I know. When writing for strings you have to pay special attention to dynamics and velocities, sometimes even the placement of notes. The problem is probably with MIDI itself in that it doesn't incorporate the use of slurs and other important markings, so sample developers ignore that aspect.

Quote:

Hi, I´m a fellow GPO user.

First, if you don´t have the update, get it. It´s great.

If you haven´t read the GPO tutorials on garritan.com, you should do that.

1. Make sure you are sending the music to reverb before it is being output. The sounds in GPO are recorded dry. This is deliberate. However, it means that if you don´t apply reverb, your samples will sound HORRENDOUS. By default, FL will NOT apply reverb to them. The bundled Garritan Ambience is decent. Although by no means excellent, it will give you decent reverb (it can be run as an audio effect in any program that can run VST audio effects).

If you want a strong string hit, use the aggressive string patches from the update with the VELOCITY up, Moving up the modwheel changes the volume, velocity changes the aggressiveness.

To make legato string passages, you need to set CC64 all the way up during the passage and overlap the notes a bit.

The first thing with brass - you MUST layer lots of instruments. If you try to get a good brass section using just the section instruments it will sound synthy, dry, and empty. You need to load at least 3 or 4 patches for each instrument you want to have a full sound for. Each track can just be copied from the other, but be modified slightly for more variation. I often use 8 patches for a french horn section - 6 players plus the f overlay and ff overlay. The same goes for string sections, but it´s not as essential.

I´m not an expert, but I´m happy to post answers to any specific questions, or to listen to a sample of yours if you have one.

1) the update? Do you mean GPO Studio?

2) GPO tutorials? I've seen some on the site, but most were dealing with GPO in other programs like Sibelius, Finale, and Cubase.

3) Yeah, I always remember to add reverb to the master FX.

4) From what you're describing (the velocity up, and agressive strings), I don't have this update. Could someone please direct me to this? I didn't see it anywhere on their site... maybe it just came out.

5) Thanks, I'll try your legato suggestion.

6) Yeah layering is definetely essential. Unfortunately, I only have a GB of RAM. With the whole orchestra loaded, my computer is as slow as a person would walk after being anally raped (mind the language).

I suppose I should just record each section (winds, strings, brass, percussion) separately for an overall better sound quality. Man that'd be time consuming, and hard to work with. I really like to hear the whole thing at once. But I have no other choice I think.

Quote:

I know. When writing for strings you have to pay special attention to dynamics and velocities, sometimes even the placement of notes. The problem is probably with MIDI itself in that it doesn't incorporate the use of slurs and other important markings, so sample developers ignore that aspect.

Yeah there are some major problems with MIDI, all readily obvious to orchestrators. The designers were just trying to make something really general that could cover everything.

Some things I really don't like, how channel 10 is always percussion. Really it should be an instrument of its own.



Vince

GPO updates: http://garritan.com/downloads.html

These are ESSENTIAL to get the best sound you can.

Tutorials: GPO users have written tutorials about the best ways to score all instruments with GPO, including a little bit about music theory, some about orchestration, etc. These are on garritan.com, too.

Also, try reading the NS personal orchestra forums, as they have lots of info.

What programs are you using?

Have you read the manual that came with GPO? It explains all about how to use legato, up/down bows, portamentoetc.

The easiest way to help you would be if you could post a demo of what you´ve done and what you think is wrong with it. Try posting your music in the GPO forum, you´ll get lots of feedback.

Quote:
GPO updates: http://garritan.com/downloads.html

These are ESSENTIAL to get the best sound you can.

Tutorials: GPO users have written tutorials about the best ways to score all instruments with GPO, including a little bit about music theory, some about orchestration, etc. These are on garritan.com, too.

Also, try reading the NS personal orchestra forums, as they have lots of info.

What programs are you using?

Have you read the manual that came with GPO? It explains all about how to use legato, up/down bows, portamentoetc.

The easiest way to help you would be if you could post a demo of what you´ve done and what you think is wrong with it. Try posting your music in the GPO forum, you´ll get lots of feedback.

Thanks. I guess I don't have the update. I don't remember downloading anything like that besides GPO studio. If it is essential, then maybe this is part of the problem.

Yeah here's what happened with the tutorials. I thought I found the page with all of them, but it turns out there's way more. Me being blinc, and a dumbass, I didn't notice any of the tutorials on the left menu. I guess that's because ther're in small font.

But now that I know they're there (and there actually is a tutorial for FL Studio! =D) I'll read them.




And yeah I've read the manual.



Thanks for the help; probably don't need anymore.



Vince

GPO can pull off some amazing sounds. Check this demo out and try to guess which parts are real.

http://www.garritan.com/mp3/dk-NewWorldSymphonyC&S.MP3

Wow that's really good. Who made that, for what, and with what program?

You know what I'd like to see? An example Fl Studio file or Sibelius file, along with a GPO template. That would help too... if anyone hs one.

Holy crap, that has to be the best MIDI performance i've heard. Now you say bits of it are real....that cor' solo has got to be a recorded track....surely -_^. Some of the clarinets sounded a little stilted at times, but you could probably pass that track off as real pretty easily :).

Doesn't matter what program was used to make it. And the guy that did has barely been doing music composition for a year! The breakdown of the real/GPO is as follows:

0:00 - 0:21 GPO
0:21 - 0:25 REAL
0:25 - 0:34 GPO
0:34 - 0:43 REAL
0:43 - 1:14 GPO
1:14 - 1:31 REAL
1:31 - 1:48 GPO
1:48 - 1:54 REAL
1:54 - 2:06 GPO
2:06 - 2:13 REAL
2:13 - 2:25 GPO
2:25 - 2:31 REAL
2:31 - END GPO

End of story. NO MORE complaining about your sample library!

I'm not saying it's not capable, and I'm certainly am not complaining. I am simply asking how to do these things, not whether they are possible. Obviously, from what people have posted in this topic, a good sound can come out of GPO.

EDIT* And how doesn't it make a difference what program you use? Sure great results are possible in any program that supports GPO in general, but you can't say that it won't be easier (and in a different way/method) in some more than others.

[Edited by - Dr Mean on May 23, 2005 8:31:13 AM]

The sequencer doesn't matter because different people prefer different sequencers/software. For instance, FLStudio 5, in my opinion, has the best piano roll of any sequencer. It's the only program where I can write efficiently. However, other people think I'm crazy for just using FLStudio 5 and my mouse, and say they'd MUCH rather use Sibelius. Others still prefer Cubase SX, or Finale, or Digital Performer, or Logic 7, etc.