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Afflatus Chapter II Brass

Trevor M.

Trevor M.

Member
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Afflatus Chapter II Brass​

It is finally released!
The library is perfect, with lot of articulations, natural color of the sounds, efficient user interface and so on.

But:
1- Attack of the notes are mostly vertical, specially in solo/legato instruments. It is hard to start by soft "fade in". Even CC# fader/wheel can not help.
2- The transitions between notes in solo instruments (specially French Horn) sounds not much natural.
3- The dynamic control (crescendo and diminuendo) by CC# fader (or mod wheel) is annoying. The curve is not soft. It jumps from p (piano) to ff all of a sudden.

I will be glad if you guys who have checked this library write your experience in this page.

Thanks.
Click to read more...
 
Trevor M. said:
website-banner-1600x596px 2.png

Afflatus Chapter II Brass​

It is finally released!
The library is perfect, with lot of articulations, natural color of the sounds, efficient user interface and so on.

But:
1- Attack of the notes are mostly vertical, specially in solo/legato instruments. It is hard to start by soft "fade in". Even CC# fader/wheel can not help.
2- The transitions between notes in solo instruments (specially French Horn) sounds not much natural.
3- The dynamic control (crescendo and diminuendo) by CC# fader (or mod wheel) is annoying. The curve is not soft. It jumps from p (piano) to ff all of a sudden.

I will be glad if you guys who have checked this library write your experience in this page.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Are you basing this off the walkthru video? Or do you have the library?

I’ve found the monophonic legato mode has very convincing legato transitions, and you can also adjust the speed of the legato and make it more pronounced. I actually think the solo horn sounds incredible. Maybe there is just a certain note range you find it not performing as well with the transitions?

I also find the mod wheel reacts really nicely to both softening the attack of notes and with the dynamic crossfades. I haven’t encountered these issues myself. If the note attack is too abrupt with the cc01 all the way down, it’s time to introduce cc11 (expression) and have that fade in as well.

There are some flaws with the library but I personally haven’t noticed the things you mentioned here as being problematic or worse than any other brass library on the market, in fact I think in many ways it’s a lot better than most.

The sustain to crescendo articulations, I find the release of the notes (the crescendo) to be not very convincing and I turn them off, with those articulations I would agree with your assessment that the dynamic shift is too abrupt. Maybe you heard this in the walkthru and assumed it was how the regular sustains react to the modwheel? I believe it’s different, because the trumpets go to FFF on the crescendo releases, but not with the sustains or legato. This leads me to believe the crescendos are recorded separately. I find them to sound a bit artificial and haven’t used them unless I need the trumpets to really blast at the end of a measure.
 
bfreepro said:
Are you basing this off the walkthru video? Or do you have the library?

I’ve found the monophonic legato mode has very convincing legato transitions, and you can also adjust the speed of the legato and make it more pronounced. I actually think the solo horn sounds incredible. Maybe there is just a certain note range you find it not performing as well with the transitions?

I also find the mod wheel reacts really nicely to both softening the attack of notes and with the dynamic crossfades. I haven’t encountered these issues myself. If the note attack is too abrupt with the cc01 all the way down, it’s time to introduce cc11 (expression) and have that fade in as well.

There are some flaws with the library but I personally haven’t noticed the things you mentioned here as being problematic or worse than any other brass library on the market, in fact I think in many ways it’s a lot better than most.

The sustain to crescendo articulations, I find the release of the notes (the crescendo) to be not very convincing and I turn them off, with those articulations I would agree with your assessment that the dynamic shift is too abrupt. Maybe you heard this in the walkthru and assumed it was how the regular sustains react to the modwheel? I believe it’s different, because the trumpets go to FFF on the crescendo releases, but not with the sustains or legato. This leads me to believe the crescendos are recorded separately. I find them to sound a bit artificial and haven’t used them unless I need the trumpets to really blast at the end of a measure.
Click to expand...
Sorry for late.
Your first question is so weird! How can I check and write a review for a library based on a video?!
I have checked all functions one by one on library. I have the library. I have bought it.

What I said about attack of solo instruments, yes, you can turn the "attack" wheel on interface and make it softer. But still it doesn`t start exactly from zero point.

Concerning solo transitions, Afflatus Brass is not bad, but not exactly natural.
People who know perfectly this instrument can recognize the difference. And if you don`t know this instrument perfectly, you can play "Horn Solo True Legato" of the libraries of "Cine samples CineBrass" (Core, Pro, Descant Horn). This is what you can say "natural transitions" about the f. horn.

