Abbey Road Orchestra: Cellos Professional

Advanced legatos for ultimate expression

Celebrating the stunning sound of a Cello section captured at Abbey Road Studios, this VST offers a comprehensive collection of long and short articulations, 8 technologically advanced legato techniques — with extended velocity triggered patches (portamento and detaché), a high level of sampling depth and 16 curated mix signals hand-crafted by GRAMMY award winner Simon Rhodes, this library sets a new standard for the sound of the cello in the digital age.

A remarkably authentic cello sound that embodies the timeless essence of one of the most renowned recording spaces in the world — Abbey Road Studio One.

Expression at the highest degree - Where performance meets precision.

Meticulously recorded to allow for smooth and expressive transitions between notes, this emulates the natural way a cellist shifts from one note to another, without breaks. All aspects of our legato programming has been improved in both Pro and Core versions, with multiple dynamic legato intervals, and flexible interval types triggered by playing speed and/or velocity.

The extended techniques in the Pro version are the most advanced string patches Spitfire has ever created. With additional portamento and detaché legato styles, plus accented marcato and 'soft swell' entries for single long notes, the Pro version marks the absolute pinnacle of detail, expression and playability.

Advanced legatos. Ultimate expression.

• Performance Legato (extended): hugely detailed and highly playable legato patch which reacts in real time to playing speed - our most advanced legato ever.
• Lyrical Legato (extended): A relaxed legato patch for slower-moving melody lines.
• Legato Runs: A very agile legato patch specifically for very fast passages up to a minor 3rd.
• Legato Detaché: the connecting notes have broad but separated bow strokes.
• Legato Portamento: the intervals are performed in a 'portamento' style with an intentional slide between notes.
• Legato Slurred: slurred intervals performed with a 'moderate tempo' feel for sweeping melody lines.
• Legato Allegro: slurred intervals performed with a sprightly 'uptempo' feel.

What's included

Legato Techniques:

• Performance Legato (Extended) - A hugely detailed and highly playable legato patch which reacts in realtime to playing speed. This extended Pro version includes additional legato styles (portamento and detaché) plus marcato and soft entries for single notes - our most advanced legato ever.
• Lyrical Legato (Extended) - A relaxed legato patch for slower moving melody lines. This extended Pro version includes additional legato styles (portamento and detaché) plus marcato and soft entries for single notes.
• Performance Legato - A hugely detailed and highly playable legato patch which reacts in realtime to playing speed.
• Lyrical Legato - A relaxed legato patch for slower moving melody lines.
• Legato Runs - A very agile legato patch specifically for very fast passages and flourishes up to a minor 3rd (Legato intervals greater than a minor 3rd will not sound).
• Legato Detache - A legato-style patch in which all the connecting notes have broad but separated bow strokes, ideal for strong and impactful statements.
• Legato Portamento - A legato patch in which all the intervals are performed in a 'portamento' style with an intentional slide between notes.
• Legato Slurred - A legato patch with slurred intervals performed with a 'moderate tempo' feel for sweeping melody lines.
• Legato Allegro - A legato patch with slurred intervals performed with a sprightly 'uptempo' feel, ideal for quicker or arpeggiated ostinato material.

Long Techniques:

• Long (Extended) - A polyphonic sustained longs patch - this extended Pro version features additional soft and marcato styles for note entries triggered by key velocity.
• Long - A polyphonic sustained longs patch for pads and chordal writing.
• Flautando - A sustained note performed with a fast bow speed playing close to the fingerboard (sul tasto) creating a delicate and airy flute-like sound.
• Tremolo - A technique performed with rapid continuous bowing, creating delicate flurrying textures at lower dynamics with increasing intensity at louder volumes.
• Harmonics - Sustained notes produced from the overtones of the string (artificial harmonics) sounding higher than the fundamental to create glassy, suspenseful textures.
• Trills (Major & Minor 2nds & 3rds) - Rapid alternating between two notes.
• Tremolo (Measured - 150 & 180 BPM) - Tremolo performed with a specified number of repeated notes which may be sync'd to the host DAW's tempo.

Short Techniques:

• Spiccatissimo - An extremely short note length performed by quickly bouncing the bow on the string - an agile technique for very fast, articulate material.
• Spiccato - A very short and crisp note length performed by bouncing the bow on the string creating a sprightly 'all-purpose' short articulation.
• Staccato - A short note length performed with the bow starting on the string, sounding clearly detached with a slight accent.
• Marcato - A technique performed with a strong accented front to the note - presented as a longer note length than 'staccato' with the option of Timed Release triggers.
• Pizzicato - A short note produced by plucking the strings with the fingers. 'Bartok pizzicato is recorded at the very highest dynamic.
• Col Legno - A technique performed by tapping the string with the back of the bow or a pencil, producing a light and woody sound.

{See video at top of page}