Hello friends.
How are you? I hope everyone is doing well.


As the title suggests, is there a VSTi that can mimic the articulation of these two solo Violin samples?

Portamento on first samples can be as slow and long as that. I'm at a loss as to how.
And I don't know exactly what the name of the articulation in the second sample is (last part).


I've tried Imperia Solo Audio, two Cremona Violins (Stradivari & Guarneri portamento), and Joshua Bell but haven't found anything close with slow portamento on first sample.


And I was completely lost in the second sample.


I understand that maybe virtual instruments can't be as perfect as real human playing.
But maybe there's something I'm missing out on.


Maybe you guys can help me with libraries/VSTi recommendations that are close based on the two samples I provided?


Thank you in advance for your attention and help.

 

The only VST that are capable of mimic the expressivity of violin:
SWAM Strings (Paid)
Synful Orchestra (Free and Open Source)

For libraries that are so close so yeah libraries are very limited.

what about Spitfire Audio's?

 

That might be reaching a bit.

You would have to control the legato and vibrato frequencies and duration with a CC.

The cross from protato to sul ponticello to protato detache is going to be difficult and I don't know how you would do that seamlessly with samples.

I mean you are trying to mimic some pretty serious playing at this point where two different people might play it differently just because each one has their own limits.

 

You can get this with any violin library essentially. But there will be a lot of programming involved personally I feel ni Stradivari violin will do it the best

 

for the first bit check out the trill articulation on whatever libraries you're using. It's fairly common, but finding one that sounds as emotional is going to be difficult.

The ending of the first clip might be best to leave it to a dedicated "Runs" patch, some libraries have that included or have it as expansions. It's basically an entire sample of a run like that, so you don't have to worry about the legatto samples not lining up well.

Now, if you want something that can do a lot of that out of the box, check out Joshua Bell violin by Embertone. It isn't THAT bold and dynamic but this thing is spectacular for this kind of stuff and it handles quick articulation changes very well.

 

The first part of the first clip (00:00-00:03) is playable even on a keyboard. But it would still need a lot of editing to eventually sound like a violin. The last chromatic rise (00:04-end) is more problematic because it is played typically like a violin. You can hear the switching between different strings.

The second clip, I think is even harder to reproduce?

But if you want to come anywhere close of reproducing this kind of complex violin work I still think your best bet is Cremona Stradivari/Guarneri violins. You will have to set up multiple instances to be able to use all the articulations available and it will take really a lot of note,cc data editing and key switching between the various articulations to get there.

 

I don't have it installed any longer, but from memory Miroslav Philharmonik 2 MIGHT have been able to recreate those,.as you could speed up and slow down the articulations as well as pitch etc all done seamlessly, and I have had some great experiences in the past using it with midi files of classical pieces.

I repeat thought the word MIGHT, because whilst thinking it through in my head sounds possible, actually putting it into practice is never as simple.

 

Just a reminder of what Swam is capable of:

and best of all:


It depends most on the real time controller you have: the more CC it has, the better is.
Roli Seabord would be the optimum.

Synful Orchestra is another awesome instrument capable of quirks, and it needs just traditional controllers, mod wheel and proper use of keyswitches, but it takes long to learn (I'm struggling with it).

 

There is an ensemble for Reaktor called Serenade III, where you can control the bowing and other stuff. I use it sometimes
I probably got it from the reaktor user ensembles from their website, but I uploaded it here for you if you want to try it: https://we.tl/t-8E6XI4DNzr

 

It appears that I missed it. Thanks for mention it.
After seeing the demo on YouTube, I'm wondering if I need to acquire a midi keyboard controller for this articulation.

I have tried Spitfire Audio Spitfire Solo Violin but I have no luck I think.

 

Last edited: Nov 2, 2023

I understand what you mean. Thank you.
So do you think this articulation doesn't currently have any developer making it easily?

Because so far I've seen a lot of unique (unregular) articulations from violins and haven't found anything like this on VSTi/samples/libraries.

 

Last edited: Nov 2, 2023

I've tried it. It's pretty good, but I found it difficult to make the portamento slower.
Apart from that, the friction/noise sound is different.

But thanks for your suggest.

 

Last edited: Nov 2, 2023

OK, I'll try to find out what library is suitable.
Do you have any ideas?

I've tried it, you're right about it being spectacular. However, it is still difficult to make it very expressive like the sample.
Maybe I'll consider either Joshua or Cremona, thank you.

 

Yes, I listened that switching.

Yes, maybe It would be easier if I did it on a guitar instrument.

OK, thanks for your suggestion. I'll dig deeper into Cremona again and try your suggestions. Thank You.

 

Wow, seriously?
I will try to see the demo on YouTube.
Thank you for recommending it.

Yes, you're right, moreover the articulation I want doesn't seem to be a regular articulation.

 

LMAO.
Awesome demo, thank you.
Ahhhh looks like I'll have to buy a midi keyboard controller for this. OMG.

Maybe you can explain why?

I have downloaded it on JEPasCP1's advice too.
The demo is interesting. I try to learn it. Thank You.

 

Interesting.

This is from Native Instruments, right?

Thank you very much for the file.
I will try it.



I will try all the suggestions from all my friends here and will post the results here soon.
Many thanks friends

 

This particular video from the Namm 2016 Show feat Jordan Rudess is certainly worth watching..

And this one for key switching articulations.

 

Last edited: Nov 2, 2023

That's called Klezmer, you can look for violin samples all want, but you're unlikely to find it because that person is playing a "fiddle", you're more likely to find it in middle east or gypsy music. It's basically Judaic in origin, East West has a Gypsy pack that might have something more similiar:

https://www.soundsonline.com/world-and-traditional/gypsy

This is probably already closer to it than what you're finding:

https://splice.com/sounds/samples/50f5e7d0f450bec29039aedcf45b6d353a37602e3ff5fbfdd8f3dd369be607e6/-

There's an entity called Gio Israel that has a variety of sample packs.

But you're looking for a "fiddle" and the specific genre is Klezmer. If you really wanted it, then you could probably use a DAW that has sheet music notation, then just hire a local Jewish Fiddler.

 

Violin articulations are pretty standard and are annotated. The section you reference has three different articulations and the interesting sounding bits are actually the sounds produced from the transition between them all.

I will attempt to use non-technical terms so you can visualize it.

The part starts with the bow in a central position between then bridge and the end of the end of the finger board. The portato is a bow stroke that separates the slurred and modulated notes by stoping the bow without changing direction and in some places with more pressure on the stop refrain than on the pull or sustain of the note.

Then your player is repeating this but at the same time they are starting to head towards the bridge this is why the timber of the sound is increasing in harmonics. The reset is detache as to reset the bow to a pull as the more prominent strokes are generating the shrill trill that is prominent feature of that sound. Right at the end the dissonance you head is from getting close to the bridge, then the player moves away from the bridge on his final slide down the e string you start hearing a clearer note. Generally playing closer to the fingerboard or even over it softens the sound of the violin, making more oboe or windy and getting close to the bridge highlights more shrill harmonic character of a violin, and all the places in between.

I think most of the solo string libraries have all these articulations.

I mean there are only 25 or so articulations/positions of the bow, the problem is everyone does them a little bit differently and the most interesting parts are the transitions between one and the next.

Sometimes the camera's zoom in at right time and you can see the bow placements and how it affects the sound.

I am not saying your project is not possible, I think it very well might be. I just don't know how it can be done but you asked about the articulations involved I wanted to answer that part.