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53 Strings Sample Library Long Patches Compared

Nico Schuele

Nico Schuele

Tolerated Member
Hey all. Everything is in the title. That's right, this behemoth of a video will show you the tone of 53 strings long articulation patches. Because why not, heh? This is something that I initially did for me so that I could test layers quickly but I've made a video out of it as everyone loves strings libraries.




00:06:42 Cinematic Studio Strings
00:07:51 Cinematic Studio Solo Strings
00:09:00 Cinematic Strings 2
00:10:09 Anthology Strings - Ensembles
00:11:18 Anthology Strings - Chamber
00:12:27 Anthology Strings - Solo
00:13:36 Century Ensemble Strings
00:14:45 Century Sordino Strings
00:15:54 Prague Solo Strings 2
00:17:03 Spitfire Solo Strings
00:18:12 Albion Neo
00:19:21 Albion One
00:20:30 Albion II Loegria
00:21:39 Albion III Iceni
00:22:48 Albion IV Tundra - Con Sordino
00:23:57 Albion IV Tundra - Frozen Strings
00:25:06 Spitfire LABS Strings
00:26:15 Originals - Epic Strings
00:27:24 British Drama Toolkit
00:28:33 Bernard Herrmann Composer Toolkit
00:29:42 Spitfire Chamber Strings
00:30:51 Spitfire Symphonic Strings
00:32:00 Spitfire Masse - Cool Strings 1
00:33:09 Spitfire Studio Strings Pro - 16-12-12-12-4
00:34:18 Spitfire Studio Strings Pro - 8-6-6-6-4
00:35:27 Spitfire Studio Strings Pro - 4-3-3-3-4
00:36:36 BBC Symphony Orchestra Core
00:37:45 Afflatus - Lush Strings
00:38:54 Afflatus - Chamber Strings
00:40:03 Afflatus - First Chairs
00:41:12 Afflatus - Scene d'Amour
00:42:21 Tableau Solo Strings
00:43:30 Metropolis Ark I
00:44:39 Metropolis Ark II
00:45:48 Time Macro
00:46:57 Arkhis
00:48:06 Iconica: Sections & Players
00:49:15 Iconica: Ensembles
00:50:24 Nucleus
00:51:33 Jaeger
00:52:42 Areia - Section Patches
00:53:51 Areia - Ensemble Patch
00:55:00 Novo
00:56:09 SonuScore The Orchestra
00:57:18 Da Capo 2
00:58:27 Kontakt Factory Library Legacy
00:59:36 Kirk Hunter Virtuoso Ensembles
01:00:45 Adventure Strings
01:01:54 Trailer Strings
01:03:03 Soaring Strings
01:04:12 Appassionata (Epic Orchestra Version)
01:05:21 Hollywood Strings Gold
01:06:30 Venice Modern Strings

Enjoy one hour of total procrastination!
Click to read more...
 
As i read the list i'm reminded that there are some not here and not just a few, does that mean by next year there will be actually more than 100 ( maybe we're already past 100) kinda crazy now that i think about it
 
Zee said:
As i read the list i'm reminded that there are some not here and not just a few, does that mean by next year there will be actually more than 100 ( maybe we're already past 100) kinda crazy now that i think about it
Click to expand...

