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I've Bought My SECOND TO LAST String Library

You will never be able to render any sample instrument to rival the real thing. There are too many mechanical and human factors involved that can't be duplicated with sample instruments. The question I have is WHY would you want to reproduce this? As a learning exercise, maybe, or just for fun, but as a final produced piece of music? What's the point? Simply by their nature, sample libraries will always be limited.

I know, Rob. You’re talking to the greatest non-believer (regarding samples being able to replace more than 5% of the real thing) that ever walked through V.I.’s door. And no one dislikes classical mock-ups more than I do. That's definitely not what I'm after.

The first reason I brought it up, is because some of my music — the pieces that rely on a strings-like presence — would be extremely well served if that presence were somehow capable, much more than it is capable today, of suggesting some of the same gestures, phrasings, pronunciations, performances, dynamics, articulations, textures, etc … as those I’ve collected in that collage.

The second reason is that the library which you declare your final purchase, as far as string libraries are concerned, and which I own too, has, again, not brought me one step closer to seeing/hearing that desire expressed in the previous point fulfilled. So, unlike you, I’m not done buying strings libraries. I wish I were, but I’m not.

I can understand the Studio Strings qualifying as the end of the purchasing line for some people. If your music falls entirely within what that library is capable of and good at, then: sure. Mine however, falls almost completely outside it, despite the fact that, on paper, good studio strings is exactly what it needs.

So, secretly I also hope that some developers have listened to that montage as well, and are saying to themselves: “Copulate yeah, there’s still a whooole lot of uncovered territory in the field of sampled strings. Let’s get to work, people.”

_
 
“Copulate yeah, there’s still a whooole lot of uncovered territory in the field of sampled strings. Let’s get to work, people.”
I think that's where Sample Modeling and Audio Modeling come in. We'll see what happens. Probably the only thing that could change my mind about this being my last string library is Sample Modeling's strings turning out to be revolutionary. But I don't think that's going to happen yet.
 
Another huge fan of the StudioStrings here. But i personally see a lot of added content in the pro version (more in the strings compared to the winds and brass) since the close mics here add really a lot details you cannot hear with just the tree. Works also wonderful with own reverbs to make it big but still detailed.
Maybe next wishlist sale i get the full pro bundle also for Brass and Winds (sadly i missed the sale this time). Not sure yet. I wished indeed i could choose a core+ version with just the close 1 and 2 mics.
For the Brass and Winds the tree works good (maybe even better here for me as the close, but just judged by demos i heard).
Whatever, really a great string library.
BUT....for sure not my last :)
P.S. I really hope one day for a more modular set-up like per mic buy from SF.
 
Another huge fan of the StudioStrings here. But i personally see a lot of added content in the pro version (more in the strings compared to the winds and brass) since the close mics here add really a lot details you cannot hear with just the tree. Works also wonderful with own reverbs to make it big but still detailed.
Studio Brass Pro has considerably more content than the core version and other mics are generally better suited for the brass than the tree that comes with the core.
 
Studio Brass Pro has considerably more content than the core version and other mics are generally better suited for the brass than the tree that comes with the core.

Yes, i just could judge it from the demos and for my personal usage and it was clear to me that i wanted the pro version after playing with the core and heard the demos with the close mics.
For now i´m happy with the brass and winds core but i´m really tempted to complete the pro package next time to just get the closed mics on top. Of course the extra instruments and articulations are a bonus as well. So in general you get a lot more than double the content for double the price.
 
And yet, with all these terrabytes of samples, I still can’t do any of https://users.telenet.be/deridderpiet.be/StringsMontage.mp3 (this).

Alas, so true. I'm working on a string piece now and all I can think about is the blessed hour when I can replace them with real players.

Mind you it sounds ok for a mockup -- just awful though, when compared with the real thing.

(I had to turn off @re-peat 's example because it was too discouraging...)
 
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20 years from now we will be paying top dollar for vintage style string libraries that meticulously re-create the flaws of 2018 libraries including deep sampling of stuck notes, 20 layers of sampled piano mechanical noises that everyone turns off, and all of that exaggerated legato -- "Hey remember the legato craze of the 2010s what were we thinking?"

The dominant musical style will be Retro Orchestral Mockup Core.
 
Alas, so true. I'm working on a string piece now and all I can think about is the blessed hour when I can replace them with real players.

Mind you it sounds ok for a mockup -- just awful though, when compared with the real thing.

(I had to turn off @re-peat 's example because it was too discouraging...)

Sure... the samples can't sound exactly like a professional orchestra any more than a fax machine can reproduce the Mona Lisa, but that isn't the point. We know this. Don't be discouraged.
 
With the money I spent on strings libraries over the past 20 years, they could rebuild a sizeable part of the roof of the Notre Dame.

