British Drama Toolkit - unofficial voice your honest opinion / critique thread

[muziksculp]

Hi Muziksculp, as dzilizzi wrote already, there doesn't seem to be a special limit imposed by Orange Tree. So, "normal" use cases shouldn't be a problem. You could also ask Greg from Orange Tree directly if you have special circumstances. Just to be on the safe side.

Thanks.

I purchased it. (Not the SA BDT library, but Orange Tree's Mind Control Script).

 

[Xilef]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of buying this one but I have a question comparing this library to Orchestral Swarm.

I'm very happy with the Alternative Solo Strings which I bought a few weeks ago. Now I want a library which can be used as a textural background especially for the Solo Strings but also for electric guitars or to be mixed with synth patches in any kind of ambience scoring genre.
Normally I used the EVO 3 and Scary Strings / Frozen Strings for that job. But I want something new, more versatile.

My 'problem' with Orchestral Swarm is that it containes (beside the nice subtle patches) very strange ones which I know I mostly won't use. But I also like the staccato and pizzicato patches and the chamber sound and that it contains brass as well.

As BDT seems to fit my purpose very well (because of the texture thing) I have the 'problem' that these are also Solo instruments which I just ordered (see above). But the price is so nice!

What is your opinion? :D
Do I need both?

 

[Satorious]

Only you can answer that! Not sure if this will help (probably not), whilst both are texture-based libraries they work in different ways and cover different ground:

- BDT doesn't have any brass instruments like Swarm and it breaks the individual strings/woodwinds up so you can mix them together to create more varied ensembles.

- Swarm uses the Modwheel (?), whereas BDT is velocity based (this means you can accentuate some notes more than others to create interesting effects - but the modwheel won't control dynamics like it does in Swarm)

- There are no staccato or pizzicato patches in BDT. You get non-legato solo instruments in the higher velocities which makes BDT ideal as a sketching tool. In all honesty you'd probably want to replace these solo parts with something more expressive, but it's great for experimenting or getting some ideas down quickly within a single patch.

 

[gregjazz]

Hi Muziksculp, as dzilizzi wrote already, there doesn't seem to be a special limit imposed by Orange Tree. So, "normal" use cases shouldn't be a problem. You could also ask Greg from Orange Tree directly if you have special circumstances. Just to be on the safe side.

Yup, feel free to install Mind Control on multiple computers, as long as it's for your own use or the use of your studio.

 

[Alex Niedt]

In all honesty you'd probably want to replace these solo parts with something more expressive, but it's great for experimenting or getting some ideas down quickly within a single patch.

This sums up BDT, for me. My first instinct is always to replace it with other stuff, which makes it an absolutely pointless purchase, as I'm not trying to buy libraries I need to replace with other libraries. Major buyer's remorse here, which I've never experienced with Spitfire until now.

 

[muziksculp]

Yup, feel free to install Mind Control on multiple computers, as long as it's for your own use or the use of your studio.

Hi gregjazz,

Thanks for the feedback.

This is a very useful script for Kontakt. lots of possibilities, one needs to just get creative with how to use it with various sample libraries.

Cheers,
Muziksculp

 

[fretti]

I personally really like BDT and how fast you can do stuff with it.
But (and thats probably for most the big: "but") I don't have another library (except Tundra when I think about it) for those specific sounds/textures etc.. So for me it adds to my palette, but for many other who already invested in lots of other SF stuff in that department, probably won't find it to be "the next big thing" (maybe more a shortcut to play stuff in fast with the velocities?!).
So I'm far from being disappointed with the library, especially for that price

 

[muziksculp]

I decided that SA's new BDT library is not something I need, although the price is quite reasonable.

When BDT was first announced, I thought it will be a library similar to their BHT library, but that was not the case.

I'm really waiting for their Hans Zimmer Strings Pickup Library (Hopefully it's not too far away from being released), that will complement the main SA HZ Strings Library, adding more short, and other articulation options, surely on the look out for other future titles from SA that are more complementing, and useful for my needs.

 

[jbuhler]

This sums up BDT, for me. My first instinct is always to replace it with other stuff, which makes it an absolutely pointless purchase, as I'm not trying to buy libraries I need to replace with other libraries. Major buyer's remorse here, which I've never experienced with Spitfire until now.

Did you find this was true only for the loud layer or the whole thing? That is, did you find yourself replacing the textures and soft layer as well? Also my concern has been that the background layers are relatively few in number (compared to things like the Evos or swarms) and so the library would feel constricting in its possibilities. On the other hand, replacing libraries with other libraries seems to me to be precisely what a sketching tool would be for. In that sense, an overly limited palette would be a much greater concern to me than if I had to replace libraries as I built out the composition from a basic sketch.

 

[Hanu_H]

One thing I must admire is the Spitfires marketing. I think they could record wet sock hitting the floor and people would buy it and call it revolutionary. For me this sounds a bit outdated and only usable for sketching. I always love Spitfire's demos, but this time, can't really hear anything special.

-Hannes

 

[MaxOctane]

I always love Spitfire's demos, but this time, can't really hear anything special.

Dunno about that. There's been several short demos already --lots more than usual for a new Spitfire release-- and they're all pretty nice. So even if there's nothing new in the sounds per se (and I agree, most of these sounds can be found elsewhere, even inside the Spitfire range) there must be something about it that is facilitating so many quick demos.

