"Ombra mai fù" with VSL

[Beat Kaufmann]

Hi to all
A friend of mine wanted to have this beautiful and famous aria played by VSL.
It was a very difficult job to play such a well known piece because people will make a very critical study of it...

First I arranged the Ombra for a string quartet. But it didn't sound as good as I expected. So I added the chamberstrings for every instrument section and the double bass. But still I felt that the melody sounds thin and weak. I even decided to add the pro edtion's violin-ensemble. The melody is now played so to say with "Epic Strings".

Click Ombra mai fù to listen to this aria, arranged for String Orchestra.
If you want to have some technical information about the tracks, the used effects like reverb etc. click here.

Have fun
Best
Beat Kaufmann

[William]

This is excellent - some of the best use of strings I've heard with the VSL. The portamenti are not characteristic of the time, however I assume you are reproducing the vocal line. The sound is rich and clear. The trills are perfectly handled with the releases, and the dynamic shading beautifully done.

[dpcon]

Very very good as usual Beat. Your tutorials are foundational in attaining realism with VSL.

Thanks!

Dave Connor

[Beat Kaufmann]

@Another User said:

Very very good as usual Beat. Your tutorials are foundational in attaining realism with VSL.
Thanks!

Hi Dave
Thank you very much for your praising words! They are - amongst other things - the "power supply" for doing those tutorials.

[Xen]

Hi Beat! Your track sounds absolutely wonderfull. Some parts got that real "emotional" touch that is so hard to reach with virtual orchestration. Brilliant job! One question concerning your routing: Did you use only one reverb-setting and delay the group-tracks seperately to arrive one after another in the main insert reverb?
Keep up your nice work and thanks for your great website!

Regards,
xen

[gugliel]

Very beautiful. Hesitate to approve the portamenti in that range for the strings, just doesn't sound idiomatic -- but sounds lovely anyway. As an arrangement, perhaps you'd consider the brief heaviness of a double or triple stop to replace some of them?

[jamriding]

Well, I thought it was wonderful. I couldn't get enough of the portamenti: it almost reminded me of an old 78 record I used to have of the aria sung by Caruso which made Handel sound more like Leoncavallo...

Well done Beat.

[Beel]

Brilliant ! Another great example of your stunning skills. I´ve to second what Xen said about the emotional part. Very well done indeed !

Best
Holger

[Rob Elliott]

Wow - expertly done [:D]

Rob

[pitchoune]

As usual Beat...you are a master for us!!!

Very good job!!!

[xenor]

It sounds great but what is "4front_Auxiter"?

[Beat Kaufmann]

@Another User said:

...what is "4front_Auxiter"?

Hi Xenor
Here you will find a part of the answer http://www.yohng.com/mb.html#auxiter
The bow noise frequencies are somewhere in the upper frequency range. So if you insert this Auxiter you get more "ssrrrr". Sometimes this is a nice effect with smaller string ensembles.
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Have a nice weekend all together
Beat
[/quote]

[Xen]

Thanks for the cool new jpg, beat! Things are getting clearer now! On the other hand i'm still wondering how you achieve the different depth-settings of the "Ambiance Wide 1.3s /Samplitude" while using the same IR for the 6m- and the 10m-Group. Am i missing something here?
Thanks again,
regards

xen

[Beat Kaufmann]

@Xen said:

Thanks for the cool new jpg, beat! Things are getting clearer now! On the other hand i'm still wondering how you achieve the different depth-settings of the "Ambiance Wide 1.3s /Samplitude" while using the same IR for the 6m- and the 10m-Group. Am i missing something here?
Thanks again,
regards
xen

Hi Xen
Sorry that I didn't got the whole sense of your question last time [:O]ops:
With convolution effect PlugIns like SIR or others you have the possibilitiy to change some parameters. You use one IR-Wave type. By changing the parameters (some) you can get different depths.
Listen to this example: Play
- The String ensemble plays in a middle distance
- The Woodwinds are far away
- The Soloviolin plays just in front of you

How does it work? Breaking off: Tutorial "VSL AUDIO" at SIR, Convolution, Ambiances
Here you will find the rest of your missed answer!

Best
Beat

[Xen]

Thanks for quick answer, beat! I think, i could have been a little bit more precise in my first post. Sorry for that. Anyway, your examples and links are great and really leave no questions...
Have a nice weekend!

xen

[rawmusic]

Very skillful string writing. I also smiled at the portamento and also heavy vibrato. Doesn't take away from your mastery of VSL string stuff though, not to mention the post-synthesising ambience you have created. That in itself is an art.