Review & Comparison - LA Scoring Strings 2, Cinematic Strings 2, Berlin Strings. I
![捣鼓音符的小胖[Van Zeng]](http://yt3.ggpht.com/MpwcNP0Hgxd4RDoUHQwVgeLKcPT0i0XCfXsV0hI-xtWR5ooY8aJGp01e9qfeAcYlIWupBSldew=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- Review & Comparison of Differrent String Libraries, LA Scoring Strings 2, Cinematic Strings 2, Berlin Strings. Episode I, Short Notes
1st Track 1:40 LA Scoring * 2:32 Cinematic * 3:20 Berlin,
2nd Track: 1:56 LA Scoring * 2:49 Cinematic * 3:36 Berlin
(0:29 1st Track 0:46 2nd Track layerd/mixed)
Thx a lot for this comparison!
Yes, from the pieces you played I think you're right when you said sometimes lass doesn't sound epic. cs and bs were pretty much the same imo, both sounded plenty real and epic. I was gonna get lass, but now I'm confused again. Thanks for making this, it helps!
I love Lass dryness
I love it too. But when the music needs to be juicy, only adding reverb won't help.
By far the most important concern for a string composer is the legato (especially the really quick legato) articulations as the note change alone and nothing else, betrays the difference between artificial or realistic sound. Shorts and sustains are by far the easiest bow techniques that were already very realistic even from the Roland sampler days.
This is one of the few videos that directly compares these 3 libraries. I have CS2 and Berlin. Doesn't sound like I'm missing too much with that LASS, other than Divisi and bone dry external reverb compatible samples of course. You got your Berlin Strings to sound much better than mine ever did. I've literally retracked my entire album with CS2 replacing Berlin Strings tracks and the far inferior 8Dio Adagio Strings tracks. The improvement was enormous, even more so when I layered the new Cinematic Studio Strings library on top. Studio strings sounds utterly fantastic, even with no reverb, and there are more articulations. CS2 also sounds amazing and has a runs patch capable of keeping up with even the fastest parts. CS2 is meant to be used with a little reverb, so what you hear in the video seems to be the default setting. You can dial the reverb knob all the way back to negative infinity, and the samples still sound really good dry. CS2 and Studio Strings are really easy to learn and their individual raw samples sound better than Berlin IMO. I agree Berlin suffers from being too in depth and giving the user too many options, which can be overwhelming, and the mechanics of their Capsule GUI will take one much longer to master. It would be worth the time if the samples were entirely convincing, but they are often not, especially on arpeggios. The bow string effects added onto the original recordings are also sometimes very off putting. The Cinematic Interfaces are intuitive and easy to learn - very fun to work with. I'm able to create the music as I hear it in my head with these tools. Still sort of glad to have Berlin for the endless articulations (I'd be happier to have my $875 back), but I'd rather have 20 articulations with dynamic crossfade than 50 with no dynamic crossfade capability.
LASS is definitely on the thin side. Its comparison didn't have reverb so it wasn't entirely fair but the metallic sound of the strings could not be fixed solely by reverb.
This is the best comparison I have ever seen! Would you let us know comparatively how much time it took to work with these libraries? It would be very helpful to know which one was the easiest to work with.
THX! I used them for almost 1 month. Some of them longer.
Great review Van. Thanks for taking the time to make this. I have Lass 2.0 and am looking for something smoother to compliment the "realness" and closeness of LASS. Waiting on Synchron Strings to hear more demos. :) Thank you.
Thanks for sharing your point of view, Van Zeng. It really helped me out!
I came for the comparission and finaly stay for the demo, awsome compossition man!!!
That first demo is freaking awesome! Any chance to get a midi to learn from it? :)
Why didn't you mention the ARC in LASS? It offers many things, but probably the most important to this video is it offers stage placement and early reflections. Granted it's a pain in the neck.
Thanks for your reply. I'm planing to make a chapter about these misc functions of the libs. ARC is one of them. This video now you're watching is making comparisons of some basic features, how they sound, how their patches are organized, etc. And about ARC, in my opinion, is a saving-time feature, which means it lets you use it with ease. In other word, you can achieve the same result without using it. Right?
+Van I just meant that to someone watching this that does not know about LASS they might think there's no solution that comes with the product that allows for staging and reverb. LASS 1 had the great Numerical Sound IRs for early reflections and tails. So it's always had something. It seems that people want baked-in reverb these days, so I probably would have mentioned it or played back an example with ARC even if your saving that for another video. Good video and music though.
