Results for orchestra

EastWest has announced the release of Silver Editions of its Hollywood Strings and Hollywood Brass virtual instruments for Windows and Mac.

The price for these editions is $199 each, which is an incredible bargain given the critical acclaim this series has received, and the fact the Gold and Diamond versions are in wide use by top composers. The Silver editions allow students and those who are on a tight budget or use average computers to work with sound quality and detail only known from movies and professional recordings.

Hollywood Strings is the most detailed string orchestra library available today. Recorded with a live orchestra at the famous EASTWEST STUDIO 1, the same studio where many Hollywood soundtracks and television themes were produced, Hollywood Strings offers unprecedented control over sound and performance. This collection of virtual sounds made by co-producers Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix, Thomas Bergersen and Emmy Award winning sound engineer Shawn Murphy is a must have compositional tool for serious composers.

Hollywood Brass, also recorded at EASTWEST STUDIO 1 and the second installment in the Hollywood series, is the most powerful, realistic and extensive brass library ever created. Revolutionary fanfare patches are light on computer resources, but offer the most playable and instantly gratifying results on just one midi channel. Especially noteworthy are the articulations which really show how far EASTWEST went to create the ultimate orchestral brass library. Just like the Gold and Diamond editions, Hollywood Brass Silver contains pure Hollywood magic.

The Silver editions allow all musicians to experience superb samples and work on the same level as top professionals. They are a great opportunity to get one’s feet wet before moving on to the larger Gold and Diamond editions to which customers can easily upgrade for the difference in cost and a small upgrade fee of $50 (€40).

• Diamond editions include all 5 mic positions, includes bow change legato and divisi exclusively and 24-bit samples
• Gold editions include 1 mic position, all other instruments and articulations except these detailed above and 16-bit samples
• Silver editions include 1 mic position, with limited instruments and articulations and 16-bit samples

More information: SoundsOnline

Cinesamples has updated its CineBrass orchestral brass sample library to version 1.5.

CineBrass is revolutionary in its power and simplicity for recreating the sound of the orchestral brass section. The library was designed by composers, for composers, with direct feedback from the film music community during its development. The result is a brass library that is easy to use, composer-friendly, with unparalleled recording quality.

Changes in CineBrass v1.5

• New Interface
  • Updated mapping functionality.
  • New mix presets.
  • Built in convolution reverb with Bricasti reverb impulses.
  • Legato Speed Knob & Legato Volume Knob.
  • Dynamic Zoom slider for precision dynamic control.
  • Built-in effects.
  • Round robin and release controls.
• Improved Legato and Tuning
  • Brand new legato scripting for improved realism.
  • Vastly improved tuning.
• New Patches
  • Two Horns Ensemble Articulations.
  • Two Horns Ensemble True Legato.
  • Split Patches for each articulation.
  • Trombone Ensemble Harmon Mutes (Pro).
  • Trombone Ensemble Fluttered (Pro).
  • Monster Low Brass Articulations (Pro).
  • Monster Low Brass Scoops (Pro).
  • Monster Low Brass Clusters (Pro).
  • Monster Low Brass FX (Pro).
  • Horns Ensemble fff Sustains and Shorts (Pro).
  • Trumpets Ensemble Sustains and Tenuto (Pro).
  • Split Patches for each articulation (Pro).

The update is a free download for those who purchased prior to March 7th, 2013. New purchases already contain this update.

More information: Cinesamples / CineBrass

Producer Loops has announced Symphonic Series Vol 5: Epic Action 2, a sample library by Sergei Stern.

‘Symphonic Series Vol 5: Epic Action 2′ follows on from its hugely successful predecessor with five more breath-taking, original compositions totalling a staggering 5.4GB of uncompressed data. Composed and producer by Sergei Stern, an up-and-coming composer with extraordinary talent and vision. Audio and MIDI loops are included as well as full arrangements for your sequencer in ACID/WAV, Apple Loops, and OMF formats.

All of the amazing live instruments found in a symphony orchestra are included in this epic pack, alongside percussions. All loops and phrases feature “solo” performances for maximum authenticity.

Symphonic Series Vol 5 features

• 5 Construction Kits containing audio loops and MIDI loops representing musical phrases.
• All audio loops are dry (no FX) and the same loops are also available with reverb (tail loops). All in 24-Bit, 44.1 kHz sample rate.
• 5 OMF files containing the exact arrangements of the tracks are provided, so you can import the full arrangements into all sequencers which support this format. These files are great to be used as reference files and to export small sections you pick out yourself while having the opportunity to make your own mix before you start exporting. This format is also great for DJ’s and sound designers.
• All loops are royalty-free to those who have purchased the product. “Commercial use” of the five original compositions “exactly as they are in the demos” is forbidden, though. One has to make “new music” using the loops to act in accordance with Producer Loops’ license agreement.

