CineSymphony LITE Overview

[@DJLA]

Please excuse the slight audio lag later in the video. Me and my audio interface are still trying to work each other out. Also the clicks and pops near the start are the screen recording software, not the library lol.

[@F3ARgamer]

Video is still awesome ;)

[@huwhowells509]

ARGG! Had just made up my mind after months of thought to invest in Cinematic Strings $399 as a nice starter package, then I watch this. CineSymphony Lite $399, being able to alter the range of instruments is just brill. Will have to think some more. Terrific piece of music and orchestration btw.

[@hashimalalawi9446]

Been following your videos for a while, and I appreciate all the tips and tricks that you share with us. Great job, and please keep them coming!

[@cm0s]

Love your videos. I'm wondering if you could make a video telling us about which sample libraries you'd recommend for people starting out making your style of cinematic/orchestral music. Maybe both ensemble libraries and specialized libraries (for brass, perc, strings, winds and sound design). Maybe divided into 3 different budget sizes (cheap, middle and expensive)?

[@carstenaltena]

You've managed to make a 400 dollar library sound like a 4000 dollar library. Well done!

[@lukes3070]

Thanks so much this has really helped me choosing my setup! Quick question is it advisable with delay compensation of -50 like you mention about CineStrings in your other video?

[@pigpog2307]

Beautiful piece of music Daniel keep em coming !! You are an inspiration sir !!

[@Cash2493]

The outro piano section section is beautiful. Great video as always!

[@Seledrex]

Wow this is exactly the kind of sample library I have been looking for! Thanks for the video!

[@GollumSmeagol]

I love your videos Daniel. All your reviews are really in depth and this one is no exception. Very well done. I think you are the only one that does that. It would be nice if you could review OT's Berlin String.

[@composingatnight]

"More horny, less boney." You just made this brass player smile.

[@thomasvinelli]

Hey Daniel I enjoy your videos and they have help decide what libraries to buy. I'm wondering if you would do a video on mixing for Epic tracks??

[@webdeveler]

Great huge job bro,epic-dope dramatic sound!

[@ageshero]

some of it does feel a little midi-fied. Being that maybe it was done in piano editor? Im kind of a stickler for performance, and watching michael patti do his playing really brought out the realism. And working with symphony samples, realism is really everything, and my ears are detecting an inkling of nonrealistic velocity curves in some things. i guess im picky, but id say when being careful in performance, it shines its best.

[@LU-KI]

ok, here is the question: CineSymphony LITE or ORCHESTRAL ESSENTIALS ? same price lvl...which pack is better? (for a start...)

[@ovidiubanciu5791]

Awsome awsome track...so emotional...wow.....keep the good work. greatings from Austria

[@TerenceKearns]

Dude you do the best reviews in the biz for tools for making soundtrack music - especially these sample libraries. Anyone publishing such libraries would be mental not to give you copies of their best stuff to review.

[@thomasvinelli]

Daniel , have you tried Cine string runs.I picked this up and its awesome, better than the ones on Hollywood strings, very clean sounding and you can hear every note in the run. I sure wish all these libraries were made for the free Kontakt player. I'm guessing it has something to do with a business arrangement with Native instruments. I have no desire to get a full version of Kontakt 5, I have enough other sounds that came with Cubase 7.5 to keep me busy. What's your feeling on this subject.

[@Eomak]

Hello, Great sounds. I have your Project A/Bravo stuff and noticed i c it in your Kontakt5 library window.Me i seem i have to go threw Files to get it to work.Is there a patch? to do this? Where do i get a regular update Project A/B patch from if one is out? thanks.

[@puresoundpost]

Another wonderful track and a great demo. Thanks for that. I have one question that I have wanted to ask for a long time. Do you ever need to print out your scores for live musicians to play? Do you have to replay the parts in another program to do that? That seems to be the only limitation in Live that I can see. I am actually thinking of moving over to Live and away from Logic. Thanks Daniel.

[@benberman1926]

Thanks for this - very helpful, as always. Having now watched a number of your videos, I find myself wondering: how much work goes into creating the cue you prepare for the video? I'm getting the impression, totally without supporting evidence, that you 'throw' these things together in a few minutes :-) Please tell me that's not so . . . :-D Thanks for taking the time - those of us further down the learning curve find these videos very helpful.

