Spitfire Audio - Abbey Road 2 [REVIEW]

Spitfire Audio have just released the second library in their partnership with the famous Abbey Road Studios in London. This is a very distinctive solo string library underpinned by some very promising new software. The sound is very different to other solo string libraries. So how does it sound in practice? Guy Michelmore has been trying it out and puts it in context with pop arrangement and a piece of contemporary drama.
You can watch my original review of Abbey Road One here: • Spitfire Abbey Road On...
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[@H2whoaMusic]

Guy, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. I only got into writing music this year, and only found your channel a few months ago. You've taught me so much, and always in a very accessible, informative and charming way. You're my find of 2021!

[@eerytunic3839]

Just finished listening to some of your stuff. Rlly good bro.

[@H2whoaMusic]

@@eerytunic3839 Oh wow! Thank you so much. Very nice of you to say and genuinely appreciated :)

[@tjkage]

My mom says I can't tell a British Man my age how much I love him in a platonic way but I will and I do. You are awesome.

[@MediaBrainRecords]

Wonderful review. Been wanting to hear this in context of a pop rock track and seeing the workflow was extremely helpful. Will definitely be using this in some future productions. Thanks so much!

[@MaPa60]

Came for the Spitfire lib, but went away with Synapse Obsession. What a great sound!

[@JRod37]

Glad I watched this - The shorts sound glorious - the longs don't do it for me.. I was wondering if an alternative to Cinematic Studio Solo Strings would be useful (which has it's downfalls but the legatos for me are fab, even if they require a bit of fiddling)

[@EbenFernandoHeldrethhome]

Guy, can you do a review of Berlin Orchestra created by Berklee? Always love your videos! Thank you for all your contribution to the music community.

[@officialTonestepa]

Hi Guy. Thanks so much for your videos and all your amazing reviews. You’ve helped me several times when trying to choose between 2 new libraries (or indeed to realise I didn’t need either). I really appreciate you sharing so much of your time and techniques. Thank you

[@swessels]

The composition really came together when you composed the viola part. Very nice.

[@jesusmedina5886]

I have been waiting for your video, Guy. Thanks for always sharing your best thoughts.

[@mattwesney]

Exactly, my buying point was never influenced by the location or gear used, not even the players...Great video, Guy! And happy holidays!

[@thehightenor2596]

This library is to my mind Rock n Roll strings …. Tube guitar amps, Hammond organ Big drums off you go - what’s not to love. The recording method gives it an almost Mellotron like quality which to my ear makes it even more desirable. I totally get why this is a niche library. It’s a string library for those of use making music who don’t need an orchestra but do need George Martin arranging for us in Abbey Road - personally I think it sounds wonderful - we’ll done SFA!

[@simongentry]

Guy, i love your enthusiasm.

[@treee712]

New video from Guy means its going to be a good day today

[@chromofonic]

As usual, great job. But Guy, at that price one could get Native Instruments KOMPLETE, a much better investment (KONTAKT, REAKTOR, a gazillion instruments etc). Also Guy, when I used Session Strings 2, which come with KOMPLETE and passed it through Waves Abbey Road plugins (REDD desk and on to the J37 tape) I got a very decent sound. On top I also added a solo Viola from the legacy VSL library included in the KONTAKT factory library. Finally, I adjusted the harmonics (increasing the 3rd and 5th and lowering the fundamental) to get that edgy intimate sound. Try it. I might make a video about it.

[@TheStevenrobinson]

Heres what's good with this library.. Spitfire engineered good mechanics into the library player. Here's what's wrong with this library. 1. It sounds dead. The strings were played with ZERO emotion whatsoever. Whoever was playing should have been payed more. They might have put in more effort. 😑 2. Spitfire Audio overprocessed the shit out of these samples in an attempt to make library sound good which is impossible due to reason stated above. It caused strings to sound synthy. Library would have been better without any processing whatsoever in this case. End thoughts - credit card back in pocket on this one.

