The Crystal Castle - Pacific Strings DAWcast

Getting a lot of use out of this library, you can check out more here:
performancesamples.com/pacific...

[@LzKicker17]

A breakdown of this would be awesome! beautiful :)

[@j.r.rothenbusch4438]

+1

[@asdghfjlk]

+1

[@ScottSpeedPro]

I don't think I've ever heard a more realistic orchestral piece of this scale, and that's not something I say lightly. Your writing chops are top notch, that goes without saying, but your orchestration and sample/programming mastery is what really made my jaw drop, that's just on another level. There's SO much to pull apart and study there, I wouldn't even know where to start. You could literally make a semester course out of this piece alone and the programming behind it. Just exceptional overall, that's a hell of a skillset you've developed.

[@Blakus]

Cheers, Scott! I should probably get outside more hey! 😂🙌

[@VIUSmusic]

I keep coming back to this piece, just because it's such a treat to listen to - the harmonies, the orchestration, the soaring melody, everything. Particularly a big fan of those Williams-esque woodwind flourishes peppered throughout, but especially at the climax. Absolutely gorgeous work!

[@jrikkerink]

I don't know what's more jaw-dropping: this piece of music or the fact your DAW is playing all layers flawlessly together without disturbances or spikes :D

[@Blakus]

I couldn’t live without ASIO guard on high 😂

[@1wibble230]

It's scary how talented you are. The god of orchestral mockup work returns :)

[@nathantiemeyer9206]

Two new Blakus vids in a week! We are getting spoiled!

[@Banquet...]

Breathtaking! Please do a walkthrough! ❤

[@johndelozier2491]

I keep coming back to this

[@j.r.rothenbusch4438]

Mockups don't get more realistic than this!!!

[@petemartinp]

This is unreal ..what a talent

[@reziahamed9255]

Amaaaaaaaaaaaazing !!!!!!!!!!! OMG !!!! Couldn't wait to praise your ART before even finishing listening ! Pacific Strings seems a HELL of a LIBRARY right ?

[@CJCalvertMusic]

just jaw-dropping beautiful. Amazing work Blakus!

[@IanLukeProduction]

You never fail to amaze, Blake

[@UntoldStoriesProductions]

I absolutely love this..... like this is beyond fantastic work. I am honestly happy that you are likely busy with actual work so these little side pieces aren't as frequent as they used to be, however, I need more Blakus music and "behind the scenes" in my life. There's something crazy wonderful about not only hearing your music but also SEEING it. Fantastic work as always!

[@stevemartinalmonds]

This is absolutely magnificent Blakus. Your music that you have written, the orchestration, the midi performance, are all superb! I think this is probably the most realistic midi performance I've ever heard using orchestral samples. Thank you for sharing this👏

[@zaharishtonov]

Stunningly good work, Maestro Blake!

[@SwankEldorado]

This is gorgeous, man!! You are an absolute master

[@musicbydavidsmith]

Those transitions! How natural they sound belies your clever orchestration that’s gone into this short cue, but certainly helped by the strings. I just bought them the other day and what really does it for me is what a joy they are to compose with.

[@Blakus]

“How fun and inspiring is this instrument to play?” - this is my main criteria for choosing all of the patches in my template 😊

[@musicbydavidsmith]

@@Blakus 💯

[@Felix_FLX]

incredible work as always!

[@jules7168]

Sounds great, nice to see you upload man.

[@LouieTaylorMusic]

mindbogglingly good. Thanks for sharing

[@ArdaRen]

Gorgeous demo

[@alleyway3215]

This is excellent. Nicely done.

[@snarf1504]

Fantastic work!

[@AlbertKimMusic]

This leaves me speechless, brilliant writing

[@dariusofwest]

Wow. Simply superb. :) (That brass sounded freakin' awesome too!)

[@Laurikoivisto]

you've really nailed the williams sound!

[@SchubertDipDab]

Wow this is wonderful! Great work!

[@Antonio_Ortiz]

I think this might have sold me on Pacific Strings over The Hanz Zimmerman Orchestra bundle.

[@sabianvideos]

You are a genius! I congratulate you!

[@thiagopsampaio]

Gorgeous cue. I got that John Williams vibe.. especially from bar 30 and onward... beautiful piece and awesome mix.

[@K-Cee75]

holy jesus! great work, great library!

[@secretreleases]

Amazing piece!

[@embereyes]

Awe-inspiring, Blake!

[@marcuslawson4632]

Love this one, mate.

[@TaufikAdam]

Fantastic ❤❤❤❤

[@JuanDhas]

Incredible!

[@kenwallace5250]

Very convincing, Great job.

[@noclipmix]

beautiful!

[@jatzh]

I have no idea about the technical side of things, Blake…. but I do know that this moved me to tears. Thank you for sharing. It is beautiful.

[@Blakus]

Aw, thanks Julie-Anne ❤️🙌

[@TrevorWesleyOfficial]

you are a beast bro! respect!