[@VFXCommander]

How much should I pay in order to learn composing music easily just like you do? I've listened to all your music and none of theme disappointed me. They all sounded so real. Hard to image if it was from a computer. Technically, they're real of course since they are recorded samples. You compose beautifully without any mistakes, making people dive in a very deep mood. That's a sign of success :)

[@BlackCoyote]

This is great to watch and very educational. Do you think you'll ever do a tutorial on how you master and mix your track?

[@DJLA]

Very possibly, but I have no idea how to go about it as I don't particularly think I am the best mixer out there.

[@BlackCoyote]

Daniel James I think this track for example is mixed perfectly, maybe it's my untrained ear but I can't hear any flaws. If my tracks sounded half as good I'd be really happy. maybe you can cover a bunch of basics like dynamics use, layering, mixing, effects, and all that in one tutorial video?

[@stefg5261]

Hey Daniel, I'm really impressed with your song and video. It's also very interesting to see how you arrange a song. I'm an absolute beginner and want to start to write some film music (also into dance music but that's another chapter). I'v been looking into buying some software, mainly general Orchestral package and strings. I've looked into LASS, Vienna, HS, Symphobia, Cinematic Strings and Cinestrings for strings. HS sounds nice but I read a lot about technical issues and very high hardware specs. Also expensive. Vienna and LASS are at a high price point or quite segmented. That is, you need to buy different libraries to get the different base articulations. I liked both Cinematic Strings and Cinestrings. But I guess Cinestrings has a better foundation behind it in terms of company scope and supporting structure. They also have libraries for brass, woodwind and new projects are released at a steady pace. So that seems to me the best foundation at an affordable pricepoint. (My question is coming by the way). Yet, I also liked the lush strings you get from Project SAM. So my view until now was: buy Orchestral Essentials from Project SAM to make a lush backdrop of strings and then augment that with the Cinestrings. Now that I've seen your video I'm kind of going for: buy Cinesymphony Lite and augment that with CineStrings. I mean, I really like the sound of Symphobia/Project Sam but everything is fixed. You have no control over the individual parts and you don't have solo instruments in the Orchestral Essentials package. With your super trick with the ranges though, you can control your individual instruments in Cinesymphony and create some sort of solo instruments as well. I also like the "tweaky" approach of Cinesamples. There is a lot you can tweak in their software and that's something I like very much. So here come the questions : ) : * What do you think of my general reasoning here? * In Symphony lite : can you change the ranges and other tweaky settings when using the FREE Kontakt player. Or do you need the full version? What are in fact the advantages of the full Kontakt. * Going over to strings if you don't mind. - I'm a bit amazed that Cinestrings don't have con sordino. Some companies like Vienna make a big deal about that and Cinestrings doesn't even have 1 con sordino patch. Any thoughts on that ? You could emulate it with some EQ-ing? - A string color for solo that I'm looking for can be heard or example in "Adagio for Tron starting from 3:08. www.dailymotion.com/video/xjiy4g_tron-legacy-soundtrack-ost-10-adagio-for-tron-daft-punk_music It's a really sad kind of sound color; it can add a real emotional touch. As I actually don't own any string library yet; any thought on a library that has a patch along these lines. These sample libraries don't offer an demo version as easily as conventional software, so you can not always try it out for yourself. So I thought I'd ask someone who has probably used them all... Thanks a lot !

[@Ivanski]

you add effects behind? like reverb and stereo spreading?

[@GameBuilder15]

Wow, I just found your videos and you seem to be doing amazing stuff. How did you start out composing? Did you go to school for it? How did you get your connections with Zimmer and Gregson-Williams? Thanks!

[@OthoMolinaMusic]

Hi Daniel! What "sub bass" do you use most of the time in your epic ones?! Great video and explaining!

[@DJLA]

Custom ones ;)

[@OthoMolinaMusic]

Daniel James haha okay

[@Izolus]

Would you mind telling me what you used for the synth? Zebra or a kontakt instrument, or is that also a secret? :p Also thank you for the video! Very informative :)

[@Compositeur100]

Nice work by Cinesamples. Thank you for your videos Daniel James, what piano are you using?

