@kanon said:

I currently have Woodwinds I - am I right in thinking that the only way to have a second clarinet is to do the usual transposition by a tone or semitone? Or am I out of date - I have not updated recently because of the very slow download speeds I achieve.

Feedback appreciated.

Kanon

The idea here is to prevent phasing NOT to have a second Clarinet playing.  As Casiquire pointed out, you can create the illusion of a second clarinet by EQ and panning but be careful with the EQ as too much will sound obvious and contrived

Thanks to all for helpful comments.

Kanon

Well, this is my cue. Any excuse I get, I post in... please give us a second clarinet! We've got two flutes, two bassoons, and a few types of oboes, so 2nd clarinet really is an obvious hole in the woodwind collection that I'd love to see filled.

I think I agree with Didger in this one. There are two flutes, two bassoons, one of each with oboes, one of each with english horns... but only one clarinet in Bb. I think it would be wise to give a 2nd clarinet in Bb or in A a chance! [;)]

Ricardo

I agree too!  Perhaps it would be a good idea to sample a clarinet in A.  That would be beneficial for the purists who want an authentic clarinet in A as well as people who just want a second clarinet since the tone of the two is similar enough.

Though maybe they won't do this because there's some kind of Dimension Woodwinds coming up...?

 [H] [Y] I have hope for it!

I don´t see any use for dimension woodwinds, but there is a sore need for a 2nd clarinet. And, while I´m at it, can´t VSL sample that wonderful C trumpet with a normal straight mute, instead of that do it yourself allpurpose bastard  they are so proud of?

Gaute Storaas

www.gautestoraas.no

There is a clarinet in Eb (Single Instrument, 100€ the full Library)...

...Yes, yes I know, Eb isn't Bb, but the sound of the Eb Clarinet is really another one than those from the Bb...

So if you are looking just for another sound this could be an option.

Take into account that the tone range is not the same...

Best

Beat

@Beat Kaufmann said:

There is a clarinet in Eb (Single Instrument, 100€ the full Library)...

...Yes, yes I know, Eb isn't Bb, but the sound of the Eb Clarinet is really another one than those from the Bb...

So if you are looking just for another sound this could be an option.

Take into account that the tone range is not the same...

Best

Beat

 Indeed, it is a viable option but I think some people rather prefer and want to play two clarinets instead of one being Eb and another in Bb (doubling). The time to sample another clarinet in Bb, will take an immense ammount of time since it has a huge ammount of samples (e.g: legatos). I agree with Beat that the Eb Clarinet is a very and really good option if you want another clarinet, but in the low registers of a clarinet in Bb, one of the clarinets needs to be transposed, EQ and panning so you can give that impression of a 2nd clarinet. Don't forget it sounds the same instrument but recorded twice! I know some people doesn't like this but I am not sure if VSL team is really towards to record another clarinet in Bb or a Clarinet in A. I don't know anything, something might happen... [^o)]

Hope for it to happen!

Best,

Ricardo

The Eb clarinet is a different beast. Personally I do not care too much for it´s sound, although i has it´s uses. I have never asked for it when I have written for orchestra. But a 2nd clarinet, in A or Bb, that sits nicely with the one we already have, would make the library even better. For unison lines, (again, for me that is not overly important,) but harmonies and independent solo lines would sound more realistic with two different instruments. And VSL is all about realism. They say so, anyway.

A somewhat smaller sample collection, like bassoon 2, would be sufficient.

Gaute

I agree with Gaute.

Something along the lines of Bassoon II would be really useful.

Kanon

@gstoraa_2685 said:

 And VSL is all about realism. They say so, anyway.

When did VSL ever say they were all about realism?

They create the purist, cleanest and most detailed sounding samples on the market but not necessarily the most realistic.  it's the user who creates the realism or, more precisely, the illusion of realism through the miracle of digital trickery[co]

But now we are veering off into another thread...

These are some really good posts here - I agree that another clarinet would be very valuable.  That idea about an A clarinet for "purists" as well as substituting for B flat clarinet is excellent.  The Eflat clarinet though a wonderful example of the samples is NOT a substitute - first of all (as mentioned already) it does not sound like a Bflat at all - much lighter and less rich timbre - and secondly the range does not go down as far.  Also, VSL already stated they are not going to create Dimension woodwinds because that recording technique  is not needed with woodwinds.  Though if they were sampling a symphonic band it actually would be needed because the resonance vs. divisi of the clarinet section and reeds in general in a large concert band is very similar to strings in an orchestra.

One thing that can be done right now in a larger orchestra is to use the clarinet ensemble on the second part.  I know that may sound crazy but it works very well in giving a richness to the overall woodwind section.  Also it is true that the transposition method works very well. In fact, if you pitch bend down a full step and transpose up the same (rather than a half step) it creates a slightly darker tone which is very beautiful and distinct from the untransposed clarinet.   With different humanize settings and a slight change in pan and EQ it is the sonic equivalent of two clarinets.  This has something to do with the fact that in normal classical orchestral playing vibrato is not used very much in the clarinets.  Vibrato is very personal and expressive, and so in oboe, flute and bassoon the sound needs to be more differentiated between first and second players and therefore the second instruments are much more necessary.   

I too would be happy to have a second clarinet. It would be good to hear VSL's sampling chops applied to a second instrument, whether in A or Bb!

[Y][H]