Choices choices, always a pain...

So… after many years on going on low budget and freebies I finally got some of the tools I need (Komplete, Requiem Light and some more libraries from Pettinhouse, 8Dio, and Soniccoture) but I want some more soundtrack related things:
Strings
Cinematic Strings($499.00) or Adagio by 8Dio(Introduction Price: $399 ($599))
Rhythmic Electronics
Rhythmic Aura Vol. 1 “Acoustic” by 8Dio( $249) or EVOLVE by Heavyocity & Native Instruments(199,00 € aprox. $261.155)
So, any thoughts or sharing past experiences with those would help.
Thanks

I Preordered 8Dio Adagio Violins but I have already LASS Lite to cover up basses,cellos,violas. Cinematic strings has very beautiful sound and it covers up pretty much whole strings section but it lacks some articulations but all in all would be great choice.

I have both 8Dios Auras I&II. Those are more pulsing 16th type stuff etc. Great stuff to juice up composition. Evolve has drum loops, synths etc so it’s quite different compared to Auras. I’m thinking of getting Evolve+Mutations next My co-writer Mike has both Mutations and uses them quite heavily

I’m using Omnisphere choir stuff now but from next Audiojungle payout I will buy Requiem Light

Cinematic Strings is a decent sound – but they sound nothing like real strings to my ears. LASS is far far superior – especially LASS 2 .

I don’t own Cinematic Strings, but another composer does and he says he only ever uses one patch from their library….

The Aura products from 8Dio are quite overrated. I do own both of them and I’m quite disappointed – some of their sounds are pretty cool, but I don’t think either of these products are even close to being worth $250. You’d be better off buying Omnisphere to be honest!

For what it’s worth you can achieve the ‘pulsing / cinematic /rhythmic electronic’ effect VERY easily on any sound (especially when combined with a good reverb) if you use a product called ‘Camelspace’ by CamelAudio. This will get you far more original and creative results in the long term. I can not believe that this plugin is as cheap as it is – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !

Camelspace – http://www.camelaudio.com/camelspace.php

However, if your choice is only Aura or EVOLVE , you should definitely go with EVOLVE because it’s just a better library that is INCREDIBLY well-produced, very useful sounds. Especially as they just reduced the price (the price used to be 100 Euros more). The Mutations pack is also great, and is a wonderful expansion to EVOLVE .

If you’re looking at general orchestral/soundtrack stuff – you’d be wise to consider Spitfire Audio – Albion. They might not have a huge amount of articulations – but the ‘sound’ of this library is first class.

Another option is ProjectSAM Orchestral Essentials – similiar product, different kind of sound to Albion.

If you’re looking for general articulations just for strings at this price though, LASS Lite (or full if you can afford it) is really the best place to go, or Hollywood Strings Gold. I would personally avoid Cinematic Strings, but you will get different opinions from everyone.

Hope that helps.

garethcoker said

Camelspace – http://www.camelaudio.com/camelspace.php

That looks interesting and is quite cheap, gotta add it to shopping list:)

Thanks guys for the great tips. Highly appreciated.
I’m checking the links

garethcoker said
Cinematic Strings is a decent sound – but they sound nothing like real strings to my ears. LASS is far far superior – especially LASS 2 .

So you would definitely recommend getting the paid upgrade from LASS full version 1.x?

you want something professional?

Do not tell anyone.

@bcrutchfield – Oh gosh yes, – it takes a while to get used to all the new updates, but the SOUND is so so so much better than LASS 1 .5. Plus the upgrade cost should only be $129 for you I think?

They provide a bunch of multis for you to get started so you can understand how the string arranging and new Stage and Color system works.

But talk is cheap – here are some of my own audio examples.

Tech Demo 1 – https://gareth-coker.box.com/s/8zrssb1meccvk34ez5cf

Sound is not particularly ‘deep’ – but this is out of the box using the built in stage and color reverb supplied in LASS . Written in 5 minutes.

Tech Demo 2 – https://gareth-coker.box.com/s/b9hbl0amuebxmasluy23

Tech Demo 2 is a real-time one take performance of one multi (Violins and Viola) in LASS 2 . No external effects.

On previous versions of LASS , it was SCARY to write strings this high because the sound was absolutely unbearable. This is not perfect, but it’s so much better than before. Sound is just more natural than before and has a lot of ebb and flow.

On both tech demos – note how the sound is much more ‘alive’ than previous versions of LASS .

Contextual Demo – https://gareth-coker.box.com/s/4ykj4a7hpfv2xmfcb0t3

I had to put the watermark on this one (this is not for audiojungle, but for another project). The strings – while not really featured – become more prevalent from around 1:00. Solo violin is pretty good – at least until I get it replaced by a real person!! Not as harsh or as thin as the original LASS .

Of course, this might all be useless once Adagio comes out – but Adagio isn’t out yet, so…..

As for DVZ Strings – I heard about that some time ago. It’s pretty good, but I don’t think it’s that much better than Hollywood Strings or LASS – CERTAINLY not for the price you pay. It’s also another interface, and needing another computer, etc.etc.etc…. – most composers – especially ones who have hard deadlines – won’t bother with it. I don’t know a single composer who is using it.

For those who have pre-ordered Adagio by 8Dio – I think that it’s just going to be an amazing extension on what LASS 2 currently offers. Colin O’Malley – one of the developers for Adagio – also beta-tested the original LASS .

The difference with LASS now – is that while the sound is a little bit thinner than say…Symphobia or Hollywood Strings – there is so much more SPACE – which means other sounds around it shine – which is perfect for orchestral productions. As a result, because of the better sound, you can also be a bit more adventurous with your string writing. Those who use sample libraries WELL know that you have to write FOR the samples to get them to sound good, and that can be limiting. LASS opens up a whole load of new doors and it still manages to sound ‘cinematic’.

Also, one of the main features of LASS 2 that most people don’t notice is all the humanization scripting that they’ve added – and this is what in my opinion – makes it by far the best string library out there, especially once you know how to use it properly.

This is of course, just my opinion though

Sorry for derailing the thread Mihai!

Yeah I definitely prefer the sound of the high strings in your demos, thanks for the detailed (as always) overviews and advice on plugs/samples you give around the forums here.

I look forward to Adagio as well, hopefully it will end up offering a better solution even than LASS 2 to the thin high strings. For now I’ll just pick up LASS 2 and start on that (hopefully not as huge as version 1) learning curve.

garethcoker said
Sorry for derailing the thread Mihai!

Actually it’s very interesting read and listen