I was actually wondering how many strings libs there are on the market today 😬
 
Well here are the ones that i can remember that are missing from your list
Audiobro LASS inc FC and CS
Berlin Strings with 4 expansions
Ark 3 and 4
Time Micro
OT Symphonic sphere
OT string Runs? not sure if that counts as a full library
OT Nocturne solo vln& cello (some people even forgot this one exist)
Spitfire Sacconi
Spitfire HZ
Spitfire BBC
Spitfire LCO
8dio Century solo
8dio Intimate strings
8dio Legato sordino
8dio Legato arpeggio
8dio Majestica
Strezov Conrucupia
Strezov Macabre
Project Sam's Symphobias 1 to 4 (same content as the essientials?)
KH Concert Strings 2 &3
KH Spotlight and 4D
KH Front row strings
Chris Hein Solo and Ensemble
Emotional solo Strings
Audio Modeling solo strings
Sample modeling Solo and ensemble
Aria sound solo and ensemble
EastWest symphonic strings
Cinesamples Core and solo
Fluffy Audio Trio Broz
Light and Sound Chamber strings
NI symphonic strings
NI session strings
Soundiron Hyperion
Versilian Orchestra
Red Room Audio Symphonic Palette
Auddict Audio United Strings of Europe
Auddict Angel strings
Auddict Master solo strings
Embertone Intimate strings
Xsample solo strings
Xsample Contemporary Strings
Performance samples Con Moto
Performance Samples Fluid shorts 1&2
Output Analog Strings
Big fish Audio London solo strings
Best service& Peter Siedlaczek Strings collection

Yes if we spread them out we're above 100 and i'm not even counting the rest of VSL because i don't know that much about it
 
Book marked. Thank you for this! This is helpful for folks like me who are considering different libraries. I think it does a very good job of showing the characteristics of each libraries longs.
 
3 thoughts imho:
- a lot of these sound really bad.
- The Neo string sound is rather nice.
- Epic strings are a bargain for what they are....they tend to do better than I would think in these ensemble comparisons.

Thank you for your work....very helpful.
 
Akarin said:
Hey all. Everything is in the title. That's right, this behemoth of a video will show you the tone of 53 strings long articulation patches. Because why not, heh? This is something that I initially did for me so that I could test layers quickly but I've made a video out of it as everyone loves strings libraries.




00:06:42 Cinematic Studio Strings
00:07:51 Cinematic Studio Solo Strings
00:09:00 Cinematic Strings 2
00:10:09 Anthology Strings - Ensembles
00:11:18 Anthology Strings - Chamber
00:12:27 Anthology Strings - Solo
00:13:36 Century Ensemble Strings
00:14:45 Century Sordino Strings
00:15:54 Prague Solo Strings 2
00:17:03 Spitfire Solo Strings
00:18:12 Albion Neo
00:19:21 Albion One
00:20:30 Albion II Loegria
00:21:39 Albion III Iceni
00:22:48 Albion IV Tundra - Con Sordino
00:23:57 Albion IV Tundra - Frozen Strings
00:25:06 Spitfire LABS Strings
00:26:15 Originals - Epic Strings
00:27:24 British Drama Toolkit
00:28:33 Bernard Herrmann Composer Toolkit
00:29:42 Spitfire Chamber Strings
00:30:51 Spitfire Symphonic Strings
00:32:00 Spitfire Masse - Cool Strings 1
00:33:09 Spitfire Studio Strings Pro - 16-12-12-12-4
00:34:18 Spitfire Studio Strings Pro - 8-6-6-6-4
00:35:27 Spitfire Studio Strings Pro - 4-3-3-3-4
00:36:36 BBC Symphony Orchestra Core
00:37:45 Afflatus - Lush Strings
00:38:54 Afflatus - Chamber Strings
00:40:03 Afflatus - First Chairs
00:41:12 Afflatus - Scene d'Amour
00:42:21 Tableau Solo Strings
00:43:30 Metropolis Ark I
00:44:39 Metropolis Ark II
00:45:48 Time Macro
00:46:57 Arkhis
00:48:06 Iconica: Sections & Players
00:49:15 Iconica: Ensembles
00:50:24 Nucleus
00:51:33 Jaeger
00:52:42 Areia - Section Patches
00:53:51 Areia - Ensemble Patch
00:55:00 Novo
00:56:09 SonuScore The Orchestra
00:57:18 Da Capo 2
00:58:27 Kontakt Factory Library Legacy
00:59:36 Kirk Hunter Virtuoso Ensembles
01:00:45 Adventure Strings
01:01:54 Trailer Strings
01:03:03 Soaring Strings
01:04:12 Appassionata (Epic Orchestra Version)
01:05:21 Hollywood Strings Gold
01:06:30 Venice Modern Strings

Enjoy one hour of total procrastination!
Click to expand...


