BBCSO Professional - Why this is my Favorite VST Orchestra

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thank you for your support! 😊🙏 Spotify: spfy.link/music 🎧 Music: nordstarstudio.com 🎹 Learn: mastersofmusic.net ▶ Playlists: spfy.link/playlists Music Licensing & Business: nordstarstudio.com Mikael "Mike" Baggström Composer, Musician, Artist

[@ZenzelStephens]

Nice video, I really love the the depth and lushness of the library. Especially at 8:17 - 8:23 this was just too nice! I need to save up lol

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thank you Zenzel. 😊

[@gianni1646]

Hi Mike! Wow. Great stuff! I have a question. At about 7:53 in the video your piano roll shows the note names in each note. How can I do that in my comps? I’m also using Logic Pro. I only have BBCSO Discovery, the lightest version. Thanks, Gianni❤

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

It's an option in the piano roll editor menu "view", then simply click "note labels".

[@MaPa60]

Nice breakdown, BBC is great for an all in one package. I own Pro, and just got the piano. It is very useful to have in context with the orchestra. I also love the microphone mixing, so much easier and better sounding than using effects. Would love to see more breakdowns of your compositions with BBC Pro, maybe in different genres (like Christmas music), and perhaps different arrangement techniques. Subbed!

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thank you! I agree, it really is a complete orchestral package, and one that is very well balanced and easily mixed with the many mic positions etc. =) I will certainly use a lot of BBCSO Pro for my upcoming courses, as I think it can be a great learning tool as well since it is compatible with the core version and even discover for those that haven't yet been able to afford (or need) the full professional version.

[@gianni1646]

@@mikaelbaggstrom “Afford” is the key word! By the way, does Pro come with “piano” or is that separate? Gianni❤️

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

You have to buy the piano separate sadly. I am not sure about the free BBCSO Discover version though, it may be included there. But then, it's not as high quality.

[@gianni1646]

@@mikaelbaggstrom ❤️

[@sonicstoryteller]

Nice composition mike cool presentation best wishes Phil 👍

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thank you Phil! =)

[@DennisCaunce]

Can you share this template?

[@FLH3official]

BBC SO Pro is also my go-to orchestral library, I've bought it at its launch some years ago (2019?). Among of excellent things with this library are the 1st chairs, the leaders, they give you the possiblity to get a kind of chamber orchestra without paying for an other library. And yes, about the Kontakt GUi, its a nightmare for everybody. Actualy in these day & age it's a shame.

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Was it 2019? 4 years ago even. Man time flies. Btw, one other thing I should have said, which few people talk about, is how much easier it is to work with one single collection of orchestral instruments. For example BBCSO Pro, or Cinematic Studio Series...because then you automatically get a nice balance of both tone and levels, as well as the room blending.

[@FLH3official]

@@mikaelbaggstrom October 2019. I remember having ordered it during my last holidays before Covid (I was in isle of Skye, seems a long long time ago... 😪)

[@gothlightmusic]

Hey Mike! Nice track! I'd like to use BBCSO more often; I like the overall sound and there's plenty of articulations and instruments. I really like that the legatos have a staccato overlay , which is very useful to me since I tend to write adding in a few short notes here and there in my melodies. However, when it comes to full orchestral writing, my go-to right now is Orchestral Tools' Berlin orchestra and the Berlin series in general, since they recorded all the woods and brass as individual instruments (ex. horns I, II , III, IV; flutes I, II) which allows for realistic orchestration, which is how I naturally like to write. I get a bit confused as to how to use bassoons a3 which is how BBCSO does it. 😵‍💫 That being said, just the other day I did try to write using BBCSO strings with all the individual instruments from Berlin Orchestra...worked out decently, with some added reverb and volume adjustments 👍 If Spitfire reworked BBCSO to have their instruments separated like that for more realistic orchestrations, that's a game changer! -Matt

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thank you Matt, I would say I am a "performance" (musician) composer mainly, so I simply love VST instruments that I can play and perform. I play a huge range of real instruments, and I would love to have that kind of immediate playability for virtual instruments too. If physical modeling improves, I am certain I will end up using more of those instruments. Key switches are the bane of my composer existence lol.

[@gothlightmusic]

@@mikaelbaggstrom Haha! Tell me about it! I hate keyswitching, but tracks per articulation gets too cumbersome. I use StudioOne as my DAW and I know there's a feature to combine them to auto change based on how you ply, but haven't figured it out yet. -Matt

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

I guess that is why I tend to gravitate to VST instruments with "performance patches" like the ones in BBCSO for example. As well as playability (scripted/modeled) libraries like Infinite Series, VHorns, Sample Modeling etc. I do have a folder (bus group) for shorts like ostinatos, pizz etc. so I do separate those...but for main instruments like cello, violin, trumpet etc. I really crave those performance/playable patches without key switching. I find no joy in programming music personally, it's simply not my vibe. I want to play it, perform it, with my keys, breath controller, faders and the full arsenal of expressive inputs recorded live. 😄

[@anthonystahl]

Great video. How are you doing keyswitches, if in fact you are. Since i don't see a track for each individual articulation, do you use articulation sets in Logic?

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Thank you Anthony, yes I am indeed using articulation sets. It makes for a cleaner project, plus even more importantly, it is also easier to sculpt (program) the phrases by using the articulations per note to add variation in the performances.

[@yeongjj8390]

Is there bass sample in bbcso like trailer bass of Afflatus Chapter I Strings?

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

No BBCSO is focused on more "classical" (traditional) orchestral sounds.

[@yeongjj8390]

@@mikaelbaggstrom Thanks for your reply. Can I ask you one more. Isn't trailer bass of Afflatus Chapter I Strings classical orchestral sounds?

[@gianni1646]

Hi Mike, it’s me again. I have a new question. Can you explain (or make a video) of the “Mastering Chain”? I’m unfamiliar with that. Thanks again’ Gianni❤

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

The mastering chain is basically a chain "series" of effects that you put on the master stereo output in your DAW to shape the final sound of your music production.

[@gianni1646]

@@mikaelbaggstrom Thanks Mike! ✌🏼

[@glynnhodgesmusic3140]

Could you share your mastering chain and settings Mikael? I really struggle with mastering.

[@cubaseman1487]

For me New Symphony Orchestra Library perfect for Kontakt 7

[@turtlefeet7722]

What is your mac specs? I’m struggling with system overload.

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

I invested in a new Mac last summer, Mac Studio with 96GB RAM.

[@TheLionandtheWolfUK]

@@mikaelbaggstrom yeahhhhh that'll do it!

[@DennisCaunce]

I love BBCSO, but I use Cinebrass along with it...

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Cinebrass is great, I especially love how beautiful their legatos are, and the room sound of course. Layering is something that can be very creative too. BBCSO layers well with most other libs in my experience since it is a fairly "small" room, with a more natural traditional sound (not hyped). For the brass I like layering with Forzo for the powerful sound (stabs in particular), and Infinite Brass for its agility and playability. =)

[@DennisCaunce]

@@mikaelbaggstrom I love the playability of Infinite Brass, but it has a tendency to sound a little 'synth' like in the legatos to me...

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

It's not perfect in tone yet, I agree. I don't use it for exposed solo lines but for layering or in a full arrangement it can work great. =)

[@Fwuzeem]

Cor Anglais is pronounced like the French word for Englishj

[@mikaelbaggstrom]

Interesting, thanks for letting us know. =)