Need advice for low budget tools and libraries for orchestral music
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 1 posts since 13 Sep, 2012
Hello everyone .
When I created electronic music only I have used 100% legal software because I just didn't have the need for expensive stuff ( for me it was all about synthesis and sound design )
Now I need some orchestral libraries but all the good stuff for kontakt is EXTREME expensive . Paying over 1000$ for only one section feels insane for me . Not to mention that I'm a beginner composer/producer and prefer to spend the money on hardware studio equipment ( new PC , soundcard etc. ) .
Is there any solution for low budget starting composers like me , or for now the better option will be just to wait / use cracked stuff ?
Sorry if I posted it in the wrong section .
When I created electronic music only I have used 100% legal software because I just didn't have the need for expensive stuff ( for me it was all about synthesis and sound design )
Now I need some orchestral libraries but all the good stuff for kontakt is EXTREME expensive . Paying over 1000$ for only one section feels insane for me . Not to mention that I'm a beginner composer/producer and prefer to spend the money on hardware studio equipment ( new PC , soundcard etc. ) .
Is there any solution for low budget starting composers like me , or for now the better option will be just to wait / use cracked stuff ?
Sorry if I posted it in the wrong section .
- Banned
- 10196 posts since 12 Mar, 2012 from the Bavarian Alps to my feet and the globe around my head
Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra is quite good - and free!
Look here:
http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/
And there is a good inexpensive orchestral library for the EMU Proteus VX (which is free), for example this one:
http://www.digitalsoundfactory.com/prod ... u-virtuoso
Look here:
http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/
And there is a good inexpensive orchestral library for the EMU Proteus VX (which is free), for example this one:
http://www.digitalsoundfactory.com/prod ... u-virtuoso
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- KVRAF
- 10088 posts since 2 Jan, 2005 from somewhere in the woods
polirak wrote: Is there any solution for low budget starting composers like me
"It dreamed itself along"
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- KVRian
- 908 posts since 10 Jan, 2010
i wouldn't consider the virtuoso library that great, but ymmv.
depends on what you need.. you can get kirk hunter pop/rock strings for $125 right now. add a copy of wivi band (brass/woods) and w-timpani (a little percussion) and you're not doing too bad, for 250 or so (us, at least; maybe less in europe). those will all be fairly good for what they are.
i'd be willing to donate my copy of miroslav CE to someone as well, if it helps them avoid cracked software. it sounds decent, but you'll have to work a little harder. same is true for the garritan pocket orchestra in dimension LE (which i got for $5 once). the full garritan is not bad either, for 150 or so.
depends on what you need.. you can get kirk hunter pop/rock strings for $125 right now. add a copy of wivi band (brass/woods) and w-timpani (a little percussion) and you're not doing too bad, for 250 or so (us, at least; maybe less in europe). those will all be fairly good for what they are.
i'd be willing to donate my copy of miroslav CE to someone as well, if it helps them avoid cracked software. it sounds decent, but you'll have to work a little harder. same is true for the garritan pocket orchestra in dimension LE (which i got for $5 once). the full garritan is not bad either, for 150 or so.
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- KVRAF
- 1612 posts since 18 Feb, 2011 from Salt Lake City, Utah
You can check out the new Total Workstation Bundle 3 and if that's still out of your budget we still have AmpliTube 3 FREE and SampleTank FREE.
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- KVRAF
- 2254 posts since 6 Aug, 2007
Seriously. Sonatina is amazing. You're not going to get Hollywood-quality stuff out of it, obviously, but it can sound really really good. And it's free.Tricky-Loops wrote:Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra is quite good - and free!
Look here:
http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/
I also quite like Garritan Personal Orchestra. It gets a lot of hate, but for $150, I think it's a REALLY great library, and they have awesome support if you ever need them.
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- KVRist
- 194 posts since 12 Nov, 2011
Magix Independence in 3 versions (free, basic, pro) has good (orchestral among others ) sounds.
http://pro.magix.com/en/independence/in ... .1013.html
http://pro.magix.com/en/independence/in ... .1013.html
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- KVRAF
- 4420 posts since 7 Nov, 2005 from Florida
For low budget, but good sound, use Garritan Personal Orchestra and Garritan Instant Orchestra. No need for Kontakt (comes with the excellent Aria Player).
Then, look at www.spitfireaudio.com for Albion 1 and/or 2. These have a BIG hollywood sound for not so much (but a bit pricey). They use Kontakt as their player.
Also, look at Vivace - another nice 'finishing' kontakt library. Use it to spice things up.
Kirk Hunter Emerald or Diamond is a good all-purpose library and is not as expensive as the really big boys. Lots to choose from and some of the best strings and brass in the industry.
EWQLSO is the de-facto standard and when they have their sales, which is quite often, pick up Gold XP and you are done.
Mike
Then, look at www.spitfireaudio.com for Albion 1 and/or 2. These have a BIG hollywood sound for not so much (but a bit pricey). They use Kontakt as their player.
Also, look at Vivace - another nice 'finishing' kontakt library. Use it to spice things up.
Kirk Hunter Emerald or Diamond is a good all-purpose library and is not as expensive as the really big boys. Lots to choose from and some of the best strings and brass in the industry.
EWQLSO is the de-facto standard and when they have their sales, which is quite often, pick up Gold XP and you are done.