Yes, the sound comparison has no objectivity by not even mentioning the LASS's IRs. You are talking about it as a missing feature... which is not! :)
Steve Steele I think the ARC is a beautiful tool. Agreed, it isn't the easiest to set up, but once you have it set up, it becomes so easy to change settings on the fly and yes the Stage and Colour feature as well, along with divisi and all those lovely things. Actually without ARC using Virtual SoundStage can help in setting up stage positions and early reflections. I actually find it easier for me to use Virtual SoundStage to place all my instruments so that they are all in the same stage.
Which library has it all? Including runs..
Excellent video, thank you very much!
I forgot to mention, I haven't been able to find Episode II Sustain Notes. I'm sure you're an extremely busy composer and haven't been able to find the time to do it, but I'm sure a lot of people beside myself would love to get your comparisons of the different libraries sustain notes. I'll keep checking back!
nice workshop.
please write your berlin strings setup
I really liked your demo. I wish you could make a video about Legatos on those Libraries.
Hi.Nice review. Thanks. I'm thinking of getting my first string library, mostly to play pop songs, love songs such as beauty and the beast, a whole new world or somehwhere over the rainbow music kinda of stuff, and some epic music here and there....not too classical, though I will load classical stuff if need to. I kinda need you advice, would Lass 2 suits for that, or the new Cinematic Studio Strings? (not getting berlin coz too pricey.) Thank you again
I think maybe lass2 suits for your need and I guess Cinematic Studio Strings is good too. But I didn't try Cinematic Studio strings.
I second that! I have Spitfire Symphonic Strings, a few 8Dio libraries, CineSamples CineStrings Core and also have used East West Composer Cloud Strings, and even using just the single close mics there's still room sound that bleeds in. When fast notes are played right away they sound not-real. Also, except for Berlin Strings all long notes have a swell, so there's a slight but noticeable pumping while the eight notes keep moving, and the whole note at the end swells. I definitely prefer doing my own swells with the mod wheel.
Can re interpret what you said it sounds interesting.. you mentioned swell. When does swelling affect the mix negatively? Also you said room sounds that bleed in meaning natural Reverb of the rm? I'm looking for a library that has runs but sounds fat and Epic what would you recommend?
Very good demo. LASS has been updated since. How is the noise floor on LASS? I hear people complain about the hiss build up.
Thx Man, Verry God Video.
The Very First Strings Before Compare the VST , is that The Real Strings Symphony???
Thank you. No it's still midi programmed.
Hello sir, can i get the script?
Cool demo and very informative. Thank you!
what about session strings
Sorry but I didn't use session strings.
Van cinestrings
Sorry but I didnot use that either.
which one is your favorite string library?
Well that depends on the soundtracks I wrote. All are my favorites, plus Hollywood Strings and NI Strings.
Which top notch library has a variety of solo and ensemble strings that you would recommend?
Well that's a difficlut question for solo and ensembles strings are normally seperated libraries. Lass has first chair which could be treated as solo instrument. But first chair sits right in the position of the first chair in the orchestra. I don't know if this is what you need, because in most cases composers need the solo ones jump out of the band.
Thanks
Have you tried Cinestrings?
I have Cineharp and Cinebrass, and these are just plain horrible programs. Everything from malfunctioning controls to clipped samples that were recorded too hot. I can't imagine the Strings are a far superior product.
the trumpets don't have vibrato which is a huge deal breaker. Check out Chris Hein's Orchestral Brass. The trumpets sound good there.
You have such an interesting voice :)
One direct another with lots of ICE cold beer
whats ur soudncloud man
soundcloud.com/vanzeng
tried LASS 2 ... this 15.7 Gb library sucks big time, not worth the asking price, chris heins are better ... not even close to Spitfire / Berlin orchestras.
Berling does not have the bite. too many gigabytes for average sound
I agreed. Now I'm still using LASS to get the bite.
i dont know why there is such a fame about Berlin. firstly they released library with waaay to many bugs. such bugs you cannot believe. articulations on some instruments differ for a whole tone, and when i turn back on VSL Dimensions, or LASS, ther is bite, there is wood in sound, and , last but not least, tone plays immediatelly. in Berlin i must make /50 miliseconds delay.
You got those bugs too? :)
yes.i dont personally own it. my friend bought it, and we tested it. he claims it is waste of money. 3x more expensive than actually sounding. VSL libraries, despite the fact some people hate them, have no bugs,