Name: The MIDI Orchestra - Enhancing Realism
Price: 12.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Overview

Status: Available

Orchestral sample libraries are everywhere. You can buy cheap ones or you can shell out some serious cash for the top of the line libraries. And while the quality of your sample library is important, solid MIDI techniques can make ANY orchestral sample library sound more real. You just need to learn the tried and true methods that MIDI master and orchestral composer, Peter (Ski) Schwartz, reveals in this example-filled, information-packed, super-cool course!

Think of it this way: The samples are the instruments... and we all know that instruments can't play themselves! The MIDI notes are the score... and the score is just a musical roadmap. So where does the "real" MUSIC come from? We're talking about the all important stuff like expression, phrasing, dynamics and feeling that is key when you're trying to emulate a room full of great musicians! Well, the answer is all in the artful programming of the MIDI CCs and all of the behind-the-scenes MIDI techniques that you, the virtual conductor, bring into the production! That's exactly what Peter Schwartz explores and teaches you how to accomplish in this 40+ tutorial course!

Whether you're using a premium orchestral library like EastWest or the basic one that came with your DAW, this course, on enhancing orchestral realism, will guide and inspire you to make your orchestral productions as authentic-sounding as possible. So grab your virtual MIDI conductor's baton, open up your favorite sample library and start making orchestral scores that are almost indistinguishable from the real thing!

Outline

Section 1: Section 1: Gettng Started

Section 2: Section 2: Perspectives on Using Sampled Insruments

Section 3: Section 3: Dynamics & Dynamic Control

10

Dynamics Essentials

5m 51s

Section 4: Section 4: Velocity Control of Dynamics

Section 5: Section 5: Continuous Control of Dynamics

Section 6: Section 6: A Pause to Consider

27

A Question of Intentions...

8m 30s

Section 7: Section 7: Beyond the Basics

Section 8: Section 8: How Samples Fake Us Out

Section 9: Section 9: Bonus Content: Writing for Harp

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What to do next

Reviews

superb course wrote on April 27, 2023

probably the best tutorial I've seen on ANY subject. The graphical help is outstanding, the tips pragmatic & the information immediately useable. Bravo to the author. 10/10
(1)
Steve KIrk wrote on April 20, 2023

Fantastic course! I loved Peter's style and sense of humour which kept me engaged in what could be a very dry subject. Unfortunately, I now realise the limitations of my sample library and also the amount of effort I need to put into my MIDI editing! Ah well, if you use a free sample library I guess you have to expect limitations. If and when I upgrade to a paid-for version I'll be straight onto the next course to see what else is possible
(13)
Victor Garcia wrote on October 4, 2022

One of the best tutorials I've seen. It's October 2022 and the information is still relevant, it not only gave me more insight into MIDI orchestration, it also made me think more about orchestration for real instruments. It gives a lot of pointers that will be helpful even when working with "regular" synths in terms of making things sound more real. Highly recommended!
(15)
Ron wrote on April 25, 2022

Easily one of the most informative and enjoyable courses I've taken on line! Peter provides plenty of general information here but doesn't shy away from digging under the hood and exposing critical technical details that I haven't found in other instructional material of this type. Well worth the time and tuition, and I'll be watching this again to refresh these ideas while working on various aspects of mock-ups in the future. Well done, Peter!!
(1)
Jahe wrote on November 21, 2020

This course, presented with attractive and humoristic animations helped me familiarize with and clarify concepts that seemed confusing to me. The teacher really knows the job.
(1)
It's 2020 and still relevant! wrote on January 18, 2020

Great course, amazing teacher, interesting and fun. :) It's great to watch this in 2020 because 4/5 years later, the mockups in the course still sound incredibly better than most things out there.
(1)
Rawl wrote on September 19, 2019

I am truly impressed with the both the quality of the content and the quantity of material covered. One instrument that is missing is of course the piano itself. While most folks use a keyboard for MIDI input of notes, many myself included are not piano virtuosos. Like all sample based virtual intruments, the piano has both its limitations and characteristics during live performance based on player skill level and capabilities that are not always well represented in sample libraries. So, even this instrument should benefit from similar analysis and MIDI techniques just like the rest. That not withstanding, there is so much excellent material presented in this course on how to achieve better more realistic MIDI mockups but perhaps just as important, great explanations as to why one should employ each technique and how each technique relates back to live performances. Bravo. I would not hesitate to recommend this course to anyone looking for this knowledge.
(1)
Very beginner-friendly and infor wrote on July 17, 2019

I appreciate Peter Schwartz's kind and sweet teaching style! He's humorous and very musical in his explanations. It's surprisingly rare talent either academics or professional musicians. I am very happy to take this course and also recommended to many other media composers :) Thank you so much, Professor Schwartz!
(1)
DP wrote on October 23, 2018

Brilliant! Packed full of useful information and presented in a very easy to understand manner.
(5)
LB wrote on February 6, 2018

This is an incredible course. It has a wealth of very relevant knowledge, is very well structured, very practical and very deep.
(1)