[@ShaneSteward]

Saw this on the facebook group and it sounds really lovely. Great job all around.

[@ShaneSteward]

Would love to know the brass and woodwind libraries used.

[@dk60ish]

Has the realistic fullness I haven't heard in a mockup before!

[@audunjemtland8287]

Oh my gooooood Stooop iiit! SO amazing. *amn. 10/10. Amazing balance and orchestration.

[@destructyo]

You're so cool. Good lord this sounds amazing

[@chazcarrasco968]

This is next level

[@nathansherwoodliang]

I can't even believe this. More!!! Also a breakdown or something would be awesome. Of anything you do. (when all the bass drops out and there's the little brass anthem 💋)

[@MichaelSmith-on1ig]

nicely done!

[@kevindavis2268]

Simply amazing...

[@kevindavis2268]

I want your entire library...

[@user-ob6cu5gm8n]

Bravo!!!!

[@handznet]

Absolutely amazing, I want to have midi for harmony study :)

[@SineEyed]

That's quite competently composed. Well done..

[@Bitimi]

Seriously awesome work. It feels very magical and inspiring. What's your general thought process whenever you're choosing chords? Does the melody come first or the chords?

[@DeveshSodha]

I always find myself laughing in despair when you do demos like this cause I'm just like how the F does he do make everything sound soo dam good! amazing as always dude...gonna go cry now haha

[@Blakus]

Ah dude, 🙏 thank you.

[@bwherry]

Beeeeeeautiful!

[@petemartinp]

Incredible

[@mikhailkotov]

You are the best!~

[@AleksandarDimitrijevicMUSIC]

very cool!

[@GabrielSantiago]

Gorgeous orchestration, theme and overall treatment! Really made me curious to checkout pacific strings library. Keep up the awesome work! best, GS

[@JawdatOutree]

Man your channel is very inspiring to me as a composer, why you are not submitting videos as before? :( I feel somehow like I have a personal connection with you as I have spent hours before watching your videos and listen to you speaking. and the Australian accent is just a cherry on the top hehehe

[@jaredwhughes]

So that’s what Pacific can sound like after mucking around 😉 Great work man! Would you consider giving a breakdown? I’d love to see whatever sorcery is going on behind these VIs

[@Blakus]

Haha, I actually shared my main EQ/Verb settings for Pacific in my last video - I've done some subtle further EQ to each section as needed from here, but nothing out of the ordinary :)

[@snarf1504]

@@Blakus I think they meant a compositional and orchestration breakdown - similar to your 'A Tall Tale' walkthrough :)

[@novahmusic]

I'd love to see a compositional breakdown too. You're amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this. ❤

[@JakeBisognin]

Epic mix too 🤌🏼

[@Blakus]

Thanks, Jakey! ❤

[@omiguelfernandez]

impressive!!

[@Maxx2k8]

Loved it when I first heard it earlier today. Wish you had streamed writing it. 😢

[@Maxx2k8]

Curious how there's not a lot of string tracks, compared to winds, or even percussion.

[@Blakus]

@@Maxx2k8 Mainly because string legato is kinda carrying here. Also, I'm using the ensemble pizz/marcato patches. I've hidden all unused tracks :)

[@RicoDerks]

Ho-ly. Fantastic dude

[@Muggerz1234]

Nice work mate :)

[@CarloJackfBosco]

Marvellous!!! Which library did you use beyond Pacific Strings? The entire Pacific one? It's fantastic!!!

[@giuseppecugno4305]

you're a genius

[@OmerVexler]

Incredible work!!!

[@redaizo]

What nice one, wasn't expecting so much depth, for what project is this for?

[@ERISKUIPER]

great,..!!

[@tosvus]

I just purchased Pacific Strings and referenced you :) What other libraries are you using with it here?

[@homemadestudios8064]

what are all the other instruments/vsts? Amazing work btw!

[@JoeFarwick]

Damnn what kind of Brass Libraries did you use here? They sound as amazing as the Strings

[@dfizzbom]

I'm on the fence, having a number of PS libraries too. I keep teetering towards BS con sordino but then you keep yanking my chain back here. Great writing...and the strings sound great too :)

[@PeterHarket]

Jesus, that’s a comprehensive cue…

[@PaulieDC]

OK, they sound great, that's a given, but more and more I realize it's the indian, not the arrow... the composition and exquisite programming and the dynamics you meticulously work out would make a kazoo sound like an orchestra. Then you throw in something like Pacific Strings which clearly has tone and programmability (forgive me, I don't own it... my life savings is sitting in OT's vault, lol), and you come up with a piece like this... wow. Would this even need to be recorded live for whatever it's written for? This sounds better than some live orchestra pieces I've heard in the past. Well done man.

[@Blakus]

That’s kind of you, Cheers!