[@DJLA]

Piano In Blue

[@Compositeur100]

Daniel James Thank you, I now recognize his sound ... If you have time I suggest you visit my channel, I am also a composer and your opinion on my work interests me. I work with the same tools. Good luck!

[@maximesanchezfilm2904]

If you need to keep one library between HZpercussion and Damage, which one did you choose ?

[@DannyDep17]

In seeing the ability for one to dial in the ranges for each of the instrument groups it occurred to me that having a keyboard controller with 88 keys would be much easier to use with such a product as CineSynphony LITE, is this true? My current keyboard is only 61 keys. Also, what in your opinion is a feature that is missing in LITE, even for a beginner like myself?

[@DJLA]

I use a 61 key, you should be fine. The only real things missing from lite that a beginner would miss is perhaps tremolo or legato. What you get is enough to hit the ground running hard though!

[@muutalol]

Thank you Daniel! Great overview. =)

[@chrisschlee8377]

Cool review! The feature with the ensemble ranges is really cool and i havent seen that before, too. Hm - i am really thinking of using this library to layer it with my hollywood strings. IMO string ensemble patches like this one really help to increase the composition speed - especially hollywood / play brings me lots of issues in combination with logic pro which slows me down quite often. Hm i guess i will go and get it and once the composition is finished i will layer my heavy libraries over it --> 2 advantages: Very fast to compose and the layering advantage ... sounds like a good plan :D

[@SmallerMoen]

Oh hi again Chris ^^ :)

[@PeterBnnn]

Daniël, Great video. Can you tell me you're reverb settings in this track? Thanks

[@DJLA]

I use Arts Acoustic Reverb, with some custom settings, normally in large hall settings.

[@houssemturki139]

Hello Daniel. I noticed on your videos that you work with the DAW Ableton. I'm using FL studio for 2 years now and it was my first DAW ever but i start to hate it and i want to switch to another DAW. i saw couple of videos on youtube about Cubase 7 and i liked the chord track feature because i write music with my ear , i don't know the chords names and that feature could help me a lot but in the other hand i hear everybody say that cubase is great but it's very complex and i want something easy and fast. which DAW do you suggest i choose ??? Cubase 7 or ableton live 9 ??? you are the expert. PS: i use midi to compose my music ( kontakt instruments ) and not interested in audio.

[@DJLA]

Go for Cubase. Its midi features are superb!

[@houssemturki139]

thank you for the tip. You are amazing.

[@pigpog2307]

Do you add reverb or is the sound of the mics ? Everything sounds so spacious and full!!

[@jmproductions59]

Does anyone know if the velocity or volume (balance) of the different instruments or key ranges can be modified in the library? Sometimes I want to raise the bass levels etc... I know it is possible in Kontakt (but I have yet to manage to get it to work...)

[@ceciliaeyes]

Hello Daniel, could you explain how you're dealing with Kontakt channels into live tracks ? I think that you're creating "groups" based on instrument types (strings, percussions,...), all sending their audio back into the same channel into live ? So, am I right if I say that you're EQ/Reverb acts on everything in that group, and not on each instrument separately... (sorry for my bad english). Thanks for your explanations !

[@ceciliaeyes]

Yes Marcell I'm curently using external instrument for each kontakt instrument but I was wondering how Daniel is doing because it might be a good idea to "group" same kind of instruments together to save time (by applying same EQ, Reverb, Limiter...).

[@MockingbirdDigital]

Awesome!

[@Girish3282]

Piano sounding awesome, is it from Cine Symphony?

[@DJLA]

Unfortunately no, Its Piano In Blue. I thought I could get away using it as most people have a piano sound already ;)

[@taddeito]

What do you think of the EWQL strings?

[@bandoli66]

Great video! Thanks!

[@audioverge667]

Hey Daniel, I saw on instagram that you brought cubase, did you ever give it ago or are you sticking with ableton ! :D thanks

[@DJLA]

I get into it when I need to, although I tend to lean on Ableton Live as its the path of least resistance still xD

[@audioverge667]

Ableton is still a monster when it comes to audio manipulation and sound design, havent found anything that really comes close to the power haha Im guessing youve seen 'The Equalizer' by now? HGW never fails to deliever ...infact its the first harry score I have had the pleasure of hearing in a cinema (even tho im a huge fan of all his work and have all his stuff on my ipod)

[@DJLA]

David James St-Hill I did see it. I believe that score had a fair bit of Project Alpha and Bravo in it too. Which is always nice as I love Harry's work.

