magesy (alternative): Best Service - Peter Siedlaczek's String Essentials

String Essentials is a carefully programmed, virtual instrument with innovative solutions. Great sounding samples in 5 different lengths, up to 4 dynamic levels, various runs and natural release samples have been carefully recorded using 3 microphone placements: close (dry), normal and ambient. You can choose the best sound for your music - including Surround. The unified key switch system with direct, instant access to the all important articulations, quintuple alternation switch (Staccato, Quarter Notes) and precise control of the dynamic response of the samples using different Midi parameters provide a spontaneous, playful and intuitive handling of the sound material.
String Essentials is based on the world's leading sampler technology, the Native Instruments Kontakt Sampler / Player. Peter Siedlaczek managed to use its power down to the last detail. It works as a stand-alone player application or as a player plug-in, in both Mac and Windows environments.

Dear Friends, I am happy to introduce you this comprehensive, thought-through and ergonomic virtual string orchestra. It couldn’t have been realised earlier, without today’s computer and sampler technology. In its carefully programmed patches you will find many innovative solutions, to help achieve your music goals even more quickly. The result is a spontaneous, playful and intuitive handling of the sound material. With unified key switch system and direct, instant access to the all important articulations. Including quintuple alternation switch (Staccato, Quarter Notes) and precise control of the dynamic response of the samples using different MIDI parameters. String Essentials will enable you to focus on the most essential part of your activity - your music - creatively and easily. Just load and play it! New great sounding samples in 5 different lengths, 3 or 4 dynamic levels, runs and natural release samples have been carefully recorded using 3 microphone placements: close (dry), normal and ambient. You choose the best sound for your music. Including Surround ! I did my best to use the power of the world’s leading technology, the Native Instruments Kontakt Sampler down to the last detail. The result is a complex, yet easy-to-use musical instrument. I am sure you will play it with enthusiasm and enjoyment! Peter Siedlaczek String Essentials Comprehensive and easy-to-use virtual string orchestra • 14 violins, 10 violas, 8 cellos & 6 double basses • no sampler needed • spontaneous, playful and intuitive handling • thought-out, innovative solutions • complex, yet convenient and ergonomic patches • completely new material recorded with three different mic set-ups, providing ambient, normal and dry samples • world-leading sample player software included • works as a plug-in in any standard or as a stand-alone application • 17 GB of great sounding samples in 5 lengths and 3 or 4 dynamic layers • immediate access to nearly all the playing techniques via key switches • fast and convenient sample character shaping using midi controllers (Accent, Expression, Crescendo Time, Portamento Depth/Time, Tempo, Run Shift, Release Time, Release Off, etc.) • more realism with run and ornamentation tools • release trigger • multiple alternation switching - from double to quintuple • surround Just load and play it!

Format: VSTi/DXi/RTAS/AU/HYBRiD/DVDR
Price: $359

"Peter Siedlaczek first made his mark with some fine string-orchestra samples which found their way (uncredited) into the Roland sound library. To this day, people tell me they still prefer these strings to any of the huge orchestral libraries released since! The Polish maestro's new 17.5GB String Essentials brings us a string orchestra of violins, violas, cellos and double basses. The sections are presented separately and also blended together
into full string sections, something Mr Siedlaczek does extremely well — the mapping is done so skilfully that it's almost impossible to hear any joins.

The samples were recorded in a Warsaw studio from three microphone positions, not (according to the producer) to vary the amount of ambience, but to exploit the different tone produced by close, medium, and far mic placements. This calls into question the pleasant, brightish, one-second release tails heard on the end of the so-called 'ambient' samples. Once the release trails are turned off, the difference between the three mikings is pretty subtle; the most obvious difference being that the 'normal' position has a slightly lusher sound and wider stereo image than the 'dry' samples.

String Essentials' programs gather together a collection of playing styles which users can select via keyswitches. Each string section plays sustains, mono legato, tremolo and trills (all looped), three lengths of short note, staccato, pizzicato, and fast runs. The mono legato mode is OK for slow melodies, and its optional portamento effect introduces some tasty Bollywood-ish upward slides, but the legato effect can't cope with fast runs. Pitch wheel-driven glissandos (available for all sections) are difficult to control, but capable of yielding some thoroughly mad slides. In the staccatos program, push the mod wheel all the way up and you get an invigorating, disco-style fast 'fall' at the end of the note.

All four sections perform fast runs in a major scale which is chromatically shifted to fit all keys, and the violins have an extra set of 140bpm, key-specific major runs. You can use the Kontakt instrument's tempo control to change the speed (but not pitch) of the runs. Users get a huge amount of control over the samples: the Kontakt instrument's knobs control expression, crescendos, attack, and release tails level, and MIDI Continuous Controller number 24 can be used to introduce a layer of staccato samples — very handy for adding definition to fast lines.

These strings sound consistently good — each section has a distinct character, and the blend of the four is very satisfying. The Polish musicians play with an expressive, controlled vibrato, excellent tuning, and some feeling. Although some might find the wealth of technical detail intimidating, experienced samplists will be pleased to find such a large fund of high-quality, musically intelligent string performances in one ready-to-play package."

Contains:
Number of instruments: 14 violins, 10 violas, 8 cellos and 6 basses
Recording environment: 360 sq.m. recording studio
Microphones: Shoeps, Brauner, Brьel & Kjaer.
Mic setups: close (dry), neutral (normal), distant (ambient)
Recording equipment: ProTools Mix / Appogee, RME Fireface 800
Recording format: 24 bit (dithered down to 16)
Mic preamps: Focusrite
Capacity: 17,6 GB
Number of samples: 23,805

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Monday, September 22, 2008

Best Service - Peter Siedlaczek's String Essentials

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