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8Dio Century Strings Update, 1.5 Years Later?

Land of Missing Parts

Grumpy Monkey
8Dio Century Sordino Strings caught my attention, as they are currently on sale for $138.

Originally released two years ago, I'd summarize the VIC reactions like this: "Rich, detailed, rosin-heavy. Love the sound...and WTF were they thinking recording this center-panned?"

After a few months, Colin from 8Dio posts in VIC "We're working on a large 2.0 update for both Brass and Strings" and follows up "It will be a free update. There may be additional content expansions in the future which will not be free..."

Skip forward a few months: "My ONLY work with 8Dio currently is this 2.0 update. I'm not producing any new libraries until this is complete. Please be assured that we will get the updates out as soon as we possibly can."

As best I can tell, that was the last time he or anyone from 8Dio has posted on VIC, about the update or anything else. So I'm checking in, now 1.5 years later after the update was first mentioned. It seems that they were addressing the panning issues (to the extent that it is possible without re-recording), and changing marcato lengths to be responsive to real-time playing.

My biggest question: Will the update be a free update? In other words, has the process of fixing the issues of Century Strings morphed into a repackaging--a la the Adagio Series? I'm just wondering if I buy this for $138 now, in late 2019, if I should expect a paid upgrade is around the corner. I wouldn't necessarily mind paying more if there's expanded content, but I don't want to pay more for them to fix the issues with the original product.
 
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8Dio Century Sordino Strings caught my attention, as they are currently on sale for $138.

Originally released two years ago, I'd summarize the VIC reactions like this: "Rich, detailed, rosin-heavy. Love the sound...and WTF were they thinking recording this center-panned?"

After a few months, Colin from 8Dio posts in VIC "We're working on a large 2.0 update for both Brass and Strings" and follows up "It will be a free update. There may be additional content expansions in the future which will not be free..."

Skip forward a few months: "My ONLY work with 8Dio currently is this 2.0 update. I'm not producing any new libraries until this is complete. Please be assured that we will get the updates out as soon as we possibly can."

As best I can tell, that was the last time he or anyone from 8Dio has posted on VIC, about the update or anything else. So I'm checking in, now 1.5 years later after the update was mentioned. It seems that they were addressing the panning issues (to the extent that it is possible without re-recording), and changing marcato lengths to be responsive to real-time playing.

My biggest question: Will the update be a free update? In other words, has the process of fixing the issues of Century Strings morphed into a repackaging--a la the Adagio Series? I'm just wondering if I buy this for $138 now, in late 2019, if I should expect a paid upgrade is around the corner. I wouldn't necessarily mind paying more if there's expanded content, but I don't want to pay more for them to fix the issues with the original product.

Well said. I really want to make these libraries my workhorse libraries as their sound and consistency are really good (except for the marcatto issues) but the panning and the lack of ensemble patches make it difficult to do so. I asked them a couple of months ago via their website support how close the update was and their response was "really soon". Well, here we are 2 months later, and nothing. I can't fault them for taking their time to do a proper update but some communication would be helpful. Just my 2 cents anyways :)
 
@Colin O'Malley (or anyone from 8Dio) --

It's been about a year-and-a-half since the update was announced. Just some basic questions:

1. Can you ballpark when the Century Sordino Strings update will be released?

2. Could this update be thought of as a free fix (i.e. in-situ panning presets, marcato lengths responsive to playing) or a paid re-packaging (e.g. Adagio Series)?

Thanks. :)
 
I really want to make these libraries my workhorse libraries as their sound and consistency are really good (except for the marcatto issues) but the panning and the lack of ensemble patches make it difficult to do so.
@goalie composer -- Panning and marcato (and ensemble patch) aside, would you recommend the Sordino Strings? I find it interesting that no one discusses these as a stand-alone library. They usually are treated as an add-on to the regular Century Strings Ensemble Library, as in "you can also combine these legatos with the con sordino legato, get the Thomas Newman sound."

Personally, CSS is my workhorse strings library, so I'm not really looking at the regular strings. But when I look at the landscape for (non-simulated) con sordino with actual legato and more than just two or three articulations, there's not a lot of options.
 
@goalie composer -- Panning and marcato (and ensemble patch) aside, would you recommend the Sordino Strings? I find it interesting that no one discusses these as a stand-alone library. They usually are treated as an add-on to the regular Century Strings Ensemble Library, as in "you can also combine these legatos with the con sordino legato, get the Thomas Newman sound."

Personally, CSS is my workhorse strings library, so I'm not really looking at the regular strings. But when I look at the landscape for (non-simulated) con sordino with actual legato and more than just two or three articulations, there's not a lot of options.

To be honest, I wish I could give you a better answer but these have mostly been sitting neglected on my hard drive since I purchased them as they don't have the ensemble patches. I'm usually writing a lot of music fairly quickly so ensemble patches are a 'must' for me. I've had to fall back on the classic Sordino patch from Symphobia (still love that sound) in the interim. As such, I don't feel I'm the best person to answer your question.

Anyone else wish to chime in?
 
Yeah kind of a sad story this supposed update that never came. Pretty much a replay of the Adagio fiasco (which 5 years and 2 major updates later, is now a great library). They did recently release a new installement to the Century Brass series, as we're still waiting for 2.0. of the main library. Oh well, such is 8dio. Too often things aren't quite right when they come out. Better off to buy when the 2.0's come around...
 
