The process invloves using our sample libraries; namely the whole Miroslav Collection, Ilio Virtuoso Strings, EastWest String, plus a whole lot of other pro-level sample libraries. Our own cutom-built
sample 'programs' are built from these also.
Just to put things into perspective a bit, the whole Miroslav Sample library will set you back around £3000, plus you've got to have the additional equipt/software to use them.
These stunning sample libraries (and the 'programs' I have created from them) are chormatically sampled from real live instruments, all with different articulations like staccato, legato, marcatto, expressive, hard, etc, etc. The string libraries even have up and down bow samples, different samples for different dynamics, pizzicato, martello, spicatto, sul ponitcello, sul tasto, hard, soft, expressive, etc, etc. choose from a group of 32 violins or 11 or 2 or 1, same for Viola, cello and double bass (in their respective ratios within the standard String Orchestra)
For any string sampling, I usually use the Ilio Virtuoso Strings, a 3 CD collection costing £1000 - I also use the EastWest Strings and although that is only a 1CD set, I usually combine these with the Ilio Virtuoso Strings and layer them for the best possible textures. All of these libraries have user programmability in mind, so we can layer different samples together to make a super lush Violin section sound with a really high attack at a dynamic sfp cresc, for example.
These are incredibly realistic and enable composers to hear thier music as if it were performed by a real musical ensemble.
The reason for the mega jump of £150 for a full Symphony Orchestra, is to do with the sheers size of the project, take an Orchestral composition and using samples to play it back is an incredible job.
All prices are based on per minute of music to be sampled.
Also, fo the most part £15.00 per minute is the one most go for and these are much more popular than the likes of a full orchestra.
As for the EQ, Multiband compression, Limiting and Reverb, we use the Waves Plug-in's. For anyone not in the know of current technology, they are superb and will set you back around £3500 (or more depending on your host software) Also, u've got to know how to use them, which for the most part, most users will be able to tinker and produce a reasonable sound but I have the experience and training to master the recording properly, so as to enhance the sound of the sampled recording and not simply demolish it with loads of compression and limiting, etc.
Just to clear up any confusion, we use Sibelius v2.11, we are hopefully going to be getting v3. I have yet to hear the Sibelius playback sound set on v3, However, it works on the same prinicple and protocol as General MIDI, so if it's a Trumpet part, it may have darck trumpet and soft trumpet and bright trumpet, but it wont have the different articulations and dynamic response that our sample libraries give off - if it did - you can be sure Sibelius 3 would be knocked up to a very pricey £3000+
However thois is not to knock Sibelius 3 soundset. Some users will be happy with it I'm sure, but why not give us a go, if it doesn't work for you, then fine - we will do a sample of your firstscore for FREE (Web will be updated with the fact this only applies to the first score you send to us)
Even if we get Sibelius 3, we will not be using their soundset for the VirtualScore service.
Also, our mistake was using the word Sibelius, you music can be in any form really, be it handwritten (however me may add an additional cost for this - currently under investigation) Most people write on Sibelius now (we've all been in the Sibelius debate
) It's just a lot faster and easier if we have a MIDI file or a Sibelius file to help us get started.
The whole track is compiled in Cubase SX, using HaLion 2 as the sampler! Waves plug-in's are DirectX.
We do not use Sibelius for any part of the process. If some sends us a .sib file, we will open it in Sibelius and save it as a MIDI file, and then import the MIDI file into Cubase SX. From there we can manipulate EVERY parameter of the music.
Although sampling uses MIDI, it does not conform to General MIDI, which is how the real magic can be done. With General MIDI u have a Tumpet preset and Violin preset, etc, hey presto the whole part is played from the one preset. Sampling take every single note and we can assign each note to a different sample.
Hope this answered you're questions if not, just tell me where I can elaborate further. :lol:
