New string quartet library from Spitfire: Sacconi Strings

[mhschmieder]

Finally, a library of solo strings meant to slot into a chamber music setting vs. a solo or orchestral setting:

http://www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-z/s ... ngs-vol-1/

The only other chamber music libraries I have found so far are ones that sample a quartet together and then split the notes when you play chords -- as though anyone writes chamber music that way!

Regular solo strings are too forward to blend in a quartet setting (or other chamber configurations).

[mhschmieder]

There was an earlier library that I linked here at the time it came out, but haven't used much. As I recall, it didn't pan out in usage, but I should revisit it soon.

SNAP! Acoustic and Sound Design String Quartet is also a Kontakt library. My recollection is that it is unconventional, whereas the Spitfire library is meant to cover a lot more ground.

I have probably spent more money on Spitfire libraries than I should have -- and have been resisting many of their newer ones -- but the ones I use are "can't live without" at this point. Especially their chromatic percussion and ethnic winds libraries. By far the best programmed and organic of any.

[nk_e]

Chrysalis looks interesting also. Spitfire is on quite the roll these days.

[mhschmieder]

I'm too broke from unexpected expenses as it is, so I tried hard not to like Chrysalis.

Not sure what I'd use it for, but certainly an interesting concept, to bow a concert harp and/or "prepare" it like a piano.

Given that the main sound mechanism of a piano is its "harp", I guess it was only a matter of time before people started mangling the basic sound of the concert harp as well.

[David Polich]

Thanks for posting this, Mark. I didn't know until I watched the videos that this is just Volume 1 which is a single violin. So at this price, the whole quartet will come out to $400, give or take.

For $100 for a 30GB violin, this seems like a no-brainer. Thankfully, the controls include vibrato depth from the mod wheel, which is the number one feature I'm always looking for. The articulations are all what you want and seem to be recorded very well. Too bad the audio volume in the videos is
incredibly low (except for the interview with the violinist). Not sure what that's all about.

This seems destined to end up onmy hard drive.

[kgdrum]

Agreed this looks very nice as are all of the numerous Spitfire libraries I've accumulated over the last couple of years.

@David the quartet might not be quite that pricey as the 2nd violin and the viola will be released as one.

It's an interesting time for sampled libraries,the developers are getting better at it and the choices are numerous.
I'm going to get Sacconi Strings as well as the Virharmonic Soul Capture series.
Now I'm downloading the Orchestral Tools Ark 1 library,damn I spent way too much $$ this holiday season,my finances are a total mess! lol
It will be nice to get out of buying mode for a while and use all of these nice new libraries.............

[mhschmieder]

The next volume has been announced as Cello, and then 2nd Violin and Viola will be combined as the third volume (much later).

So, it will only be $300 or so altogether.

EDIT: Oops, didn't mean to take the punch out of KG's post, but we were actually writing at the same time.

Although not really appropriate for most chamber music, I am still waiting for Best Service's Emotional Cello to go on sale. For solo work, mostly.

[cbergm7210]

Although not really appropriate for most chamber music, I am still waiting for Best Service's Emotional Cello to go on sale. For solo work, mostly.

Being a full time producer for 23 years and classically trained violinist for 43 I am a sucker for solo cello in any mixes I can get it into. (All string players deep down wish they were cellists.) I am anticipating Spitfire's solo cello, to say the least.

Not to hijack the thread, but this particular solo cello is delightful to put into mixes:

https://cinesamples.com/product/tina-gu ... llo-legato

[HCMarkus]

Not to hijack the thread, but this particular solo cello is delightful to put into mixes:

https://cinesamples.com/product/tina-gu ... llo-legato

That sounds nice. On sale for $69? Sounds really nice!

[nk_e]

Not to hijack the thread, but this particular solo cello is delightful to put into mixes:

https://cinesamples.com/product/tina-gu ... llo-legato

That sounds nice. On sale for $69? Sounds really nice!

+1. This is a beautifully played and recorded instrument. Not a lot of tweakability, but then it doesn't need a lot either. Just beautiful.

Best thing in the larger library IMHO.

[Shooshie]

Pretty sound, but it suffers from what they all suffer from: canned vibrato. I don't hear the variability I'd like to hear, but that's a whole can of worms I won't go into right now. Solo cello needs that spinning vibrato, and the ability to express it fully in real time.

Shoosh

[nk_e]

Pretty sound, but it suffers from what they all suffer from: canned vibrato. I don't hear the variability I'd like to hear, but that's a whole can of worms I won't go into right now. Solo cello needs that spinning vibrato, and the ability to express it fully in real time.

Shoosh

I think that's a fair observation. It really has a beautiful sound though.

[Shooshie]

Pretty sound, but it suffers from what they all suffer from: canned vibrato. I don't hear the variability I'd like to hear, but that's a whole can of worms I won't go into right now. Solo cello needs that spinning vibrato, and the ability to express it fully in real time.

Shoosh

I think that's a fair observation. It really has a beautiful sound though.

Oh, I can think of a lot of things I'd like to do with it. Definitely a pretty sound.

[HCMarkus]

Used sparingly, would be very effective. I think I'm gonna' make a purchase.

[mhschmieder]

For those who can't wait for the cello entry to this chamber collection and don't mind a more "in your face" sound for solo work vs. chamber work, Emotional Cello is now part of the 2-for-1 sale on Best Service libraries at various websites (Best Service, Audio Deluxe, and others).