The sample library costs £49.95 GBP.

More information: Producer Loops / Symphonic Series Vol 5

The Drum Broker has announced 808s & String Breaks, a sample pack by !llmind.

“For the longest time, I’ve had the idea to develop a complete sound kit consisting of nothing but string sections. Classical music has played a huge part in my life, and throughout the years, I’ve learned to appreciate the various textures that string instruments deliver, regardless of genre, from cellos, to violins, to epic 30 piece string orchestras.

“808s & String Breaks” is a culmination of 2 of my favorite textures: heavy TR-808 kick drums, and royalty-free string compositions. I’ve partnered up exclusively with www.hiphopdrumsamples.com to bring to you this unique and exciting special edition BLAP KIT. I hope it inspires you to create amazing musical pieces of your own!” -!llmind

!llmind 808s & String Breaks features

• Over 120 audio files (over 1.6GB worth) of authentic !llmind 808 kick drums & original string riffs, in 16-bit/44 WAV format.
• All string riffs were completely composed by !llmind, including violin solos + groups, cello solos & complete multi-piece string orchestras. String Riffs vary, from aggressive 87 BPM minor chord “street sounding” riffs, to 120 BPM Pop compositions & everything in-between!
• All 808 kick drums were sampled from an actual TR-808, into an Ensoniq ASR-10 AND Akai S-20 at 33khz/12-bit for maximum warmth + punch!

The sample pack is available from the Drum Broker for $24.99 USD.

More information: The Drum Broker / 808s & String Breaks

Spitfire Audio has released version 4 of the first volume of Albion, a sound library for Native Instruments Kontakt.

The finest orchestral sessions musicians playing the finest, rarest instruments, recorded at Air Studios – Lyndhurst Hall, London, through the finest vintage, valve, and ribbon mics to 2″ tape. The only tape based orchestral library in the world. This is all you need to write epic sounding, widescreen cinematic orchestral music straight out of the box. Recorded in sections, this library features rich aggressive and lyrical strings, punchy, growling brass and some seriously malevolent woodwinds.

Albion features

• Unified patches to bring all articulations of an instrument into a single NKI with keyswitching.
• New ‘Combined’ patches to merge Lo/Hi sections instead of cumbersome MULTIS.
• New ‘Time Machine’ patches to stretch/squash the short samples time-wise.
• New ‘Overlay’ patches to easily blend Albion with Loegria/Iceni/Sable/Solo Strings.
• New ‘The Cog’ patches to tweak the instrument on a granular level to your preference.
• The latest version of Spitfire’s Ostinatum machine (configurable keyswitches, multiple tracks, etc.).
• Highly configurable articulation mapping (assign and group articulations to notes, CCs, velocities and MIDI channels).
• Customisable CC can be used to quickly change articulation (defaults to CC32).
• Expression control added to all patches.
• ADSR control added to the Stephenson/Brunel patches.
• Route a microphone’s output by clicking the mic title.
• Improved Round Robin reset options such as ‘Reset from’ and ‘Reset on transport’.
• ‘Presets’ allows you to quickly purge/unpurge articulations defined for various situations.
• Holding alt when dragging a mic slider prevents purge/unpurge.
• And many many more tweaks and fixes.

Albion is available to purchase for £349 GBP ex. VAT. The v4 update is free to Albion users.

More information: Spitfire Audio / Albion

Organic Loops has launched Strings Ultimate Collection Series 1, the first in a new series of high quality string solo and ensemble loops by Frontline Producer.

For the last few weeks here at Frontline Towers, we have been perfectly attired in our white tie and tails, turning imaginary sheet music, randomly tapping batons (pens, pencils, drumsticks) on imaginary podiums (books, radiators, colleagues heads etc.) and generally walking around with an uncommon air of gravitas and distinction.

The reason for all this pomp, well we have been cooking up “Frontline Producer Ultimate Strings Vol. 1″; the first in a sizzling, appassionato series of sample packs that brings you all the power of a string orchestra that you can fit snugly in your waistcoat pocket.

Our strings were recorded through a selection of “Class A” vintage ribbon mics, including Coles, Neumann and AEA, meticulously edited and bounced at 44 kHz and 24bit in 2, 4, and 8 bar loops.

In Detail Vol1 is a 750mb collection of 312 riffs, rhythms, tremolos and glissandos, with a root tempo of 130bpm, in the keys of A, E and G.

From cinematic productions, to epic sounding House, Rockstep, and Electro tracks, we give you all the tools necessary to produce some serious music.

The sample pack costs £29.95 GBP.

More information: Organic Loops / Strings Ultimate Collection Series 1