[@gregmatchett7110]

Guy, I love all of your videos. I've watched nearly all of them. Huge help on my end. Thank you so much. ❤️❤️

[@jonathanbrooker8193]

Good review and summary. Thanks as always Guy 🙂👍 Not a library I shall be going for, as already have so many good string libraries in the studio such as AudioBro LASS, and all of the other string and orchestral (and many many others) Spitfire libraries. But its probably good for someone just starting out and doesn't yet have a good reliable close chamber string type of ensemble. Have a great Christmas 🎄

[@gregoryivesdolbyatmosmusic]

Guy, you tipped my scale to grab it as an addition to the others I have in Abbey Road, which I totally use a lot. Thanks for the great review! I have no issues with the memory.

[@blackbeardsghost6588]

"How many times could all the literature in the world ever written fit into that?!" . . . . . . . . .

[@g3cd]

Actually, I DID tell you "always place your mug BEHIND stuff!". So if you must have it on your desktop, put it BEHIND your laptop screen, NOT right next to your keyboard. Better yet: put it on a little side table. Your new grey beard looks like you're ready for side tables now. With a floral design 😜

[@ROBERTBOAK]

Awesome review as always Guy, Love the Sound of this Library. On a side note I had to look twice as I thought John Williams was doing the review at first 🤣 !

[@xyzcomp08]

It was just a cardboard cutout visiting.

[@Mansardian]

Guy is preparing to take over... 🤫

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

@@xyzcomp08 Ha! Indeed. Maybe I should make a cardboard cut out of myself

[@xyzcomp08]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation Great way to get a holiday out of the deal. May take a day or two before the others catch on.

[@StephenSE9]

🙄 I've commented before reading this

[@BaraMatahariPagi]

Love the new hair and beard cut Guy 👍

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Thank you

[@BaraMatahariPagi]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation You're welcome Guy! Maybe do a review of Obsession sometime, just a suggestion :)

[@MetalTizi]

Hey Guy, how do you compare the solo strings in comparison with the Chris Hein Solo Strings when it comes to playability? How much work is needed until it sounds like a professional player? For me the playablility out of the box is an issue I have with Spitfire Audio. Great Video and Beard. :)

[@TheSoundbar]

U need a professional player to sound like it. U can listen to any sampled violin and compare it to a real recording. That will always sound better. Even when the sampled instrument is polished with fancy gear.

[@MetalTizi]

@@TheSoundbar I know that it doesn't sound like a real professional playing human. But for example Chris Hein's Strings are very playable in a way that you achieve more realism or lyrical playing in less time, than I or other composers I know achieve with SA Solo Strings for example which is my critique on Spitfire products and the question about the new solo strings.

[@TheSoundbar]

@@MetalTizi I just want you to avoid the pitfall to put to much work into polishing to get a sound u cant get cause the source is the problem. I had some probs with spitfire in the beginning but when u use the articulations. Did u try expression maps?

[@MetalTizi]

@@TheSoundbar of course I use them. It's not the problem, that I can't get a really polished high production (when you look at my channel the videos are far behind my skills today). I think you interpreted to much in my critique. The only issue I have with spitfire is, that I need more time to get them polished than other orchestral libraries not more not less. But thanks for the engagement. 🙂

[@Apalamaris]

Thank you for a great review, it was really helpful! 🙏

[@gavmc]

I was hoping you would review this!

[@samk4655]

Hello Guy, thank you so much for this review. It's always a pleasure to watch your videos..😄 .. I hesitate a lot between this library or the Solo Strings.. Otherwise, I love your new look.. your beard looks great on you..👍

[@tanukibrahma]

The legato sounds very mechanical and unnatural to me; I guess it's the uniform vibrato. Judging from this, I'd say VSL Synchron or LASS 3/Modern Scoring Strings sound more realistic, though lacking, unfortunately, this focused Abbey Road pop vibe -- which I'd really like to have if done better.

