For string quartet lovers

[j_e_f_f_g]

Whenever I run across some better samples, I'll often redo an instrument. That happened with the violin, trumpet, flute, vibes, and banjo. Ok, not so much the banjo,although the farts are an improvement.

This time it's the solo cello. I've been working on these samples for 2 months, and the results are really good -- as good as the solo violin. Use the latter for violins/viola, with this new cello, and we've got a nice free string quartet.

There's a version with the new legato mode (cello_vib_legmode.sfz). If you play a legato phrase (by overlapping notes - ie, holding the preceding note while playing the next note) then the notes will "smoothly connect". This is important for realistically creating the sound of a string player's bowing. One caveat: With legato mode, only one note can sound at a time. Limitation of sfz format.

Currently 2 articulations:
1) Sustain with vibrato
2) Pizzicato

Working on a sustain without vibrato, including 2 dynamic layers. I also have a theory for digitally creating a tremulo articulation, but that needs testing.

[ssj71]

awesome! Thanks Jeff. Your post made me laugh in the middle of a work meeting.

[j_e_f_f_g]

Updated solo cello, now with realistic note release.

[StudioDave]

Listening to a midi cello file played by No Budget versus Sonatina is like listening to a pro cellist versus a high school student. Seriously. Here's a Vivaldi piece for two cellos, played by both orchestras. You can hear the intonation problems with sonatina. By the end of the piece, the 2 cellos are so out of tune, it's unlistenable.

I listened to both recordings, you're right about the Sonatina set sounding rather poor by comparison (I thought at first that I was hearing a synth patch, not a very good one). However, to be honest, neither recording sounds particularly convincing to my ears, especially in the middle range. Your samples are clearly superior in the lower depths, but neither example retains clarity of articulation as the notes head upwards. A third example should be added, of a real cellist playing the same section, to show where the sets succeed and/or fail to replicate the reality.

Anyway, thanks for the great work you've been up to. I'll be testing some of your instruments in the latest LinuxSampler and Redux.

Best,

dp

[j_e_f_f_g]

neither recording sounds particularly convincing to my ears, especially in the middle range. Neither example retains clarity of articulation as the notes head upwards. I'll be testing

Keep a pen and paper nearby, and detail any particular note that sounds bad. Twice endusers cited particular notes, and I was able to correct the problems.