And the dynamic control of crescendo/diminuendo is really awful on solo instruments of this library, specially f. horn. I have checked it by mod wheel on my MIDI keyboard, and also by my CC# fader. You can feel the jumping of crescendo under your fingers in both mod wheel and the fader.

This is a perfect curve for MIDI crescendo control in an authentic library:

1.jpg

And this is the curve of MIDI crescendo control on Afflatus Brass, solo horn:

2.jpg

Thank you for comment, bfreepro.
 
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This is a perfect curve for MIDI crescendo control in an authentic library:
Click to expand...
What do you mean..”authentic” ?

Are you talking about perception of volume or the midi level?
Also, you are the first person to mention these problems..can you post audio examples as opposed to a graph so the community can understand what it is you are hearing.
 
I concur with @Trevor M. There is definitely problems with some of the legato transitions in this library. I haven't had the time to go through it all but this far I've been a bit disappointed with some of the instruments.

The main problem I’ve run into is the excessive amplitude of the legato transition samples. Sometimes they’re fine but sometimes I've had them jump out by 10 dBs above the sustain samples they are supposed to be connecting. I've mainly had these problems with the 3 Trumpets patch and the 2 Horns patch. In my experience the solo instruments are a lot better than the ensemble patches regarding this problem. For the type of writing I do, this is still a big problem and @StrezovSampling did tell us "no bumpy legatos". That was one of the main reasons for why I pre-ordered this library.

I contacted @StrezovSampling about the legato transitions and also suggested that they put controls in the GUI for adjusting the over all amplitude of the legato transition samples. They didn’t seem to think that was a good idea though and said that they’d probably just tweak the transitions in an update. I still think being able to control the amplitude of the legato transition samples would be very helpful, especially if you could program it via CC.

Beyond problems with some of the legatos, I've also run into the problem with some of the crossfades that OP is talking about. Some crossfade are just quite abrupt. I didn’t find this to be as much of a problem as the legatos but still quite annoying from time to time.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great thing about this library as well. It just isn’t great for the things I need it to do. Yet. I have a lot of hope that @StrezovSampling will update the library with fixes to the bumpy legatos and uneven crossfades.
 
Beats said:
I contacted @StrezovSampling about the legato transitions and also suggested that they put controls in the GUI for adjusting the over all amplitude of the legato transition samples. They didn’t seem to think that was a good idea though and said that they’d probably just tweak the transitions in an update. I still think being able to control the amplitude of the legato transition samples would be very helpful, especially if you could program it via CC.
Click to expand...
If the library isn't locked you can tweak amplitude of transitions yourself - I know it's not the best solution from the customers point of view but usually the only one in the end.
 
ummon said:
If the library isn't locked you can tweak amplitude of transitions yourself - I know it's not the best solution from the customers point of view but usually the only one in the end.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I've been thinking of trying this but I haven't had the time to check if it's even possible. Hope to be able to get to it this weekend.
 
Beats said:
I concur with @Trevor M. There is definitely problems with some of the legato transitions in this library. I haven't had the time to go through it all but this far I've been a bit disappointed with some of the instruments.

The main problem I’ve run into is the excessive amplitude of the legato transition samples. Sometimes they’re fine but sometimes I've had them jump out by 10 dBs above the sustain samples they are supposed to be connecting. I've mainly had these problems with the 3 Trumpets patch and the 2 Horns patch. In my experience the solo instruments are a lot better than the ensemble patches regarding this problem. For the type of writing I do, this is still a big problem and @StrezovSampling did tell us "no bumpy legatos". That was one of the main reasons for why I pre-ordered this library.

I contacted @StrezovSampling about the legato transitions and also suggested that they put controls in the GUI for adjusting the over all amplitude of the legato transition samples. They didn’t seem to think that was a good idea though and said that they’d probably just tweak the transitions in an update. I still think being able to control the amplitude of the legato transition samples would be very helpful, especially if you could program it via CC.

Beyond problems with some of the legatos, I've also run into the problem with some of the crossfades that OP is talking about. Some crossfade are just quite abrupt. I didn’t find this to be as much of a problem as the legatos but still quite annoying from time to time.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great thing about this library as well. It just isn’t great for the things I need it to do. Yet. I have a lot of hope that @StrezovSampling will update the library with fixes to the bumpy legatos and uneven crossfades.
Click to expand...
Yes, you are right about the Trumpets, Beats.
This library makes me more disappointed day by day! It has serious problems of dynamics and transitions. I hope these problems will be solved in the updated version.
 