Really thanks for the comparison. You did a great job. Real time saver for people who wanna buy these libraries. Most of those sounded like they came out of synths. Only few sounded natural. And they sounded really good.

Anthology Ensembles got very good not just legato but portamento. I love that.
Century Sordinos worth mentioning.
Prague Solo Strings I never even heard of those but I didn't like the tone of it.
Spitfire Solos sounded like as if sampled in a cupboard full of acoustics.
Thank god I didn't buy Albion Neo or any of those. Not one sounded good to me. Not even close to what I would expect.
I was thinking of buying Masse just because I liked the title but this clarified a lot. Thanks for that. When you're buying a library, you want everything to be at least better. Good is not enough.
I almost bought Spitfire's Studio Instruments this sale but backed out because of what have heard & this is another version of it. Totally different and yet not good.
When I heard BBC SO Core I thought you would compare the Pro too but I must say that Core sounds much better of those Spitfire libraries.
Afflatus Lush Strings? There's nothing lush to it. The Lush sounded chamber to me and the chamber sounded like octet to me. Funny. First chairs sounded like they came out of those Yamaha PSR Keyboards. Scene D' Amour just ok like very raw kinda sounding of an instrument but not good yet.
Tableau Solo Strings? Are those actually strings ? I doubt it.
The much hyped (at least to me) Metropolis ARK I is just ok not as good as Hollywood-ish but yes it has a little big waveform.
ARK II I didn't like the tone.
TIME Macro is an example of pure synth.
Do you consider ARKHIS actually a countable string library coz it's much of like sound designing (Gothic Instruments Dronar etc...)
Iconica: Sections & Players, Ensembles - Sounded chamber size and like something is pulling them off from expressing their fullness. I guess a workout can make these better.
Nucleus was really a disappointment to me. In fact Jaeger was just a little ok, compared to.
Areia: The 2 patches - Another Synth Station with a hint of naturalness.
Novo: I don't actually consider that a perfect string library
Sonuscore: The Orchestra - I don't understand why is it priced $399.
Da Capo: Is it much of the State of the Art sampling I guess? It was just ok. I mean better than many of those string libraries.
I can't believe you actually compared the Kontakt Factory Library but that's good you did so people would know they're using and how it sounds. I wouldn't say but many would use the word "CRAP". I don't know why but may be.
Kirk Hunter's Virtuoso Ensemble was shockingly better. I mean it's subtle in things. I would recommend that.
Adventure Strings were so good but just not good for these kinda things I guess you know that. That's why the title.
I like the way Trailer Strings started. The wideness it was good. It sounds like strictly for trailers.
Soaring Strings got a really good tone. I love that softness in moving and it is yes, so good for these kinda passages. Legatos were really better.
Appassionata - Not a fan of VSLs. Do you think they're actually strings?
Hollywood Strings Gold - They sounded like "This is the sound of a basic strings library". Not good, not bad but just there.
Venice Modern Strings - Sounded intimate & can get a make over, in terms of realness.

It's good you did Strings outta kontakt too.

The worst of all is the British Drama Toolkit.

The Best of all is Bernard Hermann Toolkit. I mean, I didn't wanna buy that and I still don't wanna but what was that? How big & Wide. Now that's what is like actual orchestra playing. The name justifies.

Oh another big surprise was the Epic Strings. I never thought it would sound really like that. Many of these libraries you compared didn't sound even close to it.

What you did was a right thing. Appreciated for not adding reverb. That's how it should be compared, if at all. Reverb just builds up things and in a way manipulates the listener. Just outta box that's good. Thanks a lot for the comparison. There are many other libraries you have to compare. You said you don't own many of those so how did you bring on? Another thing is if you get a chance, compare Miroslav & other VSTS too.
 
Kevperry777 said:
3 thoughts imho:
- a lot of these sound really bad.
- The Neo string sound is rather nice.
- Epic strings are a bargain for what they are....they tend to do better than I would think in these ensemble comparisons.

Thank you for your work....very helpful.
Click to expand...

