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I'm considering purchasing these string samples: "Vienna Instruments Appassionata Strings II - Vienna Symphonic Library".

Is anyone familiar with these samples? It's advertised as sweet "Hollywood" style strings. Sounds like what I'm looking for. I have the EWQL strings that I'm currently using. Not bad at all, but I hear the Vienna Strings are better.

Does anyone know other string samples with that "Hollywood" sweet sound?

I noticed the Ilok key doesn't work with the Vienna samples. They have their own key. There goes another USB port. I wish all these sample companies would get together on their security keys.

Best, John

That's what I hear too.. but Im not sure there actually are much difference. I have tried EWQL and have Kontakt 4, which have VSL strings, and they suit my needs just fine (Im just using them for Nashville/Pop sound, not really doing orchestral tracks), but Im not sure which is better. The full VSL libraries are way more comprehensive than the ones in Kontakt, though.. and I have really no experience with the particular ones you mention.

Either way, I think good string sounds are very much achieved by mixing with volume/velocity automation as well as tweaking EQ and lots of reverb. I've read a lot of places that the real thing can be quite dissapointing, in terms of volume and impact, when they replace the mock-up, as the sampled orchestras use the unreal to impress..

The VSL libraries might be better as clean samples (EWQL seem to depend a lot on processing to achieve a good sound), and that would give you more control, I think. Which is a good thing, as long as you're willing to spend more time on tweaking.. but I doubt they sound better out of the box, as the "Hollywood" sound is a very processed string sound.

There's been much rave about EW's new release http://www.soundsonline.com/hollywood-strings .. but I have no first hand experience, as they are kinda pricy..

Hey Magne, I just watched the HS video. Quite impressive - but then most the time these demos are. I'm very close to purchasing these. I'll hold off a day or two yet, while I read other forums on the topic. "Gearshultz" has a good topic going on the Hollywood Strings.

John

Yes, when writing out that kind of money.. you want to be sure there's a return in sight from it.. so always good to research as thoroughly as you can before taking the plunge..

Does your clients really require better strings than the EWQL?

One of the best ways to improve in that department is to have an orchestral instrument yourself, and record it to blend in.

You know the old gestalt law, if you put up a picture of a lion and a man, then viewers will imagine that the lion has human qualities and the man has lion qualities.

I think that works as well in music..

Thanks Magne!

I've been considering these strings: http://www.kirkhunterstudios.com/products.html

Actually these in their "Separate Section" http://www.kirkhunterstudios.com/products_sections.html "ALL STRINGS" $299 in the ESX24 version. The ESX24 is Logic Pro's play engine so I wouldn't need a separate engine to use these samples. Doesn't require an ILok or a special key. I'll could have them on the supper table tonight.

I've gotten a couple good reports on these samples.

Anyone here at JPF use them?

I ordered the East West Choir samples yesterday. The demo sounds awesome. They come with a word builder. You can incorporate actual words into the samples.

So this will be the end of my sample purchasing for awhile - I think.

John

Well, I purchased the Kirk Hunter "All Strings". I started downloading them. Besides the initial folder, there are 150 more to download (one at a time) - damn... 40 Gigs of string samples. I should be done by tomorrow morning.

At least those East West Choir samples are coming on DVDs. Some more fun next week. Then I'm finished with samples for awhile! If I can't compete with the big boys, so be it. I had enough of this sample business.

John

Yeah the sample business is tough and endless, I believe. With software it's an issue to have the good stuff before everyone else, so upgrading and scanning markets never ends.. thats a new part of the job.

I really like the sound of these Chamber Strings, and they come in a Kontakt version! Argh, VERY tempting offer on the Emerald package. Damn gear lust!

Looking forward to a report on how you like these, when you've tried them out properly.

I give you a report on these Magne, if I ever get them loaded.

For what it is worth the big boys might have these toys but how often do they play with them. I bet only a tiny percentage of these plugins ever see the light of day.

Some of the big boys use samples for "mock-ups". Then use "live" orchestras for the final versions. Though, from what I've been reading, more and more films are using samples then spice it up with a few "live" musicians.