And yet, with all these terrabytes of samples, I still can’t do any of https://users.telenet.be/deridderpiet.be/StringsMontage.mp3 (this). There’s not a singe second in this 11 minute collage — and I could easily have made it an 11-week collage — that can be rendered convincingly with any of the libraries, or combinations thereof, ever released.


_
OMG. This sounds amazing! Where can I find these compositions? Not to detract from my post just before.

I can compartmentalize... what's real is REAL!:scout:
 
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With the money I spent on strings libraries over the past 20 years, they could rebuild a sizeable part of the roof of the Notre Dame.

And yet, with all these terrabytes of samples, I still can’t do any of https://users.telenet.be/deridderpiet.be/StringsMontage.mp3 (this). There’s not a singe second in this 11 minute collage — and I could easily have made it an 11-week collage — that can be rendered convincingly with any of the libraries, or combinations thereof, ever released.


_

Fair enough, but when you look at how far things have come (especially in the last ten years), the sample libraries are nothing short of incredible IMO. I think we're all just so "numb" to it now that it's easy to take for granted. I could have only dreamed of today's string libraries years ago.

Just a thought, but the opening string part could probably be done with the violas "brushed short" patches in SF Studio Strings. I couldn't even imagine programming that whole piece lol! What is it, by the way? Very cool.
 
You will never be able to render any sample instrument to rival the real thing. There are too many mechanical and human factors involved that can't be duplicated with sample instruments. The question I have is WHY would you want to reproduce this? As a learning exercise, maybe, or just for fun, but as a final produced piece of music? What's the point? Simply by their nature, sample libraries will always be limited.

Your confusing reading into your vibe seems like your angry or have on issue because people purchase many library's and in your mind they should just stick with a few or one,

What makes me think this is your post over on the thread VSL Still Rocks i want place the link but i think you know what i am talking about.

Perhaps you should have been honest with your self and titled the thread

Why do people/composers purchase tons of library's , then say it really annoys me.

But i am sure some one would have posted mind your own business there are many factors why people purchase many library's and you don,t really need to know, just be satisfied with what you have, or need,

Every individual is different with different needs and often times we read them wrong.
 
Your confusing reading into your vibe seems like your angry or have on issue because people purchase many library's and in your mind they should just stick with a few or one,

What makes me think this is your post over on the thread VSL Still Rocks i want place the link but i think you know what i am talking about.

Perhaps you should have been honest with your self and titled the thread

Why do people/composers purchase tons of library's , then say it really annoys me.

But i am sure some one would have posted mind your own business there are many factors why people purchase many library's and you don,t really need to know, just be satisfied with what you have, or need,

Every individual is different with different needs and often times we read them wrong.
Uh, you assume a lot. I think people should buy however many libraries they want and/or can afford. But I also think composers can do most of what they need to do with a couple good libraries if they take the time to learn to mix. How, exactly, does that make me angry?

No, I suspect the anger is coming from you. But I could be wrong. Relax, man. All is good. Buy as many libraries as you like. I don't really care.
 
I know, Rob. You’re talking to the greatest non-believer (regarding samples being able to replace more than 5% of the real thing) that ever walked through V.I.’s door. And no one dislikes classical mock-ups more than I do. That's definitely not what I'm after.

The first reason I brought it up, is because some of my music — the pieces that rely on a strings-like presence — would be extremely well served if that presence were somehow capable, much more than it is capable today, of suggesting some of the same gestures, phrasings, pronunciations, performances, dynamics, articulations, textures, etc … as those I’ve collected in that collage.

The second reason is that the library which you declare your final purchase, as far as string libraries are concerned, and which I own too, has, again, not brought me one step closer to seeing/hearing that desire expressed in the previous point fulfilled. So, unlike you, I’m not done buying strings libraries. I wish I were, but I’m not.

I can understand the Studio Strings qualifying as the end of the purchasing line for some people. If your music falls entirely within what that library is capable of and good at, then: sure. Mine however, falls almost completely outside it, despite the fact that, on paper, good studio strings is exactly what it needs.

So, secretly I also hope that some developers have listened to that montage as well, and are saying to themselves: “Copulate yeah, there’s still a whooole lot of uncovered territory in the field of sampled strings. Let’s get to work, people.”

_
I'm surprised you give 5%. I sure don't.
 
I attended a performance of Shostakovich’s 10th symphony by the TSO Youth Orchestra and even at their level, they sounded better than all the sample libraries I own (well, the horns were a bit rough and the principal was having an off day). I think sample modelling is the right direction towards more expressive simulations of real instruments. Samples are snapshots only and despite all of the programming and finessing they will always remain a copy of the original.
 
For me, it's not about recreating an authentic, verbatim orchestra. It's about producing an amazing sounding piece of music from the comfort of my own studio (even if the orchestrations aren't formally perfect, which mine definitely aren't). My satisfaction comes from knowing that the average listener doesn't even know it's a synthetic production. It's a great feeling when a director asks me if it's real or not. In my current arsenal, SF Studio Strings will make things even more convincing.
 
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