My Top 7 Strings Sample Libraries (For Every Purpose)

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  • Опубликовано: 25 ноя 2024

Комментарии • 84

  • @vivo-audio
    @vivo-audio Год назад +24

    I often feel that Audiobro's 'Modern Scoring Strings' and it's accompanying 'Expanded Legato' are often overlooked. The strings are lush and dynamic with many articulations, and include one of the most powerful and intuitive engines on the market, in my humble opinion. They're certainly more mellow sounding than 'LASS 3', but absolutely worth considering for a place in your arsenal. We really are spoilt these days and I've been using samples since the Akai S1000 was first released.

  • @LotusEater14
    @LotusEater14 Год назад +5

    What I use:
    Solo strings - Cremona Quartet (NI), Gypsy Violin (EW), Lyrical Cello & Violin (Sonuscore).
    Ensemble strings - Session Strings Pro 2 (NI), Intimate Strings (Spitfire), The Orchestra Complete 3 (Sonuscore).
    I have many more libraries, but these are foundational with me coming back to them often.

  • @MBynum
    @MBynum Год назад +2

    I tend to use the same two or three string libraries regulary and some of my others for layering or supporting background sound. I tend to compose romantic and melancholic music with minimal instruments. I just purchased Berlin Symphonic Strings today, so it'll be fun to see how well that one sounds.
    -Everyday Use: Spitfire Appassionata, CSS
    -Solo Strings: Sonixenima Intimate Legato Cello
    -Free/Low Budget: Spitfire Originals Intimate Strings
    -Thematic/Atmospheric: Albion One, Contemporary Drama Toolkit
    -Modern/Hybrid Cinematic: Albion One, Areia
    Romantic/Emotional: Spitfire Appassionata, CSS

  • @DJKLProductions
    @DJKLProductions Год назад +3

    For a long time I only had CSS as my workhorse, but for a few years now I've also owned the Berlin Symphonic Strings, which have replaced CSS as main library. However, I still use CSS for layering. So I use BSS as the front, while CSS runs in the background at -5 to -8 dB to round off the sound.
    Otherwise, I also use the standard Berlin Strings if I need to fake divisi. If I need muted strings, the Berlin Con Sordino Strings are my choice. For effects, I like to use the corresponding expansion packs from the same series.

  • @studioonetutorials
    @studioonetutorials Год назад +5

    7:05 How beautiful does this passage sound!?!? 🤯♥

  • @PeterTMusic
    @PeterTMusic Год назад +4

    2:08 I caught that! Great theme

  • @UXMetalVTuber
    @UXMetalVTuber Год назад +4

    Been waiting for a video like this for a long time. Very much appreciated!

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  Год назад +1

      Glad I could help!

    • @Maplefoxx-vl2ew
      @Maplefoxx-vl2ew 6 месяцев назад

      @@KevinKuschel shoulda mentioned the offset times of each library in this video.. i'm putting together a video for my vtuber channel, this is my side channel for browsing.. i will explain how new composers should focus more on sketching and learning.. i'm really struggling with CSS .. i'm using my DAW and midi to learn instrumentation. arrangement and orchestration.. having your instruments able to play in time is essential for this learning experience.. i do never want to have to deal with offset times again in my life while sketching or writing.. i can switch to the CSS sound after if needed. i will suggest Aaron Ventures products, Acoustic Samples, SWAM.. and Sample Modelling, Tokyo Scoring i will do a demo because i have it.. do you know any other software we can play on time? i mean for every articulation.

  • @MrOrkhanbektash
    @MrOrkhanbektash 8 месяцев назад +1

    All this years I tried many of plugins. Near to close and natural sound I can say with confidence for me it`s 8dio products.

