Rich's Virtual Instrument Round-Up (Summer 2006)

Many of today's professional and home studio setups are a hybrid of technologies; high-quality stereo and surround monitors, a DAW, tape or HD recorder, a console/controller, several choice pieces of outboard gear and a lightning-fast computer. However, it’s what lies hidden inside that computer that may be the most powerful tool of all. The new generation of virtual software instruments from companies such as Ilio and East West have revolutionized the way modern composers, producers, sound designers and engineers work. From immaculately sampled Bosendorfer pianos to 60-piece orchestras and exotic world instruments, the desktop has become an incredibly potent tool. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular products from each line and examine what they do.

Spectrasonics Atmosphere

ILIO By now, most of you have certainly heard about the trio of hot releases from Eric Persing and his team at Spectrasonics; Atmosphere, Trilogy and Stylus RMX. Most who buy one end up purchasing all three, as they quickly become indispensable creative tools that work with all major hosts like Pro Tools, Logic, Digital Performer, Cubase and Nuendo. The Atmosphere Dream Synth Module contains 3.7 GB of data with over 1000 sounds and layer elements. The core library was developed from every synthesis method imaginable, and can pump out lush ethereal pads, deep drones, vintage analog sounds, leads, shimmering pads and cool synth basses. Speaking of basses, you might want to try Trilogy. This Total Bass Module has 3 GB of tasty treats that can be layered in almost any combination imaginable. From the TB-303, Juno sub-oscillators, and Minimoogs to Fretless and Acoustic bass sounds, it’s a no-brainer. On the Acoustic bass alone, you not only have a DI, but also separate control over a Neumann U-47 Tube Mic captured through a Neve 1083 console. Add to that multi-dynamic velocity switching, fret/neck noises and a technique for unique multi-played notes called True Staccato, and it’s hard to believe you're not hearing the real thing.

Spectrasonics Trilogy Applied Acoustic Systems String Studio VS-1

Stylus RMX Groove Module has a 7.4 GB core library - with three times as much info as the original Stylus. There are over 10,000 new single hits, all arranged in easy to use categories. Aside of the ability to import REX files via ReCycle, it features a Chaos Designer that adds random elements to the performance. There’s also a great built in FX Rack, multiple stereo outputs and an 8-channel mixer. Honestly, one of the coolest things about it are the expandable Groove Control S.A.G.E. (Spectrasonics Advanced Groove Engine) libraries, such as BackBeat, Metamorphisis, Retro Funk, Bizarre Guitar and my new favorite, Ethno Techno featuring Bashiri Johnson. Ethno Techno offers traditional and original percussive grooves provided as Mixes, Remixes and Individual elements. I’ve used it on a handful of sessions recently, and it truly adds spice to any production. The fact that it’s a Groove Control product means that as I speed up or slow down my master sequencers tempo, it follows every move. How can you not dig that? Ivory V1.5: Synthogy’s Ivory Grand Piano is the best I’ve heard from any sample library. It features over 4000 samples (30G) from a Bosendorfer 290 Imperial Grand, a German Steinway Model D Concert Grand and a Yamaha C7 Grand. It runs on it’s own 32-bit playback and DSP engine, which can be hosted on every major workstation for both Mac and PC. Each key for all three pianos was captured individually, in stereo -as 32-bit samples. Note that there are no loops involved, as each recording is a fully sustained note to silence. There is also a full set of release samples for each key, at various key velocities and time intervals after the onset of the note. When each key is released, it triggers the appropriate release sample. Samples are provided for soft pedal playing as well, also at multiple velocities. Ivory includes additional effects such as Mechanical Key Noise, Velocity Response, Stereo Width, Timbre Control and Equal or Stretch Tuning. It even features the ability to choose between the audience and performer perspective – which quickly reverses the stereo image. There’s also a synth-pad layer and an Effects section with a two-band eq, chorus/flanger and a nice processor for various ambiences. Overall, it comes highly recommended. Applied Acoustic Systems String Studio VS-1: I just had to mention this unique product, as it's one that I turn to when needing something totally original. It swaps the traditional oscillator, envelope and filter for string model components interacting with frets, dampers, soundboards, bows, hammers, etc. There are sounds in here I’ve simply not found elsewhere. For a bit more, you can also pick up the whole AAS Modeling Collection, which includes String Studio, Lounge Lizard EP-3, Tassman 4 and Ultra Analog VA-1.

