Need advice on good strings..Devon et al ?

[basic channel]

I want good "soundtrack" style lush realistic strings.

Can't quite run to Sonic Implants though.

Kirk Hunter's sound interesting....anyone tried Concert or Solo strings ?

Would these fit the bill ?

Do they sound very different from each other ?

cheers

BC

[DevonB]

It's always better to just write me directly to let me know you asked a question in the forums.

Kirk Hunter is AWESOME for solo strings, and it's cheap to boot. Very worth buying, IMHO. Nothing else touches it in that price range. I'm very impressed with the small demo that comes with Giga3 for Sonic Implants Strings as well, but don't own the full library to make further comments.

I see that you want strings. But do you just want solo strings, or section strings? Sonic Implants is sections, not solo. Kirk Hunter is solo, not sections. Do you want close, intimate, or 'big'?

Devon

[zircon]

For soundtrack style stuff, Atmosphere has some excellent strings. But if you're looking for orchestral specifically, I think GPO would be a good option. Combining all the ensemble sections and then adding some reverb creates a very warm and lush sound. However, this is mainly for sustained/legato sounds - if you want those deep, sharp marcatos, your best bet is VSL.

[Kim Lajoie]

If you're on a budget, you might want to check out Sonic Reality's Symphony Strings. Also check out Miroslav Philharmonik. "Dude - it's Miroslav!"

-Kim.

[tee boy]

I have VSL strings (first edition). Its very good, I use it for movie score type stuff. The samples are quite dry in terms of ambience so I recommend getting some good reverb IR's if you want to try this one.

I also have Miroslav. I really gone off these lately, I think they're pretty shit. The bass isnt bad, but the violins are shocking.

btw, Not the new Miroslav!

[DevonB]

For soundtrack style stuff, Atmosphere has some excellent strings.

Nice strings, no articulations to speak of though. Hard to recommend JUST for a few string patches. If you want everything else though, go for it.

But if you're looking for orchestral specifically, I think GPO would be a good option. Combining all the ensemble sections and then adding some reverb creates a very warm and lush sound. However, this is mainly for sustained/legato sounds - if you want those deep, sharp marcatos, your best bet is VSL.

Or GOS, or SI:SS, or or or.... Many options out there. Depends what he's after EXACTLY.

Devon

[DevonB]

I have VSL strings (first edition). Its very good, I use it for movie score type stuff. The samples are quite dry in terms of ambience so I recommend getting some good reverb IR's if you want to try this one.

I also have Miroslav. I really gone off these lately, I think they're pretty shit. The bass isnt bad, but the violins are shocking.

btw, Not the new Miroslav!

I never thought Miroslav was shit, even after owning the set since like 1997ish timeframe. Limited? Oh yes. The actual sound is good, just the sample sets are small for the original.

Devon

[tee boy]

Yeh, I dunno lately that library isnt doing it for me. I think its the violins, they sounds so bad imo. I guess it is an old library though, and if its available for good money then snap it up defo.

[DevonB]

Yeh, I dunno lately that library isnt doing it for me. I think its the violins, they sounds so bad imo. I guess it is an old library though, and if its available for good money then snap it up defo.

When I started playing with the big libraries, I started feeling the same way. After time though, I went back and listened to them again. The sound is good, but they were just so inflexible with so few articulations to choose from. Compare it to Garritan Orchestral Strings, and they seem weak because of their small size. That's why I'm looking forward to Philharmonik and what Dave does to the original sound set. I've heard shit sound sets, Miroslav ain't it, even with the small size.

Devon

[lawapa]

I've got the SonicImplants string mini in soundfont. 4 cds. And while the price is half big set the sound is superb. You don't have as many articulations but you do have the most useful ones for that big lush sound. There is an upgrade path for the big set but you must return the mini with all documentation to SI.

[funkynuts]

Garritan orchestral strings lite edition can be picked up at a bargain price these days.
East west symphonic orchestra silver edition is on offer for £99 at turnkey and digital village which gives you good strings and more besides

[zircon]

Nice strings, no articulations to speak of though. Hard to recommend JUST for a few string patches. If you want everything else though, go for it.

Yeah, of course you wouldn't buy it just for that - but you gotta admit, it definitely has the lush sound he's aiming for.

Or GOS, or SI:SS, or or or.... Many options out there. Depends what he's after EXACTLY.

Devon

Well, that's why I said GPO was a good 'option' - certainly, it's not the only one. However, it's both inexpensive and definitely fits the bill of what he's looking for.

[kevvvvv]

The Kontakt 2 VSL strings are so playable.

Last night I was trekking through the score of Mozart's Dies Irae, and it was sooo good to have different key triggers firing in on demand.

Like ... sforzando opening chords, then forte piano fast runs, moving instantly to sustained notes.

It sounded pretty realistic for "fake".

All the string sets I ever tried were in some respects like one trick ponies, eg, Miroslav can do weepy slush, Sonik can do biting fast passages, Sziedlaczek does belting great full sustains, GPO does competent vanilla, etc etc.

It's the key triggers that make it sound believable, as much as it is having a decent tone in the first place.

The same believability applies for the whole K2 / VSL orchestra (except maybe the timpani, which aren't v scarey).

Devon: Kirk Hunter is a good price. Does it key trigger lots of options?

[Caleb]

eg, Miroslav can do weepy slush

Weepy slush. I love that!

I hope Miroslav Philharmonik is a little more than weepy slush though because I've already pre-ordered it.

From what I understand the SR guys are going to town tailoring it for the ST2 engine so that it is full of performance goodness at the end.

If it's a con then I've been well-and-truly suckered in.

Caleb

[Yossarian]

Speaking of Kirk Hunter, he’s still blowing out his Virtuoso Series string library for $49 at www.kirkhunterstudios.com . It’s the old library, not the new Concert Strings but it’s still pretty darned good at that price.

/Yoss