@Mahlon said:

Excellent to know that folks are liking them. Let me ask this: only having just bought the solo strings, and intending to buy the rest of VSL string library throughout 2007, would you say that I might buy the AP set and Chamber Strings first, and then later add the 'regular' strings 1 and 2? Does the AP set have enough raw horsepower to cover most situations alone (or combined with Chamber Strings)? Or should it really fall under, as you say, a necessary addition?

Thanks very much for your input

Mahlon Bouldin

I would say Str 1&2 and AS would be a good pairing. Chamber and Solo strings is a pairing I find used a little more often. It depends on what you're writing. Eventually, all the strings will be put to very good use, of course.

But Str 1&2 is the "core" section with AS being a great compliment to it.

Those are good questions of Mahlon and one can come up with different answers for them, since the strings are so complex. I agree on that with JWL, and also what I am noticing is a really huge, wide-ranging string sound is being formed by all these "sub-libraries" put together (Solo Strings, Chamber Strings, Orchestral Strings and Appassionata Strings) and they each have their different strengths. It so far seems to me that besides small, soloistic things (such as a string quartet or an actual chamber piece) that layering the Chamber Strings or Solo strings with either Orchestral or Appassionata works best in quieter music. Because you cannot crank Chamber or Solo up in volume as high without being unnatural. So if you are doing loud, heavier things, especially a "Hollywood" style film sound, the Appassionata are essential. Though they have their quieter side as well. The Orchestral Strings form a backbone for all of them, almost like a painting medium to mix the other colors in.

So anyway, a good approach could be to determine the scale of most of the music you are writing and go from there. If you are exploiting absolutely every technique, then you want the Orchestral Strings. If you are using more "normal" string writing that is big scale and but also molto espressivo, then maybe Appassionata combined with Solo would be the best combo of any two libraries put together. Though you will be missing some specialized articulations. Of course, you cannot go wrong getting ANY of them. [[;)]]

"Though they have their quieter side as well."

So true. Coincidentally, this evening, I was continuing to experiment with p to mf violin melodies in and around C4 -- the alto range where notes often fall to the bottom string G. I was EQ'ing the daylights out of VI_14_mV_sus, but it seemed either too grainy or too dull.

One would think that the sound of twenty violins would only make it more unmanageable. But the p to mf Appassionata violins sat just right with two solos for detail. In its own way, as it lilted, the AP's became more transparent. Eight more players, and yet, more transparent.

That said, VI-14's remain the core of the library, as noted above.

Thanks, JWL, William, and Plowman,

Yep, I may be purchasing chamber fisrt (already have solo stings) because the upcoming piece these next few months is... well a chamber piece of just strings woodwinds and harps. Very light. So should fit nicely.

Then I'll probably add App Strings after that -- if those three libraries sound good together with enough aricultations I may be able to ride things for a while -- until I get the funds for the Strings 1 and 2 (that being the most significant amount). Meanwhile, I'll be able to substitute some of the sounds from my Opus 1 strings.

It's hard to figure out what you need and how sounds are going to combine without being able to sit down and orchestrate a mockup or two. I guanantee, I'll know a lot more once I've been able to work with them.

Being a non-refundable purchase requires the asking of lots of questions, though, so thanks for the answers and insight.

Mahlon

Nice piece, Rob. Can't wait to hear more from this library.

@synthetic said:

Nice piece, Rob. Can't wait to hear more from this library.

Yeah, that was nice, wasn't it?

I like the use of wide intervals in those welcome "gentle rubs". A romantic tear jerker? A theme of resolve or victory? No matter-- it's a most effective and promising teaser of something wonderful to come.

Rob very nice indeed. What Fr Horns are those and what sample is giving you that great slide? I have Brass I but haven't used it hardly yet so I'm looking forward to getting that kind of sound (unless those were Epic from Brass II)

I should add that I just purchased the AS collection which sound very nice there as well.

I agree on that, some very interesting music from Rob Elliot. Impressive also how it is not tweaked a lot.

@dpcon said:

...I should add that I just purchased the AS collection which sound very nice there as well.

Bravo, Mister Connor!! [:P]

This calls for another steak!!

Or a couple of martinis. Very dry. Since you can always add reverb.

@dpcon said:

...I should add that I just purchased the AS collection which sound very nice there as well.

Bravo, Mister Connor!! [:P]

This calls for another steak!!

