Help with selecting a great orchestral sample library

[Drzayuss]

Hello everyone,

I am interested in purchasing a great orchestral sample library. I know there are probably many differing opinions on this issue. However, if you all could chime in with what you believe to be your favorite, that would be helpful. Price is unimportant. Breadth and reality are my primary concerns.

Thank you in advance,

Justin

[Jay Lee]

Right now there are at least these three that you could consider:

Sonivox Complete Symphonic Collection 2995$
EWQL Symphonic Orhestra Platinum Pro XP 1455$
VSL Vienna SYmphonic Library Pro Ed. 3990$

It's all up for your taste... You can listen to all these three at Best Service - sounds & more

There is something coming strings wise from Garritan, but I have no info on that now.

On the cheaper side there are:

Peter Siedlaczek´s Complete Classical Collection 249$
Miroslav Philharmonik 379$


I personally think you get the best sound by using more than one simultaneously. Oh, and my favourite is Sonivox. Love it's sound.

[n8tron]

don't forget about

Kirk Hunter Studios - Sample Libraries

emerald for $325
vs pro for $600

[peeder]

Originally Posted by Jay Lee

I personally think you get the best sound by using more than one simultaneously.

Huh I never thought of that...but it could work for ensemble sections. (yeah yeah I've done MIDI stacks before but not this specific thing) Tip of the day! Cheers...

[popmann]

I think you need to look at what machine(s) you're running them on and what else you hope to accomplish on said machines.

These big libs/samplers effectively take dedicated machines.

[Muso]

I have both Sonivox (Kontakt 2) and East West Gold Pro XP. I love the Sonivox library, however it takes some programming. Vienna is even more convoluted and to get the best of all worlds you'll need the Cube AND the new (more filmic) special editions / string libs.

[AudioGaff]

I was recently also looking for orchestra samples. Since I already own E-MU Emulator X2 software, I took a chance on their Modern Symphonic Orchestra samples and have been very pleased with the quality. I seem to recall hearing that the raw samples were from Kirk Hunter. I really like that all the samples are default panned as they would be on a stage so when you combine samples/instruments, it sounds as it would be if you were in the audience. Includes a decent lite version of Overture notation software.

E-MU Systems - Modern Symphonic Orchestra Sound Library

[joris de man]

Also, don't forget Project Sam; they do excellent Brass and Percussion libraries,with 3 mic positions.

However, recently, for utterly convincing Ochestral Brass, I've been using something that isn't based on samples.
It's called Wallander Brass Instruments and uses a form of additive synthesis. Though this may sound hokey, it sounds for the most part, absolutely amazing and has an expressiveness that is beyond anything else out there.
You really 'play' the instrument as opposed to triggering different samples with keyswitches.
You use a midi controller for breath, so the louder you blow, the more volume and more fortissimo you play. Staccato notes are played by playing shorter notes, portato slightly longer, and you can use aftertouch for vibrato.
So, you can actually play melodies the way you hear them in your head, as opposed to having to setup keyswitches etc. first.
The collection has 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones and 2 tubas (no basstrombone unfortunately). These are all seperate instruments, which means you can play proper divisi (i.e 4 horns in unison, or a 4 part chord played by 4 seperate horns)
It has shades of physical modelling, but to my ears sounds more realistic while still retaining a similar level of control.

Although they can sound somewhat harsh and forward straight out of the box, with careful eq and a splash of Altiverb, as well as a bit of setting up, I've managed to create a convincing 'Hollywoo' like sound.

Wallander Instruments

For strings, I've always liked the tone of Sonic Implants (now Sonivox).

Cheers,

Joris

[kosi]

First things first:
The secret for a good sound lies in the arrangement !

When money doesn't matter, buy them all !

I had good luck in layering a lot of sounds in GigaSampler, it depends on the project.
Sometimes you need upfront sounds, then it has to be smooth and warm or whatever.

Vienna and Sonic Implants is a good start for film music.
The new Apassionnata from VSL are awesome.

Siedlaczek and Miroslav sound a lil bit too dated meanwhile, but Miroslav has some very nice patches for layering, eg Violas and Celli, mmhh.
Siedlaczek has some very good string detachés
The detachés in the Garritan are also very nice, but the rest is horrible. The "deadest sounding library" imo. Sounds like bagpipes.


Long strings in EWQL are horrible, but the short ones can be very good. Horns in EWQL are fantastic, as are the Percussions. But EWQL always sound "roomy", like it or not.

Vienna Horns are very good too, Woodwinds in Vienna Performances are so good, that even a flute player asked me, who had played.

and and and

Reverbs are very important ! Somehow, Softverbs never make it for me...

All in all, I have to say, that it takes quite some time to learn a library. The better you know it, teh better the results. Like an instrument
I always and up with a big crossover of everything.

[Siryne]

another vote for the Kirk Hunter VS Pro series. The Studio Strings are espesially good. Very resonable price too.