VSL Horizon series Chamber Strings?

[djones]

VSL Horizon series Chamber Strings.
How does this library compare to other string libraries?
I'm looking for some great (stereo) orchestra samples.
I've been told that the Garritan Personal Orchestra sounds kinda cheap and that the East West Gold edition much is better.
But how about the VSL Horizon series Chamber Strings?
What's the difference between this library and the strings from the big Cube edition?
I need some beautiful sounding instruments for
classical and movie scores.
Would this be the right library, or is there a better library around?

[djones]

Can't nobody help me on this?

[griels]

I presume you have checked the demos on the page:

http://www.vsl.co.at/english/pages/prod ... trings.htm

To me and many others, the VSL sound is crisp and detailed. It was recorded in an anechoic chamber, so there is no hall ambience whatsoever, and you will need a high quality reverb such as SIR or the Princeton Digital reverb (in fact probably several, for different parts of the room). I've never liked the GPO sound personally... Certain elements have always sounded kind of 'plasticcy' to me, although some skilled composers have managed to bring it to life.

However, VSL is probably not be the right choice for a beginner wanting to produce 'Hollywood' sounding tracks, as you will need to spend quite some time placing the instruments on a 'sound stage'. For this purpose I'd probably recommend QLSO Gold over Chamber Strings if you have the dough, or QLSO Silver if you're on a budget (and you can always upgrade later).

However, if you want more flexibility in sound placement and reverberation (like me), you won't want sampled hall ambience, which is why I plumped for VSL Opus 1 (although you could go for the close mics of QLSO Platinum or GPO). And I have to say I'm extremely happy with it

[fgrittner]

Look at www.ilio.com There are descriptions of all the VSL strings. I don't own any but you might want to look at the Opus orchestral collection. The Chamber Strings are designed to imitate chamber orchestra string section, which are smaller in size than regular orchestral string sections. There is a demo of Schubert's Death of the Maiden on the Ilio site that demonstrates the delicacy of the Chamber Strings. If you are looking for Hollywood string sections, then Chamber Strings won't do it for you.

If you have thousands of dollars you could consider the VSL Cube!

[DevonB]

I've never liked the GPO sound personally... Certain elements have always sounded kind of 'plasticcy' to me, although some skilled composers have managed to bring it to life.

Blame the composer, not the sounds for the 'plasticy' bit. Orch comps are NOT easy, and they take time and dedication to get them to sound natural. That takes a working knowledge of a lot of instruments, their proper placement, and how to play each one appropriately. Now if even the skilled composers couldn't make it come to life, then I'd lean more on blaming the tools.

If you think you're going to write whole orchestra pieces that sound like a Hollywood film score inside of an hour, think again. It's in the details that make these libraries come to life. If you got the patience to play and learn, then you're golden!

Devon

[TrekStar]

pro: these chamber strings sound brilliant. the demo songs are absolute stunning. the whole vienna sample line still is superior to all the competitors because of that interval sample option. no one else from the others offered that up to now.

contra: expensive, not easy to use and you get "only" a small ensemble sound. you won't get that big 1st violin section melting sound.

if money is not the main point for you I would get it. if money is an issue for u there sure are some other options.

[P.T.]

As far as basing your decision about the sound of GPO from what others say, you might want to start downloading some of the demos from the GPO web site.

There must be over 50 demo tunes showcasing many different style.

GPO also lets you build emsambles of any size. If you only want a small orchestra you can build it. You can build string quartets, chamber orchestras or a full size symphony.

[djones]

I presume you have checked the demos on the page:

http://www.vsl.co.at/english/pages/prod ... trings.htm

To me and many others, the VSL sound is crisp and detailed. It was recorded in an anechoic chamber, so there is no hall ambience whatsoever, and you will need a high quality reverb such as SIR or the Princeton Digital reverb (in fact probably several, for different parts of the room). I've never liked the GPO sound personally... Certain elements have always sounded kind of 'plasticcy' to me, although some skilled composers have managed to bring it to life.

However, VSL is probably not be the right choice for a beginner wanting to produce 'Hollywood' sounding tracks, as you will need to spend quite some time placing the instruments on a 'sound stage'. For this purpose I'd probably recommend QLSO Gold over Chamber Strings if you have the dough, or QLSO Silver if you're on a budget (and you can always upgrade later).

However, if you want more flexibility in sound placement and reverberation (like me), you won't want sampled hall ambience, which is why I plumped for VSL Opus 1 (although you could go for the close mics of QLSO Platinum or GPO). And I have to say I'm extremely happy with it

The Opus Library, isn't that like the full orchestra package inlcuding brass and stuff, but limited?
Does it include solo strings?
Or do I have to purchase the separate Solo strings library?
I need some very nice detailed strings also solo strings is what I need, for some dramatic emotional tracks.

[griels]

Yes, VSL Opus has a large range of instruments, but no solo strings unfortunately, just solo brass/woodwind/percussion. However you could use VSL Solo Strings to fill this gap... Alternatively you could build ensembles GPO style with just Solo Strings. The VSL performance tool processes your MIDI in realtime to create convincing portamento, alternation and legato effects. Opus 1 includes many of these portamento/legato articulations and to my ears it sounds beautiful.

Alternatively you could buy Kirk Hunter Solo Strings for the solo material, but you will of course be missing out on the VSL performance tool this way. Maybe there is a Kirk Hunter equivalent though?

You could try blending different libraries, maybe QLSO and VSL Solo Strings? Bear in mind QLSO Pro will have legato/portamento articulations too, due early 2005.

Regarding GPO, yes it can sound very good in some instances, but it seems to take a lot more work than with QLSO to do, at least as evidenced by the demo mp3s I've heard. Although this is part reflected in the pricing.