Virtual Orchestra Suggestions?

[rmccam]

I'm not savvy with virtual instruments (I prefer the real thing), but I'm working on a project that doesn't have the budget for real players so the virtual route seems to be the only option.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which virtual orchestras are worth taking a look at? (Vienna Symphonic Collection, Garritan Person Orchestra, etc., etc.) What are the differences between them? And of course, price versus quality is the name of the game here.

Thanks!!


Ryan

[rmccam]

... particularily, how is Garritan Personal Orchestra versus East West Quantum Leap Orchestral Silver??

Thanks again,


Ryan

[hlj3]

In my experience with the GPO, I really liked the strings but I had intonation problems with the woodwinds and Brass.

[GW]

I got the GPO out of curiosity and it just doesn't cut it for me, what I use insted is Reason strings (refill) and brass (the stacc tuba is one of a kind)... I like the sound to be close-up and extremely dry, so you get a chamber-music atmosphere where the listener is placed where the muscians normally are placed (the best place to hear music is IMHO where the conducter stands, not where the audience sits). Vienna is far to pricy for me so that is not an option, but if money is no object?

[Chris Lambrechts]

I have the Mirouslav Vitous / Garritan / Ziedlaceck and Vienna libraries. And fwiw I like and use them all. It depends realy which for what. Vienna and Garritan might seem the best sounding when listening to individual programs but they definately no allways work in every situation. Depending on what the purpose of the sound is : for example solo / blend in with other sounds / pad / rythmical background / impressive / close / far / whetever else you can think of they should sound. It all depends realy and it's nice to have options. If you would ask me which one I would yake first now ...; wouldn't know. would depend what I intend to do with it :

in general : solo stuff : VSL and Garritan work better.
Ensembles / blending with other parts in music etc ... vitous and ziedlaceck imho.

[rmccam]

Thanks everyone.

Maybe I should clarify...

I need strings (probably 2 violins and a cello), to go on a pop ballad. I'm not looking for it to sound like a pad, more singular notes and melodies.

What would you suggest for this particular project? (Chris I'd like to hear your opinion since you seem to have alot of the software that I'm looking at)

Thanks!


Ryan

[JRC]

Hello Ryan,
Regarding the Vienna Library:
I recently worked on a project that called for a similar treatment: a small, intimate ensemble; an arrangement with some motion/counterpoint to it; with a budget that necessitated virtual-strings. I arranged the chart and worked with a programmer who used the Vienna library.

I must say that I was disappointed with the results and would not recommend Vienna for this type of feel. The intonation was very suspect and, moreover, the vibrato had "computer" written all over it. I ended up having to re-work the chart for a solo (human) cellist.
I'd be very very interested to learn if any of the other libraries that were suggested can do the job for this style of arrangement.

Best of luck with your search!

Cheers,

Joe

[audel]

... I'm working on a project that doesn't have the budget for real players so the virtual route seems to be the only option.

So, what's the budget, I'm quite sure that I can have an orchestra recorded for less $ than the cost of Vienna Library, plus even if you can fake the full orchestra with samples, you can't fake solo instruments convincingly.

Branislav

[Eric Lambert]

I've been using East West Symphony Orchestra for the past few months and it's absolutely amazing. The instruments and articulations are very useful and the sound is perfect. The whole series was recorded by Keith O. Johnson, who is about as good as it gets for orchestral work. It's a CPU hog for sure. You should have a G5 and a lot of RAM.

[AG]

I need strings (probably 2 violins and a cello), to go on a pop ballad. I'm not looking for it to sound like a pad, more singular notes and melodies.

Thanks! Ryan

You may want to check this out: http://www.synful.com/
The violins are impressive and the CPU load is minimal.