FIRST LOOK - Composing with Abbey Road One: Orchestral Foundations

Learn more about Abbey Road One: Orchestral Foundations- www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-...
Spitfire Audio Co-Founder Paul Thomson breaks down his Abbey Road One: Orchestral Foundations demo, 'Journey Across the Red Planet'.
Watch the ScreenFlow of the full piece: • Journey Across The Red...
Watch the Walkthrough for a detailed look at the library: • Walkthrough - Abbey Ro...
Introductory offer currently available on Abbey Road One, learn more - www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-...
#AbbeyRoadStudios #SpitfireAudio #AbbeyRoadOne

[@itznoxy7193]

You should seriously consider doing a series of walkthrough videos on how you write and mix a piece like this start to finish. The library is obviously great sounding but your mixing is phenomenal. I think a lot of people are curious how you manage levels, bussing, processing etc to get such a clear and professional sound to your productions.

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks iTzNoxy - thats a great idea and I will do. In this video you're listening to my 'board mix' or as I think about it, my writing 'vibe' sound, which I try and mix as I go - so I have my master bus set up and I write into that - the mix that's on the Midio film and the website however was done by Simon Rhodes - he took my session and made it sound better!! - so I can't claim credit for that! None of my other demos on the SF site have been professionally mixed though its all just me. 25 years of making mistakes and gradually getting a bit better!

[@MurphyKargesBass]

@@PaulThomsonMusic I appreciate that you are answering questions. Thank you.

[@PhilipValdesMusic]

The library sounds great but your writing is really incredible

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thank you Philip you are very kind!

[@philchimbolo]

Paul, your walkthrough the other day - as well as a preview video by Guy Michelmore - convinced me to buy Abbey Road One: Orchestral Foundations. Your video today, walking through your piece, convinced me my purchase was no mistake. Sooooo looking forward to the release next week. BTW - I also purchased BBCSO Core with it. Love that library as well!!!

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Phil - you are going to love it - its so much fun to write with!

[@awpqq]

Great track - and one of the best videos you've done! Keep it up. Thank you!

[@AlistairMelville]

Paul that was just brilliant - great walk-through - a real master-class in composition and orchestration. Many thanks :-) and a very Happy New Year !!!

[@Carsons12]

Really like your detailed explanation of your composition and the intent of each part (Not just promoting the library). Very inspirational and informative. Not to mention the great composition.

[@MartinHeidenreichMusic]

Thank you Paul for that very detailed informations and insights. I can learn so much from you! The library just sounds amazing too, hopefully I can afford it sooner or later.

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Martin you are very welcome!

[@vincenzobellanova]

This is absolutely lovely, Paul, thanks for sharing with us, very informative and useful! I'd personally love to see how you approach harmony, how do you build your chord progressions and how your pieces take shape!

[@christofrdavis4766]

I absolutely adore this library and this is a phenomenal track! Bravo Paul. Thanks for the walkthrough

[@myx0mop]

Paul, after watching this video, I’d decided to splurge and purchase the library. You are a wonderful musician and composer!!

[@stevesutube]

Love these walkthroughs. Gives me something to aim for whilst I’m learning.

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Steve!

[@thisislance]

This type of library isn't one I "need" given my current stack, but it sounds lovely and the percussion is particularly stunning. That might push me over the edge!

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Hi Lance - yes the percussion are great - we had a lot of fun experimenting with sound combis to get some of these really punchy combis - there's nothing like sitting in the room with 2 or 3 great players and bouncing ideas back and forth!

[@michaelrbyrne5750]

Very very excited to have this pre-ordered. First step up from the fantastic originals series! Just in time for some exciting work!

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Michael - you're going to love it!

[@RickMcGuireMusic]

Fantastic sounding library. Looking forward to this series

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Rick - there's a lot of fun stuff coming!

[@edgenovese]

Great demo and spot on explanation of your methods. Thanks very much wonderful job ! Best of health to you

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Ed! - stay safe!

[@MrKoi13]

That was a great walkthrough. Thank You!!

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks!

[@keiththeodosiou]

Great sounds, it sounds like my kind of library for how i tend to write. I will be happy when i am composing with it lol. Nice piece by the way!

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Keith! Its a lot of fun!

[@marcinwozniakmusic4907]

great piece and very helpful lesson thanks Paul

[@Weeabruh]

This is an insanely good composition. The library sounds incredible too

[@courtlaw1]

I was on the fence on buying this and you just had to go and put this video out. Very good video I feel like I got a free composing course for free. Thank you. I am starting to get the Spitfire shakes. This will be my early Christmas present. As someone mentioned below would love to see how you mixed this.