There are some major Century updates coming in December...... I've outlined the key features here previously, but the highlights are 2 new "natural seating position" mixes and a variety of programming/workflow improvements making things easier to use.

As I stated before, I have ceased developing any other products until these libraries are updated. It is just myself and a small team working on the original Century Brass and Strings. Updates have taken longer than planned, but I hope the end result softens some of the frustration in the community.

Colin
 
There are some major Century updates coming in December...... I've outlined the key features here previously, but the highlights are 2 new "natural seating position" mixes and a variety of programming/workflow improvements making things easier to use.

As I stated before, I have ceased developing any other products until these libraries are updated. It is just myself and a small team working on the original Century Brass and Strings. Updates have taken longer than planned, but I hope the end result softens some of the frustration in the community.

Colin
I appreciate the response Colin. It is heartening to see some 8Dio presence in VI Control. :)

Will this be a paid upgrade, similar to Adagio?
 
@8Dio Productions , @Colin O'Malley --

Just wanted to follow up here. I've been looking at Century Sordino Strings and have a few suggestions for 8Dio that might make life easier for potential customers.

-Please state upfront the basic info. How many dynamic layers, how many round robins, how many legato speeds/types/dynamics, top key range of violins and cellos.

-Please either do a simple patch walkthrough video and/or give a copy of the library to a reviewer so they can do a simple patch walkthrough. I'd like that for the Century Sordino Strings.

-Please post undressed demos for the Century Sordino Strings. Or any demos of just the sordinos.

-There is reportedly an update around the corner, just after the Black Friday sale. Great! However, if it is a paid update, please just be upfront about that so people buy your product knowing in advance. Personally I wouldn't necessarily mind, depending on the price and on the content of the update. Updates are a good thing, and Kudos to 8Dio for doing them. But I would mind having an extra cost pop up after the sale that could have been made clear in advance.

-The mentions of "forced panning" and "a new way of doing things" ---> =(
I'd strongly suggest recasting all of that in...plainer, more honest terms.

All of these could be summed up simply as: Be more upfront.
 
@8Dio Productions , @Colin O'Malley --

Just wanted to follow up here. I've been looking at Century Sordino Strings and have a few suggestions for 8Dio that might make life easier for potential customers.

-Please state upfront the basic info. How many dynamic layers, how many round robins, how many legato speeds/types/dynamics, top key range of violins and cellos.

-Please either do a simple patch walkthrough video and/or give a copy of the library to a reviewer so they can do a simple patch walkthrough. I'd like that for the Century Sordino Strings.

-Please post undressed demos for the Century Sordino Strings. Or any demos of just the sordinos.

-There is reportedly an update around the corner, just after the Black Friday sale. Great! However, if it is a paid update, please just be upfront about that so people buy your product knowing in advance. Personally I wouldn't necessarily mind, depending on the price and on the content of the update. Updates are a good thing, and Kudos to 8Dio for doing them. But I would mind having an extra cost pop up after the sale that could have been made clear in advance.

-The mentions of "forced panning" and "a new way of doing things" ---> =(
I'd strongly suggest recasting all of that in...plainer, more honest terms.

All of these could be summed up simply as: Be more upfront.
Well said
 
You might have already seen this, but they have mentioned it very recently as being completed and just waiting for a definite release date.

I really like Century Strings, they could very easily be a workhorse string library. For a long while they were my main, go-to string library, and I still use the arc articulations in almost every single track I do (same with their Century Brass arcs).

The Sordinos sound great and are probably one of the most intensively sampled collections of sordino strings on the market. In regards to the ensemble patches, the Century Brass 2.0 update introduced ensemble patches, so it’s definitely a possibility to have those in the new updates, we shall see!
The original libraries weren’t perfect, however. Most mentioned were they did take super long to load the first time, but after a batch re-save it was very quick, I never quite understood the constant complaints about this, as once you batch re-save they don’t take any longer to load than any other library I own.
I think some people loved the sound but some people wanted something more cinematic/orchestral as far as section size, they are much closer to cinematic chamber strings in size and sound than a traditional orchestral ensemble, which I really love. I’ve never heard more detailed strings, where you hear everything from the bow to the rosin to the resonating wood of the instrument, it’s actually very raw and can be perceived as rough around the edges because of this, and it’s very, very different in sound compared to CSS or Spitfire Symphonic Strings. I love them because of this detail, but I also wouldn’t go without another library today especially for the shorts, they can be a bit harsh, abrasive, or “squeaky” to some listeners who are used to a polished, super lush sound. A mix between pure classical chamber strings and a studio string sound. The legato overall is amazing too, with the exception of occasional volume jumps between certain notes. Hope this is addressed in the updates.
In regards to updates, I wasn’t really a fan of the last update for Century Brass. Just saying this because I still use the original Century Brass and prefer using the original decca mics (panned) rather than relying on the new “pre panned” mixes, and the new features like the poly arcs were not what I expected, I hear definite artifacts from time stretching with those and I don’t use them because of this. The poly arcs in the 8dio intimate strings, however, don’t have this, so hopefully they will have ironed it out for the century strings (weird that it’s not present in intimate studio strings, which released BEFORE the century brass updates...)

long post, but that’s my opinion on the century strings, including sordino, and overall what to expect from a 2.0 update (IMO, if it is a paid update, it might not even be worth upgrading, because I prefer the original mixes and the new features didn’t quite satisfy me...YMMV)
 

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