EWQLSO for chamber music...question

[kristofo]

Hi!
I have now followed this forum for a while at the same time as I have listened to a lot of demos and uploaded user demos. I must say, this sample library sounds very good in my ears!

However, most of what I have heard is full orchertra, or at least big ensambles, playing together. How is this sample library working for smaller groups of instruments, lets say, smaler woodwind ensambes with solos in between? Is it still as powerful (meaning realistic)? With all respect to EW, has anyone compared it side by side with other "top of the notch" sample libraries out there for this purpose?

I'm asking about this, as I have yet to buy any of these sample libraries, and when putting these amounts of money into it, I would like to be very certain that I'm buying the right stuff for me...

I hope to get some enlightning answers from you users out there!

Thanks

[Counterpoint]

Hi kristofo,

The 'standard' versions of EWQLSO are definitely more geared towards full orchestra sounds. You do get solo versions of all the brass and woodwinds, but for strings you just get a solo violin and cello (and no pizzicato if I remember correctly).

The "Pro XP" editions contain more solo instruments, with many articulations for each so it is possible to write a decent-sounding string quartet, for example. The strings all have pizz articulations in this version too.

There are also some smaller sections (eg: 4 violins) but they tend to have less articulations than the full sections and solo instruments.

As for how they compare to other libraries out there, I'd say the EW ones definitely hold their own. VSL also sounds really good, and possibly be a bit stronger with the solo instruments. Really though, I don't think you could go wrong with either the EWQLSO or VSL.

Hope this answers some of your questions. :)

Cheers,

- Matt

[josejherring]

EWQLSO ProXp has a good overall orchestral sound. The solo instruments work really well in an orchestral setting for solos typically associated with orchestral playing. Same with the smaller 4 violins and 3 cellos sections.

For chamber music there's no beating VSL chamber strings and VSL solo instruments especially the legato patches. For any detailed solo work I'd go with that.

I hope that EWQL makes a good chamber ensemble and good solo instruments in their new Cello Studios. That would probably be the most usable thing on the market should they decided to do it. I've never been convinced by VSL's "Silent Stage" idea. Instruments even solo instruments need some natural reverberation or they sound a bit unnatural to my ears. Though the detail in VSL's solo instruments is remarkable. I think that the best of both worlds would be to do solo instruments and chamber ensembles in a studio like Cello.

Jose