LASS vs Session Strings Pro?

[Goit]

For orchestral music, is session strings pro good enough if you don't need a huge ensemble?

LASS is by far the most expensive (other than Vienna).


Listen to these:

BWV 1041 with the "good old" Chambers - VSL Community

I actually prefer the one with the Session Strings and Spitfire solos (which I already own) to the VSL exclusive version.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by Goit

For orchestral music, is session strings pro good enough if you don't need a huge ensemble?

I LOVE Session Strings, but I never pull it out for orchestral cues - not for either large or small sections. LASS works far better for me there. For cool rock or R&B stuff, especially old school motown stuff, it works great. Symphobia, LASS or Hollywood strings for Orchestral, and although I haven't had a chance to use it much yet, some of the NEW kirk hunter stuff seemed cool on certain articulations. Session strings for the R&B, Funk, Soul, Motown, Rock stuff.

[Goit]

Originally Posted by drBill

I LOVE Session Strings, but I never pull it out for orchestral cues - not for either large or small sections. LASS works far better for me there. For cool rock or R&B stuff, especially old school motown stuff, it works great. Symphobia, LASS or Hollywood strings for Orchestral, and although I haven't had a chance to use it much yet, some of the NEW kirk hunter stuff seemed cool on certain articulations. Session strings for the R&B, Funk, Soul, Motown, Rock stuff.

Can you describe the differences in greater detail?

[Musiclab]

I have session strings pro, I like them very much, BUT they are better suited to a more intimate settings. If you want a big orchestral sound they are NOT it

[drBill]

Originally Posted by Goit

Can you describe the differences in greater detail?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Musiclab

I have session strings pro, I like them very much, BUT they are better suited to a more intimate settings. If you want a big orchestral sound they are NOT it

^^^^^ This.

[Goit]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

I have session strings pro, I like them very much, BUT they are better suited to a more intimate settings. If you want a big orchestral sound they are NOT it

I said I didn't.

If I get LASS I'm just going to use the 4 violin sections individually as a chamber orchestra. I probably would rarely use the 8 violin sections because they are already too big.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by Goit

I said I didn't.

If I get LASS I'm just going to use the 4 violin sections individually as a chamber orchestra. I probably would rarely use the 8 violin sections because they are already too big.

SSPro doesn't have a classical or chamber "sound" to it IMO. It has a pop/rock/R&B style sound. It's not just about the "number" of violins (etc.) in the section. It's more about micing technique, room it was recorded in and performance of the samples. I find it doesn't sit well as with classical style writing as LASS or other libraries do. But that's just my opinion.

[Goit]

What about Cinematic Strings? In my situation it costs significantly less than what LASS offers (since Audiobro doesn't have any form of education/non-commercial discount)

The problem with LASS is that it shoves tons of excessive content into a single bundle. I already use Spitfire's solo strings, which is a much more comprehensive instrument than Audiobro's "first chair". Secondly, using their divisi patches in isolation seems to be a waste of money because they were recorded with the intention to be mixed together.

[gregm1989]

I use the 4-person sections in LASS all the time to get a smaller string orchestra and it sounds great.

They weren't recorded with the explicit intention of being mixed together. One of the qualities of their library that they advertise is the ability to build smaller ensembles than the normal ginormous film scoring style string orchestra.

[alphaproject]

LASS is awesome. Nuff said.

[donethur]

Some alternatives: EW Hollywood Strings, it sounds wonderful., really, but requires a BIG computer and it is big, IMO for big orchestral ensembles.

If you dont like EW, you can consider 8dio's Adagio, that library is going to kick asses, specially the solo violin.

check out the demos (specially the solo violin):

Adagio: Violins Vol. 1 | ,

[muziksculp]

Originally Posted by Goit

What about Cinematic Strings? In my situation it costs significantly less than what LASS offers (since Audiobro doesn't have any form of education/non-commercial discount)

The problem with LASS is that it shoves tons of excessive content into a single bundle. I already use Spitfire's solo strings, which is a much more comprehensive instrument than Audiobro's "first chair". Secondly, using their divisi patches in isolation seems to be a waste of money because they were recorded with the intention to be mixed together.

I would wait another couple weeks, because Cinematic Stirngs will be releasing a big update, Which I think is going to sound fantastic, and offer some interesting new features.