[@PaulWW36]

Why is The Hunt for Red October era Sean Connery playing piano ???

[@kevinstefano8654]

Thanks for another extremely informative and entertaining video. I have made several library purchases base on your reviews. I have 2 questions: (1) You mentioned that this library is dissimilar to other Spitfire Solo Strings libraries. To which one(s) were you referring? and (2) I'd love to know what the piece of studio equipment to your left is (siting on top of your NI keyboard). Thanks Guy & Happy Holidays.

[@mindspanconsultants]

I think that's Guy's video camera controller. I'd also be curious about which solo string library he prefers for standard quartet/quintet work.

[@LindaMissad]

great review, Guy....OUCH -- I really cringed with the tea in the keyboard story. Happy Holidays!!

[@DanaVastman]

Your vids are such a joy to watch...

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Guy... I'm slightly color blind... I don't know what color you cubase interface is, would you be willing to PLEASE share your presets?!

[@apogeexxl]

Hi Sir.I would really appreciate your opinion ,in short I own almost all 8Dios string libraries and HOOPUS (and some Aria when I was new to sampling, plus KOMPLETE 14) . Would you suggest I get this ?? my goal is to complement my sonic palette.regards

[@PeachesChrenko]

Thank you so much for this! Soo helpful as usual :)

[@dafingaz]

Beautiful library.

[@Po1itica11yNcorrect]

With ever dwindling drive space, my next sample library will need to knock my socks off. Unfortunately, Abbey Road Two doesn't do that for me. I have Spitfire Audio's BBCSO Pro, all the ARO's and Albion's but I think I'll have to pass on this one. Great content as always, Guy.

[@jefskott99]

Guy, thank you for the review and the composition showing Abbey Road Two in context. You might mention this elsewhere but what is the controller you are using on the left side of your keyboard? Thanks and have a wonderful Holidays!

[@rogernewton7831]

It's not strictly a string quintet, but it has at least, 5 string instruments and the double bass does occasionally make up a quintet.

[@6stringbeats397]

I think Spitfire is on to something. Years ago Michael Jackson’s drummer Ricky Lawson was telling me that I should start playing upright bass (I’m a bass player). He was saying that the old sound is going to come back in the music and it’s going to be the new “modern” sound. He was right. Artist like Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars etc all have since went back to that classic sound and made it more modern.

[@MrACangusyoungDC]

It is rather Richard Pryn who is onto something who plays his on Cello for his trailers, though he barely can play it.

[@TheFinalGamerRN]

Daamnn!! The beard suits you really well!!

[@joelwybrew]

I was WAITIN FOR THIS ONE

[@Yishinyourear]

Wow! Didn't recognize you with the beard! Very cool looking!

[@Kingchord2000]

Guy what do you think if this Abbey Road Two be use on a Mozart String quartet?

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

That's not its strength

[@KlemenKotar]

Portamento legato in Pro version only is a big one. I was about to buy the Core version as I have no need for extra mic positions but have decided against it just because of portamento legato not being there. Pro version is just too big and expensive for me. Even with 30% to 50% off.

[@Mikhael_bureau]

0:45, my grandpa say the same thing about my sister's new boyfriends. What is even weirder is that he also refer to spitfire, for unknown reason, crazy old man.

[@mikebryant4146]

Thanks for the video Guy as I've just purchased this library. A question re: memory management: in this example, are you running the different string instruments as one multi-patch with Aux channels, or are you running separate instances of Abbey Road 2 on each individual channel? Thanks!

[@mindspanconsultants]

I had this library in my shopping cart at Spitfire, but after listening to all of the demos associated with it, it seems quite thin, close, and niche. Their venerable Solo Strings library seems much better for standard quartet/quintet work; however it is still using Kontakt as the player which still isn’t Apple Silicon Native… and it’s still the same price when you take the current discount into consideration for AR 2.

[@martijnvanbeek4387]

Funny; I had exactly the same experience listening to the demos

[@andymacc]

In the pro version you also get the ADT. Do you find this to make much difference in your or a pop mix?

