@Dominique said:

Oh, low end it is your looking for. Sorry, somehow I missed that part. In that case the last examples went in a totally wrong direction. But more low end is very much possible. Here's another attempt:

lol, I do like the amount of low in my example, but I'm not after that in this case. I'm after getting all my VSL instruments to sound as good (and relatively with a degree of consistently) when processed through reverb. 

http://goo.gl/1ryfxn

New File - "Dominique's - Somewhere in the Middle"

I felt like yours had a bit too much boomy low so I cut it down a bit. Now I feel like it's closer to mine. However, notice how the low end sounds fine but the verb isn't giving us as much high end. I imagine it's possible that could have to do with the IR you put it in. But mine still sounds more natural to me because I'm hearing the lows and highs represented equally as it sounded from the instrument itself. That sound continued into the hall. The dry examples seem to suggest the dry instruments aren't accurately represented when processed through/against an IR.

I'll try to add a better example later today now that I have an MIR demo to test it. But I think it's pretty apparent in comparing my tweaked version of yours to my Brass #4. Thanks for the examples. It's at least very helpful in comparing. 😊

-Sean

Hi Sean

Hi Dominique

Just for not being dissapointed in the end... even if you both will find a reverb which will sound to your tast(s) it doesn't mean that it will finally make the race with a whole orchestra (strings, percussion etc.)

😎

Beat

PS. Because I'm doing recordings I always have tracks to compare my sample mixes with real tracks... and must say that the effect isn't born yet which can lift up the sample mixes to those of real recordings. But as I mentioned above we can come close by chosing different depths  (which is mainly a matter of ERs by the way😉)

Thank you for the warning, Beat. But no worries, I have my experiences with sampled and real orchestras. There's always a trade off. Adding reverb to dry samples isn't the same as samples recorded with baked in reverb. Which in turn aren't the same as a recording of a real orchestra. Dry samples won't give you the same roomy sound as wet samples. On the other hand, they are more flexible, and the legato is usually more convincing with the dry approach.

That aside it was fun to test how close I could come to a very specific short snippet. And now I'm curious to hear what you can do with MIR, Sean 😊

Beat,

For the record, my first recording session was for a solo cello. My skills are winds and piano so I wasn't playing. It wasn't my first experience with a cello of course, but having heard the track so many times as a mock-up... it basically ruined me for life. Cello samples are terrible. All of them, every library, every company. Most of the time I just can't force myself to mock them up anymore.

Dominque,

I uploaded a track (#6) with multiple examples. Same folder: http://goo.gl/1ryfxn

1. VSL Solo Bone (Dry)
2. VSL Solo Bone (MIR)
3. VSL Bone Ens (MIR)
4. Other Bone Ens (recorded wet)
5. Mix of VSL and other Bones (VSL in MIR)
6. Two lower notes, VSL in MIR then wet Bones

The ensemble sounds great and both ensembles mix pretty well. The single bone though isn't useable IMO. Which is odd cause I usually think the solo instruments sound great. Although lower velocities in the single bone sound fine to me. I tried two different dry Cellos. They were both aweful. However, I'm prejudiced as is clearly stated in my comment to Beat. ;) I have a hard time with any strings in verb in general too. So again, prejudiced.

Sorry for the delay. Still finishing up more important work for a film so I'm only exporting examples when I need a break.

-Sean

These are definitely not the right reverb settings for the solo trombone. There is way too much sizzle in the reverb. I guess it's the high frequency content that is captured because of close micing. Wet samples are naturally recorded with some distance, and some of the high frequency content has been absorbed when the sound travelled through the air to the mic. I don't know how the VSL bones ensemble has been miced, but it may be that it was from a further distance than the solo bone. That would explain why the ensemble sounds fine with the same reverb settings. The lows are different too between VSL and wet, but the sizzle is the disturbing part, so we should try to fix that.

We need to push the solo bone further back. Right now it is a close miced, dry sound with reverb on top. Does MIR have an 'air absorption' filter? If so, make sure that it is switched on. Experiment with lowering that dry signal as well. In this case when applying ERs I would even try to have it set at 100% wet (just the ERs). I don't know if that's possible in MIR. In any case pushing the instrument back and lowering the dry signal should give you better results. If it's still not quite there I'd use an eq. For a starting point, lower everything above 5kHz or so, and maybe boost a little between 200Hz and 500Hz.

@Dominique said:

[...] Does MIR have an 'air absorption' filter? [...]

This would be a typical "algorithmic reverberation" feature. 😊 The air absorption due to the distance between source and listener (i.e. Main Mic) in a MIR Venue is the real one, coming from the halls were the multi impulse response sets have been captured.

I'd say it's more important to have the proper Instrument Profile activated, which includes the frequency-dependent directivity profiles for each Vienna Instrument. The implementation of these measurements also takes into account the recording setup used for the sampling session. (The General Purpose profiles for third-party signals only offer an aproximation.)

In addition, the hand-crafted Instrument Characters might be helpful, too (e.g. the "Distant" or "Warm" settings, in the case you were discussing).

Kind regards,

@Dietz said:

I'd say it's more important to have the proper Instrument Profile activated, which includes the frequency-dependent directivity profiles for each Vienna Instrument. The implementation of these measurements also takes into account the recording setup used for the sampling session. (The General Purpose profiles for third-party signals only offer an aproximation.)