[@benmarino1913]

INCREDIBLE!!!!! LOVE THIS PIECE! Well done Paul!

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Ben! Very kind!

[@montblanc_777]

i really enjoyed your video that i had to watched it twice :) loved that chocolatey middle part, cheers mate...

[@silofuse]

Paul, once again a very nice piece of music!

[@davidhutchison2202]

Thanks for a great tutorial. Your insights are so very helpful. Update: I purchased Abbey Road One, but was sadly disappointed. I quickly came across a few sample loop anomalies and occasional background noise (e.g., C3 High Strings with 33% dynamics has a noticeable repeating 'pop' when the loop kicks in whereas C#3 does not). I didn't continue exploring the library much further. I am regretfully returning to the Vienna Symphonic Library (VSL) which in my experience has impeccable production values. I purchased Abbey Road One because of its simplicity compared to VSL (with its numerous articulations and mixing options), but the most important thing is of course the basic quality of the samples and this (in my experience) is where VSL outshines the competition. Still, I appreciate all of the tutorial videos Spitfire produces. I will be applying them to my work with VSL.

[@matrixate]

Thanks for this honest review.

[@antkn33]

Excellent much appreciated!!

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks!

[@dafingaz]

Nice! In the future, can you end with a full play through of the entire piece?

[@delliott74]

Really nice piece and arrangement to showcase the library

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Danny!

[@ghostofpanama622]

Super - thanks very much. I certainly learned a lot.

[@FLH3official]

Regarding the tightness setting, from time to time I adjust it dynamicaly, loose at the begining of a musical phrase and thighter at its end. Just to have some slight changes and give more natural feeling, like real players being more "involved", "nervous", as the music runs and the theme is building up. Or the contrary in a decrescendo moment. And Paul plays it realy vintage: I see an EXS24, not "Sampler" (a.k.a Dave for Christian...)

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Absolutely - thats a great tip - and also yes I'll be clutching onto EXS 24 as long as I can lol...!

[@FLH3official]

@@PaulThomsonMusic I'm a true old conservative dude but frankly the transition from EXS to "Dave" wasn't so painfull for me, I'm sure you could manage it :-). BTW, I realy love your piece.

[@wakitakiwakitaki]

Thanks very much! Helpful Logic tip: In the piano roll's automation editor, try Command Y to toggle between types of CC Data...

[@flacobass]

I would really be interested in what mixes you used throughout these parts and tracks. I absolutely love the sound of this library, but I’m having some issues with the amount of mixes I can combine after using Abbey ONE for a couple days now. Could you please make a video discussing how you use all the wonderful microphone mixes and still keep the load on the CPU tolerable with all the tracks? Thanks!

[@muatazabuhamdan]

Hope you shoot a video from the very first moments of the composition. How do you carry out the work and select the sounds and how to play them. Even if the track isn't complete. Thank you

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Muataz - nice idea, I've done a few of these before but not for a while!

[@Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay]

Hi Paul - great walkthrough. I have the BBC Core, and very happy with it. How does that library play with this AR one, and would you recommend mixing and matching instruments from different rooms, so for example adding the BBCSO legatos to these sections ? Also, do you think that the average listener will be able to discern a difference between the sounds of the 2 libraries, in the context of a mix ?

[@joachimbischof665]

Bought AROne after i saw this video - amazing job! Is there a way to get your template for it, like you did with the BBC Templates?

[@darwinrobot]

Excellent. Thanks very much. 👍

[@DavidFedele]

Brilliant video and perfect timing .... thanks Paul! I wonder if you or anyone that reads this may be able to help me with an issue I'm having ....? My electric keyboard doesn't have any mod wheels, and I would like to use faders on my AKAI APC40 for both the expression and dynamic controllers (this is the only controller I have) - but I can't work out how to assign the these to the faders. I'm quite sure it's something to do with right-clicking on "expression" and "control" inside the VST, and "Learn MIDI CC# Automation / Remove MIDI Automation CC#", but I just can't work it out. I'm sure it's something simple, but any help would be hugely appreciated!

[@soundtreks]

Sounds fabulous Paul.

[@serendigity]

You are a very talented man. A great sound.

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thank you Stephen for these kind words!

[@rolandguilford8301]

Hi Paul. This sounds glorious! Can I ask what external reverb you are using here please? Many thanks.

