Understanding glissando and portamento will help your string orchestrations to stand out, whether you're recording live strings or using MIDI to program articulations. Here's how.
The rise of mechanical robot orchestras is just beginning. Think of this as a fusion between MIDI controlled robot operators, real acoustic instruments, and a laptop running Ableton Live.
If you have ever wondered how to make your orchestral MIDI parts sound more believable, how to work faster and get better results, you'll want to watch these two short videos.
Your approach to programming virtual strings depends on whether they will eventually be played by real instruments. This short video has some pro library selection advice.
NI's Symphony Essentials distils the best of its larger Symphony series into a more affordable and compact collection - but it still sounds great, as Matt Vanacoro demonstrates.
The latest offering from Best Service contains a wealth of multi-layered sampled orchestral instruments. Jay Asher put it to work creating some lush sounds for his productions.
An atonal orchestral phrase library can be just the ticket when you're looking for something a little different for your scoring or composition work. Gary Hiebner road tests Sonokinetic's Espressivo.
A professional orchestra sound module/sample library with effects for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch? Matt Vanacoro finds out if Crude Byte's iSymphonic Orchestra app delivers.
Vienna Ensemble Pro 6 is a mixing and hosting application for making a multiple computer network for serious cross-platform audio production workflows. It also comes with a 9GB Orchestra VSL library!
Cinematic Studio Series says their new Strings library for Kontakt is bursting with character with stunning true-to-life dynamics and a wide variety of articulations. Jay Asher puts it to the test.
You want epic cinematic sounds for film scores and trailer music, but also lots of control over the sounds? This. Is. It. Orchestral Tools Metropolis Ark 1 is simply stunning. Jay Asher delves deeper.
Aimed at the professional composer, NI's new Woodwind Solo and Woodwind Ensemble instruments are two more Kontakt instruments that bring earthy woodwind orchestral sounds to your tracks and scores.
So, you need a beautifully recorded solo clarinet software instrument with a lovely tone that is expressive with lots of control? Jay Asher puts the John Diamanti Fox Solo Clarinet to the test.
Version 5 of Garrison Personal Orchestra is a major update, with more than 500 instruments that aims to put a complete symphony orchestra in your DAW. Gary Hiebner puts it to the test.
A mastering app for desktop and iPad, an iPhone portable holder and mount, an orchestral plug-in that combines synthesis with samples, and more were on show at IK Multimedia's booth at Musikmesse.
MakeMusic tell us that GPO 5 is a major update to their award-winning sound library and includes additional instruments and techniques in an accessible and affordable package.
Interested in learning tips for orchestration and scoring, for both MIDI & "real-world"? This excerpt from Thomas Goss' book on 100 Orchestration Tips that accompanies his Ask.Audio videos is for you.
Thursday 17th December saw the launch of one of the best Google Doodle's in my opinion. In this interactive musical puzzle you're tasked with rearranging some Beethoven classics. A must-try.