East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Choirs

East West: Symphonic Orchestra: I'm so impressed with the sound of the East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Library that it spurred me to begin studying Orchestration with an outside teacher (seriously!). It comes as a set of 4 sound libraries each with a custom Native Instruments Kompakt plug-in. Working on both the Mac and PC platforms, the sounds can also be loaded into the NI Kontakt sampler. Each Volume (Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion) can be ordered individually or as a complete Library. Every instrument sample contains high-resolution 24-bit components recorded in a “state of the art” 125 million dollar concert hall. The instruments are captured in their traditional orchestra positions using three independent recording setups – close (C), full mix (F) and surround (S). This creates three stereo versions for each sample, which allows the user mix the layers as needed for maximum flexibility. It also includes ‘release trails’ for each layer, whereas the software actually analyses the amplitude of the waveform when the key is released. That activates the release trail which is automatically and seamlessly matched to the keys amplitude, creating a lush natural sound for every sample. All instruments were sampled chromatically and at multiple velocity levels. Also recently released was the 138 GB Platinum Professional Orchestral Bundle, an expansion to the original that provides additional articulations and a new technology called Qlegato, allowing for smooth connection of slow or fast lines. Supported interfaces on both releases include VST 2.0, MAS, DXI, ASIO, RTAS, Soundmanager, FreeMIDI, OMS, AU, and Core Audio. Certainly, you will want (and need) a fast PC or MAC with lots of RAM to run this program! Symphonic Choirs: Another library I find myself constantly turning to is the EWQL Symphonic Choirs. Intended as a companion to the above Orchestra releases, it featuring 5 Choirs – Boys, Alto (Female), Soprano (Female), Basses (Male), Tenors (Male) plus Solo Boy, Solo Alto (Bulgarian) and Solo Soprano. Instead of just the traditional oohs and aaahs (which still sound amazing), it features a ground-breaking application called Word Builder that lets the composer type sentences that the choir sings. Wordbuilder includes a 100,000-word dictionary for translating American English spelling to phonetic spelling. Running within the host sequencer or as a standalone application, Wordbuilder is actually an extra stage in the MIDI-processing data flow, and ‘sits’ between the included Kompakt sampler and the sequencer. Presented with three simultaneous stereo microphone setups (close, full soundstage, hall response), Choir users can quickly blend any combination of mic positions to suit their mix – outputting full surround sound if need be. The basic samples come in two different types: Multis and programs. When using Wordbuilder, you are using multis- a collection of up to eight program files. Programs are primarily individual phonetic elements and effects, but you can collect up to eight of them and create your own reloadable multi. Quantum Leap RA: This is another library I turn to for almost unlimited inspiration. It’s a monstrous 14 GB collection of rare and ethnic instruments from Africa, India, Europe, the Middle East and Turkish Empire, the Far East and The Americas/Australia. Originally born from a sample library called “Rare Instruments”, most of the content was recorded fresh at Ocean Way Studios in CA. Nick Phoenix and the RA team used a phase-accurate 8 mic setup (Shoepps, AKG C12, Neumann U47’s, U67’s, M50’s) thru a vintage API board. The pristine samples include many articulations and FX, which is the true essence of world instruments. Some instruments such as African drums and the Middle Eastern string section were recorded as ensembles. The flexibility in RA’s Native Instruments Kontakt audio engine even lets you apply Egyptian or Indian micro tuning if you choose. There are filters, envelopes and LFO’s as well as integrated reverb, chorus and delay effects. Like the other libraries discussed above, it features Direct from Disk playback, as well as 32-bit processing and 256-voice polyphony. Some of the included instrument are; African Ewe, Batas, Gankokwe, Log Drums; American 1890 Washburn Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin and Ukulele; European Bag Pipe Ensemble, Alpenhorn, Hurdy Gurdy, Launeddas; Dizi, Erhu, Gongs and Koto from the Far East; Indian Sitar, Tablas, Tambura and Baritone Violin; An Armenian Duduk, Mid East Fiddle, Santoor and Zourna. As you can read, there is plenty of inspiration here, and I’ve created unique sounds by layering unrelated instruments. It’s almost hard to imagine instruments of this quality sitting on your desktop.

Quantum Leap RA

One thing all these products have in common is that you will need a fast processor and hard drive to run them. I’ve gotten great results keeping the samples on an external drive, such as the LaCie D2 Extreme using FW800. DFD streaming works by loading the preload buffer with the beginning of each instrument sample. This is necessary to start playing the samples immediately as each note is pressed. So each time the beginning sample is played from RAM, the DFD system can grab the next sample from the disk. Cool huh?