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Trying out a viola (solo)

mediumaevum

Active Member
I've been doing some tests with the 8Dio solo viola library. However, I don't think it comes close enough to realism no matter how hard I try to program it.

I used various articulations and even programmed some Dynamics Curves enhancing the features. But it won't come close enough to the real thing. I've watched several youtube walkthroughs of other solo libraries, and they are even worse.

Anyways, here is my attempt to making a static-midi-sounding viola sound somewhat like a real viola. I combined with string ensemble and piano to make it a bit more interesting.





Please tell me what you think of it and how to improve the solo instrument.
 
oh it sounds terrible, no legato and bow change.
I recommend CINEMATIC STUDIO SOLO STRINGS!
8Dio solo viola throw in the trash.
 
While I personally agree that the best way to cope with the 8dio viola is to delete it from your hard drive and never think about it again, this thread:

https://vi-control.net/community/threads/anyone-else-think-8dio-adagio-violas-kick-ass.78305/

includes some more generous opinions. There are a small number of lines that it can play beautifully, but they can be very hard to find.

Violas are hard though. CSSS is certain very nice and looks easy to play. Spitfire has the nicest tone I think, within the range of expressiveness of its sweet spot(s) - (viola starts at ~ 1:20)




probably not best for mediaeval idiom though.
 
While I personally agree that the best way to cope with the 8dio viola is to delete it from your hard drive and never think about it again, this thread:

https://vi-control.net/community/threads/anyone-else-think-8dio-adagio-violas-kick-ass.78305/

includes some more generous opinions. There are a small number of lines that it can play beautifully, but they can be very hard to find.

Violas are hard though. CSSS is certain very nice and looks easy to play. Spitfire has the nicest tone I think, within the range of expressiveness of its sweet spot(s) - (viola starts at ~ 1:20)




probably not best for mediaeval idiom though.


Of all the various libraries out there, not one library come close to the real thing, and personally I think that the 8Dio solo viola (not the ensemble) is the one closest to the real thing.

Your example from CSSS doesn't sound realistic at all either.

What I am looking for is a library that can do this (the real thing):



Perhaps combining the legato patch and the dynamic bowings will come closer to realism?
 
Ok, now I've tried listening carefully to the Phantasy Quintet. Here is what I get when imitating Ralph Vaughan Williams' solo viola, the first 30 sec. from the video above:

 
Ok, now I've tried listening carefully to the Phantasy Quintet. Here is what I get when imitating Ralph Vaughan Williams' solo viola, the first 30 sec. from the video above:


Legato is better now, is it 8dio? But the sound in some places falls to the right. Why does a musician fly around the stage?
No bow change. I can't hear it, but is it there at all? In the live recording it is clearly audible.
One way or another, I am convinced that СSSS will be able to make the Mock-Up more realistic.
 
Anybody tried the Joshua Bell? I´ve heard it in the hands of pros and its pretty amazing. I myself do practice with it still - not really there yet:)

MOMA
 
Legato is better now, is it 8dio? But the sound in some places falls to the right. Why does a musician fly around the stage?
No bow change. I can't hear it, but is it there at all? In the live recording it is clearly audible.
One way or another, I am convinced that СSSS will be able to make the Mock-Up more realistic.

Yes, it is 8Dio.

I panned the viola to the right, because a viola usually sits to the right of the orchestra. I might need better panning.

What is meant by bow change, and what is the sound of it?
 
The panning issue is that the stereo field in this library is all over the place. If you remix to mono, or at least narrator the stereo field you can reign in the wonkiness of the panning.
 
The panning issue is that the stereo field in this library is all over the place. If you remix to mono, or at least narrator the stereo field you can reign in the wonkiness of the panning.

Thanks. But what I really need is some feedback on the solo viola standalone version playing the Vaughan Williams Phantasy Quintet. Aside from panning, what else can I do to tweak the sounding of the viola to match the real viola in the video?

I've heard some pieces from others playing the 8Dio Viola, and they sound amazing, so I must be missing something, it can't be the library that I should simply throw in the trash. I feel I am missing some vital clues on how to program this thing.

This one (not mine) sounds amazingly like the real thing. I wish I could learn the techniques:

 
What is meant by bow change, and what is the sound of it?
Repeated Notes. Re-bowing of the same note. I do not know how in 8dio, but in the Cinematic Studio Series this is done by holding the sustain pedal and playing the same note twice.
2019-05-18_21-22-47.jpg
[AUDIOPLUS=https://vi-control.net/community/attachments/repeated-notes-csss-mp3.20108/][/AUDIOPLUS]
Here is my example with CSSS
2019-05-18_20-47-33.jpg
[AUDIOPLUS=https://vi-control.net/community/attachments/phantasy-quintet-csss-mp3.20109/][/AUDIOPLUS]



This one (not mine) sounds amazingly like the real thing.
Example sounds good. Perhaps you should not throw it in the trash. Learn more about the user manual.
 

Attachments

  • Repeated Notes(CSSS).mp3
    1.4 MB · Views: 34
  • Phantasy Quintet(CSSS).mp3
    2 MB · Views: 41
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i would recommend chris hein solo viola. the usage is a bit different than most libraries are used to, but you can achieve a very high level of realism with some work.
here you hear the library and not the original play of the musician:
 
Repeated Notes. Re-bowing of the same note. I do not know how in 8dio, but in the Cinematic Studio Series this is done by holding the sustain pedal and playing the same note twice.

Example sounds good. Perhaps you should not throw it in the trash. Learn more about the user manual.

In 8Dio this cannot be achieved, unless you use the Loure-legato patch - alternatively end a repeated note with one of the articulations from Dynamic Bowing-patches (non-legato).
 
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