Just one? We split it then? Okay, you've learned some cultural oddities in your travels around the earth (and middle earth) so I'm anxious to learn.

I think we're going to have to buy a freakin' cow though if we celebrate all the cool gear you've purchased as well. [:O]

martinis and steak go quite well together, me-thinks!

Me? New gear? Not really- only a 1.2TB RAID and a pair of Raptors, both running off an eSATA card.

Nearly bought a 2.66 over the weekend, but then someone told me about the new 45nm chips Intel has planning to release later this year. It seems that these chips are indeed ones which have been booting OSX, and Apple is directly invovled. Still waiting for more info and weighing all of it against my inability to wait until Fall, but from the sound of things we are in store for larger core clusters.

It's past time for me to get to work. 2006 was quite a year of wonder and wondering without any major upgrades.

No Duende or Tascam DM-4800? (what did you end up doing mixer-wise?) Also, did all that VI get installed successfully?

Let us compose ourselves and compose.

@synthetic said:

Nice piece, Rob. Can't wait to hear more from this library.

Thanks a bunch. I broke my cardinal rule and laid down the harmony of this quick cue with a cheapy JV string pad 'two hands plopped down on the keyboard" (left it in there since this was a VERY quick attempt to work with AP.)

This project looks like it will go ahead and the Director likes the 'direction' of this cue [:)] - so I'll replace the simple JV pad with more counterpoint string writing.

My copy of AP should be here Thursday - really looking forward to giving it a test spin - especially the Cellos.


---now how about the EPIC trumpets - or whatever they are called


--Anyone got theirs yet (AP that is - don't say you have epic trmpts or I may shed more than a few tears)???? [[;)]]


Rob

@dpcon said:

No Duende or Tascam DM-4800? (what did you end you doing mixer-wise?) Also, did all that VI get installed successfully?

Let us compose ourselves and compose.

Oh, yeah-- forgot about Duende! [:D] No Tascam. tho.

Now, all I need to do is to generate the kind of emotional connections with my cues that our Mr. Elliot does... I'm sure Duende won't do that for me! [:P]

@dpcon said:

No Duende or Tascam DM-4800? (what did you end you doing mixer-wise?) Also, did all that VI get installed successfully?

Let us compose ourselves and compose.

Oh, yeah-- forgot about Duende! [:D] No Tascam. tho.

Now, all I need to do is to generate the kind of emotional connections with my cues that our Mr. Elliot does... I'm sure Duende won't do that for me! [:P]

JWL - thanks for the kind words but it is only because I am emotional unstable [[:|]]

[8-)]


Rob

@synthetic said:

Nice piece, Rob. Can't wait to hear more from this library.

Thanks a bunch. I broke my cardinal rule and laid down the harmony of this quick cue with a cheapy JV string pad 'two hands plopped down on the keyboard" (left it in there since this was a VERY quick attempt to work with AP.)

This project looks like it will go ahead and the Director likes the 'direction' of this cue [[:)]] - so I'll replace the simple JV pad with more counterpoint string writing.

My copy of AP should be here Thursday - really looking forward to giving it a test spin - especially the Cellos.


---now how about the EPIC trumpets - or whatever they are called


--Anyone got theirs yet (AP that is - don't say you have epic trmpts or I may shed more than a few tears)???? [[;)]]


Rob

Hi Rob - be sure to do an exposed snippage, and tell us what you think... I'm waiting for my next paycheck [[:)]]

Rob, what fr. horns are those on your demo? Epic?

@dpcon said:

Rob, what fr. horns are those on your demo? Epic?

Just checked to be sure - yea Epic. [:D] Can't wait until we get its 'first cousin' - Epic Trumpets or whatever VSL is calling it. On something like this type of cue - the epic trpts would be a good counter balance.


Herb/Christian - when are you shipping the Trmpts????? [[;)]]





Rob

[quote=Rob Elliott]AP are the closest thing out there now. I think they sit well in the mix but most importantly to me that in the upper range (normally on string samples - is very weak) seem to have power.

I sketched this out the other day for a cue of a film I was working on. This is straight over LAN - no mixing or mastering. Which is another thing I like about the AP violins - they don't need a lot of 'fixing' EQ.

I can't see passing up on the full set.


http://www.robelliottmusic.com/mp3s/Americana/Hero%20Compassion%20idea.mp3


Rob... just wanted to add my voice to those who always find your thoughts interesting and your music extremely well done!

Gary Eskow