The Epic strings are actually quite great. I've scored a whole scene using the Originals only:



...and yes, some are really bad sounding (especially Prague Solo Strings: they are a masterclass in bad programming.)

VSriHarsha said:
You said you don't own many of those so how did you bring on?
Click to expand...

Ha, misunderstanding: I own all those in the video. What I meant is that if there are some NOT on the video (like CineStrings), it's because I don't have them :)
 
You own 53 string libraries. Insane!
edit: ok some are different patches of the same library. Still!

Regarding Spitfire Solo Strings, is it just me or does the sound of the bow changing directions feel unnecessarily pronounced? I can't play violin whatsoever but I've seen plenty of videos of violinists having no trouble minimizing the sound of the transition. Increasing the vibrato slider, lowering the expression, nothing seems to change it. I'm generally inexperienced with midi programming but it just feels odd to me, the sound seems to be programmed in no matter what. Even if I play a bunch of different notes, I might hear the transition right at the beginning of the fourth or fifth note. It's distracting and I don't know why it's so prominent.

Anyway thanks for sharing this, I'll definitely be coming back to this one.
 
Last edited:
Akarin said:
Hey all. Everything is in the title. That's right, this behemoth of a video will show you the tone of 53 strings long articulation patches. Because why not, heh? This is something that I initially did for me so that I could test layers quickly but I've made a video out of it as everyone loves strings libraries.




00:06:42 Cinematic Studio Strings
00:07:51 Cinematic Studio Solo Strings
00:09:00 Cinematic Strings 2
00:10:09 Anthology Strings - Ensembles
00:11:18 Anthology Strings - Chamber
00:12:27 Anthology Strings - Solo
00:13:36 Century Ensemble Strings
00:14:45 Century Sordino Strings
00:15:54 Prague Solo Strings 2
00:17:03 Spitfire Solo Strings
00:18:12 Albion Neo
00:19:21 Albion One
00:20:30 Albion II Loegria
00:21:39 Albion III Iceni
00:22:48 Albion IV Tundra - Con Sordino
00:23:57 Albion IV Tundra - Frozen Strings
00:25:06 Spitfire LABS Strings
00:26:15 Originals - Epic Strings
00:27:24 British Drama Toolkit
00:28:33 Bernard Herrmann Composer Toolkit
00:29:42 Spitfire Chamber Strings
00:30:51 Spitfire Symphonic Strings
00:32:00 Spitfire Masse - Cool Strings 1
00:33:09 Spitfire Studio Strings Pro - 16-12-12-12-4
00:34:18 Spitfire Studio Strings Pro - 8-6-6-6-4
00:35:27 Spitfire Studio Strings Pro - 4-3-3-3-4
00:36:36 BBC Symphony Orchestra Core
00:37:45 Afflatus - Lush Strings
00:38:54 Afflatus - Chamber Strings
00:40:03 Afflatus - First Chairs
00:41:12 Afflatus - Scene d'Amour
00:42:21 Tableau Solo Strings
00:43:30 Metropolis Ark I
00:44:39 Metropolis Ark II
00:45:48 Time Macro
00:46:57 Arkhis
00:48:06 Iconica: Sections & Players
00:49:15 Iconica: Ensembles
00:50:24 Nucleus
00:51:33 Jaeger
00:52:42 Areia - Section Patches
00:53:51 Areia - Ensemble Patch
00:55:00 Novo
00:56:09 SonuScore The Orchestra
00:57:18 Da Capo 2
00:58:27 Kontakt Factory Library Legacy
00:59:36 Kirk Hunter Virtuoso Ensembles
01:00:45 Adventure Strings
01:01:54 Trailer Strings
01:03:03 Soaring Strings
01:04:12 Appassionata (Epic Orchestra Version)
01:05:21 Hollywood Strings Gold
01:06:30 Venice Modern Strings

Enjoy one hour of total procrastination!
Click to expand...



thats epic
 
way to go kontakt legacy string library :)

i think all where great.

still liking CSS the best but hard to not like others.

dide nucleus have a much different sound on classical mix than modern? i see the modern was used.
 
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