[@silicon1138]

What is the controller on the left Guy is using?

[@BrunoBizarro]

Sounds amazing. But owning the Spitfire Chamber Strings (and yes it sounds different, I know), buying this one, isn't it a bit overkill?

[@Elizemusic1]

Same question I ask myself every time a new thing comes out. I guess the real question is: do you need it? If you have chamber strings then how many string quartet/small ensemble writing jobs are you getting that you need ANOTHER small ensemble library. Yeh it sounds lush, but sounds like you’re already sorted with enough sounds

[@firasalatiyat866]

Lovely sound indeed!

[@mrdali67]

Love the new beard Guy .. fits you :)

[@JohnMcGFrance]

Thanks for the review Guy. I’m looking for some solo strings to go with BBC SO Core. The Pro version is too big for my computer so thought I’d give it a miss. Not sure this fits the bill though. I’ll keep looking around. I really need something with a small download size but good sound and of course not too expensive. I just write for enjoyment and have a very slow internet connection. If you know of anything worth looking at please tip me the wink. Ts.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

TBH I only recently tried the first chair or leader thing with BBC SO and its surprisingly good. A bit too much vibrato however. I have struggled with solo strings as well.

[@richardjecooke8036]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation I'd love to see you review the newly released SampleModeling Solo Strings in comparison to this. Same price as the core, same instruments. Different approach entirely to sampling.

[@markelvinstudio]

Great review, as always. It's a pity there are not enough string libraries in the world :) strings, percussion and piano I imagine are easier, in terms of realism, to reproduce. Brass libraries however remains so weak in comparison.

[@MrACangusyoungDC]

Lesson is to be a brass player and guitarist and fight for your relevance. Guitars are harder to recreate we're cannon fodder in numbers

[@markelvinstudio]

@MrACangusyoungDC I am a brass player, it's why I am so disappointed in many of the offerings out there.

[@inspisiavideos8542]

Hi! I want to buy Abbey Road 2 but I have a this question: Do you know if Abbey Road 2 for $299 wouldn’t take long to load the instrument or is that problem only for the Professional version valued in $499? Please let mw know

[@johntitor.]

Would be good to have a video on your tech specs.

[@notaname8140]

6:15 Well the Library of Congress alone contains over 25 million books, and even assuming a pretty small size like 100KB (an average Kindle ebook is 2.5MB, and the Project Gutenberg download for The Picture of Dorian Gray, the first one I saw when I clicked on the site, is 250KB for the text only option) per book, that would still be 2.5 terabytes, and that's still not all of the literature in the world, 270GB kind of pales in comparison

[@LongshanMusic]

Abbey Road 2: Almost as smooth and silky as Guy's beard.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

But not quite

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

equally I dont wake up with beatles in my beard which would be weird

[@LongshanMusic]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation Very weird. Sounds terrifying.

[@ST-fl5fy]

Guy do you feel the pro version with all the mics is really needed?

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

No but the legato is useful so it’s hard. I would look at the core version on valance not the pro

[@symfonik-pl]

You start to look like J.W. :D Greetings Guy! Great stuff!

[@DustinLeone]

Im curious how many lines Guy slammed right before doing this review.

[@TheArtOfJerry]

How do start learning keyboard? im over 40 yrs old. Are there crash courses to quickly pick up keyboarding skill? something low budget or free.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Have a look at this kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZfGoa2phax2otk

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

If this is the kind of thing you want let me know

[@anderskofoed6949]

There is a tool called Melodics. You can use it for free (but only 5 minutes per day) or subscribe to it.

