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Strings library to complement CSS

inthevoid

inthevoid

Active Member
Hi Vi-C

I'm looking for a strings library to complement CSS which has been my workhorse for years and years. I love it and I'm sure I'll keep using it but I need something clear, defined and bright to complement its dark / romantic tone. Ideally, something that might also be able to go a bit 'airier' than CSS's quite small sounding room.

I've been looking at LASS 3, Modern Scoring Strings, Pacific Strings and Berlin Strings.

My immediate thoughts:
- LASS 3: seems interesting - love the polyphonic legato & other features and I like the clarity, but have heard a lot of people saying it can be tricky to mix and it's showing signs of age.
- Modern Scoring Strings: seems great and again love the polyphonic legato but I'm worried the tone is still too dark and closed. Have found it hard to find good exposed demos with it.
- Pacific Strings I absolutely adore the tone and legato but it's very similar sounding to CSS to my ears.
- Berlin Strings: love the sound but am very wary of getting a library that needs tons of time programming to sound good (I have this issue with Berlin Woodwinds).

I already own Spitfire Chamber Strings and Nashville Scoring Strings - I can't get past the legatos on SCS and Nashville Scoring Strings the legato again sounds quite robotic/unmusical.

Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated!
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From what you wrote i think none of the libraries you listed are ideal for you. As you are looking for a bright(ish) sounding strings library, recorded in a large room, I would recommend looking at Cinematic Strings 2, and VSL Duality Strings. Cinematic Strings 2 sound very nice and open, but can have some noise stacking up on quieter layers. That can make them sound a bit gritty. Duality Strings, on the other hand, take time to set them up the way you want. The Synchron Player is extremely flexible, and has an according learning curve. Once that's done I found VSL strings to be reasonably quick and easy to program.

Maybe Berlin Symphonic Strings are an option too. They are certainly easier to program than Berlin Strings. But personally I prefer Cinematic Strings 2.
 
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I think LASS is still a good choice. I don't agree that it's showing signs of age, especially after the updates that brought it into the Genesis player. With lookahead it's easy to import your midi do very quick minimal prep, and most of the work is already done. If you're planning to layer it, mixing won't be difficult at all. No matter what you plan to do with it, respect the dynamics--the modwheel probably shouldn't be above like 80 for 90% of writing, because LASS gets very loud very quickly and that's why you read people saying it's "harsh" or "hard to mix". I'd also argue that almost every third party YouTube video is riding the modwheel too hot.

Pacific won't give you the detail you're looking for and MSS is so smooth and light on vibrato that I'd probably use those two for adding body rather than adding detail. Berlin Strings is great but it's a workhorse and maybe a little too similar to CSS as far as ensemble size, etc. Berlin Symphonic might be a good choice if you're trying to make your ensemble sound bigger

If you're planning to layer for detail and brightness, it doesn't get better than LASS. Slap a bit of reverb on it and adjust the volume until it gives you what you need.
 
Don't have CSS (just don't love the overall tone for some reason), but when I was looking for something more "clear, defined and bright" than HS, I decided on Areia, and couldn't be happier - a much under-rated library IMO. As for airy, well it's recorded very dry, but with reverb (Spaces II's Reynolds Hall is my go-to) can sound huge. Compare the demos - I felt it sounded a lot more expansive than CSS, despite similar size sections, and the clarity between sections is great - in particular the cellos cut thru in a way none of the other string libraries I've tried can quite manage. LASS, which I don't really use much anymore, does also have great clarity, but Areia feels much more "alive" and expressive. It's maybe not as lush and romantic as some libraries, but then CSS probably already covers that for you? (not being a huge fan of the CSS sound, I'm planning to get Pacific at some point for the more lush/romantic stuff)
 
Wow, thanks everyone for all the suggestions. Lots to think about already. In terms of using CSS as a base it sounds like I need to give layering CSSS and messing with the mics / EQ another serious go at first, at the very least.

