Where is this demo? I can't find it on the Spitfire site or on their YouTube channel.
Yes, I agree. And what does Horn solo 2 sound like, since these horns were optimized for different approaches to performance? And what does it sound like with the mod-wheel turned down a bit more? I'm not even sure I'm bugged by the sound here—for this passage, obviously I wouldn't like my horn playing like this, but in another context?
It's a live play through. I didn't move the dynamics in order to not introduce even more variables. The point was to make clear the sound, the lack of articulation, and the lack of legato, not to make an awesome FirebirdI don't have anything to prove, just trying to give people more info to make their own decisions. ...
These things matter to me, they may not to you, many aspects remain subjective etc. That's what the YMMV is about.
Actually, I think this editorial gives weight to the demos. Thanks!No offense taken, Alex. Certainly, a little demo like mine is but an anecdote. So, correct, you can't extrapolate from it. On the other hand, it is a bit of evidence, which can be looked at in and of itself only, but then, I think, objectively.
So pull up the wav file I posted in a good listening environment. Here's what I hear:
===
Level:
Remember, by design, all these recordings were made in dynamic xfade mode with the dynamics CC fixed. Yes, yes, that's not what you'd do to get the most natural performance. But when you eventually ride the dynamic CC you are emulating adjustments and arcs that players make with extreme consistency. So how will that work if, as in the case of SStB in this demo, the levels are all over the place when the dynamics aren't even moving? How will you be expressive and/or mix with that?
VSL OTOH is incredibly tight, Berlin a bit less so.
Legato:
VSL clearly has recorded legato transitions, with a ton of character, for all the transitions in this 5-note bit.
Berlin also, mostly, but somewhat smoothed out by the recording distance.
SStB demonstrates no legato transitions at all.
Sound:
In spite of being very different recording techniques, VSL and Berlin basically sound like the same instrument. They demonstrate roughly the same spectrum of important frequencies and character. They have note onset articulation. SStB sounds unlike them and unlike a horn. Its onsets all ramp. There is no sense of lips on mouthpiece, breath etc. There is no voice. Harmonium wasn't just a dig, it's the impression given by this ramping and lack of splat if you will.
Consistency/QC
VSL is clearly the most consistent. SStB, in just this 5 note sample, has a note with a bad loop (the same note that spikes most in level). Can you hear it?
===
Does a tiny demo inherently represent a whole library? No, it's just my assertion that the demo is indicative of what I found throughout. Need you trust me? Of course not. Drop $299 and find out for yourself
Next time out though, I'll let the demo speak for itself and leave out the editorializing. Sorry about that. It's not my intention to get people upset.
No offense taken, Alex. Certainly, a little demo like mine is but an anecdote. So, correct, you can't extrapolate from it. On the other hand, it is a bit of evidence, which can be looked at in and of itself only, but then, I think, objectively.
So pull up the wav file I posted in a good listening environment. Here's what I hear:
===
Level:
Remember, by design, all these recordings were made in dynamic xfade mode with the dynamics CC fixed. Yes, yes, that's not what you'd do to get the most natural performance. But when you eventually ride the dynamic CC you are emulating adjustments and arcs that players make with extreme consistency. So how will that work if, as in the case of SStB in this demo, the levels are all over the place when the dynamics aren't even moving? How will you be expressive and/or mix with that?
VSL OTOH is incredibly tight, Berlin a bit less so.
Legato:
VSL clearly has recorded legato transitions, with a ton of character, for all the transitions in this 5-note bit.
Berlin also, mostly, but somewhat smoothed out by the recording distance.
SStB demonstrates no legato transitions at all.
Sound:
In spite of being very different recording techniques, VSL and Berlin basically sound like the same instrument. They demonstrate roughly the same spectrum of important frequencies and character. They have note onset articulation. SStB sounds unlike them and unlike a horn. Its onsets all ramp. There is no sense of lips on mouthpiece, breath etc. There is no voice. Harmonium wasn't just a dig, it's the impression given by this ramping and lack of splat if you will.
Consistency/QC
VSL is clearly the most consistent. SStB, in just this 5 note sample, has a note with a bad loop (the same note that spikes most in level). Can you hear it?
===
Does a tiny demo inherently represent a whole library? No, it's just my assertion that the demo is indicative of what I found throughout. Need you trust me? Of course not. Drop $299 and find out for yourself
Next time out though, I'll let the demo speak for itself and leave out the editorializing. Sorry about that. It's not my intention to get people upset.
Sure, this example showed me one setting not to use if I want to use this library to render a convincing solo from Firebird. I agree with you that it would be nice to have more demos, especially from users. But this thread is starting to follow the same useless trajectory as the one on Studio Strings, which made it harder, not easier, to figure out what the library was capable of and where its real limitations lie.