Mike
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- KVRer
- 6 posts since 12 Oct, 2012 from Canada
GPO is a fairly good deal if you are on a budget. There is also a version of it that comes with Finale although I believe you are only licensed to use it with finale.
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- KVRer
- 16 posts since 9 Nov, 2012
ObiK already mentioned IK Multimedia but I will specifically suggest Miroslav Philharmonik Classik Edition.
Cheers!
Cheers!
soundcloud.com/soundonly
- KVRAF
- 5703 posts since 8 Dec, 2004 from The Twin Cities
Good results with free soundfonts and low cost libraries like Garritan are a matter of care and patience (and overdubs).
A few hints:
If there is, say, a section of violins, do a few individual violin parts ALONG WITH an ensemble instead of just using the ensemble by itself. Ideally, you would do ten or more violin parts individually, but few have the patience, and it probably isn't really necessary.
Figure out the strengths and weaknesses of the various libraries. For instance, there are string ensembles in the Proteus VX preset bank that are almost useless on their own, but which are great additions to a mix of ensembles and solo parts. A mix of dry individual parts and heavily reverbed ensembles can create strikingly 'real' sounding passages. Layered reverb effects, where individual tracks are reverbed, gated, and mixed separately, can create very impressive results when used sparingly.
Try out any soundfonts you find in Crystal. Find an interesting preset and try substituting an orchestral soundfont on one of the voices; it can create a really big and believable ensemble sound in the right composition.
A few hints:
If there is, say, a section of violins, do a few individual violin parts ALONG WITH an ensemble instead of just using the ensemble by itself. Ideally, you would do ten or more violin parts individually, but few have the patience, and it probably isn't really necessary.
Figure out the strengths and weaknesses of the various libraries. For instance, there are string ensembles in the Proteus VX preset bank that are almost useless on their own, but which are great additions to a mix of ensembles and solo parts. A mix of dry individual parts and heavily reverbed ensembles can create strikingly 'real' sounding passages. Layered reverb effects, where individual tracks are reverbed, gated, and mixed separately, can create very impressive results when used sparingly.
Try out any soundfonts you find in Crystal. Find an interesting preset and try substituting an orchestral soundfont on one of the voices; it can create a really big and believable ensemble sound in the right composition.
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- KVRian
- 505 posts since 30 Jan, 2007
If you're still looking and want to focus on classical/orchestral music, check out Notion.
ObIK went overboard trying to upsell you to the full Total Workstation bundle, but the Miroslav PhilharmonIK package is really good. I'd wait for the next sale/special event deal and pick up the full package rather than the stripped down "classic" edition. Recent sales have had it available for under $50.
Also note that the Miroslav package works very well with Notion. You make changes to your score in Notion, and it automatically selects the appropriate articulations within Miroslav.
ObIK went overboard trying to upsell you to the full Total Workstation bundle, but the Miroslav PhilharmonIK package is really good. I'd wait for the next sale/special event deal and pick up the full package rather than the stripped down "classic" edition. Recent sales have had it available for under $50.
Also note that the Miroslav package works very well with Notion. You make changes to your score in Notion, and it automatically selects the appropriate articulations within Miroslav.
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- KVRist
- 66 posts since 31 Jan, 2008
Sonatina is a very good free sound library.
I've also the Garritan PO, that was already mentioned, but I like Sonatina better.
Another cheap solution could be to buy some Sampletank orch. expansion, you get them for 10$ each at esoundz. Together with every expansion, you get Sampletank XT with many other sounds. The player is a little bit old but, IMHO, the quality is not bad, expecially for that price.
I've also the Garritan PO, that was already mentioned, but I like Sonatina better.
Another cheap solution could be to buy some Sampletank orch. expansion, you get them for 10$ each at esoundz. Together with every expansion, you get Sampletank XT with many other sounds. The player is a little bit old but, IMHO, the quality is not bad, expecially for that price.
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- KVRian
- 549 posts since 9 Aug, 2005 from USA
Garittan is difficult to beat for the money.Karmacomposer wrote:For low budget, but good sound, use Garritan Personal Orchestra and Garritan Instant Orchestra. No need for Kontakt (comes with the excellent Aria Player).
Then, look at www.spitfireaudio.com for Albion 1 and/or 2. These have a BIG hollywood sound for not so much (but a bit pricey). They use Kontakt as their player.
Also, look at Vivace - another nice 'finishing' kontakt library. Use it to spice things up.
Kirk Hunter Emerald or Diamond is a good all-purpose library and is not as expensive as the really big boys. Lots to choose from and some of the best strings and brass in the industry.
EWQLSO is the de-facto standard and when they have their sales, which is quite often, pick up Gold XP and you are done.
Mike
There are quite a lot of instruments in this collection.
They are also surprisingly expressive , something often overlooked it more expensive libraries.
- KVRAF
- 2097 posts since 24 May, 2008 from London, UK
You could always take a look at Indiginus' Solid State Symphony.
http://indiginus.com/solidstatehome.html
It's purely synthesis, rather samples, but does an effective and expressive job. Gives you a good stab at the classic Japanese game soundtrack sound.
You do need Kontakt though.
http://indiginus.com/solidstatehome.html
It's purely synthesis, rather samples, but does an effective and expressive job. Gives you a good stab at the classic Japanese game soundtrack sound.
You do need Kontakt though.