happy customer
I just got around to dusting off my old BC3-A and fired up the sample modeling sounds I recently purchased.
I'm amazed at how great the programming of these sounds is and how natural the velocity control for portamento feels. I used to be a professional horn player in my youth, and I find that if anything, I can play more expressively on the sample modeling horn than my real one( although it is embarrassing to admit ). With a keyboard and breath control one can also do crazy stuff that would be totally impossible on a horn.
I particularly love that the needed range of expression is built into the instrument, so one can play the desired phrase live without needing to do a lot of work switching between samples and such.
This is really the first time I've had a digital instrument that really performs the way I want it to. (and I've purchased and tweaked a lot over the years) Thanks so much!
Here's hoping you folks will come out with some strings! Please!!
I'm amazed at how great the programming of these sounds is and how natural the velocity control for portamento feels. I used to be a professional horn player in my youth, and I find that if anything, I can play more expressively on the sample modeling horn than my real one( although it is embarrassing to admit ). With a keyboard and breath control one can also do crazy stuff that would be totally impossible on a horn.
I particularly love that the needed range of expression is built into the instrument, so one can play the desired phrase live without needing to do a lot of work switching between samples and such.
This is really the first time I've had a digital instrument that really performs the way I want it to. (and I've purchased and tweaked a lot over the years) Thanks so much!
Here's hoping you folks will come out with some strings! Please!!
Comments
As far as i know Woodwinds are next. But as soon as that is completed i´m sure you can expect something to bow...don´t forget that the Gofriller Cello was also made by (some of) these masterminds and i´d say it was ahead of it´s time and well programmed.
I normally invite solo string players into the studio and think it will be the hardest to emulate instrument group. But i´ll give them SM-dudes a try, mockups can´t be good enough for the customer to buy them... :roll:
Amount and speed of the vibrato can be controlled, it´s versatile, has a nice sound and is works at slow and fast tempi. The ensemble option works surprisingly well (SM could offer something similar, like the SM horns had special patches for tutti-playing). KSW enables slur and bow change legato.
It works well enough, there might be more possible than i discovered now as i did not dig into everything too deeply as i am into the middle of a project.
The violin helps a lot when positioned "into" a section (i tried hollywood strings / Eastwest as well as the Albion 2 Hi Legato / Spitfire), similar to the first chair of LASS (but better).
I think the SM might be more flexible and hopefully offers more options like sul tasto / ponticello etc., but if you need Solo strings in the meantime: this one should be it, as far as i know there is no alternative on the market right now. Embertone also already announced a Cello, Viola and Bass might follow.
I purchased it, and just starting to play around with it... not so "out of the box" as the SM instruments, but there are many controls available, and I will be experimenting to see if I can get it to play satisfactorily. Will keep you posted.
I program the Friedlander via midi CCs per mouse after i recorded it using the modwheel for dynamics and you can achieve really good results.
The violin comes in mono and stereo patches. It has a reverb-knob but it´s much better to keep it dry and place it on a good sounding virtual stage (via Altiverb, for example).
If that is done and your programming is good you´ll think: this is the only solo violin on the market that i can show somebody without being ashamed.
But it´s still a way to go until one (who ever heard a real violin) will believe it might be real.
Embertone also announced a free update:
We captured a new set of sustains, tremolos, sul ponticello and a great set of pizzes! Sample chopping begins soon, and the update will be free.
This is the instrument to beat for Samplemodeling when the time comes. I believe they´ll do it, but it´s always good to have worthy competition.
SM is still the superior VI maker for what they do.
I too have the Friedlander violin - for a little while now. It took a bit of getting used to at first but i really like it now - especially since you can use it with touchOS on an iphone and ipad - controlling 2 controllers at once with two fingers. It also has the sections part as well which is an added bonus. the solo violin has a nice natural sound to it. You can use touchOS on SM instruments but so far i can only get it to control the modulation which is fine for now. (in conjunction with a pedal for CC11)
The company who does this violin (Embertone) is coming out with a pretty expressive cello (Blakus-a composer and cellist from NZealand) i have the free version which he did for Kontakt (a surprisingly great effort for a very first VI) and the sound on it is really good-lots of texture and character in the sound - originally done by a real cello player (Blakus-above) for Kontakt 5. Embertone will now extend the range and no doubt make it more playable etc. When i was buying the Friedlander i had a short communication with the owners at Embertone and i suggested that they check into the Blakus cello - to my surprise they were already two steps ahead of me and already working hard on it.
Del
Question for the Friedlander users here - do you use it for live playing or recording. I find that using the Kontakt based VST or AU in the host (Plogue Bidule) seems VERY laggy (latency). I find it quite unplayable, frankly, and feel like I wasted my money with this one. Anyone else have this trouble?