[@DJLA]

***** I have used it before, It wasnt for me although I know plenty of people who swear by it. You just have to figure out if it fits your style.

[@audioverge667]

Daniel James wow that must be such an awesome feeling ..Ive been watching your vids from the early days definitely makes me proud! haha XD

[@fluteskrillex78]

How did you get that piano sound in your song or what sample did you use?

[@ditio2005]

Should post the project in order to train edition. Or at least the midi design .... Perfect fantastic design and the sound of the bookstore. BRAZIL greetings.

[@JustinNathanielAdams]

Should I get CineSamples Lite, or Symphobia 1? D:

[@GoLDnTRiXX]

What did you buy?

[@conforzo]

How much diskspace do you have omg xD like 2 TB ?

[@bassice4]

Great work ;-)

[@pawetopolski1905]

CineSymphony LITE or Berlin Orchestra Inspire?

[@tehssb]

It'd be really cool if you could do these in a livestream format, so you can do your normal thing like this and then take questions in real time.

[@DJLA]

tehssb I have thought about doing this! need to find a good platform in order to do it tho!

[@tehssb]

Daniel James I watch a few streams that make use of youtube's streaming capabilities. Could be worth giving it a shot!

[@duginforthelonghaul]

Hate to tell you this Daniel but the first few trumpet notes sound like "Dances with Wolves".

[@JustinNathanielAdams]

Was the entirety of "Together We Stand" composed with only CineSymphony LITE?

[@TheEditorsApprentice]

I REALLY want to do the things you do. Unfortunately I'm just a broke 13 yr old. :(

[@TheEditorsApprentice]

DarConall The thing is you have to shell out a lot of money if you want to get good quality plugins like massive, cinestrings etc. Of course money being the thing I do not have.

[@poohcom1]

Why don't you start with EWQL Symphonic Orchestra? It's kinda outdated, but the Silver version costs around $200. The thing is, if you follow East West, they have sales all the time. So if you just wait patiently, the price would drop to $99 every month or so :)

[@composingatnight]

We "classical" score composers call y'all "DAW sound designers."

[@GoOKuSj33]

You´re using too much modwheel on the horns, real players couldn´t play a melody for bars like that! You should never do that on a beautiful melody passage! FFF dynamics are there just for really heavy and strong parts. Real musicians in session would play more mellow, it´s too harsh, if you want it to soar out, just boost the volume and let it do its own thing.

[@DJLA]

While I thank you for watching and commenting I tend to stop listening to advice when someone says "You should never do that." I am not working with Live players here, I am working with samples and samples are just audio, so if I make something that sounds cool to me, regardless of whether or not I 'should', I will do it!

[@GoOKuSj33]

Daniel James Ok, if that´s your choice, fine, but just know that you will be working just with computers for the rest of your life, and it will always sound the same. Nobody in this industry will want to work with someone who doens´t understand their job as a musician, or isn´t open to learn and evolve, that´s how it is.

[@DJLA]

GoOKuSj33 Lol you say that as if I am not already working professionally xD And you will be surprised how much work pro is done with samples these days. You only go live if you have a pretty large budget. So how do you make your samples stand out? You do what sounds good, you playup to your strengths, you dont follow the rules on what you 'should' do for live players because samples are NOT the same as live players. And I fear for your career that if you think that only those who work with live orchestras are getting gigs..

[@andrewqualls]

Daniel James Man dont listen to SaitoGamer , you do what you think is best for your music, Technology is evolving as time progresses, and I have to say Daniel is right there are a lot of deep sampling companies that get their work and instruments featured in films, so SaitoGamer please do not say that samples are nothing compared to real time players... I dont want to hear that ever again from anyone.

[@Ricardo-ns5hl]

SaitoGamer IF you know so much about the subject, why arent you scoring with harry gregson?

[@therealdrstoned]

wow those low notes from the piano at the end are incredible. What vst have you used for that? Awesome piece as always=)