  • @matthiasrother9743
    @matthiasrother9743 Год назад

    After a longtime user of vsl se 1 plus and hoopus I discovered sample modelling strings and since a couple of weeks Audio Modeling strings. It works absolutely great. I studied the cello. That helps me to understand how Audio Modeling is working. And especially with the solos I can achieve almost everything I can imagine. From scratchy banded tremolos to con sordino sul tasto with unparalleled consistency. They still have to improve the sound a little. But to be honest: if the people I write for like the composition, they don’t care if I use east west or modelled strings. But as I said: with AM I can do everything (except col legno, which sounds horrible in the solos and don’t even exist in the sections)

  • @maplefoxx6285
    @maplefoxx6285 Год назад +2

    as a video game composer I would only choose CSS because for me the sound blends better with synths and other non-orchestral instruments. I find CSS hits nice and hard for short passages as well. for that epic boss battle Hollow Knight sound. Pacific strings do sound amazing and lush for that orchestral classical sound yes. I love CSS and CSB tho. Tokyo Scoring Strings is also great. They have updated it a few times now since it was released.

  • @AlbertKimMusic
    @AlbertKimMusic 11 месяцев назад +3

    Do you know how to prevent Pacific from constantly doing that unwanted portamento. It can't seemed to be mapped or controlled by velocity or anything like CSS.

    • @crevalation2691
      @crevalation2691 10 месяцев назад

      Unfortunately this is the shortcoming that we have to grudgingly accept for such as beautiful library. Lowering the dynamics help. Its use if limited as a results for my purpose, but where it shines, it is stellar!

  • @MikeBurnsArrangedAccidents
    @MikeBurnsArrangedAccidents Год назад +2

    It was great to see Areia in the running. Can't wait to check out the new additional legato articulations in the recent update. Highly underrated library. It even manages mono compatibility for close and tree mic samples, something which only LA Strings can do from what I've gathered. CSS was a godsend when I was first starting out. Absolute quantum leap forward in quality and ease of use over my 8 Diablo strings. Audiobro's Modern Scoring Strings is almost certainly the biggest workhorse library of them all. It can do everything I need it to do other than sound quite as gorgeous tonally as some of the other libraries that have less flexibility and fewer articulations. I can get it really close with EQ curve matching and Altiverb though. Actually, the close mics of Modern Scoring Strings are far better samples than CSS, which relies much more on its excellent Decca Tree recordings for it's sound.
    I must be the only one to be as put off by Pacific Portamentos as I am. It's so popular. Is there any way to sub out that glide with a shorter legato sound? Pacific is a great company though that usually has me at not having to fiddle with my MIDI notes for timing, with every sample locked to the grid using a brilliant look-ahead feature.
    I'm almost obligated to buy Afflatus as a thank you to Strezov for making the best choir library of all time. I never thought choir would be one of the first sections for me to say "I'm good" on.
    Aaron Venture has me covered on winds and brass. Not sure what the status of Infinite Strings is. That might be my final string library.
    Good to see the overrated Berlin not in the running. Beautiful tone on the long notes. Cannot handle speed. It does, however, boast the only double bass section whose tone I absolutely love: smooth and non-whoopie cushion sounding. Good to see Cinestrings not in the running. Don't have it, but even if it were 10 times better than their severely overrated horns, I'd still like it less than CSS.
    For solo I've got Joshua Bell. Utterly insane sample library, which again, I'm shocked that something as delicate as a violin would be one of the first instruments to say "I'm good" on and not feel the need to make another purchase. Solo by Audio Imperia is absolutely solid. The ancient Nocturne cello is still my favorite cello solo overall. Sorry Tina (though her library's legato work is best in class).

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  Год назад +2

      Thanks for your feedback, and very interesting thoughts! Yes, Pacific is quite slurred/portamento heavy. It gets a bit less on lower dynamics (just tested on the violins, it reduced a lot. on the cellos it didn't).

    • @MikeBurnsArrangedAccidents
      @MikeBurnsArrangedAccidents Год назад

      @@KevinKuschel I could see them fixing this, assigning these recordings to a glissando articulation and adding in short legatos. That seems to be the only deal breaker. How are the double basses? Most libraries have bad tones in the upper resonant frequencies.

    • @MikeBurnsArrangedAccidents
      @MikeBurnsArrangedAccidents Год назад

      It's a shame Aaron Venture has stalled his progress with Infinite Strings. His brass and winds are my absolute favorite aside from having to record each individual instrument separately (no sections) and a surprising amount of phase cancellation from left to right even with close mics. It's got something to do with the IR because he recorded everything up close in a bone dry room with XY mics. He seems to really have taken people's feedback to heart, but his stuff is second to none when it comes to runs. Every individual instrument is on par with the best solo library. Even the saxophone.

