Is Nexus2 the way to go for easy ORCHESTRAL sounds, or are there better alternatives?

[noiseboyuk]

Metropolis Ark is a great product, but in common with most other libraries from the big guns, it doesn't have the all-encompassing multis that are designed to play a whole orchestra in one hit. The only developer that does this among the big developers, AFAIK, is ProjectSAM (and as mentioned, Sonokinetic, though those products such as Maximo, Grosso, Minimal etc are intelligently phrase based which is a different sort of thing).

[Vortifex]

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[DSmolken]

Nexus is great for quick orchestral sounds that are easy to mix in, say, EDM or hip-hop tracks. They won't sound or behave all that realistically, but in some cases that doesn't matter.

Another alternative might be Miroslav 2 CE. Somewhat similarly "romplery" behavior, but a more classical sound.

VSL SE is a totally different beast, much more focused on realistic behavior and very different to use, but affordable and recorded very dry which is often useful for non-classical tracks. More of an alternative to GPO5 than an alternative to Nexus, though.

There are also some more specifically hip-hop romplers such as Ignite, but I haven't tried any of those myself.

[ValliSoftware]

I'd love to hear Structure creating similar sounds to that Nexus video! Any ideas or videos on how to achieve this would be appreciated!

Have a listen here.
https://vimeo.com/190540945

[Examigan]

I'd love to hear Structure creating similar sounds to that Nexus video! Any ideas or videos on how to achieve this would be appreciated!

Have a listen here.
https://vimeo.com/190540945

Structure 2
https://soundcloud.com/airmusictech/str ... tructure-2

[Silaris]

I am unsure how the sounds compare to Nexus2, but the SONiVOX Film Score Companion is another option and can be found at most plugin discounters for $150 at the moment.

For orchestral arrangements, I general use SONiVOX Film Score Companion and/or IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik 2 CE, which was already mentioned.

[SciFiArtMan]

i have checked at friends all the hollywood libraries (owns Nexus 2 all bundle) as i was very impressed with the demos but to tell yo the truth they do not sound that great as audio demos suggest. No round robin, no flexibility and the best sounding orchestral sounds come in Sequences wich sadly are loops. For that price you get better orchestral stuff even in Komplete 11u.

The idea that the sounds in Nexus2 (or any plugin, for that matter) don't sound as good as in the demos is one of my biggest fears, Elektronisch! And I believe the newer expansions for Nexus2 now have at least "some" round-robin variations.

Also, as Noiseboyuk mentioned, many of the nice sounds (to my ears!) in Nexus2 are "one-trick-ponies" that may not really fit many other uses beyond the style or phrasing of the demo, is also a concern!

One point I keep seeing in my production life, is Kontakt! I don't know why I have an aversion to it for some reason - maybe it's because I see myself as more of a straight synth guy, as opposed to a sample or loop kind of producer. But over and over Kontakt seems to keep popping-up as a viable solution for this or that need, and often just the internal or included sounds! I use the Player and have a handful of soundsets for it, but it just never feels solid and dependable (loading issues?). But must be me, as the whole world seems to disagree!

Which brings up another point - is there a way to buy Kontakt without having buy Komplete? Every time I try to find Kontakt to buy, it seems like I only see as part of Komplete!? And I never see Kontakt in the KVR Marketplace!?

Too much stuff, and not enough time to learn it all!

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions and ideas! I'm exploring the possibilities of each!

[Elektronisch]

You can buy, it but its better value simply because you get alot of libraries that are useful for orchestration and not only that.
I saw some people bashing Symphony Series essentials that its cut down bla bla bla, but it sounds wonderful. I have demoed before full version and after using Essentials in couple of projects only thing i miss is Timestretch but i can manage without it.

If you are getting Kontakt for orchestra library, its ok well quite good,but for orchestration nexus 2 + expansions is better choice i think, simply because it offers those sequences/loops and splits, but the beuty is in libraries that you can get for Kontakt thats why my suggestion is to get Komplete 11 Ultimate because it offers alot of great sounding libraries and not only that. https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... -products/

By the way you can get Kontakt cheaper if you aquire free licence of Senheiser some drum library and then upgrade during sale to full kontakt for around 110 euros.

Here are some video samples:

factory kontakt

[bedjka]

Halion Symphonic Orchestra is not bad for 99 bucks,
https://soundcloud.com/steinbergmedia/h ... hestra-dem

[SciFiArtMan]

Thanks Elektronisch and bedjka for uploading those videos! Seeing, as well as hearing, how these plugins work is very helpful!

So am I correct in my understanding that Kontakt is only available as part of Komplete?

I've never been much of a Black Friday fanatic, but looks like this year may be different!

[Elektronisch]

its only a part but you can buy it alone outside Komplete

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... kontakt-5/

Some things about nexus 2, recently red that from some update it does support round robin, but in the describtion of libraries seems only drum libraries has this?

if you are unsure about nexus you can always check the user demos instead of produced by refx. Tho with all Hollywood bundles i think it gets nearly expensive as Komplete 11 Ultimate?

[Vortifex]

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[DSmolken]

Yes, especially since DrumMic'A is a Kontakt Player library and is free - so you can get that, then qualify for the crossgrade price, I think. Haven't actually done it...

[SciFiArtMan]

By the way you can get Kontakt cheaper if you aquire free licence of Senheiser some drum library and then upgrade during sale to full kontakt for around 110 euros.

Thanks, Elektronisch, Vortifex, and DSmolken for the Kontakt crossgrade info! Regardless of my Easy Orch quest, I see it's time to get onboard with Kontakt - and now it appears to be affordable! Seems prudent to grab it, and see what it can do in the Easy Orch arena, and maybe still have time (holiday sale) to buy something else if Kontakt doesn't get me there.

So far, I've been impressed with IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik 2 CE, and Halion Symphonic Orchestra, for the money.

Another thing about (seeing) the Nexus2 demos is the use of the MW to add other voices - like a string sound that then adds brass with a push of the MW. Maybe others work this way too, but I find this effect very appealing.

Also, I fully realize that truly dedicated string, brass, woodwind and percussion libraries will sound better than a single library that contains a little of everything - but my goal is to find a happy medium between great (or at least good) sound and ease of use, combined with affordability (but I guess that's most people's goal).

Then again, I have such a love of orchestral arrangements (and have a fairly good understanding of the process) that I wonder how much deeper I could delve into orchestration with even better tools!? But at least for now I can achieve easier access, and maybe that will lead me to greater explorations, or not.

Thanks again everyone!

[noiseboyuk]

Okaaaaaayyyyy...

So now it seems as if you want an instant full orchestra AND a detailed more serious library. IMO there is only one contender that comes close to this - ProjectSAM, as referenced earlier in the thread, their Orchestral Essentials and Symphobia series are both excellent. The former is more bang for the buck, the latter has more detail and finesse. You'd do well to look out for a Black Friday sale.