Film Score & Orchestra Software

C

Contact_Therapy

Well-known member
Who is scoring their own films and what are people using to do it?

I know nothing about this area of music making but am very curious as to the results people can get.

Does anyone have any recommendations or samples I could hear?

Thanks.
 
There are two main orchestral libraries at the moment:

- VIENNA Symphonic Orchestra
- EW QL Symphonic Orchestra

And also lot other smaller libraries. You should really take a look at their demos at the websites:

http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=EW-155
http://www.vsl.co.at/

Both of those, I mean Platinum versions, costs very very much, but there are also smaller libraries, for example EW QL Gold, which might be a good choice...

It's totally possible to create great orchestral scores with computers today. But it doesn't mean it is any easier to make music. In the end of the day it's all about your musical ideas and orchestration skills in this case.

Hope this helps a bit. :)
 
Thanks petelms.

What about hardware? Is there any special sound card I would need? Special type of keyboard?

Also, would you happen to have any book or website suggestions for someone who has never orchestrated anything before?
 
Both of these huge libraries, Vienna and EW QL, are very power hungry. Some professional users are using 8 PCs to run only EW QL Platinum! But that would be an overkill for the beginner, of course. So, to get started, you can manage with one PC...but soon you will have another one also...heheheh...-:)

And yes, I would really recommend you some decent MIDI keyboard. Check out for example M-AUDIOs midi-keyboards: http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=midikeyboardcontrollers

I personally have M-AUDIO Keystation PRO 88 and have been very very happy with it.

And yes, you will need also a better soundcard for your PC. M-AUDIO has also excellent low budget soundcards, for example Audiophile 2496. Here's the link: http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=pciinterfaces It is also compatible with Tascam Gigastudio, so you can use it also with it. If you are going to do everything inside your computer, then this kind of soundcard will be ok, no extra outputs and inputs needed! :thumbsup:

EW QL is a little bit easier solution compared to the Vienna because it is standalone plugin(s) which you can use with your host sequencer (like Cubase, Logic...). For Vienna library you must also have Tascam Gigastudio and sequencer to use those samples.

One excellent book about more technical sides of midi orchestration is 'The Guide To MIDI Orchestration - PAUL GILREATH 3rd EDITION' I ordered it a year ago, and can recommend it to anyone who's intrested in midi scoring. Check it out. http://www.timespace.com/french/midiguide.asp

And for more about the orchestration itself, here's an excellent book: "The Study Of Orchestration - SAMUEL ADLER 3rd Edition" You can also buy 6 CDs with it, they have all kinds of examples of instruments inside real orchestra.

Don't get me wrong, now what I say, oke...Making orchestral music with midi is extremely difficult task, even though we now have better libraries around. The thing really is how you use them and how to get them sound live and real. And when you listen to those demos for example in the EW QL site, they are sounding absolutely fantastic, but we have to remember that those people who have done them have fantastic skills of midi orchestration and composing. They really know what they are doing. And that skill doens't come with the Orchestral library when you buy it. I mean, it can take years and years for one to get some good stuff of those excellent libraries. So, when you start your own orchestrating, the number 1. advice is NOT to give up! :thumbsup:

I'm glad that I could help you a little bit. :) Just ask, if you have anymore questions, who knows I might know the answer.
 
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