Here’s a new demo video, via Time+Space, for Garritan Instant Orchestra – a collection of virtual instruments designed to make creating orchestral music easier.
The library was designed to ‘democratize making music and orchestrating.’ It provides pre-packaged groups of instruments, combined sections, orchestral effects, and mood-based presets.
Garritan offers other applications, like Personal Orchestra, for experienced orchestrators. Instant Orchestra is designed for those without a lot of orchestration knowledge or for those that need to build orchestrations rapidly.
Here’s a run through of some of the pre-packaged instrument groups:
Garritan Instant Orchestra is available for £112.50.
If you’ve used Instant Orchestra, leave a comment with your thoughts!
Not to be too cynical, but I notice they open with percussive sounds which sample much better than string and brass. When the string and brass do finally enter the demo they sound canned, unlike the opening, which has a very pleasant quality to it. It’s a smart move, putting ones best foot forward first, but doesn’t inspire much confidence in me that this is any better than a hundred other orchestra sample packs.
Not my bag, but I could see soundtrack guys loving this.
The keyboard is a CME U key v2.
I has some built in sounds (GM bank, see here : http://www.cme-pro.com/en/product-detail.php?product_id=17).
I’m sure one can do something close with the CME keyboard internal sounds only 😀
It all depends on your ideas and understanding of HOW to orchestrate. Many subtle, refined sounds in classical pieces come from sub-groups of things like 2 violas, one French horn and a flute. Supporting layers & moves are regularly occurring under a main theme, which would sound far thinner without them. So there is a certain honest fakery to apps like this. I’d never try to claim Mahler-hood and cover every singe part in a traditional score, but understanding most of what an orchestra can do means I can blend with synths to the betterment of both. Having 2 or more orchestral apps is not much different from having 2 or 3 complimentary synths. GIO obviously won’t provide an exhaustive list of possible articulations, but I think it could help my work flow to have groups and less traditional playing effects at hand. It could save me time in building everything separately. Its a worthy tool.