I adore your philosophy on sampling, Christian and want to make it known just how clearly this mindset manifests itself in your company's products. I recently did a loudness-matched 'Staccato' shootout featuring six of Spitfire's String libraries on my channel and to hear the difference in detail, character, physicality and charm of each library is truly remarkable..even with the same midi playing through each sample.
Thanks Christian for taking the time to demystify some of the processes esp , the how to programme realistic strings tutorial. Your tips and tricks are invaluable to another recovering pianist. Keep up the excellent work.
Thank you for the Trellick Tower update. I used to live opposite (my balcony facing the other side from the train line). It was and still is a landmark talking point ... and also a convenient homing reference beacon for me when returning to London from gigs around Europe as all the cabbies know exactly where it is
Your videos are incredibly insightful and the touch of sarcastic humor is perfect. Thanks for taking the time to make all of these videos. Tremendously helpful on the journey i'm about to embark.
Thanks for the explanation CH !! I actually downloaded the template you built, and after studying it, seeing it, it made total sense. After 10 years of using LP, there's probably still so much about it that I don't know... so these little tips are really and truly " OSTINAAATUMM!!"
I struggle endlessly with editing tempi in the middle of a session locked to picture. I am really looking forward to your video showing your workflow there :D
I agree that these videos just keep getting better and better. Even though I loved the rough edges of the earlier offerings, it's interesting to see you develop a video style that's outside of the ho-hum library reviews and dry tutorials that litter TH-cam. I only ask that you don't give up on doing "Creative Cribbs" . They are an audio geeky tour de force and some of my favorite items on the web.
Really enjoying your content Christian! Where do you stand on the whole music library 'scene' of composers chucking out tracks upon tracks in the hope something gets synced and the whole mental game of dealing with rejection etc? Would love to hear your thoughts.
I'd also be interested in your feedback on this Christian - I'm a year into this approach, with a ton of high quality material recorded. There are a ton of library companies out there who'll happily take your work, usually on an exclusive basis, with no guarantee they're actually going to do anything to market your material.. Saying that, I've made a small handful of contacts with great people using this approach (say 1 in 20 targeted companies contacted on average), with potential projects on the cards. Anyway, I digress - certainly agree with Jody - would be good to hear your thoughts / experience on library music as a strategy to getting material out.
By-the-by: I hopped on Spifire Chat with Sandy sometime this past week... I had my DAW set at 60bpm and was asking if there was a way to have my 'Brunel Loop' percussion instance play at 120bpm. After an ask around it seemed that I actually had not missed finding the magic button after all,as there Isn't one. I would LOVE this capability to perhaps make its way in...Oceans Of Beer~ Rich
Who built your absorber walls? Is it owens corning and cotton fabric? Im looking for someone to build walls like that and like the ones at Remote Control. Thanks!
Great video as always, love the 'click in/out' haha. I have two questions I'm hoping you can answer. 1. Most the content I consume (the likes of yourself, film music media - 'all access' series is great), junkie xl, etc.. you all say the same thing, and that is, you're always on a really tight schedule. I just don't understand why this hasn't changed - surely its within everybody's interest to get the best possible output out of musicians.. and hitting them with tight schedule / all nighters doesn't seem logical - or required?! Why isn't this being phased out and musicians/composers given more time? 2. Kind of related - I'm 100% committed on turning this love (addiction) of creating noise and sound into a career. I get married this weekend and in the next year perhaps the pitter-patter of tiny feet will be approaching... how do you balance such demands with family life? I'm dedicated, but from my experience no matter what you do, there must always be balance.. Tom (junkie xl) mentioned 16 hour days plus weekends... What say you good sir?! :)
i have been composing since 1988 got a few bits. was wondering about libraries that want a water mark. is that right . also how do you have a conversation with a deal. what are your words to say and not to say.
Simple question...how do you juggle writting and recording...with family life..i have to under two twin boys...and both my partner and i are wipped out...its sort of killed my creativity!
Hi Christian, this is actually a question for anybody, is the spitfire libraries already panned (or positioned) in the usual places when recorded? Or is it going straight down the middle for us to decide? Sorry if its a silly question im about as new as is possible :)
They're recorded in situ so not panned but naturally positioned, so if you buy the Brass the Tuba will sound to the right and near the back of the room. You can use the close mics and the mic collapser function to adjust the panning to your own taste.
Apologies for my "confrontational" comment. Long day at the office :) I think there is this sudden urge to run things through guitar amps and play them backwords, feed paper into the piano etc... You see where this is going. For me that is the cheese on top of the burger, without the burger. I'm sure there is room for a "normal" triple felt piano. I would argue that you can't really sample a performance, but you can perform with a great sample library.
