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Arrangement for Strings

Discussion in 'Tips, Tricks & Talk' started by Mattia Chiappa, Feb 2, 2018.

  1. #1 Mattia Chiappa, Feb 2, 2018
    Hello everybody! I've been working on this piece for strings and the virtual translation sounds absolutely terrible to my ears. No definition, lack of expression and realism. I know the composition itself could be better but how do I make this suck a little bit less virtually?
    Right now I'm using Spitfire Symphonic Strings layered with Spitfire Chamber Strings for a bit of detail. What's wrong? Is it the performance? I already spent a few hours trying to massage the dynamics without great results. I was thinking of leaving the piano which I used as a guide track just to blend the strings a bit better. What do you think?

    Here's both links:

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/qyfmsr5ght5wsss/Forbidden_StringsPiano.mp3?dl=0

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/jct9g27b8g5gwtr/Forbidden_StringsOnly.mp3?dl=0

    Thanks,
    Any advice is greatly appreciated!
     
  2. #2 Sylvain Provenzano, Feb 2, 2018
    It looks like you play chords on your keyboard and have an automatic pump effet on each chord hammered.

    You shouldn't use that amount of dynamic every time.

    Do you have each section playing individually with its own dynamic ?
     
  3. #3 Mattia Chiappa, Feb 2, 2018
    Yes of course! No I'm not playing chords it's max 2 notes for each section
     
  4. #4 Sylvain Provenzano, Feb 2, 2018
    I think at least one of the problems comes from your dynamics and timing that are too similar between each section. The transition between the two first chords doesn't sound natural for that.
     
  5. #5 Bradley Boone, Mar 11, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2018
    Parts of it work pretty well. I would isolate the sections that aren't convincing and revisit the following:
    CC curves (less dramatic/drastic changes?) You can redraw it or punch in a new performance
    Patch selection (have libraries with bow changes?)
    Note length (shorten for some, ensure correct overlap for legato)
    Change the balance between the section vs chamber players (may have more clarity in the chamber patches)
    I only listened to the strings version (if you can get that right, then adding piano can work)
    Sylvain is right about the unnatural transitions and 'pumping' effect, that's what I find distracting.
     
  6. #6 Mattia Chiappa, Mar 12, 2018
    Hi Bradley thanks for replying to the post. Yeah, I pretty much did all that some time ago without very satisfying results, thanks for the advice anyway :) The annoying pumping effect isn't that audible anymore but the overall sound is still not super convincing. I guess it has something to do with my own MIDI performance, which isn't that great. I know I need to get that sorted asap. Here's the final version with all the tweaks:
     
    Bradley Boone likes this.
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