Excessive String Divisi

Excessive String Divisi Many composers coming from the sample world tend to use massively split up string sections. Things like triads in the violas alone, several different violin movements at the same time etc. are very common. While this might work in the sample...

Hiding Sample Shortcomings

Hiding Sample Shortcomings If you can not mock-up an instrument convincingly in a piece (that eventually will end up without recording of real instruments in a score) due to the lack of decent libraries or just out of the fact that this instrument can not be simulated...

Good Samples vs. Bad Orchestras

Good Samples vs Bad Orchestras On low budget movies, composers often try to squeeze the last penny out of their budget and try to get amateur or student orchestras involved to record their score. My general experience on such experiments is to rather go for a good...

Emotional Manipulation

Emotional Manipulation Remember that music has the power to manipulate emotionally and therefore alter the perception and eventually opinion of the audience. Very often this happens even on a subconscious level for the audience. This is why music has and is being used...

Key Switches vs. Many Tracks

Key Switches vs. Many Tracks The majority of sample libraries nowadays rely on so-called key switches. By triggering a (usually very low) note outside of the range of the instrument, you can switch to another articulation of the same instrument (e.g. switch between...