Didn't see what you said as confrontational at all, merely that my reaction could have been but instead I saw it as an opportunity to open up the discussion. The thing with sampling is IT IS a performance, from a loop, which is very obviously a bit of music or a 'sample' to a phrase all the way down to a note or indeed a release trigger. So when you're hitting a drum on our 'grange' library you're not just playing Chad Smith's kit you're playing Chad Smith playing Chad Smith's kit. This is why I hate the word 'virtual instrument' and in my opinion the worst sample libs are the ones that are made with a "its not a performance its a sample' mind-set. CH
As someone who's just switched from VSL to SSO, the recording of a performance vs recording a sample is what got me to cross over. It's similar to using an EQ or compressor because of the character it imparts. Of course, it creates the new challenge of finding a character that suits your sound. That can be time consuming and expensive if you need to buy multiple libraries, but it also seems to be how developers are differentiating themselves in the marketplace.
Samples capture: Instrument > Recording > Technique > Style > Feel. I have checked the OED for a definition of 'performance' and the third one down says this which made me laugh: "a process involving a great deal of unnecessary time and effort; a fuss".
Sample 'ARTifacts' can also lead a piece on compositionally...you can hear how the 'Tundra' strings and air fx helped inform what 'Phobos' would then answer with here in my track 'METTLE' ... soundcloud.com/rich-de-whittaker/mettle
![CAMPปลิ้น | EP.79[1/2] แก๊งไทบ้านพาบุกเมืองบั้งไฟโก้ ยโสธรรรร!!!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ldr3_fvTEXk/mqdefault.jpg)
I adore your philosophy on sampling, Christian and want to make it known just how clearly this mindset manifests itself in your company's products. I recently did a loudness-matched 'Staccato' shootout featuring six of Spitfire's String libraries on my channel and to hear the difference in detail, character, physicality and charm of each library is truly remarkable..even with the same midi playing through each sample.
My way of procrastinating it to watch loads of wonderful vlogs and 'how to' videos...
Thanks Christian!
Thanks Christian for taking the time to demystify some of the processes esp , the how to programme realistic strings tutorial. Your tips and tricks are invaluable to another recovering pianist. Keep up the excellent work.
Thank you for the Trellick Tower update. I used to live opposite (my balcony facing the other side from the train line). It was and still is a landmark talking point ... and also a convenient homing reference beacon for me when returning to London from gigs around Europe as all the cabbies know exactly where it is
Thanks so much Christian!
Excellent video. These just get better and better. You make it look easy.
Thank you, Christian.
Your videos are incredibly insightful and the touch of sarcastic humor is perfect. Thanks for taking the time to make all of these videos. Tremendously helpful on the journey i'm about to embark.
Thanks for the explanation CH !! I actually downloaded the template you built, and after studying it, seeing it, it made total sense. After 10 years of using LP, there's probably still so much about it that I don't know... so these little tips are really and truly " OSTINAAATUMM!!"
Nice guys! Thanks For all video's learning à lot!
Great to see you and Paul share stories, and buddy, that Felt/Soft Piano is Heaven.
Absolutely inspired by how you morally produce sample libraries
I struggle endlessly with editing tempi in the middle of a session locked to picture. I am really looking forward to your video showing your workflow there :D
I agree that these videos just keep getting better and better. Even though I loved the rough edges of the earlier offerings, it's interesting to see you develop a video style that's outside of the ho-hum library reviews and dry tutorials that litter TH-cam.
I only ask that you don't give up on doing "Creative Cribbs" . They are an audio geeky tour de force and some of my favorite items on the web.
I really appreciate these
Can't believe you wanted to call Albion 'Blitzkrieg' at first haha
I'd like to hear Paul's choir demo too! Should be amazing :>) I enjoyed the making off vids a great deal. I'd love to get my hands on the library.
Can't. Stop. Seeing. Unbuttoned buttoned. LOL! Great video again, loved seeing Paul!!
Really enjoying your content Christian! Where do you stand on the whole music library 'scene' of composers chucking out tracks upon tracks in the hope something gets synced and the whole mental game of dealing with rejection etc? Would love to hear your thoughts.
I'd also be interested in your feedback on this Christian - I'm a year into this approach, with a ton of high quality material recorded. There are a ton of library companies out there who'll happily take your work, usually on an exclusive basis, with no guarantee they're actually going to do anything to market your material.. Saying that, I've made a small handful of contacts with great people using this approach (say 1 in 20 targeted companies contacted on average), with potential projects on the cards. Anyway, I digress - certainly agree with Jody - would be good to hear your thoughts / experience on library music as a strategy to getting material out.
'Aftersun' with Massive is one of my all time fave's...awesome melancholic nice one.
