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Building Larger Libraries

Discussion in 'Tips, Tricks & Talk' started by Rohann van Rensburg, Sep 11, 2018.

  1. #1 Rohann van Rensburg, Sep 11, 2018
    Hi all,

    I posted this in "Template Balancing", but it's not actually inherent to that class (feel free to delete that thread if necessary, Mike/admins I don't know about).

    In the Template Balancing thread, Mike mentions using a standard symphonic-size orchestra, i.e. 16, 16, 12, 10, 8 for strings.

    I have Spitfire Chamber Strings, and while they're not all that dry, they come in 4, 3, 3, 3.

    Is it feasible to basically treat, i.e. first violins, like a divisi section and simply double two sections of first violins (note: not referring to writing four divisi parts, only wondering if it's worthwhile or possible to build 4 violins into 16)? Is there a general "limit" as to how large one can build in this regard (i.e. is 8 a more reasonable limitation before it sounds unlike a larger section)? Obviously samples don't function like actual violinists, hence my query.
     
  2. #2 Mauro Pantin, Sep 12, 2018
    Not sure about how it will sound in comparison with a real 16 violin ensemble. Perhaps the reverb and room might stack a little too much with four of those, I imagine two would work fine and you probably won't need more. Berlin Strings is just 8 violins and sounds amazing. I don't own Chamber Strings, so it's difficult to tell in my case.

    But however many of them you stack on top of each other, do make sure you take the necessary precautions to avoid phasing when they play unison. You could probably do it by shifting the tuning a couple of cents for each virtual "divisi" section and/or also the timing, although if you play them in then that part shouldn't be a problem.
     
    Rohann van Rensburg likes this.
  3. #3 Rohann van Rensburg, Oct 22, 2018
    SCS does sound quite "chamber-y". It's a beautiful library but I often wonder if CSS would have been a better purchase to throw on top of HWO.

    What I do wonder, after watching MIke's Template Balancing video, is what he meant by "don't worry about more voices, none of this is real" -- the obvious meaning is there, but in regard to stacking a larger amount of voices, won't overall volume and the amount of voices sound suspicious, or unplayable? I.e. playing a triad in the cellos means it would divisi quite severely in a regular orchestra and probably lose a lot of the weight it would carry. I would think this would be an issue if you were trying to make it sound plausibly realistic.
     
  4. #4 Jake Tanner, Oct 23, 2018
    I think that is a case of orchestration. There are other ways to have a chord played by low instruments other than cello. Maybe divisi once the cello, and add bassoon, or bass trombone? But the mentality is do not do what can not be done live..lol
     
  5. #5 Rohann van Rensburg, Nov 14, 2018
    I can't find the timestamp, but while I thought so at first, I could swear he said something to the effect of "don't worry about how many voices there are, none of this is real" (may be misquoting or paraphrasing). @Sam Miller You've done some of the timestamping for this, do you remember this point at all?
     
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