IK Multimedia tell us that the new Miroslav Philharmonik 2 provides a more emotionally expressive orchestral library with over 1,000 new string, brass and woodwind instruments and is easy to use.
Spitfire Audio's Symphonic Strings Vol. 1 and 2 hit all the right notes with their exploration of lesser sampled orchestral music articulations. Toby Pitman finds out if Volume 3 deserves an encore.
Spitfire Audio tells us Albion One is everything you need to make "epic sounding, modern music." Well, it certainly is a well-recorded, usable Kontakt sample library. Watch the video below for more.
With many realistic orchestral libraries available, Garritan's Instant Orchestra aims to do what its name suggests: provide easy access to creating great sounding orchestras quickly and without fuss.
Native Instruments have released two new Kontakt instruments in their new Symphony Series: Brass Solo and Brass Ensemble. Both can be purchased individually, or you can get them as a collection.
When mixing your next project (especially orchestral) spare a thought for your audience. Using pre-fader sends, Peter Schwartz shows how to simulate how sounds will be perceived.
We're almost a month late with this one (got lost in the noise at Musikmesse). Aria Sounds London Symphonic Strings, volume 1. It's still on sale so check it out now!
Imagine being able to bring back lost vintage instruments. NPR talk to Robert Howe and Sina Shahbazmohamadi on how X-rays and 3D printers can do just that.
When it comes to building a MIDI Orchestral template (or any style in fact) in your DAW, is it worth the time & effort building a template that could end up being temporary? Peter Schwartz finds out.
UVI Orchestral Suite is a complete symphonic orchestra toolkit that delivers over 60 instruments for just $199 USD. UVI call it, "The Essential Symphonic Orchestra Collection".
Capriccio from Sonokinetic is their largest cinematic sample library to date. Lynda Arnold delves into this unique product that provides high-quality orchestral sounds to composers of all levels.
There's lots of string libraries to choose from but not many include muted samples. Numerical Sounds Universal Sordino provides IRs for convolution reverbs to simulate the muted sound you're after.
We've all used samples. And when it comes to using a sample-based MIDI orchestra, there's a number of techniques and tricks we can use to make them sound more realistic. Peter Schwartz to the rescue.
EastWest tell us their new Hollywood Orchestral Series is a detailed and comprehensive orchestral percussion collection featuring unprecedented control of sound and instruments.
Impact Soundworks has just released a new Kontakt sample library,
featuring a highly comprehensive set of symphonic percussion recorded
with 3 mic positions!
Is the much talked about "Hollywood sound" attainable in your studio on a budget?Is it even desirable? Joshua Aker blasts this utopian ideal out of the water in this enlightening read.
Join A-list orchestrator, Thomas Goss '" along with top professional orchestra players '" and learn the art of composing and orchestrating for strings in this 3+ hour video course from AskVideo.com.
The tools for authentic sounding orchestras are here. But, that automatically make your string sections sound good! Jay Asher shares six tips to help make your orchestral compositions unique.
If you're a composer with Kontakt and not heard for Spitfire Audio BML series you're in for a treat! MURAL, Volume 2 is here and features carefully sampled strings recorded at AIR Studios, London.
If you've never imagined using BFD with concert percussion for film scores and commercial compositions, FXpansion have a treat for you with their new BFD Orchestral expansion pack.