I second the motion! ThomasJ has achieved a lovely quality. I especially liked the second violins-- lots of warmth and expression-- all the more impressive because of the repeated nature of the phrase.

Best,
Jay

Extremely impressive. I would love to be able to achieve a sound like that with sampled strings.

Cellos aren't chopped liver either.

Great stuff.

I want one. [;)]

TH

How do you know this was done with Samples? I listened to it a few times and I actually heard some ambient sound from people playing the part (Like a chair squeak, and a little cough). Unless the composer actually added these artifacts, I think it was a live performance.

-Ben

ThomasJ is very fond of adding noises to his tracks sometimes including breathing from the "musicians." Definately adds to the illusion.

Best,
Jay

Very impressive indeed. There's more info in this thread at Northern Sounds Forum, but by all means please continue the discussion here. I'm very interested to hear what both VSL representatives and VSL users think about this. I get the feeling that VSL might better try to work together with these guys or else they could become serious competitors in the future... [[;)]]

It's also interesting to see somebody use the Kontakt2 scripting possibilities to this extent. I believe VSL could have done a lot more smart things with KSP in their K2 libraries, but that they intentially refrained from doing so because they wanted all sampler platforms to be more or less equal, and because they were planning on moving to the new and richer VI platform.

Nils

@nliberg said:

Very impressive indeed. There's more info in this thread I'm very interested to hear what both VSL representatives and VSL users think about this. I get the feeling that VSL might better try to work together with these guys or else they could become serious competitors in the future... [[[;)]]]


Nils

Exactly my point. This 'sound' IS what we have been all asking for. If these guys made this string library available - it would be a no brainer decision - at least for me - to purchase that library over any library currently available.

VSL - find some way to work with Thomas J who has already 'invented the wheel - so to speak' on getting this sound. Why spend years and lots of $$$$ on trying this or that when it can be achieved now (as proof has shown). This has become the new standard for expressive strings. It now 'dates' all strings libraries currently available.



Rob


(I just wanted the VSL team to clearly understand I believe in your porducts [[[;)]]] - I have proven this with buying just about everything you have developed [just ordered the complete SC]. Get this string sound now with Thomas J- which I think you would have 'eventually' done anyways - would just put you over the top of any other developer out their. Thank you for giving this serious consideration and given us the proper tools to make our livings in such a competitive industry.)

I think most people are missing the forest through the trees. While TJ's sounds are good (I should know as I was on that session team), It is his understanding of the instruments and how to get samples to phrase correctly that is key. Lets say for instance that TJ was given only VSL to use and you only had TJ's sounds, once TJ did his mockup you would be wanting VSL. That's not to say what we recorded isn't good, it is, but most people are looking at the samples as the problem, and there are enough tools here to do better work than you are currently doing. A knowledgeble composer and programmer can make the tools do what they want.

Not convinced?

check TJ's work on VSL,SAM's and EW....DO IT!. If you are positive you are writing this well, then you can take issue with the sounds, if not, do some soul searching and then figure out how to get to the next level. a new library will give instant gratification but after the wow factor wears off, you are still left with what you can do.

@Craig Sharmat said:

I think most people are missing the forest through the trees. While TJ's sounds are good (I should know as I was on that session team), It is his understanding of the instruments and how to get samples to phrase correctly that is key. Lets say for instance that TJ was given only VSL to use and you only had TJ's sounds, once TJ did his mockup you would be wanting VSL. That's not to say what we recorded isn't good, it is, but most people are looking at the samples as the problem, and there are enough tools here to do better work than you are currently doing. A knowledgeble composer and programmer can make the tools do what they want.

Not convinced?

check TJ's work on VSL,SAM's and EW....DO IT!. If you are positive you are writing this well, then you can take issue with the sounds, if not, do some soul searching and then figure out how to get to the next level. a new library will give instant gratification but after the wow factor wears off, you are still left with what you can do.

Frankly, I am not convinced [:D]

I have heard all these demos from TJ - many times - an none of them have this string sound - none of them. TJ - brilliantly writes to the library he is demo'ing. Craig - you know this better than anyone - we wrtie to the libraries (tools) we have. When we are being paid to wirte for a client we don't expose any of libraries weaknesses (we hide the worts, seams with every arranging, mixing tool we can think of, etc.).

What gets me excited about THIS demo is not the writing (although it is what you would expect to be produce by TJ). It is the TONE and expression that is so alive.

I want to be clear - I don't take issue with 'its not the wand but the witch' philosophy. I believe we all continually push for better arranging and orchestration skills. But there is just so much 'life' in these samples as demo'd.


Rob

I don't know who is more correct on this debate. The only way to resolve this would be to hear the same people do this same piece with VSL samples. However I tend to agree with Craig Sharmat in that the useage of samples is often the cause of either a good or bad sound. This demo is very short, and it is easier to do something short that sounds good than an entire symphony.

Nevertheless, on this demo the acoustic dynamic range is perfect, the musical dynamics are extremely well done, the writing is nicely contrapuntal (rather than homophonic - the worst way to write for strings) and the timbres of the original recordings seem to come across better in the mix than any other samples I've heard. And obviously if VSL does more string recordings it will be a great thing.

I know that I do not purposely write to the strengths of the library I am demoing. If a library was that restrictive I would not waste my time. I will cover up problems as I go along if they occur, or edit to make the library do what I want, and I believe Thomas does the same thing. Again, I write for myself, I figure that will also create the best demo. the music is first and 2nd, the library is just the vehicle.

All interesting comments. Someone over on NS asked TJ to post the MIDI file for the piece, wouldn't it be a great idea for someone to take the same composition and play it through i) VSL Pro, ii) VSL VI (when its out [[;)]] ) iii) EWQLSO and maybe even one or more of the other's.

It would be useful to do a "dry" run through and then finetune each piece to meet each libraries strenghts and cover its weaknesses. A lot of the realism seems also to be from the ambient hall the samples were recorded in.

Also, as I believe was mentioned on NS. these samples were recorded for a specific purpose/composition - the sampled stuff will not be generic enough to meet other needs. That I guess is the joy of a private library...

Guess we'll have to see if TJ posts that MIDI....

timkiel,

these samples were not made made for a composition. The midi file would be of some use but it would have to be tweaked for each lib and really the best person to do this would be TJ, and I know he couldn't be bothered. BTW most of the hall you hear was added in later.

I have to agree with Rob.

TJ's work doing demos in the other libraries is great, but doesn't sound like this "private collection."

TH (JMHO)

Personally I'm going with Craig on this one. All else being equal sample-wise in the end the tie breaker is going to be the writing and programming chops.

Guys, i own the same library, and yes it is a different sound, and it is good, but it is the smallest denominator. You can go looking for the holy grail, but the only real place to find it is within.

I'll drink to that.

Take the solo cello example.... thats not just writing chops. Thats an awesome full, warm and expressivesound.

@Rob Elliott said:

You worked with Thomas on Epic Horns and I bet those sales were through the roof!! Develop something like this or even better and it will simply be your biggest selling library to date.

Doesn't Thomas work for EW? If so, that could be a bit of a problem.

Lee Blaske

Hi Rob,

So is are these samples from the East West Sampled Orchestra?

Also, how do the Guitarrian Strings sound in your opinions......

-B