    • @spiral-m
      @spiral-m Год назад

      Jings, thanks for mentioning that - I would've missed it otherwise! There are some annoying issues with legato patches 1.1 especially with no vibrato! We'll see if they sorted that bit out

    • @serox8887
      @serox8887 6 месяцев назад

      If you already own Berlin Strings I would definitely give it another chance because it had many updates over the years. Many people don't like the Berlin series because they bought it many years ago when it still ran on kontakt. On the sineplayer the legato now works perfectly. I would even go as far and say that I like the Berlin legato even more than the vista one.

  • @filmscorelife4225
    @filmscorelife4225 7 месяцев назад +2

    I LOVE Cinematic Studio Strings. To me....its the closest to James Horner's sound. I use it in EVERY composition since 2022.

  • @spiral-m
    @spiral-m Год назад +2

    Areia has great shorts especially, which cut through the mix very nicely where many other libraries sound washed out. There are some issues though like Setting vibrato to zero on legato patches exposes vibrato on the sample start. The transitions in legato sound clunky in some patches. Pity they messed those up or just cut costs. I've just been listening to spitfire Appassionata and they sound really great but I'm not sure if you can get rid of vibrato if you need to.

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  Год назад

      Have you set the sample start to the highest values for Legato? (250ms).

  • @adirsab
    @adirsab 3 месяца назад

    orchestral tools sounds great.

  • @AverFlow
    @AverFlow Год назад +2

    Cool duck in the back 😅

  • @DesoloZantas
    @DesoloZantas 4 месяца назад

    Vista is one of my favorites to be honest. The only thing I wish it had was more articulations. That's the only thing that's really missing. Other than that, I cannot wait for Vista II

  • @Leomonsang
    @Leomonsang Год назад +1

    Nice video ! What do you think about DOLCE of Audio Imperia?
    Do you test it?

  • @MarikaSchanz
    @MarikaSchanz Год назад

    I love your videos! Its fun to watch thanks for the recommendation. :)

  • @electedmusic7685
    @electedmusic7685 11 месяцев назад

    OT BENJAMIN WALLFISCH STRINGS, THE BEST SOUND STRINGS LIBRARY OF THE WORLD

  • @MadelnMachines
    @MadelnMachines 11 месяцев назад +1

    I'm a techno / house producer and really don't have too much idea about producing orchestral music. I do prefer more minimal compositions and orchestral mixed with synthesizers etc - things like Max Richter, Ludovicio Einaudi, Olafur Arnalds, Craig Armstrong, Cinematic Orchestra - Arrival of the birds, and I love Ramin Djawadi - Dragonstone. What library particularly for strings and piano would you recommend? Areia modern?

  • @andrewfeazelle
    @andrewfeazelle Год назад

    idk which one would you suggest for more old school classical writing? My style is retro-early 20th century British school of music: Walton, Bax, RVW. When I wrote my 1st symphony like over 10 years ago (actually all three of my symphonies), I was using the Vienna Symphonic Library, first edition, and not to its fullest extent. I was mostly just trying to make a score and parts for live musicians, and the midi recording was an after effect. And I have some sort of Vienna Instruments samples for solo strings, but it sounds very nasally and brash regarding the violins. These newer libraries sound more like an end product on themselves, and not just a means to make a mock up for a conductor to listen to.

  • @Scr1pted
    @Scr1pted 5 месяцев назад

    Thanks you, give us more horror strings ❤❤

  • @TheBroadcastStudio365
    @TheBroadcastStudio365 10 месяцев назад

    Subscribed!🎉 You’re fantastic!🎉happy 2024

  • @adrianoguilhenbastogeferre602
    @adrianoguilhenbastogeferre602 11 месяцев назад

    Thank you a lot!