By-the-by: I hopped on Spifire Chat with Sandy sometime this past week... I had my DAW set at 60bpm and was asking if there was a way to have my 'Brunel Loop' percussion instance play at 120bpm. After an ask around it seemed that I actually had not missed finding the magic button after all,as there Isn't one. I would LOVE this capability to perhaps make its way in...Oceans Of Beer~ Rich
All of the vlogs are great but this is particularly good. Nice one sir.
Who built your absorber walls? Is it owens corning and cotton fabric? Im looking for someone to build walls like that and like the ones at Remote Control. Thanks!
Cant find a detailed video on how to use the OSTINATUM, please guide
Great video as always, love the 'click in/out' haha. I have two questions I'm hoping you can answer.
1. Most the content I consume (the likes of yourself, film music media - 'all access' series is great), junkie xl, etc.. you all say the same thing, and that is, you're always on a really tight schedule. I just don't understand why this hasn't changed - surely its within everybody's interest to get the best possible output out of musicians.. and hitting them with tight schedule / all nighters doesn't seem logical - or required?! Why isn't this being phased out and musicians/composers given more time?
2. Kind of related - I'm 100% committed on turning this love (addiction) of creating noise and sound into a career. I get married this weekend and in the next year perhaps the pitter-patter of tiny feet will be approaching... how do you balance such demands with family life? I'm dedicated, but from my experience no matter what you do, there must always be balance.. Tom (junkie xl) mentioned 16 hour days plus weekends...
What say you good sir?! :)
What do you do when you run out of steam when scoring a film?
Eric Whitacre library updates?? :))
I concur!
Yes, please.
Absolutely!
i have been composing since 1988 got a few bits. was wondering about libraries that want a water mark. is that right . also how do you have a conversation with a deal. what are your words to say and not to say.
Simple question...how do you juggle writting and recording...with family life..i have to under two twin boys...and both my partner and i are wipped out...its sort of killed my creativity!
I also have an 11 year old daughter....didnt want to leave her out
Thanks Christian, now I will say OSTINATUM every time I am working on deadlines at 4am on the red eye!
Hi Christian,
this is actually a question for anybody, is the spitfire libraries already panned (or positioned) in the usual places when recorded? Or is it going straight down the middle for us to decide? Sorry if its a silly question im about as new as is possible :)
They're recorded in situ so not panned but naturally positioned, so if you buy the Brass the Tuba will sound to the right and near the back of the room. You can use the close mics and the mic collapser function to adjust the panning to your own taste.
Thanks Christian, exactly what i wanted to hear
Apologies for my "confrontational" comment. Long day at the office :)
I think there is this sudden urge to run things through guitar amps and play them backwords, feed paper into the piano etc... You see where this is going. For me that is the cheese on top of the burger, without the burger. I'm sure there is room for a "normal" triple felt piano.
I would argue that you can't really sample a performance, but you can perform with a great sample library.
Didn't see what you said as confrontational at all, merely that my reaction could have been but instead I saw it as an opportunity to open up the discussion. The thing with sampling is IT IS a performance, from a loop, which is very obviously a bit of music or a 'sample' to a phrase all the way down to a note or indeed a release trigger. So when you're hitting a drum on our 'grange' library you're not just playing Chad Smith's kit you're playing Chad Smith playing Chad Smith's kit. This is why I hate the word 'virtual instrument' and in my opinion the worst sample libs are the ones that are made with a "its not a performance its a sample' mind-set. CH
As someone who's just switched from VSL to SSO, the recording of a performance vs recording a sample is what got me to cross over. It's similar to using an EQ or compressor because of the character it imparts. Of course, it creates the new challenge of finding a character that suits your sound. That can be time consuming and expensive if you need to buy multiple libraries, but it also seems to be how developers are differentiating themselves in the marketplace.
Samples capture: Instrument > Recording > Technique > Style > Feel. I have checked the OED for a definition of 'performance' and the third one down says this which made me laugh: "a process involving a great deal of unnecessary time and effort; a fuss".
Sample 'ARTifacts' can also lead a piece on compositionally...you can hear how the 'Tundra' strings and air fx helped inform what 'Phobos' would then answer with here in my track 'METTLE' ... soundcloud.com/rich-de-whittaker/mettle
Ostinatuummm :P
Johan Macaraeg The Blitzkrieg Ostinatuuuummm!
Someone should turn that clip into a GIF haha. Bring it out when your in dire need of inspiration lol
No no no! It's OSTINATUMMMMM!
hahaha, I stand corrected
Here's a lovely still of you guys from the video - www.scottmcdavid.com/PnC.jpg
Kiss your mother with that mouth?!? /jk
Please don't tell her