[@williewilkerson6372]

Hi Paul - this is off subject but who made your desk? It’s exactly what I’m looking for. Thanks.

[@gillessprecher4674]

Thanks a lot for sharing this analysis, it's goldmine of little considerations that help to add great feeling to a track. Very useful for a learner like me.. Just out of curiosity, how long does it take, roughly, for you to write such a track?

[@pixelcat_yt]

Would it be possible to have a public MIDI file for this (or stems)?

[@spadogs]

Thanks Paul. Hope you are well.

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Emil - very well hope you are too!

[@fredericdicrasto5826]

Great as usual ! Will you make a template for Logic like BBC orchestra ?

[@b3owu1f]

Are all the tracks in this arrangement from the one Abbey Road plugin? I would love to see more videos on how to use each instrument within the plugin.

[@Halfstar3]

The brass sounds perfect

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Halfstar3 - yes its really wonderful, great players in a great room.

[@benbilan]

Hi, Paul. A simple question’s here: what are the specs. of your computer? And what system would you recommend to run all Abbey Road One instruments as a template?

[@mybiggrin]

So brilliant

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thank you!

[@thisislance]

Will you be posting content for AR1OF similar to BBCSO at The Page? MIDI files, and the like? MIDI files are an incredible time-saver when balancing a new template (with multiple libraries). It's nice to have something already written up. MIDI files aren't just for hobbyists to fawn over, y'know. I picked up Orchestral Foundations and have repeatedly used the percussion, but haven't made the free time to incorporate the rest of the orchestra.

[@AntKneeLeafEllipse]

Love this! Curious about what hardware you're using to control the two expression settings?? And do you print those rides as you record, or do you record then print those rides after the fact?

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Hi Anthony, thank you! I'm using a master controller called a Physis K4 - it has sliders built in which you can assign to any midi cc. and yes - I always ride as I play so I can 'feel' the phrasing and make it as musical as possible.

[@AntKneeLeafEllipse]

@@PaulThomsonMusic Incredible, thanks mate. Very excited to work with Abbey Road One.

[@duncanthompson957]

@@PaulThomsonMusic Hi Paul, I’ve always wondered - you having had an organist‘s background - whether you have ever used expression pedals, or considered it? Having merely played the home/spinet organ as a kid for a few years, it definitely feels like a natural choice for me. And am currently looking at a couple of Fatar pedals to use with my Spitfire libraries...

[@mortenkalland]

I need a video on how to use and browse and selecting the different instruments in Abbey Road One. I find it hard. When I learn it it sounds super, but I want to change instruments faster and not trying to find them and dont remembering how I found it. hehe

[@kennethjackson4858]

Hello Mr. Thomson, I like your video and I do't have an all orchestral library and was thinking of Albion One, but after listening to your video and a few others on Abbey Road One, it seems I would like to have this library for my first library. Is this to advance for me or should I just get Albion one instead and for get about it? So hard to start with a first choice!!!!!! I know it's up to me to choose, but would like your input.

[@MaxTooney]

Guy Michelmore states that this library sits well (mixes well) with BBC SO. Do you concur? (Excellent display of your compositional skills, btw!)

[@zaharishtonov]

Very cool to walk us through your composition, Paul!

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Zahari!

[@jamesdaniels8297]

It would be very interesting to me if y'all made a video of one of spitfires composers writing a piece of music live.

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

There are a couple - on my YT channel and on Christian's - we're going to make more!

[@jamesdaniels8297]

@@PaulThomsonMusic Ok, Thank you!

[@karolpopiak2031]

What is the DAW/Mix controller above the keyboard?

[@jaketanner109]

@paulthompson...I know you've received many questions about the modular sections that are coming...however: Are the smaller moduals a split out of what is already in Foundations, OR, are they additional content that will add to Foundations? Example: will one of the modular sections be of only ALL ensemble strings..including legato? Or are the shorts and longs in Foundations the only place that we can find them?

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Hi Jake - the forthcoming 'selections' add on libraries are additional content that loads seamlessly into the ONE player - you can add them to Foundations, or just get them to use on their own.

[@jaketanner109]

@@PaulThomsonMusic Got it, so not truly complete instruments on their own, but not truly useless without Foundations...but how do you then avoid having double articulations if you do have AR1? Say you release a selection of brass alone...I will surely be missing something from AR1 if I don't have it, and vice versa...if I have AR1 and don't get the brass selection I'll be missing something...so they're not totally split out instruments in full right? They are add-ons that CAN be used individually, but better served within Foundations if I understood correctly. In other words, I can't just get the string selections and expect to have the same strings that are in AR1 as well as the additional content.

