What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)

Mixikyr · Post by **Mixikyr** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 4:46 pm

Deleted post.

9V · Post by 9V » Sun Sep 04, 2011 5:32 pm

the only way to make such instruments sound realistic in a sequencer is to record them for real and put them in audio tracks. Otherwise, with midi, you can only make brief patterns or background pads, and delayed/flangered (so that you can deceive the listener). Don't listen to the demo of the commercial multisampled products, because they are made by professional musicians and/or sound engineers (they could make sound realistic everything, because they are like conjurers, magicians...)

arafel · Post by **arafel** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 6:34 pm

Orchestration of instruments to sound 'real' is tricky.. but can be done.
If those 'magicians' can do it.. we/ you can do it.
I've had a few string parts just gel into place and sound convincing.. a happy accident for me.

Northern Sounds has a good forum on just this subject.
http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/forum.php

There is a whole 'Principles of Orchestration' section too.

antarktika · Post by **antarktika** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:50 pm

9V wrote:the only way to make such instruments sound realistic in a sequencer is to record them for real and put them in audio tracks. Otherwise, with midi, you can only make brief patterns or background pads, and delayed/flangered (so that you can deceive the listener). Don't listen to the demo of the commercial multisampled products, because they are made by professional musicians and/or sound engineers (they could make sound realistic everything, because they are like conjurers, magicians...)

I'm fairly certain he is looking for information on how to make at least a passing reproduction of these instruments with software, and not looking to take up an instrument, or get roped into audio vs. midi discussion baiting. Why discourage him from looking into something that with a little dedication could lead him to some approximation of the results he is looking for?
Mixikyr, I'm not sure what virtual instruments you are currently using, but one good way to achieve decent results might be to ignore 9v's "suggestion" get a good sampler with extensive multisampled libraries, and round-robin settings so that the same notes are played slightly differently, to achieve the subtleties of live instrumentation, things like Kontakt serve this well. On the pricier side, EastWest, Symphobia, and Vienna Symphonic Library are customized to this purpose. They will all take a fair amount of work, but you can probably get something decent enough with dedication and effort and a healthy ability to not pay attention to 9V. Decent orchestral libraries tend to have a very steep price point, but are worth the investment if you plan to work extensively with recreations of real world instruments. Certainly it is cheaper than buying an upright bass, cello, bassoon, violin, flute, french horn, trombone, etc... paying for lessons on how to play each one, hiring out a studio and playing your parts in, and so on. you won't achieve the same level of realism, but everyone has to compromise somewhere.

Rampus · Post by **Rampus** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:09 pm

Session Strings Pro from Native Instruments can do a decent job on orchestral strings.

For guitars, it depends on the style, but for rhythm guitars, both Rob Papen and Native Instruments have decent plugins.

razorblade · Post by **razorblade** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:32 pm

Find a real guitar player.
It's not hard...there are lots of them. Make friends with a couple, hit them up when you need guitar.

Offer them a beer or a joint. They will be happy to help. Guitar players are whores for attention.

Mixikyr · Post by **Mixikyr** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:38 am

Deleted post.

mbird21 · Post by **mbird21** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:20 am

Cant really say much that the other guys on here have recommended but i think there will always be a tonal difference between a real world instrument played in real time and a synthetic created replica or a sampled string this ius just natural BUT like the guys say creating that atmosphere as if they where been played lived is the key to realistic sounds imo though thats just my view open to difference ofc

.

On the other thing, i once used a vst called Slayer i think it was called back in 2005-6 on a pop song where i used it with gentle reverb and got a loan of the lexicon reverbs which made ti sound nearly the real thing, aslo some of the ableton presets in your browser have loads of guitars, plucks and with gentlre reverb some chorus etc they can sound really nice and realistic.

I think you really are aiming at getting real instruments etc for this so sorry if im going off topic just wanted to recommend them things to you to see if it might help.

Peace

mbird21 · Post by **mbird21** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:24 am

razorblade wrote:Find a real guitar player.
It's not hard...there are lots of them. Make friends with a couple, hit them up when you need guitar.

Offer them a beer or a joint. They will be happy to help. Guitar players are whores for attention.

Nice one mate, i did that one before on school project local studio bloke was a decent bass player, you be surprised how many of them play instruments to and might help you out with a few riffs etc.

What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)

What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)

Re: What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)

Re: What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)

Re: What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)

Re: What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)

Re: What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)

Re: What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)

Re: What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)

Re: What would you use for strings? (Guitar, Violin, etc.)