String section

[Jahbulon]

So I have a friend who wants to record some tracks and he has midi files that he wants to be "very apocalyptic string/orchestral stuff" and I was wondering what free programs you guys are using (if any) to get those sounds. I never use strings in my own songs so I don't think i can justify dropping money on a commercial product.

 

[Moonlight_Seeker]

What are apocalyptic strings? Any albums for reference? And free string orchestras usually are far from the real deal but I obviously don't know all of the free vsti out there.

 

[Jahbulon]

What are apocalyptic strings?

Haha honestly I don't know that's how my friend summed it up. Please excuse my noobness on the subject. It's just strings and synths never had a place in anything I've written so I never had the opportunity to mess with it. My friend just sent me this, apparently they have the sound he was going for.



Also I'm not asking for a magical preset or anything just a direction as to what program I could use.

 

[Moonlight_Seeker]

Well according to the first 2 minutes these strings don't seem too "far fetched". But they sound like they came out of something like the EWQL plug-in, the quality seems nice. There are like 1000000000000 and I just decided to do like everyone and get the EWQL. But if you really have to go only the free way I would browse through a lot of string orchestra plug-ins and decide the one you like. And they sound like only one string orchestra so it's quite easy. And personally I think that such "metal strings orchestras" should have a very quick attack and I like it when they have a long release. And there's too many subkicks in that song.

And then how to make it fit with the band, well it depends on the frequencies already used by the band. Example, the guitars are strong around the 1200 frequency then I would remove some 1200 frequency in the strings. Kinda like a puzzle? And I would personally try many panning alternatives but something around L50 and R50 should work. If you pan it more in the center it might sound too little when the band is not playing ( if that happens ) and if they are more to the sides then, the band might not give the uber boomba that it should when it kicks in.

ps : I know there is a topic somewhere in this forum that links a lot of free plug-ins but I can't find it right now and I am hungry.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Ah, I get what you mean by apocalyptic in this context.
I came across this about a few weeks back: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3585766#3585766

 

[Jahbulon]

Well according to the first 2 minutes these strings don't seem too "far fetched". But they sound like they came out of something like the EWQL plug-in, the quality seems nice. There are like 1000000000000 and I just decided to do like everyone and get the EWQL. But if you really have to go only the free way I would browse through a lot of string orchestra plug-ins and decide the one you like. And they sound like only one string orchestra so it's quite easy. And personally I think that such "metal strings orchestras" should have a very quick attack and I like it when they have a long release. And there's too many subkicks in that song.

And then how to make it fit with the band, well it depends on the frequencies already used by the band. Example, the guitars are strong around the 1200 frequency then I would remove some 1200 frequency in the strings. Kinda like a puzzle? And I would personally try many panning alternatives but something around L50 and R50 should work. If you pan it more in the center it might sound too little when the band is not playing ( if that happens ) and if they are more to the sides then, the band might not give the uber boomba that it should when it kicks in.

ps : I know there is a topic somewhere in this forum that links a lot of free plug-ins but I can't find it right now and I am hungry.

Wow thanks I didn't even think about mixing them . I think I will eventually purchase Quantum Leap, but that's for a time when I have the money to throw around (which may not be for quite some time).

Ah, I get what you mean by apocalyptic in this context.
I came across this about a few weeks back: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3585766#3585766

Wow looking at the GUIs it's hard to believe they are freeware. I have the .dlls and I plan on giving them a go sometime tomorrow.. Thanks for showing me them, I appreciate it.

 

[Moonlight_Seeker]

Ah, I get what you mean by apocalyptic in this context.
I came across this about a few weeks back: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewto...585766#3585766

Ah yes that was what I was thinking of. Nifty. It is now bookmarked, will try later.

Wow thanks I didn't even think about mixing them

Bah, if the plug-in is of good quality you basically don't have a lot to do except for the EQing within the mix and maybe a compressor. If you want to go a bit more wild there is always reverb/delay and distortion for too soft strings and/or tape and tube sims.