 

[Craig Sharmat]

One of things that helps me compose with BDT so far is not using a click or tempo in general. For those who bought and are not enjoying the library you may wish to give that a go.

 

[sostenuto]

This sums up BDT, for me. My first instinct is always to replace it with other stuff, which makes it an absolutely pointless purchase, as I'm not trying to buy libraries I need to replace with other libraries. Major buyer's remorse here, which I've never experienced with Spitfire until now.

A serious shame for me, as 2-hand play-in is a great benefit. Some time left, but focusing more now on missing mainstream libs.

btw, in terms of SFA, new Solo Strings has some notable issues as well ?

 

[SoNowWhat?]

Dunno about that. There's been several short demos already --lots more than usual for a new Spitfire release-- and they're all pretty nice. So even if there's nothing new in the sounds per se (and I agree, most of these sounds can be found elsewhere, even inside the Spitfire range) there must be something about it that is facilitating so many quick demos.

Is there nothing new in the sounds? I’m talking about the softer layers here, the beds and not the loud lead lines. I have several Spitfire libs but none that could match what I hear in these demos or walkthroughs. I’m asking from ignorance here not being argumentative. Would like to know what you’d use to achieve the same result. I went through Tundra (which I think was most likely to cover similar ground in my collection) and couldn’t match it. I don’t have OAs Chamber Evos...yet.

One thing I must admire is the Spitfires marketing. I think they could record wet sock hitting the floor and people would buy it and call it revolutionary. For me this sounds a bit outdated and only usable for sketching. I always love Spitfire's demos, but this time, can't really hear anything special.

-Hannes

If the wet sock was recorded in Air Lyndhurst and had enough dynamic layers and Legato (of course ), then I’d be all in like a...well like a frog in a sock.

 

[Hanu_H]

Dunno about that. There's been several short demos already --lots more than usual for a new Spitfire release-- and they're all pretty nice. So even if there's nothing new in the sounds per se (and I agree, most of these sounds can be found elsewhere, even inside the Spitfire range) there must be something about it that is facilitating so many quick demos.

Well isn't the whole point of this library to be fast? I just haven't heard anything that really sounds great. There is some nice textures but all the melodic lines sound outdated and harsh. Didn't Project Sam already invent this 10 years ago?

-Hannes

 

[pinki]

I will be happy to consider purchasing this software when I have tried the demo that Spitfire releases. Until then I can't imagine why I would buy something that I do not know what it is.

 

[sostenuto]

So much truly quality SFA creation /production …. and now a number of stumbles (IMHO). New disputed Intros, and widely criticized libs not fixed. Absolutely not a 'hater', but $$$ which would flowed easily to SFA are now going elsewhere, or not spent.
BT_Phobos, new Solo Strings, maybe HZ Strings, now BDT …..

All this is pushing steadily away ….. not just from these newer releases, but also from pricey 'mainstream' Libs which were a 'done deal' for me not long ago ……. Orchestra, or piecemeal Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, LCO ….. now in doubt as SF direction is unsettling.
Website is even impacted as current version on Chrome doesn't allow 'Shop' and easy display of complete menu.

Honestly hoping for notable positive turnaround ……..

 

[SoNowWhat?]

So much truly quality SFA creation /production …. and now a number of stumbles (IMHO). New disputed Intros, and widely criticized libs not fixed. Absolutely not a 'hater', but $$$ which would flowed easily to SFA are now going elsewhere, or not spent.
BT_Phobos, new Solo Strings, maybe HZ Strings, now BDT …..

All this is pushing steadily away ….. not just from these newer releases, but also from pricey 'mainstream' Libs which were a 'done deal' for me not long ago ……. Orchestra, or piecemeal Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, LCO ….. now in doubt as SF direction is unsettling.
Website is even impacted as current version on Chrome doesn't allow 'Shop' and easy display of complete menu.

Honestly hoping for notable positive turnaround ……..

All I'd say in response is to make the decision yourself. I listen to comments here and to a varying degree they will influence my decisions. More often than not the problems that one person (or many) has with a library don't concern me at all but, sometimes they do and I appreciate the input from people who have used the product. However, in the end I always make the decision myself. It comes down to what you need, and do you think this will help you to make music. It is very easy to get carried away with the emotion on here positive or negative but because a library does or doesn't work for one user doesn't mean the same for you. This one feels quite marmite (ie it is dividing opinions fairly evenly) and so, once you have a general feel for comments from users, take a day or two to consider what you need and if this library helps.

edit - That sounded a little like I was getting on my high horse, better be careful I don't fall off. Sorry, if it sounds that way, I had meant it in good faith.

 

[Geoff Grace]

Your post sounded very even-handed to me, @SoNowWhat?.

It does help to get input from others; but of course, the most important input on making personal buying decisions is your own.

(Well, that and your bank accounts'.)

Best,

Geoff

 

[sostenuto]

*****
edit - That sounded a little like I was getting on my high horse, better be careful I don't fall off. Sorry, if it sounds that way, I had meant it in good faith.

No problem here.
Thread is " … voice your honest opinion / critique" and my post kinda said that.
I have made several choices lately, not necessarily without reservations.
Maybe sufficient to state that I have strong respect for the core of SF body of work, and hoping for a 'clear' winner soon ….. no more Marmite !