EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

Does anyone combine solo orchestra libraries such as sam solo , dan dean winds, vsl or 
other solo strings? to make a whole orchestra, as op to using EW or Vsl whole orch?

If you do, what combos work well together?

thank you for experiences

on 4/11/05 11:21 AM, lynnemoquin at lynnemoquin@... wrote:

> 
> 
> Does anyone combine solo orchestra libraries such as sam solo , dan dean
> winds, vsl or 
> other solo strings? to make a whole orchestra, as op to using EW or Vsl whole
> orch?
>

I do it all the time, with Garritan Orchestral Strings, EWQLSO Gold,
Westgate woodwinds, SAM trumpets (the free ones they used to have on their
site), Sonic Implants strings, and miscellaneous other samples.

Things to watch out for:

1) panning may be different in the various libraries;

2) ambience is often different, so you may need to add longer/shorter reverb
to different libraries (e.g, Gold has ambient release samples).

I never use solo strings, because it is very difficult to make realistic
lines with solo string samples. As I play 'cello, I usually add my own
recorded parts to sweeten the mix.

However, when the Synful orchestra comes out in a Mac version, I would try
it. Also, Garritan is coming out with a solo violin that's based on a
combination of sampling and synthesis. I don't like the timbre of the
Stradivarius, but they're supposed to be coming out with a Guarnerius
version also that may sound better.

Don

on 4/11/05 11:21 AM, lynnemoquin at lynnemoquin@... wrote:

> 
> 
> Does anyone combine solo orchestra libraries such as sam solo , dan dean
> winds, vsl or 
> other solo strings? to make a whole orchestra, as op to using EW or Vsl whole
> orch?

Sorry, I think I misunderstood your question in my last reply. I would not
advise trying to use solo samples to try to create a section sound. However,
I think that's somewhat the approach built in to the Garritan Personal
Orchestra. My guess is that it would be difficult and time-consuming.

What I do is mix different string SECTION libraries, and I often stagger the
start points of notes slightly, to blur the attacks and note changes, to get
a smoother, more realistic sound. But this is a fairly laborious process.
I'm hoping that developers will come out with a combination of samples and
synthesis to help deal with note transitions.


Don

Don,

Thanks for your replies, no in fact your first answer is sort of what I am interested in 
knowing. It seems everyone does combine to some extent.

The way orchestral sections go, and not for 100 piece hollywood blockbusters, but 15 to 
40 piece, in real life there are winds in pairs, brass in pairs or maybe 3 or 4 horns, well 1 
tuba, and string sections.

I would not combine many of the same solo string instr.
Rather, play in the individual parts. 
It seems from the forums that people do not tend to play in the individual parts for each 
instrument.

The question then, and I would love to hear how you combine these libs that you mention, 
if there are strings in ensembles, could one add, a solo on each or emerging from 
sections, winds in pairs and brass in more or less pairs.

Are the reverb and panning consids the main ones ? or is there something about the 
ambience of gold vs. say vsl, that means combining them just does not work ?

many thanks again !