  • @jenssieckmann
    @jenssieckmann Год назад

    My favorite is by far CSS because ... I don't have another one 😁

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  Год назад +1

      Fair enough, you got yourself a good one :)

  • @b.h.f5116
    @b.h.f5116 Год назад +1

    Thanks for the video Kevin, do you use more pacific or CSS ? I love pacific but at higher dynamics the upper register sounds almost like portamentos on every note, I'm eyeing CSS to solve that. Also what are the colors you're using in studio one for the tracks ? I feel like the contrast is very bad in the software and those colors are helping a lot, is it custom or in the vanilla software ?

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  Год назад +1

      Depends on the e project. Pacific for large and lush, CSS for smaller-than-symphonic stuff usually. Sometimes I layer in Vista for more definition. My S1 is vanilla, I simply changed the colors of the tracks.

  • @rasmussgaard2596
    @rasmussgaard2596 Год назад +1

    You're next level dude! 👍 Do you have a recommendation for a string quartet or quintet library suitable for pop and folk music? Thanks!

    • @stixhistishi
      @stixhistishi Год назад +1

      I'd say something like Cremona Quartet by Native instruments can work well?
      A bit larger would be a chamber strings library of your choice...

    • @rasmussgaard2596
      @rasmussgaard2596 Год назад

      Cool, thank you! What is your favorite "small" sounding chamber strings library?

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  Год назад +1

      Thanks! Don't have a dedicated quartet/quintet library. Some of my other libraries have one or two quartet patches (e.g. Afflatus and Metropolis Ark 5 both have quartet/quintet spiccatos). Favorite chamber strings is probably Spitfire Chamber Strings, but not sure if may be a bit roomy for pop productions.

    • @rasmussgaard2596
      @rasmussgaard2596 Год назад

      @@KevinKuschel Thanks man! Yeah, I'm looking for a really intimate sound for an indie folk/pop kinda vibe. Roomy and big is definitely not desired keywords for me :) Really unsure what library to get though...

    • @jenssieckmann
      @jenssieckmann Год назад

      ​@@KevinKuschel I wonder what library to use for pop and funk/disco production. I need these 70s disco style down glides at the end of the notes. I tried it with CSS and automating the tune knob but that doesn't sound very good.

  • @davidseymour6246
    @davidseymour6246 11 месяцев назад

    Very interesting - thanks. The new Benjamin Wallfisch string library from Orchestral Tools sounds astonishingly alive to my ears (divisi recordings/up & downbow recordings/no looping). Have you had a chance to try that yet? Sadly rather expensive.

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  11 месяцев назад

      don’t have the space for it right now. it’s huge

    • @davidseymour6246
      @davidseymour6246 11 месяцев назад +1

      Ah yes - good point! That’s the downside of “No looping” I suppose.

  • @gcruishank9663
    @gcruishank9663 6 месяцев назад

    I'm a film composer and agree that Cinematic Studio Strings is still the best overall. The muted strings are gorgeous. However, I still haven't found a great library for creating convincing osstinato pasages, other than Sonokinetic which are recorded passages so they are very limited. For the others I always find using the spiccato samples unconvincing, Just not enough round robin samples and they just don't sound realistic. Any new recommendations?

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  6 месяцев назад +1

      Watch out for Performance Samples‘ upcoming releases (Fluid Shorts 3, Vista 2, the next Pacific libraries).

    • @gcruishank9663
      @gcruishank9663 6 месяцев назад

      @@KevinKuschel yes, I will indeed, thanks

  • @HuwRees
    @HuwRees Месяц назад

    I find the volume between sustained and staccato varies wildly - big dealbreaker

  • @aphilzitrone
    @aphilzitrone 10 месяцев назад

    wish i had the money for that :D

  • @jenstornell
    @jenstornell Год назад

    The cello (with a woman on the cover) in Musio is the best long string cello I have ever heard. Have you tried that?

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  Год назад +3

      That's Tina Guo cello, it's great!

  • @somsnosa_
    @somsnosa_ Год назад

    which of these would be lighter on the CPU and RAM while also having a good sound? (i have 8GB of ram)

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  Год назад +1

      If you go full orchestral (meaning you have other instruments that this one strings library loaded), I'd stick with an all-in-one orchestra like Nucleus until you are ready to upgrade your RAM.