[@BrunoNeureiter]

Cheap here, cheap there. You'll never go anywhere

[@avsystem3142]

I have a number of Spitfire libraries and they are top notch. I was, however, shocked when I recently found out how many of them are created, as confirmed by Spitfire. They initially digitally record (A/D) the samples. They then convert the digital recordings to analog and record them to tape (Studer 2", etc.), i.e., D/A. They then again convert (A/D) the analog audio output from the tape to digital format. Why? "To give them warmth" (per Spitfire)! I couldn't be more shocked and appalled if they took the initial digital recordings and cut them to vinyl and then recorded the vinyl back to digital, again to give them "warmth". I asked why then didn't just use plugins, in the digital domain, to add the noise, distortion, and compression typical of tape and they insisted that their process was preferred.

[@DiamondFizzy]

Good point. There's an argument for doing it all ITB, some prefer the real thing. Was gonna mention cost but if it's all gone on tape at some point they may aswell just remove the first step and record str8 to tape to lessen the amount of conversions.

[@tvanya]

Over all I agree with you about the newness of this program, the sound fell off when you did two cellos and their synchronized vibrato was jus too much for me, I would not buy it but I can see that many peo;le will, and good luck for the well earned success of Spitfire.

[@omnipop4936]

Beard is on point.

[@thomaspaul311]

It's a good thing those NI Komplete Kontrol S88 keyboards are cheap, isn't it?

[@tidalstudio]

“I’ll do it again, that was a bit shit..” lol

[@johnbell5151]

Love it !

[@doug941]

Everything Spitfire Audio makes sounds amazing!

[@testertwo5159]

4:48 where he finally starts playing

[@danielecohen2266]

Your beard looks great!

[@matthewberry201]

Have you been hitting the Christmas sherry?

[@BossLevelAudio24]

6:24 Giy said a bad word! I'm telling teacher! Oh wait, he IS the teacher!

[@R1dgeR1der]

Is faff a bad word? Lol

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

It was borderline but it was faff

[@ivanbatucada]

este senhor é uma das pessoas mais inspiradoras que encontro na internet! gostaria de vê-lo fazendo música brasileira também! seria divertido...

[@pop_polizei]

Hey Guy, if you like the subtle movement in the flautando samples, you should definitely check out the awesome ‘Solo Strings Untamed’ by Westwood Instruments. I would love to see you reviewing these one day. Thanks for all your content!

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Yes I just found the demos they look really good

[@relativenormality]

Seriously can't get enough of Guy doing an impression of posh orchestrator: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnnSh31tpbaera8

[@fozzee6999]

Sorry Guy, but this Library sounds like my old Casio keyboard. General Midi sounds. Spitfire seem to be more focused on Mic positions and the room. Not the sounds. Project Sam Symphobia has a new update. Much better sound and you get the whole orchestra for £250

[@ayebarberfuckmeup4689]

I agree, its not my favourite library. But with a bit of reverb I'm sure that you could turn it into something decent.

[@JohnsysChannel]

Project Symphobia is proper decent, but saying Spitfire audio sounds like GM on a casio keyboard just comes across as salty. I've got quite a bit of their stuff, and it sounds incredible, Some of it does need a bit of effort putting in I agree, but when you are employing the BBC SO to play for you for example, then all you should be worrying about is capturing the best sound.

[@anatomicallymodernhuman5175]

And now for something completely different, huh? My prediction, it will take a bit for people to figure out what it's good for, and then you'll hear it everywhere.

[@JonasDenolf]

I like your hair :)

[@threeforcegaming1769]

This one sounds like it will be heavily discounted for next year's Black Friday. I don't hear any usable sounds for me and I write everything from pop to symphonic metal to EDM, ambient lo-fi, synthwave, jazz and some cinematic music. It seems too synthy for some patches and too harsh and thin even for the massive style variations I do. Worse is that it seems to have no feel or emotion. That said, your demo is brilliant and I very much appreciate your effort on this one Guy. You singlehandedly saved hundreds of us from buying this!

[@jonhickmanmusic]

what would you use instead?

[@leiferickson3183]

Hi Spitfire. I still cant use your products because you are still not supporting Linux.

[@danmillward7969]

Lol how did you manage to turn a guitar track into the vicar of Dibley theme tune...its 1770s pop

[@Wolfbabypuppylove]

And then I release and I'm done ........I nearly fell off my chair.

