dyross
Senior Member
So far my go-to NPPE orchestral template setup is:
--Strings: I use CSS--that alone is a big boost from the default NP strings. CSS lacks bite in aggressive passages, but just doubling the violin/viola/cello parts with solo strings (CSSS) in the score works quite well IMO. For someone new to NPPE, I think the best first purchase would be CSS.
--Winds: I mix up NP (esp clarinet) with some CSW, depending on the project. I wish I could use Spitfire more, but they are often doubled instruments (earlier in this thread Arne explains why). In general, too, the wet Spitfire sound is hard to mix with other libraries in NPPE.
--Brass: I almost exclusively stick with NP. Seems crazy but I still think it's the most realistic sound--just listen to the Star Wars rendering in the NPPE demos!
--Percussion/Harp/etc: I pull from lots of different libraries, including Spitfire Perc, which is very strong. One of the great things about NPPE is the ability to switch out libraries, so playing around with these is like mixing.
Here's an example of that setup (based on a mix export from Dorico)
@driscollmusick if you don’t mind me asking another question:
How do you handle NP reverb when blending NP built in sounds with NPPEs with baked in room reverb (like css)? Do you vary the amount of reverb sends per instrument?