instruments (IE the upper range of the cello will sound a little different than the lower range on the viola for the same pitch.) Playing around with who's playing which note can make a difference in the sound.
Also, making sure you pick notes within the ranges of the appropriate ranges that are not all octaves or major/minor third chords really brings the strings together. If you're into theory, you probably already know this, but worth mentioning.
In short, there is no right answer. It depends on the situation and what you're wanting to achieve.
Hope that helps.
Devon
Now building large sections out of solo instruments is next to impossible to get it to sound 'right'. In some areas, you want multiple violins playing the same note in the same octave.
Also, ranges overlap between each of the instruments (IE the upper range of the cello will sound a little different than the lower range on the viola for the same pitch.) Playing around with who's playing which note can make a difference in the sound.
Also, making sure you pick notes within the ranges of the appropriate ranges that are not all octaves or major/minor third chords really brings the strings together. If you're into theory, you probably already know this, but worth mentioning.
In short, there is no right answer. It depends on the situation and what you're wanting to achieve.
Hope that helps.
Devon
Simple music philosophy - Those who can, make music. Those who can't, make excuses.
Read my VST reviews at Traxmusic!
Read my VST reviews at Traxmusic!
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- Tunesmith
- 2889 posts since 12 Mar, 2002 from Toronto
Kim pointed out in his tips thread that it's a good idea to start with a big section to flesh out the ideas and then go in and replace them later on with individual parts. I think that's a pretty good way to go.
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- "The" Jazz
- Topic Starter
- 4617 posts since 18 Aug, 2004 from California, United States
Ah, yes, I just got finished reading that thread, and that DOES seem like an excellent way to go about it. Thank you guys!Mr. Tunes wrote:Kim pointed out in his tips thread that it's a good idea to start with a big section to flesh out the ideas and then go in and replace them later on with individual parts. I think that's a pretty good way to go.
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- KVRist
- 85 posts since 14 Oct, 2002
Something else you might think about is to take each of the parts, feed them to a few of the solo instruments for their part, or to a small section, then also send to a large section, but blend the two volume-wise. Then you kind of get the best of both worlds - the authenticity of the solo instruments along with some of the lushness of a whole section.
I don't have Phil, but this sort of thing works well for other stuff, so I'd imagine it does here as well. I suppose it really depends on what you are trying to accomplish with your listener and what types of songs these are.
I don't have Phil, but this sort of thing works well for other stuff, so I'd imagine it does here as well. I suppose it really depends on what you are trying to accomplish with your listener and what types of songs these are.
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- KVRAF
- 4692 posts since 28 Jan, 2003 from In these very interwebs
That's a good tip. While not as authentic or realistic as using only sections, it does make it easy to get a thick lush orchestral "impression" that's great for movie soundtracks and popular music.blades wrote:Something else you might think about is to take each of the parts, feed them to a few of the solo instruments for their part, or to a small section, then also send to a large section, but blend the two volume-wise. Then you kind of get the best of both worlds - the authenticity of the solo instruments along with some of the lushness of a whole section.
-Kim.
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- Tunesmith
- 2889 posts since 12 Mar, 2002 from Toronto
Yeah that technique is often done on low-budget film scores too in a way. Composers will get in a small section of live players to layer over top a synth orchestra section, it adds a lot of realism. In this case you'd be doing something similar but using samples for both the solo and section sounds.