Lots of options these day !

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by drBill

SSPro doesn't have a classical or chamber "sound" to it IMO. It has a pop/rock/R&B style sound. It's not just about the "number" of violins (etc.) in the section. It's more about micing technique, room it was recorded in and performance of the samples. I find it doesn't sit well as with classical style writing as LASS or other libraries do. But that's just my opinion.

yes I'd agree completely, they're in a small room, I also have the EW and even with using the smaller ensembles it's a very different sound

[Goit]

Originally Posted by donethur

check out the demos (specially the solo violin):

Adagio: Violins Vol. 1 | ,

This one doesn't work because it lacks Senza Vibrato patches.

I think LASS is my only option here, unless Cinematic Strings 2.0 reveals something spectacular.

[Beermaster]

I'm scoring strings for a couple of artists with albums charting at the moment and I use LASS. Wouldn't touch Session Strings with a barge pole...

LASS is just SO flexible and it sounds great straight out of the can. The wonder and simplicity of this library is the ability to arrange your track and then with a few simple patch changes switch from String quartet to Small Chamber ensemble....to full section. No need to screw around with the MIDI data and re-assign controllers and functions as often happens when trying to switch the section size to a different spec as on other products..

LASS all the way !

Beer.

[Goit]

I think I need to ask for a graduation gift this time.

A very basic question here, for film/game scoring, you can not get away from advanced use of strings can you? By advanced I mean stuff like the LASS. To my defense I have seen many very "grand" and magnificent sounding scores that were done with a minimal amount of strings completely relegated to the background. All of the fancy details were filled in with the winds and more exotic instruments.... So for this purpose I guess the cheapest libraries like Garritan would suffice since very little attention is paid to the strings. (this is not for professional work, so I'm wondering if you can get around the absolute dependence on the large section strings by letting the winds take their place)

[donethur]

Originally Posted by Goit

This one doesn't work because it lacks Senza Vibrato patches.

I think LASS is my only option here, unless Cinematic Strings 2.0 reveals something spectacular.

are you sure?

[Hoffmanwantsgear]

LASS 2.0 is out now, which is another step up again.

[Goit]

Originally Posted by donethur

are you sure?

Are you saying that they have NV patches but aren't advertising it on their site?

[SPOTS]

Originally Posted by muziksculp

I would wait another couple weeks, because Cinematic Stirngs will be releasing a big update, Which I think is going to sound fantastic, and offer some interesting new features.
Lots of options these day !

Yep, looks like a major new candidate is coming out very soon.
I check Cinematic Strings forum and an update that was formerly announced last summer seems to finally be available within a few days.
A brief walkthrough they did a few months back when they announced the update looks pretty promising.
http://www.cinematicstrings.com/175waffle3.mp4

[shani haider]

my recent test with LASS

http://soundcloud.com/shani-haider/s...aikovsky-waltz

[thenoodle]

Originally Posted by Goit

Listen to these:

BWV 1041 with the "good old" Chambers - VSL Community

I actually prefer the one with the Session Strings and Spitfire solos (which I already own) to the VSL exclusive version.

Yeow.. from those examples, I would take the vsl every time. Just goes to show you that everyone has different opinions.

Some of the examples posted in gs responses here are big sections. I think the op wants smaller. Dunno how small, but I just can't get behind the Lass sound on the smaller sections I've heard. Not sure why. Session strings wouldn't work for me at all.

Anyway, as to "smaller", I own the vsl solo strings + extended and sordino chambers + extended. There's nothing that can touch the vsl (imo) if you're trying to get absolutely nail this type of thing....
Whiskey Lullaby - Jon Randall (writer) Capitol Records LA - YouTube

[Juhannike]

The strings in every pice on my website is LASS.


http://jarpehag.com/

[robibla]

That waltz above doesn't do LASS justice in my opinion :(

Here's a short Easter Bunny Waltz I made yesterday using the new LASS 2.0.1
bunnywaltz.mp3 - File Shared from Box - Free Online File Storage

This star wars I posted somewhere else also uses LASS 2.0.1
StarWars LASS2.mp3 - File Shared from Box - Free Online File Storage

[L.S.D.]

Love session strings for non-realistic orchestral stuff

But yeah, probably not accurate representation