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Tips for creating realistic string/symphony sounds

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bpoco
Active Member

Joined: 19 Jul 2004
Posts: 106
Location: Chicago

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:59 pm Post subject: Tips for creating realistic string/symphony sounds

I recently purchased Garritan Personal Orchestra. Does any one have some road tested tips for helping make synth strings sound more realistic? Straight midi notes don't cut it. Thanks - bpoco

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dobro
more personal tittle

Joined: 01 Nov 2003
Posts: 15587
Age: 30

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:56 pm Post subject:

I thought the Garritan stuff was samples, not synth sounds. How about this: http://www.garritan.com/gpo4manual.html _________________ You must enter a message when posting.

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bpoco
Active Member

Joined: 19 Jul 2004
Posts: 106
Location: Chicago

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:48 am Post subject:

dobro wrote:

I thought the Garritan stuff was samples, not synth sounds.

How about this:

http://www.garritan.com/gpo4manual.html

You're correct. It is sample based. I tend to generalize anything controlled by midi as "synthesizer".

Anyway - thanks for the link. I actually purchased the older GPO3 (it still supported DXi and had relaxed CPU requirements). After a quick glance, it looks like the GPO4 manual may have more to offer with regard to tips for creating realistic strings, etc. than the GP03 manual does.

But - to be honest, I didn't give the GP03 manual a chance. I assumed it focused more on the technical use of the interface. But, in my defense, who reads manuals? Very Happy

bpoco

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dobro
more personal tittle

Joined: 01 Nov 2003
Posts: 15587
Age: 30

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:51 am Post subject:

bpoco wrote:

dobro wrote:

I thought the Garritan stuff was samples, not synth sounds.

How about this:

http://www.garritan.com/gpo4manual.html

It's a good defense. I read them as seldom as possible. I like to get in there and just start using the gear. However, I've been amazed in the last couple of years to find that the manual's useful. Very often I'm on page 9 going: "Damn! Really? Who'd'a thought?" Laughing

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MDK
Active Member

Joined: 28 Mar 2006
Posts: 175
Location: North Carolina
Age: 58

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject:

I'd take a look at your MIDI velocities firstly. Most synths and samplers sound their best in the middle range of the 0-127 velocity scale. The problem with most people's keyboard playing is that they tend to play in the above-100 velocity range, giving them little headroom for accents. Use of expression controller messages (CC11) for swells and fades is helpful. Overlap notes for legato playing, or separate them slightly so you can hear the note attacks. Play like an orchestra, not a keyboard player. Each single instument plays only one simultaneous note, not chords. Use several different violin tracks on top of an ensemble patch for a more realistic ensemble sound. Don't quantize anything!!!! Hope this helps.

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bpoco
Active Member

Joined: 19 Jul 2004
Posts: 106
Location: Chicago

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:06 am Post subject:

MDK wrote:

I'd take a look at your MIDI velocities firstly. Most synths and samplers sound their best in the middle range of the 0-127 velocity scale. The problem with most people's keyboard playing is that they tend to play in the above-100 velocity range, giving them little headroom for accents.

Use of expression controller messages (CC11) for swells and fades is helpful.

Overlap notes for legato playing, or separate them slightly so you can hear the note attacks.

Play like an orchestra, not a keyboard player. Each single instument plays only one simultaneous note, not chords. Use several different violin tracks on top of an ensemble patch for a more realistic ensemble sound.

Don't quantize anything!!!!

Hope this helps.

Thanks MDK. I'll give them a try. I'm not familiar with CC11 ... I assumed swells/fades were primarily controlled with volume control codes.

bpoco

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MDK
Active Member

Joined: 28 Mar 2006
Posts: 175
Location: North Carolina
Age: 58

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:08 pm Post subject:

CC11 (expression) and CC07 (volume) can be used to do the same thing in most good MIDI hardware and software synths. I tend to use the expression controller for swells and fades, and volume just for the initial track volume.

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