[@bryangl1]

This is now a bit late, but I've only just discovered your coverage of this library. I'm sorry, but after all of the brilliant aspects of the library, to me, Vln 1 sounds slightly "off". Alright, I can't afford the library, or the resources it demands (a pity, for everything I do like about it), but that first violin would worry me.

[@coolvibesradio3267]

you look very johnwilliamsy with the beard

[@painlikebaneadamah_picture38]

WHAT WON US THE WAR ... THE IRREPRESSIBLE SPIRIT OF THE PLUCKY-BRIT & THE SPIT-FIRE ... TALLY-HO & CHOKS AWAY?!

[@JonasSalvador]

Hey Guy! A suggestion: The fullscreen DAW isn’t always super interesting, whereas your pretty face is. I’d suggest reversing the videos to keep yourself bigger and the screen smaller while just clicking around or recording parts, unless you’re showing how to do something very specific in the DAW. Or even a vertical cut down the middle of the screen, with yourself to the left and half of the arrange view (most of it is usually empty anyway) to the right. We want to see more of you!

[@OwenPrescott]

Oh god no, white interface is hideous

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Well in winter if you have SAD syndrome it could double as a mood enhancing light

[@citizenworld8094]

Guy was never going to criticise this library when he received the library for free.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

I did criticise it it’s not perfect the longs aren’t that great and there are some things like measured trem that don’t work but there is also some great stuff in here as well

[@septemberwalk]

it seems like they listened to feedback about their legatos being not that great so this one is really great. It would be nice if they went back to some of their older libraries and improved the legatos there

[@alexicalzatti3388]

Yeah, I would love an Abbey Road One update that both added more Legatos and improved on their already existing one (The low strings legato)

[@DanyBolduc]

Guy, thank you for taking the time to share this content. It's inspiring to hear people like you sharing your passion for music.

[@kumarsajal8400]

Sorry Spitfire but its just really mind boggling managing just my Kontakt libraries and the Kontakt software. Its just a pain nowadays to install a separate software and signing in and managing all its libraries separately. I don't know if companies release their own software engine to run the library due to the Kontakt licence amount sharing thing or if it makes any difference in the sound quality or not.

[@ricardodasilva9184]

Is the sound in the video in reverse Guy? The instruments sound out of place, kind regard.

[@guillaumelec8847]

Thanks for the frank review Guy. Even with all of the apparent detail and precision captured in this library, there is an odd saturated, slightly synthy quality, probably due to the analog equipment used to record it. I had the same impression from Paul's walkthrough. Very much a niche library and given the price (and the odd discount for Intimate Strings!? and no consideration--other than the $100 introductory discount--for having any other SF library, of which I have several), you've convinced me not to go for this one. Sad, because the programming is quite good.

[@MartinJG100]

Good review, Guy. Solo sampling is so difficult with every detail exposed and nowhere to hide. Probably ideal for launching into some Nymanesque movements.

[@Papangiri]

Hahahahaha Guy! Best moment of comedic commentary on the internet: 07:55 (Deep voice) "Starting down here we have the double bass...." (increasing pitch slightly) "going through cello..." (even higher) "on to vi-oooola..." (higher) "into second violin and" (falsetto) "then FINALLY up to first violin".

[@Devi_Salias]

Sir, I just enjoy your personality. Like the warnings for spilling the cup and the finger pointing and finger wagging. 😄 So beautiful...

[@jaywoelfel9228]

I feel like this Abbey Road library has more personality to the sound than the first Abbey Road that they brought out.

[@katanalevygames]

Awesome to see they put the performance tech in from their solo string libraries. It just makes them so playable and might tempt me to pick this one up as well!

[@tonyr.4778]

The performance legato doesn't seem that new when you look at Joshua Bell and Bohemian violin, that have had the mix of legato and portamento via velocity for years. But the sound is quite pleasing.