[@jaketanner109]

@@PaulThomsonMusic Thank you for the reply BTW.

[@cornerliston]

Hi Paul, I notice you let the midi note hang over each other for the Longs. Is this done intentionally because it gives a character or just not necessary to give any care about because the attack and release doesn't interfere?

[@Arlicht]

How many instances of Abbey Road Spitfire plugins do you use in this project? As I understand this plugin is not multitimbral so for any individual sound and midi track you need new instance? An if this projject ha around 60 tracks - its 60 instances?

[@LA7Rose]

Sounds fantastic, but im still holding out till your memorial day sale. I'm going for BBC Core for more detail, control and the ability to upgrade eventually. cheers

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Luke - BBC is a fabulous library! Wonderful players. We're very happy to be able to offer different options for sound and different needs. Thanks for your kind words!

[@amirmusikproduction7372]

the abbey road one plug-in and all other products from spitfire does it work with Apple M1?

[@rdpatterson2682]

Trying to get SF Abbey Road One to play on more than one track simultaneously in Motu Dp9. Appreciate any tips or insights.

[@michaelbereckis]

Great composition and orchestration! Thank you for all the information.

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Thanks Michael!

[@OfficialStevenCravis]

The technology seems to have reached the point where live musicians are no longer needed for final major film soundtrack production. (Don't take that personally, Classical live performers)!

[@dulistanheman]

That's what many musicians worry nowadays. A.I also want to get a piece of it once they got smarter.

[@AndreaAmici-musicamultimedia]

Really useful nowadays: a great virtual orchestra, well programmed, to which one can add a bunch of real musicians (distanced...) to add more life in music

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Hi Steven - definitely not - !! - we always need and want live players in the finals! We're often crazy enough to spend our fees on players and hope to earn enough from the back end royalties to make it all worthwhile lol...

[@cornerliston]

I like the ”modular” thinking, if that's what you are going for with the coming added content-so much as I would suggest doing this full on and separate all instruments completely, one sound pack for Cello, one for Viola, one for Toms, one for Octobans… you get it… and all playing techniques for each instrument already there. It might give your customers a completely new possibility to add only instruments needed. For instance I'm just looking for great Toms and Octobans, which this library would give. But not interested in the complete orchestra since I prefer the instruments to be separate rather than bundled into sections. Since you have the library, this would be just a matter of pricing strategy and, well, making it possible-but technically you seem to have the basis running already with this one.

[@shantevallee5366]

anyone else have issues with the keyswitches not working in logic pro x? sometimes they work, most of the time they don't.

[@enigmasounds]

Really good Paul and many thanks.....makes a change from watching Christain :-)

[@charliemcgrain]

"Sorry I interrupted." haha. Obviously one of the most polite people you will ever meet.

[@robertj1303]

Interesting video, wish you had let it play thru start to finish to close out

[@oddfellow8366]

If I own Albion one, do I need this? I just bought albion one and I'm second guessing my purchase now that I saw this.. 😔

[@kristophermiller6160]

The lack of legato breaks my heart. The use of 8va only legato in the expansions (minus horns/trumpets rips my heart out. & the absence of violin legato kills me.... I was ready to purchase the entire ARO bundle until I read preset list.... How on earth could you have access to the worlds most desired space & not record bread & butter legato for each section?

[@kevinperry6276]

That template would sure be nice for owners...wink wink nudge nudge.

[@PaulThomsonMusic]

Good idea! I'll tidy it up and see if we can get a template up for all the DAWs!

[@gillessprecher4674]

Great idea indeed ! A template released the day AROne comes out would be a good move :-)

[@AlistairMelville]

@@PaulThomsonMusic Wonderful piece Paul, really stunning with all the different dynamics. How is the Logic Template coming along ? wink wink, nudge, nudge :-)

[@proteus1]

The audio is so low, you can hardly hear the start.

[@karl.weaver]

Mr Blaney I presume?

[@alaindubois1505]

Thanks. Perhaps your vocals are too loud - to hear your composition clearly. So Spitfire is a 'sketching' device? For individual instruments - we need another program? Do we add or replace the Spitfire tracks? Yes, the Spitfire tracks - especially the small percussion sounds are hard to hear clearly.