In need of a free orchestra sound

[mr-jazzman]

Hey, does anyone know where I could find a high-quality orchestra sound for free? I've tried soundfonts and various VST plugins, and I've used sf2midi for a while, but nothing has that epic string quality that I love. And by high-quality, I'm not talking synth; I want something that sounds like a REAL string ensemble. Has anyone found anything like that, ever, in any form (be it sf2, VST, etc.)?

[loansindi]

You know, for something to really sound REALLY real, someone has to sit down and do some pretty exhaustive recording.

That's why most really good quality orchestral samples cost, not to mention the software that's built to play all the various samples seamlessly.

[MaestroRage]

you'll never find the sound you're looking for, for free. As Loan said there is way too much effort that goes into a good (or even half assed decent) orchestral library to ever condone giving it for free. I mean, you would have to convince the following people to give up their time (for just strings)

18 violin players
10-14 viola players
10 cello players
4-9 double bass players

several sound engineers for recording
dozens of developers to build a half decent sampler so you can use said string samples seamlessly

easily over 50 people giving up several hundred man hours requiring many more hundreds of years of experience between them all. And then the damage that would do to the VST industry would be rather devastating depending on how awesome that freebie was made.

You could always blend many string soundfonts together to get a more interesting mix. If you sharpen your engineering skills you can make crap sound great.

[Phyrnna]

Most of my songs have been made with 100% soundfonts (because my laptop can't handle anything else). And honestly, the right soundfonts with the right engineering can sound extremely good also.

[sorohanro]

Check this thread, I posted there several free plugins and resources.

[krssvr]

the squidfont orchestral soundfont and DSK plugins are probably the best you might find for free

[InGenius]

really while the recorded quality of the products does come into play with Sampler based Strings, really it comes down to how you use the sounds and how good you are at beefing them back up because, let's be honest, no sampler is ever going to match an actual orchestra. You simply cannot copy ever articulation, every voicing, every transition, and every style in a program, no matter how much money or time you have. That said, I suggest the Squidfont version over DSK, but if you use DSK, cut all of it's reverb and use your own reverb plugin. I've noticed the freeware programs chorus, reverb and delay is almost always anemic and creates inorganic tone structure to strings, horns, and other instruments.

I use Kjaerhus' Classic Reverb, which is freeware but is much better made than most packaged reverb, and their Classic Chorus to beef up and verb strings. I'm still using Edirol Orchestral for all of my orchestra parts, but I cut the verb out of the program and use the Edit settings within it to add character and overtones that the stock presets don't have. You obviously won't have this much control in DSK or Squidfont, and Edirol isn't free, but you see how it comes down to the ability of the producer in this case, rather than the price of the VSTi.

[nathanallenpinard]

At 11/15/09 02:13 PM, InGenius wrote: no sampler is ever going to match an actual orchestra.

This year things are getting way more realistic actually. It's not really so much about the samples or articulations, but the control of the sample itself.

[mr-jazzman]

Yeah, y'all are probably right about the whole "free" thing. Mainly, I'm looking for a decent background string section, and I've been extremely dissappointed with what I've heard. But, I'm seeing now, in order to sound professional, you gotta be willing to invest, cuz otherwise all you'll be is an amateur. I'm trying to get outta that amateur phase, and I've already found some good hi-quality drum software that I'll have by Christmas (plus some stuff for my guitar rig; I'm so stoked =) ). I know for a fact, though, that there's some decent string stuff out there for free, because people use it all the time. If I can find a semi-decent choir soundfont for free, then I should, by logic, be able to find a semi-decent orchestral sound for free as well, right? At least, until I'm able to get my hands on the pro stuff -- it's mostly just temporary.

[nathanallenpinard]

At 11/15/09 02:19 PM, mr-jazzman wrote: Yeah, y'all are probably right about the whole "free" thing. Mainly, I'm looking for a decent background string section, and I've been extremely dissappointed with what I've heard. But, I'm seeing now, in order to sound professional, you gotta be willing to invest, cuz otherwise all you'll be is an amateur. I'm trying to get outta that amateur phase, and I've already found some good hi-quality drum software that I'll have by Christmas (plus some stuff for my guitar rig; I'm so stoked =) ). I know for a fact, though, that there's some decent string stuff out there for free, because people use it all the time. If I can find a semi-decent choir soundfont for free, then I should, by logic, be able to find a semi-decent orchestral sound for free as well, right? At least, until I'm able to get my hands on the pro stuff -- it's mostly just temporary.

If you are looking to expand to a high quality orchestral system, don't just buy one library to blanket unless the price is right. No library is perfect, so it's best to research which companies do what best. Some are specialized.

Example of what I'd get if I bought everything today:

Brass - Wallander Brass
Woodwinds - Wallander Woodwinds
French Horn - VSL Brass II (Epic Horns)
Strings - LA Scoring Strings
Percussion - True Strike I and II

It adds up to be expensive, but if you nail each piece at a time it'll progressively build your library. Buying everything at once for one company will have it's disadvantages.

[sorohanro]

Drums you can have for free. There are at least 80 free drum machines/ samplers, there are also some very quality drum samples of vintage famous drum sets (from Ludvig, Gretsch , Yamaha Custom, etc...).

If you have money to invest I would suggest getting some realistic strings.
DSK Brass would be fine for a while and for trumpets... there is a trumpet player here on NG that might help you with some real trumpets...