In addition, the hand-crafted Instrument Characters might be helpful, too (e.g. the "Distant" or "Warm" settings, in the case you werde discussing).

Dietz,

Well dang it! I looked over all of MIR's setting on the right panel. I had a hay day tweaking and tweaking. But apparently once I scrolled down I forgot how to scroll up. The instrument profile and the character were literally the ONLY 2 things I didn't touch. Go figure.

I loaded the bone profile and it sounds better, but still not right to me. Ironically enough I was actually happier the generic profile on the bone ensemble, although only slightly.

As for the Room, I did EQ the room, bringing down some highs. But without that the solo bone sounds even more off. Although I only EQ'd the room to get the two examples as close as I could for comparison.

Dominique,

Regarding instrument placement: believe it or not, the solo bone is in the same spot as the ens, offset by what I estimate to be '1 seat' distance to the left. Although I agree it actually does sound closer. I noticed that early on and tried adjusting the dry/wet fader but I was happier with 50/50 in the end. I'm using the Teldex wide and the bones are almost at the back, center, just to the right a few 'seats'.

Same link: http://goo.gl/1ryfxn

I added a #7 and #8, 7 includes just the instrument profile, 8 includes character adjustments as well. I liked the warm and the bite presets, depending on the use. And with other instruments I'm sure I'd like different presets. I'm sure every person would have their own preference.

The good news is, I'm getting closer to results I can use and I'm happy about that. I'm realizing one problem with how the instruments are programmed and how I use VIP. But I think resolving that, a bit more MIR work, owning MIR, and owning the entire VSL product line will eventually make me happy. Unfortunately that all can't happen soon enough. 😉

-Sean

It sounds much better now. It has still too much sizzle for my taste, but that seems to be inherent to the loudest register of the dry samples only. Personally I would try to eq it from the dry sample so that it doesn't hit the reverb rather than from the reverb itself.

Great to hear that you are getting closer to what you want to achieve. For me too this thread has been very informative.

@Dominique said:

It sounds much better now. It has still too much sizzle for my taste, but that seems to be inherent to the loudest register of the dry samples only. Personally I would try to eq it from the dry sample so that it doesn't hit the reverb rather than from the reverb itself.

Great to hear that you are getting closer to what you want to achieve. For me too this thread has been very informative.

Dominique,

I of course agree that EQ'ing the instrument is preferred. I was experimenting. I also did with the instrument after you pointed that out and obviously got better results. However... at the same time I've taken a step backward now.

Sizzleage:

At first I was inclined to agree with you. Too much. However, after listening to the way wet bones sound in the hall, I'm not convinced of that anymore. I listened to other recordings of bones and sampled bones and the thing is, that sizzle is part of the brass instruments. I should have caught on sooner as I'm a brass player. I've just been engulfed in verb madness that I sometimes forget to step back.

Point is, that sizzle is as present in wet recordings, but it blends in with the space perfectly. That only convinces me that there is something still not right with the way the instrument is being treated in MIR. MIR is of course brilliant, but perhaps not perfect in all cases. If I could take a bone to Teldex I might get more clarity. I'll just hop right on that. lol

To dry or not to dry?

But as to the "record dry, place in verb" question, perhaps certain instruments work and some don't. I am going to guess at two possibilities:

• The dry recording in this case isn't capturing something correctly. So while we hear sizzle, something else may be lost?
• Verb, even MIR, doesn't process certain things accurately or at least as convincing as playing in the live space.

Maybe the dry solo bone in the hybrid verb would prove otherwise. But at least for now that's what I'm thinking it relates to.

I keep playing with a mandolin and some perucussion in MIR and it's brilliant.  Why some instruments and not others? That sounds like an inconsistency in recording or in processing verb. If not, then why the inconsistency in the results? That leads me back to an original point I made early on:

Does MIR respond to the volume of a dry sample any differently, as a room would excite more to a Tuba than a flute? A preset for an instrument is one thing. The way the verb reacts to a signal is another.

Any thoughts?

-Sean

P.S. Sorry if I'm frustrating anyone. I'm genuinely interested in this and invested in a result. Otherwise I'd keep these notes to myself. I also don't mean to question the quality of anyone's work either. MIR and everything VSL does is utterly brilliant. But if there is room to improve I hope that is welcome and that I'm not drilling this too hard.

Well, after doing several more tests... I've made some decisions.

1) I think recording something very dry can come at a risk. Depending on the instrument, the mic and recording choices can influence how well it works in verb later. That's a guess. But I'm going with it.

2) MIR rocks. I can't say it enough. The more I played with it, the more I found great results for various instruments. Not all, but more than I expected. I'm very pleased with the results. So much so that money I had budgeted for something else was shifted to MIR. I already have some great plans with it. Bwa ha ha!!!

Thanks for the input everyone! Once I do some stuff with my favorite new toy maybe I'll add a link to a snippet on this thread. ;)

-Sean

@SJSF said:

[...] MIR. I already have some great plans with it. Bwa ha ha!!! [...]

Ha! So do we. ;-D

Enjoy MIR!  🍸