I’m not sure if my ears are untrained, or if it’s something else….I have quite a few libraries including some pretty decent libraries…..Every time I see string libraries mentioned, I see basically the same comparisons…It’s generally Pacific/Vista, CSS, Spitfire, etc…..I have Audio Imperia Areia, and also Solo…..I LOVE the GUI and the tone and articulations are great…..Rarely do I see AI mentioned along with the other top tier string libraries….Are my ears not well trained, or ?????????…..My other libraries do include BBCSO, CS2.0, various Spitfire products,so it’s not like I don’t have anything decent….Let me know your thoughts….Thanks
Audio Imperia ?
- Thread starter synthnut1
- Start date
Trash Panda
Clueless nitwit
Areia had issues upon release with the recorded legato transitions being bumpy, and AI was never quite able to get them to a good place until recently after they recorded three brand new legato transitions for the library. Now they sound awesome.
Edit: As far as Dolce goes, it has the same issues where the legato is not as smooth as its Pacific counterpart, which got it dismissed. More validly, there are no keyswitch patches and there's a performance issue that causes crackling during playback or real-time performing. I think this one needed more time in the oven before it was released, which is a shame, because AI is usually rock solid in QC.
For some reason, VI-C as a community is overly obsessed with legato and will summarily dismiss any library that isn't as good or better than CSS in that category.
Edit: As far as Dolce goes, it has the same issues where the legato is not as smooth as its Pacific counterpart, which got it dismissed. More validly, there are no keyswitch patches and there's a performance issue that causes crackling during playback or real-time performing. I think this one needed more time in the oven before it was released, which is a shame, because AI is usually rock solid in QC.
For some reason, VI-C as a community is overly obsessed with legato and will summarily dismiss any library that isn't as good or better than CSS in that category.
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Taron
Senior Member
I've had some proper pleasure exploring some of Audio Imperia's stuff, but they somehow are kind of "too neat" in a synthetic (processed) way, which is excellent for many things, but it may make it a bit more challenging to "instantly" get a more natural/traditional film score sounding result, let alone symphonic orchestra vibes.
Again, I absolutely enjoy their work and still enjoy it when I get a chance to work with Nucleus.
Another possibility may be that AI is not doing as much of an aggressive marketing?
I mean, SA, OT, VSL and all those most talked about here are also quite present with their announcements, aren't they? I don't remember the last time I saw an AI ad of sorts here? Could be wrong, though.
Again, I absolutely enjoy their work and still enjoy it when I get a chance to work with Nucleus.
Another possibility may be that AI is not doing as much of an aggressive marketing?
I mean, SA, OT, VSL and all those most talked about here are also quite present with their announcements, aren't they? I don't remember the last time I saw an AI ad of sorts here? Could be wrong, though.
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babak
Trying, like really hard.
Solo is beautiful. Nucleus gets high praise as well so AI does get respect. Not sure what happened with their romantic strings - nothing bad, I just didn’t hear much after release.
The legato police are everywhere - especially at this time of year. So don’t make any sudden movements.
The legato police are everywhere - especially at this time of year. So don’t make any sudden movements.
Hunter123
Active Member
I have a few AI libraries (Jaeger, Constrictor, Chorus and Solo) and they are really great overall. I'd say the sound is good but I do find I have limited control over some of them. I love Solo and use it all the time but the legato's just "go" and do there thing although usually you can choose between 2 legato types (such as tongued and finger legato for winds, which is controllable by Velocity). I believe they are just 1 recorded dynamic layer, so no crossfading. I mostly only use Solo for the legatos and don't use the other articulation very much.
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The market is saturated, and its really difficult to stand out. If I may - the company naming could be more classy. I liked what I heard from Dolce - one of their recent projects, but my personal problem at this point in time is - you would be hard pressed to spend 300-400$ each time you like a certain feature in a lib. I can feed pigeons with all the sustains, shorts, pizz(as), tremolos and trills I've gathered over the years.
I hate cutting the spending on VI, but have to, in order to keep mental health (as in being able to name products I bought, and learn them well)
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Thanks for your input guys…..Legato seems to be the operative word here !….There are programs that do only Legato, but do it really well, and the companies that offer these programs are praised for it…I can see too how the lack of key switching can hurt a performance….All good points…I can see that some of these limitations will come to haunt me as I get deeper involved in orchestration…Thanks again for your input
BTW….My go to that I use quite a bit is the older CS2.0
BTW….My go to that I use quite a bit is the older CS2.0
So you enjoyed the workflow and the sound of the product… But, because you don’t see everyone else talking about it, you are second-guessing your choice? Consider taking a break from here for a while. Also, if you use the search function, you will find that quite a few people enjoy the same libraries that you do.
I remember recently a couple of well regarded members. Here were going on about not seeing the big deal and the fuss over Adachi. I was surprised, but not bothered at all. Remember thinking… “Sucks to be you lol”.
remember, this is the season of seasonal depression. Talk to someone if you need to. Get that confidence back up my friend.
Not depressed….I like what I like, and it matters not what people think…I just wonder the reasons people don’t like certain products….I got a few different answers, and they were all valid…I realize to that there is a lot of follow the leader that happens on the forum… If so and so uses a certain product, that is a HUGE endorsement !…Thanks so much for your concern….It’s very much appreciated…Thanks again
dunamisstudio
Senior Member
Audio Imperia is a small developer so sometimes gets overshadowed by the larger ones. If I started over again, Nucleus would of been one of my first libraries to get. SOLO is really good, always recommend that. Chorus one of my favorite choirs next to Strezov ones. Then Jaeger with the Merethe Soltvedt vocals. Areia had a rocky start as mentioned earlier but it's great now from what I've heard.
alligatorlizard
Active Member
I was after a new string library recently, and the after a LOT of research and listening to demo's and walkthroughs, I narrowed it down to Areia or Pacific. There's tons of great stuff out there, but these two just grabbed me the most sonically. And in the end I chose Areia because the clarity/definition between sections, especially how well the cellos cut through in all the demos, was something I'd struggled to achieve in other libraries. And to my ears it just had the perfect blend of classic Hollywood and modern edge. May still get Pacific too if I need a larger/"grander" sound at some point, but for now am very happy with Areia.
