First orchestral work with Spitfire's Abbey Road Orchestra Symphonic Strings - new No1 string lib?

[@joobastudio]

Beautiful piece ! Thanks for sharing.

[@TomHarroldMusic]

Thank you! Cheers for watching

[@kwameryan]

Very nice demo Tom! I was actually comparing these strings with Cinematic Studio Strings yesterday, and while those do have a very realistic default sweet spot, you basically have to take what they give you, because you don’t have nearly as much control as with the Abbey Road instruments which allow far more creative decision making. If I have to trade a little tonal realism in one area for deeper control and an easy workflow everywhere else, I‘ll take that deal every time. I agree with you that the ARO lyrical legato is more fun to play, but when you need bow changes or accented starts, it’ll be great to have access to the performance legatos. I actually think the ARO basses are one of the highlights, with their richness and super clean intonation. btw…I put the Core version on my laptop and was really happy to have access to that less resource hungry version on the go. I also appreciated the fully scalable UI which I could fit to my 14 inch screen really easily or blow up on my desktop monitor. These are subtle workflow conveniences I’m happy to pay for. I think we‘re all at the beginning of finding out what the library is capable of. Cheers!

[@stevemartinalmonds]

Hi Tom, I just listened to your Sibelius version and found the link here. I really like the big sweeping type melodic phrases. They sound great 🙂

[@TheeDKP]

Thank you ! This vidéo is very helpful ! 🦥

[@isaacfanai2006]

little bit off topic, what IEMs are you using?

[@TomHarroldMusic]

These are Shure 215, I think. Had them for years, and normally just use these for travelling, not critical liwtening

[@Angelcomposer]

Hello Tom... I still prefer the expressiveness of the vibrato and the timbral sweetness of the Cinematic Studio Strings... I'm not convinced by the Abbey Road Strings. Excellent composition. Congratulations, Tom. Greetings from Spain. 😉

[@5ammy13]

You know, I actually think what is actually making people prefer CSS over this is the price tag. I am not a professional and I can no way ever conceive picking this up. It is too expensive, and it is too big. The hard drive space is huge and there is no method provided to download only necessary mic positions like how Orchestral Tools Sine Player allows... So yeah, I mean, I would have loved to have these in my collection, but don't think I ever will. Also, with Pacific Strings, Vista and Cinematic Strings, I am spoiled for choice to get realistic and incredible Strings :)

[@d_lydian]

The sound of the room / mix is amazing, I've never heard anything better. But the legatos / long sustains just don't sound realistic to me, it seems so sterile and clean, but not very lively.

[@TomHarroldMusic]

I’m beginning to agree with you the more I get to know this library. The shorts are absolutely astounding - video on them coming soon!

[@spence_da_fence]

Yeah I only have the cellos and violins I and I’m not really sure if I should get the rest or not… SSO has 1000% better performance patches, it’s absolutely astounding. I have to say I’m much happier with the ARO percussion, those libraries to me are incredible

[@ziggidybangproductions832]

what a helpful video. as amazing as the work that they have put into the performance legato of these. it almost sounds forced to me and unnatural. the portamento is just a wee bit digital and not enough human-like for me. great piece by the way, shades of the hebrides overture in there

[@ASX2001]

Good composition, good libraries, only that cheap string-machine-sound of that new Spitfire-1000€-library... ouch. Got it, but went back to SSS and CSS.

[@talnomix3164]

I dont really like the library, too expensive for what it really delivers, you seriously just pay for the Company and that its recorded in Abbey Road. All this "OMG ITS ABBEY ROAD" is dumb as hell, since you will not hear the difference to f.e. Berlin Symphonic Strings with a Cinematic Rooms tail in the mix. You can let any library sound like its in abbey road if you know what youre doing, its a matter of skill. Most people dont have the ear to learn this skill because it requires imense focus to hear the smallest details in sound. For me, symphonic strings is a better library over all, legatos are better and the room is also amazing!

[@5ammy13]

I completely agree. I, however, got the Air Studio Reverb and I am incredibly happy with that. I am more than happy putting my virtual samples inside Air Studios instead of Abbey Road. I also have Abbey road Orchestral Foundations along with all its modules, so I can always use that if I really need Abbey Road in my mix :)

[@talnomix3164]

@@5ammy13 Nice!

[@electedmusic7685]

Much money for Synthy sound😢

[@ronniekitchens6502]

Its rare u find a plugin that sounds real. This is very good for midi strings

[@thornnorton5953]

@@ronniekitchens6502 Even in the best demos for this library, the violins just don't cut it. For the price of multiple string libraries, it has a lot of significant weaknesses.

[@ronniekitchens6502]

@@thornnorton5953 what is a better sample library that sounds better?

[@5ammy13]

@@ronniekitchens6502 Cinematic Studio Strings and Pacific Strings are my go-to. Once the new Vista II comes out from Performance Samples, that will surely be up there.

[@MrGreekBlade]

The sound is so midi and far away from a real orchestra