Snarf said:
I second the request for audio examples of the described problems, @Beats & @Trevor M.
Click to expand...
These types of problems are usually not detectable with the audio file examples, Snarf. The user himself should experience these problems under his fingers by touching the MIDI fader and keyboard. If it can be recognized with the sound example, YouTube has many examples of this library and other libraries too, but the problems cannot be recognized.
Of course, knowing the real instrument is very important in diagnosing these problems too.
 
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Trevor M. said:

<snip>​

2- The transitions between notes in solo instruments (specially French Horn) sounds not much natural.
<snip>
Click to expand...
Trevor M. said:
<snip>

Concerning solo transitions, Afflatus Brass is not bad, but not exactly natural.
People who know perfectly this instrument can recognize the difference. And if you don`t know this instrument perfectly, you can play "Horn Solo True Legato" of the libraries of "Cine samples CineBrass" (Core, Pro, Descant Horn). This is what you can say "natural transitions" about the f. horn.
Click to expand...

Trevor M. said:
<snip>
Of course, knowing the real instrument is very important in diagnosing these problems too.
Click to expand...

Do you mean that a legato transition between certain tones on a real f.horn is not possible (or difficult) for physical reasons but no problem at all on a Strezov virtual f.horn, so that suggests a scripted legato?

Point 2 could be heard by anyone right?

So like others already requested. Could you provide some audio:
For example a f.horn melody that illustrates this unnatural legato problem.
Played by a f.horn from CineSamples vs a f.horn from Strezov

If you don't have the time or opportunity that's fine, but I think when you're addressing these problems it's more helpful to provide some audio examples.
Also for people who want to buy a fresh solo horn. ;)
Thanks.
 
Maarten said:
Do you mean that a legato transition between certain tones on a real f.horn is not possible (or difficult) for physical reasons but no problem at all on a Strezov virtual f.horn, so that suggests a scripted legato?

Point 2 could be heard by anyone right?

So like others already requested. Could you provide some audio:
For example a f.horn melody that illustrates this unnatural legato problem.
Played by a f.horn from CineSamples vs a f.horn from Strezov

If you don't have the time or opportunity that's fine, but I think when you're addressing these problems it's more helpful to provide some audio examples.
Also for people who want to buy a fresh solo horn. ;)
Thanks.
Click to expand...
No. I think you misunderstood me, Maarten.
I didn`t say "is not possible . . .".
It is obviously possible, as SineSample has done that. But the transitions in Afflatus Brass doesn't sound like transitions of real/natural instrument. In other words, Strezov company has not been successful in transitions.

Dear Beats apparently will make and upload some audio examples of Afflatus Brass in this weekend. You can wait just two days.
 
Trevor M. said:
No. I think you misunderstood me, Maarten.
I didn`t say "is not possible . . .".
It is obviously possible, as SineSample has done that. But the transitions in Afflatus Brass doesn't sound like transitions of real/natural instrument. In other words, Strezov company has not been successful in transitions.

Dear Beats apparently will make and upload some audio examples of Afflatus Brass in this weekend. You can wait just two days.
Click to expand...
Ah understood, I can wait Trevor. Enough old horns.
Hmm, I'm curious what the difference between a proper natural transition and a not so good unnaturlal transition sounds like. Just out of interest.
 
It's Schrödinger's library. To work out if Trevor M is happy, a human consiousness must observe the wave function, at which point it collapses, revealing either happiness or dissatisfaction.

So pretty much like buying any library, really.

(Except for VSL, where, if you ask nicely, they make it possible to relocate to a parallel uinverse where you never actually bought the library in the first place. Or give you a refund. Whichever is easier.)
 
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I found a bit of spare time so here are some examples.

I’m not trying to overly expose any flaws, this is just me trying to arranging a piano idea I had using Afflatus Brass. You can judge for yourselves and make up your own minds.

All patches are set to monophonic legato and the reverbs are turned off. The legato speed is the default 25%.



3 Trumpets
View attachment Afflatus Brass - 3 Trumpets Legato.mp3
Afflatus Brass - 3 Trumpets Legato.png



2 Horns
View attachment Afflatus Brass - 2 Horns Legato.mp3
Afflatus Brass - 2 Horns Legato.png



Full arrangment
• 3 Trumpet
• 2 Horns
• 2 Horns
• 3 Trombones
• Low Brass (Bass Trombone, Cimbasso, Tuba)
View attachment Afflatus Brass - Full arrangment.mp3
Afflatus Brass - Full arrangment.png



I hope this will be helpful for anyone trying to decide whether to get this library. I rather like it but I find it a bit unruly. It feel very close to being really good though, it just needs a bit more polish.
 
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