Casiquire said:
I think LASS is still a good choice. I don't agree that it's showing signs of age, especially after the updates that brought it into the Genesis player. With lookahead it's easy to import your midi do very quick minimal prep, and most of the work is already done. If you're planning to layer it, mixing won't be difficult at all. No matter what you plan to do with it, respect the dynamics--the modwheel probably shouldn't be above like 80 for 90% of writing, because LASS gets very loud very quickly and that's why you read people saying it's "harsh" or "hard to mix". I'd also argue that almost every third party YouTube video is riding the modwheel too hot.
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Thanks for the write up on LASS - this really helps. I might just take the plunge especially as there's a decent discount on at the minute.
 
Casiquire is right about LASS being a great library, and that its age is not an issue. I concur with that. However, it is not, and never was, easy or quick to program. I found it as time consuming to program as Berlin Strings. You need to really know the library. Which sections to layer for what. Which articulations to avoid in what context to get decent intonation. Learn to tightly control cc1 to avoid harshness. If you do that you get some of the best results possible with samples. But I'd say you hardly get them quickly, nor easily.

Spitfire Appassionata and Chamber Strings are not matching your request in my opinion. Appassionata sounds dark. Like really dark. And woody. The opposite of what you requested. And Chamber Strings can sound nasal and restrained. Not open and airy. Again, not what you are looking for if I understand you correctly.

Hollywood Strings, on the other hand, might have a sound you are looking for. But even after the port to OPUS they remain a complex library to use.
 
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I love using Afflatus as a secondary library (CSS is my workhorse also). Highly recommend. it's a little quirky but some real gems in it. OT Vasks is also very nice.
 
muk said:
Casiquire is right about LASS bei g a great library, and that its age is not an issue. I concur with that. However, it is not, and never was, easy or quick to program. I found it as time consuming ro program as Berlin Strings. You need to really know the library.Which sections to layer for what. Which articulations to avoid in what context to get decent intonation. Learn to tightly control cc1 to avoid harshness. If you do that you get some of the best results possible with samples. But I'd say you hardly get them quickly, nor easily.

Spitfire Appasionata and Chamber Strings are not matching your request in my opinion. Appasionata sounds dark. Like really dark. The opposite of what you requested. And Chamber Strings can sound nasal and restrained. Not open and airy. Again, not what you are looking for if I understand you correctly.

Hollywood Steings, on the other hand, might have a sound you are looking for. But even after the port to OPUS they remain a complex library to use.
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Thank you @muk , it plays well with me and my workflow but it's important for the OP to know that opinions vary wildly! That's Audiobro for you. Highly divisive libraries
 
Casiquire said:
I think LASS is still a good choice. I don't agree that it's showing signs of age, especially after the updates that brought it into the Genesis player. With lookahead it's easy to import your midi do very quick minimal prep, and most of the work is already done. If you're planning to layer it, mixing won't be difficult at all. No matter what you plan to do with it, respect the dynamics--the modwheel probably shouldn't be above like 80 for 90% of writing, because LASS gets very loud very quickly and that's why you read people saying it's "harsh" or "hard to mix". I'd also argue that almost every third party YouTube video is riding the modwheel too hot.

Pacific won't give you the detail you're looking for and MSS is so smooth and light on vibrato that I'd probably use those two for adding body rather than adding detail. Berlin Strings is great but it's a workhorse and maybe a little too similar to CSS as far as ensemble size, etc. Berlin Symphonic might be a good choice if you're trying to make your ensemble sound bigger

If you're planning to layer for detail and brightness, it doesn't get better than LASS. Slap a bit of reverb on it and adjust the volume until it gives you what you need.
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CSS + LASS is my secret weapon, especially for Violins. I love my various OT Strings, but when I need a soaring or nimble melody with believable legato and the right amount of weight,

then CSS+LASS is it
 
You could also consider VSL Synchron Strings Pro/Elite Strings and Impact Soundworks Tokyo Scoring Strings. I also recently got Spitfire Studio Strings Pro and its default Stereo Mix mic has great bright crystal clear sound - those are very dry though (TSS are dry too, drier than Hollywood Strings I'd say).
 
Thanks all for your advice. I grabbed LASS and holy moly, layered with CSS it's lovely (especially violins). It really 'opens' the dark sound of CSS and adds that brightness and airiness I was looking for and couldn't quite get satisfyingly from EQ alone - while still being intuitive to use. I wish all libraries could have polyphonic legato and the anti-machine gun mode now!
 
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