Performance Samples Pacific Ensemble Strings [KONTAKT]

• Writer: Performance Samples
• Product: Pacific Ensemble Strings
• Necessities: Kontakt 6.6.0 and above

Pacific – Ensemble Strings is a symphonic string library that includes 16 violins, 12 violas, 10 cellos, 8 basses, a solo harp, and a 3-violin FFF overlay. It’s one a part of the complete PACIFIC orchestra (ensemble strings, solo strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion). The library – that includes as much as 14 dynamics – gives an ambient, classical-leaning sound in customary orchestral seating place, and was recorded in the identical room as Fluid Shorts 2, in addition to the Con Moto collection, Caspian, and the unique Fluid Shorts.

Articulations

From the very starting, the thought with this challenge was a symphonic string resolution providing a wide range of frequent articulations in a single package deal which might be pretty general-purpose versus specialised. The strings have a reasonably complete articulation record however are additionally missing by way of issues like a number of variations of arco shorts and considerably extra esoteric articulations (sul pont trem, col legno, and so on). The PACIFIC orchestra was initially simply strings, with the brass/woodwinds/brass/solo strings recorded in a while to fill out the opposite orchestral sections (and they don’t seem to be fairly as complete, however nonetheless provide a powerful “meat-and-potatoes” assortment and another options).

Other than extra frequent articulations, there’s some exploration of small variations on conventional articulations, resembling marcatos with brief, phrase-sourced RR releases able to staccato-esque phrases (type of like Offended Brass Professional), and whisper sustains (delicate, quasi-harmonic/sul tasto with a dynamic vary).

Dynamics

There’s no specific dynamic bias on this library. It wasn’t about making a library constrained to ultra-aggressive or terribly delicate and delicate; however reasonably making a library able to each, and in all places in between. Ample session time helped accomplish this, yielding a major dynamic vary all through the library. It’s an attention-grabbing expertise enjoying a string patch with a really massive recorded dynamic vary, with specific consideration afforded to the delicately distinct shades of the f-ff area, permitting the accessibility of a reasonably thematic, sturdy timbre that doesn’t have the abrasion of the very best FFF increased up on the mod-wheel. Though it’s only one a part of the mockup puzzle, it does open up some new doorways by way of programming nuance.

Performance

The library employs performance-sourced/repetition sampling closely, and whereas there was actually further consideration and deal with the legatos, there may be typically nothing groundbreaking happening by way of new sampling approaches. It’s reasonably about honing in on some historically-successful PS approaches (and/or variations of) with a bunch of concentrated musicians. The library typically leans away from tremendous quirky or wildly experimental by way of strategy. There might be different tasks for that sooner or later.

Room

The sound of this library is decidedly symphonic and classical. There’s a considerably homogeneous high quality to it, partially as a result of ensemble dimension, but in addition attributable to an absence of over-the-top vibrato (though that is reasonably subjective). The mic setup is easy: an AB pair after which stereo shut mics per part. It’s not an awfully detailed sound, however the wash of atmosphere is counterpointed by reasonably spirited performances and really constant enhancing. Consideration was paid to correct session recall by way of sustaining the primary mics steadiness and place between classes to retain a pure steadiness.”

Consistency / Playability

The artistic emphasis of general consistency lends itself to a reasonably predictable nature by way of transferring between dynamics and basic perform. Regardless of the bigger ensembles, the performance-sourced strategy used right here has the tendency to stabilize the gamers whatever the dimension of the group, particularly with repetitions for brief notes as there’s much less room for timing interpretation with a quicker paced rating configuration.

There was additionally quite a bit completed by way of smoothing out mod-wheel and velocity perform whereas conserving precise recorded dynamic quantity and timbre in thoughts — a fragile steadiness and ongoing purpose in growth. The shorts have management over the pattern “pre-delay” time, along with layered, under-the-hood script overrides for optimizing atmosphere within the assaults and “dynamic no-follow” subtleties on accented notes. Total, the library actually nonetheless requires sensitivity to the pattern content material by way of mockup decision-making, however the basic thought is for issues to play reasonably intuitively when you familiarize with the library.