    • @somsnosa_
      @somsnosa_ Год назад

      @KevinKuschel Thank you. So is nucleus the best all-in-one for low RAM? Or are there other contenders?

    • @somsnosa_
      @somsnosa_ Год назад +1

      I have tried the Berlin Inspire 2 from a friend of mine, which seemed to be light on the RAM but I found that library to have very few options for a bread and butter a versatile library which is what I'm looking for

  • @hersh_yt
    @hersh_yt 10 месяцев назад

    Hello, can anyone please tell me Disney or Cartoon/Animation movie like sounding strings plzzzzzzzz😭

  • @AudioImperia
    @AudioImperia Год назад +1

    😍

  • @Myspacemeta
    @Myspacemeta 8 месяцев назад

    Surprised Joshua Bella Violin, and Tina Guo Cello didn't make the cut

  • @Dougschannel59
    @Dougschannel59 Год назад

    Cinematic studio string 2 any good?

    • @KevinKuschel
      @KevinKuschel  Год назад +1

      It still holds up quite well, but it is dated by now.

    • @Dougschannel59
      @Dougschannel59 Год назад

      @@KevinKuschel ok thanks I was interested on this as I come across many that prefer it to CCS thanks for your reply

    • @dustintheblacklight
      @dustintheblacklight Год назад +1

      @@Dougschannel59It sounds even better to my ears than more modern CSS with completely new recordings. I am not alone with this opinion. But all is matter of a subject taste ofcourse.

    • @Dougschannel59
      @Dougschannel59 Год назад +1

      @@dustintheblacklight yes I thought that might be the case I've just ordered it thanks

  • @nandoflorestan
    @nandoflorestan 11 месяцев назад

    I think there's something strange in the voice leading between violins and basses in the thing you composed for this video.

  • @KevinKuschel
    @KevinKuschel  Год назад

    What are your top strings libraries for the following purposes? Fill the template with your picks!
    - Everyday-use:
    - Solo strings:
    - Free/Low-Budget:
    - Thematic/Atmospheric:
    - Modern/Hybrid cinematic:
    - Romantic/Emotional:

    • @jmmm2703
      @jmmm2703 Год назад +1

      Everyday-use: Areia Lite
      Solo Strings: Tina Guo Cello
      Free/Budget: Spitfire Epic Strings
      Modern/Hybrid: Areia Lite
      Thematic/Atmospheric: Sunset Strings
      Emotional/Romantic: Not sure :)

    • @chrisanderson9981
      @chrisanderson9981 11 дней назад

      @@jmmm2703 Ty for bringing that up -- I like the price point of Areia LIte as I'm currently not interested in spending 400 on strings.

  • @DimWayaa
    @DimWayaa 5 месяцев назад +3

    Pardon me slightly off topic but: when it comes to solo strings, there's really no excuse for not hiring real musicians (!) in my opinion.

    • @B.Saiju207
      @B.Saiju207 5 месяцев назад +1

      Then using a solo string library would be a great tool to hear it before hiring someone then right? Why hire someone if you arent sure if you'll get the outcome you want

    • @DimWayaa
      @DimWayaa 5 месяцев назад +2

      @@B.Saiju207 Ah, but of course, your are 100% right. I still think I have reason to assume some might rather put their budget on more virtual instruments though ,) since they're so good these days. All I'm saying is, if you have the chance in a budget to help keeping the species of classically trained musicians alive, do it .

    • @HuChing-ob4kk
      @HuChing-ob4kk 5 месяцев назад +1

      @@B.Saiju207 and BOTH of you would be correct. Hanz Zimmer uses software to create his scores so the producers will have something to hear before hiring real musicians to perform....in previous times you had to write the score, have an orchestra perform it when see if the producer like what you wrote.
      There is nothing like the individual sound and technique of a real musician that adds character to a sound

    • @rodterrell304
      @rodterrell304 5 месяцев назад +1

      Money, money ,money.

    • @F4xP4s
      @F4xP4s 2 месяца назад

      Might even be cheaper!