[@deeppc]

WOWWWWWWW

[@ardencassie5150]

Sounds amazing. On my puny iPhone speakers…

[@Ahmad-Mounir44]

Great work Blakus. I am so curious to know how many instrument tracks did you use in this? As far as I counted, they look up to 70+ tracks.

[@Blakus]

I’ve hidden all unused tracks, so everything you see here is it!

[@manganume]

140 tracks. Unbelievable!

[@markitoswolf]

goood

[@veenu8474]

Have you seen the new "Dungeons & Dragons" movie, Blakus? Its main theme sounded eerily familiar, haha. I know it can only be a coincidence, but was confused for a second watching it nonetheless. Fantastic track!

[@VincentDBlair]

🔥

[@fintheclonetrooper5039]

Any chance you could release the battlefront 2 trailer music ?

[@jadinisantini2558]

How do you get those low “Easter Island” hits without peaking? It sounds so clean and powerful, while not being muddy at all!

[@PROJECT-de9pd]

Lovely stuff. Are you still using VEP or similar these days or hosting Kontakts in Cubase? If in cubase do you go for the 1 instance of Kontakt per instrument kinda thing (like do you use multi-articulation patches and go the Expression Mapping route, or do you prefer to split out artics into their own instance? I'm just getting back into Cubase after a long time using Ableton and am wondering how best to set up the fundamentals of a modest template - I reckon you're the man!

[@Blakus]

I’m not using VEP, everything is in Cubase. One Kontakt instance per articulation, performance seems to be better and also makes it easy to bounce/render in place and process/layer things easily.

[@PROJECT-de9pd]

@@Blakus So do you use the expression map stuff at all nowadays?

[@Blakus]

@@PROJECT-de9pd nah, I find it too restrictive, makes it more difficult to layer articulations, which I like to do a lot.

[@PROJECT-de9pd]

@@Blakus Noice. The PLE and ASIO Guard have dragged me screaming back to Cubase so I've a long road ahead with setting all the libs up and stuff - your advice is gold, thanks very much.

[@1wibble230]

Also just wanted to ask, whats the amazing brass instruments used in this demo that really complement Pacific well?

[@electricalglitch6030]

not trying to offense , but I am actually feel shock about ,is those Brass lol , Can you tell me what Brass you used in this demo? those horns and tomebone

[@igorscorreia]

Nice bass drum sound. What's the TS library?

[@guestalex]

👍👍👍

[@eduardlaczi9748]

Master, how can I find that efx that sounds like a huge sub?

[@gregrobertmusic]

Always prefered contextual demos, that one sounds bloody good! always amazed by your brass programming and sound though and that Strezov Flute still rules !

[@lukeolney]

good lawd

[@manganume]

What did you do in the past 2 years that your compositional skills skyrocketed exponentially? Like, the complexity of your last compositions are like the ones of JW, JP. What courses i can take to learn that? That's what i want to achieve...

[@Blakus]

Thanks! I guess I don’t get opportunities to really let loose like this often. I’ve always dabbled with this more complex style, (“A Tall Tale” is another possible earlier example from years back), but it’s not needed very often these days. My focus has really been on production and mixing over the last 5 years, but I think its tjme I really explored more musical creativity for my own sanity :) The best learning tool I’ve found personally is studying scores from the masters and recreating my favourite moments of their work.

[@manganume]

@@Blakus thank you for your reply!! This advice is what I heard again and again from numeros composers. I think i was too lazy to do that because it's not that easy 🙂 and thought that it's a waste of time to recreate someone's composition. But that makes a lot of sense! Gotta listen to the masters 😀 thanks a lot for all your live streams!

[@muziksculp2r]

Hi Blakus, Pacific Strings sound fantastic here. Thank You very much for sharing this video. Oh.. and It would be interesting to know what the other libraries you used here for Brass, Woodwinds in this track that work very nicely with Pacific Strings. Cheers, Muziksculp

[@SuboptimalPrime]

Blakus and Brass - name a more iconic duo

[@jerayan]

Great theme...you should use it in some good movie or game!!

[@julienvitalyjardon6634]

Hey Master :) Is this an indirect teasing of future Pacific Brass ? :)

[@Blakus]

Haha, unfortunately not 😂

[@julienvitalyjardon6634]

@@Blakus

[@LuisHumanoide]

Cinematic Voice: _Beyond imagination_ _where magic becomes truth_ _there exist a crystal castle_ _where lives the dynasty of the children dreams_ ....(more nice words and CGI shots) _This Christmas_ , _join to the great adventure adventure in_ .....title.....: _The Crystal Castle_ _Only on cinemas and Imax_

[@Pianistec]

(Cinematic voice) It doesn't matter which orchestral themed video I'm watching ... Luis was here, long time before me.

[@LuisHumanoide]

@@Pianistec I was here before the empire, I fought in the clone wars

[@lilliili9225]

I’ve always been curious about how one single composition can have so many tracks in them. Like how?

[@Blakus]

Mainly because of the layering of sounds required. One trumpet section can take up 4-6 tracks for example. :)