In summary - there are lots of good options out there - as long as it's not something that's got serious technical problems (in which case, you'll almost certainly find them noted on here!), then the one with a sound that most inspires you is the right choice.
In summary - there are lots of good options out there - as long as it's not something that's got serious technical problems (in which case, you'll almost certainly find them noted on here!), then the one with a sound that most inspires you is the right choice.
Pop Corn
Active Member
Audio Imperia make good libraries. You should see the Oboe blind test floating around somewhere on this forum. Much to people's surprise, Audio Imperia's Oboe from SOLO beat out every other Oboe and there was quite a few to choose from. They have the potential for sure, and even worked with Jasper from Performance Samples (AFAIK).
In terms of their software. For me, I don't know what it is, but whenever I try to make something with Nucleus or whatever, it always sounds super sterile. It sounds good but not musical, if that makes sense.
I actually like AI though. I like their clean GUI's. They can be nice to layer for some extra punch or sparkle. Sometimes, they have "the sound" (especially for more modern hybrid stuff) where a clinical, compressed sounding and hyped high end works. Actually, I really really like their woodwind tone from Nucleus on the shorts. And their brass always sounds great, in a modern way. The only library I regret purchasing was Photosynthesis. Gosh that one just isn't what I thought it would be.
In terms of their software. For me, I don't know what it is, but whenever I try to make something with Nucleus or whatever, it always sounds super sterile. It sounds good but not musical, if that makes sense.
I actually like AI though. I like their clean GUI's. They can be nice to layer for some extra punch or sparkle. Sometimes, they have "the sound" (especially for more modern hybrid stuff) where a clinical, compressed sounding and hyped high end works. Actually, I really really like their woodwind tone from Nucleus on the shorts. And their brass always sounds great, in a modern way. The only library I regret purchasing was Photosynthesis. Gosh that one just isn't what I thought it would be.
Nashi_VI
Active Member
Being in this forum i found that we all have different tastes in libraries....and i would say that is better, so we all don't sound the same, i think that is a plus for your music to stand out from the rest more than anything.
For example.....for that reason (and because i like being a contrarian) i don't think i will ever buy CSS...not because i don't think it is good, i have ears......... i even have, and regularly use CS2 and CSSS...but not CSS
For example.....for that reason (and because i like being a contrarian) i don't think i will ever buy CSS...not because i don't think it is good, i have ears......... i even have, and regularly use CS2 and CSSS...but not CSS
antoniopandrade
Senior Member
Dolce is gorgeous sounding, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone in its current state. Way too many bugs and inconsistencies that have nothing to do with the legatos, which I find very usable btw. They're certainly no Vista or CSS but usable they still are. I bought Dolce and expected that they'd at least attempt to fix certain things right away. Things that are clearly broken and nigh unusable, but here we are many months later and nothing has been done or stated. I'm not buying anything from AI until they address these issues.
NoVc375
NermerV
I remember Areia having the bumpy legato for a long time, and it was just this year that the update came out. If anything, I'm sure Audio Imperia will eventually have the update ready for Dolce, but when is that? No one knows. Jan, who works at Audio Imperia, has stated that he can't exactly promise when said update will come out until they know for sure it's certain to come.
He talks about it here if you want:
Audio Imperia Dolce: Romantic Chamber Strings (Sample Talk Edition)
After my review, Jan implored me to flesh out my short cue into an official demo! Here's the final result: Libs used: Dolce (surprise) Cinebrass Core (horns) Cinematic Studio Woodwinds (bassoon and flute) Cineperc Cineharps Orchestral Chords
vi-control.net
antoniopandrade
Senior Member
that gives me some hope. It still feels kind of sad and a bit misguided to me to release a library with that kind of potential w/ so many issues. It really does sound so beautiful, and it sucks that I want to reach out for it but find myself unable to work around the bugs.I remember Areia having the bumpy legato for a long time, and it was just this year that the update came out. If anything, I'm sure Audio Imperia will eventually have the update ready for Dolce, but when is that? No one knows. Jan, who works at Audio Imperia, has stated that he can't exactly promise when said update will come out until they know for sure it's certain to come.
He talks about it here if you want:
Audio Imperia Dolce: Romantic Chamber Strings (Sample Talk Edition)
After my review, Jan implored me to flesh out my short cue into an official demo! Here's the final result: Libs used: Dolce (surprise) Cinebrass Core (horns) Cinematic Studio Woodwinds (bassoon and flute) Cineperc Cineharps Orchestral Chords
Lord Daknight
AARON VENTVRE KVLT ELDER
I've been smuggling EWQLSO past them for years now
VSriHarsha
Senior Member
Yea, the update. May be that’s why I wasn’t quite satisfied with the way the library sounds. It felt something lacking. May be it needs more expression but otherwise, it’s good for now & let’s see if the update gonna make the library even more better.
ALittleNightMusic
Professional Amateur
It's a taste thing. I bought into the hype around Nucleus, but I have deleted it off my hard drive. AI's libraries have a very particular aesthetic - you can generally hear it in their demos, the composers they tend to work with, and those on YouTube that tend to like their libraries. All well and good if you like that sound, but to me it sounds a little too over-hyped and artificial, including their "classic" mixes.
