From ACADEMY AWARD, C.A.S. (Cinema Audio Society), BAFTA, and EMMY award-winning sound engineer SHAWN MURPHY, who has recorded and mixed the scores for more than 300 feature films including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: A Musical Journey, Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park The Lost World, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Titanic, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Bourne Ultimatum, Minority Report, Saving Private Ryan, Munich, The Passion Of The Christ, X-Men: The Last Stand, Memoirs of a Geisha and Ice Age; and multiple award-winning EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP virtual (software) instrument producers DOUG ROGERS and NICK PHOENIX; and composer and orchestrator THOMAS BERGERSEN, HOLLYWOOD STRINGS offers unprecedented control over sound and performance, and is a must have compositional tool for serious composers.
OVERVIEW
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP announces the debut of its latest release, HOLLYWOOD STRINGS virtual (software) instrument — a collection of 44.1khz 24-bit string instruments with unprecedented control over sound and performance, all supplied on a hard drive (*see conditions below) for ease of installation.
Recording for HOLLYWOOD STRINGS took place at the famous EASTWEST STUDIO 1, the same studio where many Hollywood soundtracks and television themes were recorded with a live orchestra. Heading this project were co-producers DOUG ROGERS, NICK PHOENIX and THOMAS BERGERSEN and sound engineer SHAWN MURPHY.
Joining Rogers and Phoenix as co-producer on HOLLYWOOD STRINGS is Thomas Bergersen, a highly respected composer and orchestrator, and Phoenix‘s partner in trailer music company Two Steps From Hell. His extensive experience in composing for orchestras and with virtual orchestras made him a perfect fit for the multi award-winning team of Rogers and Phoenix.
“Murphy was an obvious choice for this project; who better to obtain that quintessential Hollywood sound other than someone with his credits,” says Rogers. “HOLLYWOOD STRINGS looks to expand on the success we achieved with EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA by providing a perfect large scoring stage sound and a more intimate scoring stage sound with divisi capability.”
“The sound of these virtual strings are as good as it gets,” says Phoenix. “We have one of the top sound engineers in the business, a famous and beautiful sounding recording studio, the most incredible selection of microphones available, the best analog and digital recording equipment, and top Hollywood string players - how could we go wrong?”
“I've used many virtual orchestras over the last decade, including some I developed with other composers, and some I developed myself. With each new development, I got one step closer to my ideal compositional tool.” says Bergersen. “HOLLYWOOD STRINGS includes features that I consider necessary if you want to create realistic orchestral strings on your DAW.”
HOLLYWOOD STRINGS has many groundbreaking features not found in any other collection. Finger position is, for the first time, controllable by the user, so you can play as far up the strings as you want, and get a fuller more romantic Hollywood sound. Vibrato intensity and extensive dynamics are controllable by the user. Extensive multi-dynamic true legato has been sampled for all sections in three different categories: slurred, portamento, and bow change. This results in unsurpassed legato performance that has never been available. HOLLYWOOD STRINGS has five user-controllable mic positions, including main pickup (Decca tree), mid pickup, close pickup, surround pickup, and an alternate vintage circa 1945 RCA ribbon room pickup.
The
Hollywood Strings production team (L-R):
Doug Rogers, Shawn Murphy, Nick Phoenix, Thomas Bergersen
Prices and specifications subject to change without notice
SPECIFICATIONS AND SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
MAC MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Intel Core 2 Duo Processor 2.1GHz or higher
- 4GB RAM
- Mac OS X 10.5 or later
- 7200 RPM or faster (non energy saving) hard drive for sample streaming
- 310GB free hard drive space / iLok Security Key (not supplied)
|
PC MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Dual Core 2.1GHz or higher
- 4GB RAM
- Windows XP SP2, Vista, or Windows 7
- Sound card with ASIO drivers
- 7200 RPM or faster (non energy saving) hard drive for sample streaming
- 310GB free hard drive space / iLok Security Key (not supplied)
|
MAC RECOMMENDED SYSTEM
- Mac Pro Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66GHz or higher
- 8GB RAM or more
- 7200 RPM or faster (non energy saving) hard drive for sample streaming
|
PC RECOMMENDED SYSTEM
- Intel Core 2 Quad or AMD Quad-Core 2.66GHz or higher
- 8GB RAM or more
- 64-bit Windows/Host Sequencer
- 7200 RPM or faster (non energy saving) hard drive for sample streaming
|
MAC OPTIMAL SYSTEM
- Mac Pro Eight-Core Intel Xeon 2.26GHz or higher
- 16GB RAM or more
- SSD (Solid State Drive) for optimal sample streaming
*SSD adapters are available for Mac Pro at MAX Upgrades and other online resellers
|
PC OPTIMAL SYSTEM
- Intel Core i7 2.66GHz or higher
- 16GB RAM or more
- 64-bit Windows/Host Sequencer
- SSD (Solid State Drive) for sample streaming
|
IMPORTANT: Some of the largest patches (in the "Powerful System" folders) can take up to 1GB of RAM to load per mic position, and are intended for systems that meet the recommended specs. "Light" versions of these patches are included for slower systems.
| Standalone |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
|
| Ableton Live1 |
YES |
YES |
|
YES |
|
6.07 or higher |
| Cubase/Nuendo |
YES |
YES |
YES2 |
YES |
YES2 |
4 or higher |
| FL Studio1 |
n/a |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
7 or higher |
| GarageBand |
YES |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
'08 or higher |
| Logic |
YES3 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
7.2 or higher |
| Performer |
YES3 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
6.02 or later |
| Pro Tools5 |
YES |
YES |
n/a |
YES |
n/a |
7.4 or higher |
| Sibelius |
YES4 |
YES |
|
YES |
|
6.0 or higher |
| Sonar |
n/a |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
6.2 or higher |
1
Ableton Live and FL Studio do not support volume automation via polyphonic aftertouch, which is required by WordBuilder for Symphonic Choirs.
2
Cubase/Nuendo 4.1 or later are required as 64-bit hosts.
3
DAE (RTAS in Digital Performer and Logic) is not supported at this time.
5
Ethernet control surfaces are not officially supported (ex: C24)
All other hosts and versions are untested at this time, but may be compatible.
* The hard drive on which Hollywood Strings ships is a bare (internal) drive. If you don't want to install it to copy the data, we suggest purchasing a hard drive dock from retailers such as Amazon, Newegg, etc. The hard drive is supplied for installation purposes and as product media only. It is not intended for daily use (such as for storing the samples for streaming). EastWest/Soundsonline assumes no responsibility or risk if the drive is used for other purposes.
The hard drive is covered by our "Limited Replacement Only 30 Day Return Policy". If the hard drive develops a defect, it may be returned to Soundsonline within 30 days of shipment. Hollywood Strings may only be returned for a replacement of the hard drive. No refunds are available. "Return" constitutes receipt of the product by Soundsonline, and not the mere issuance of an RMA. Beyond 30 days, the manufacturer's warranty will apply and returns and service must be arranged with the drive manufacturer. EastWest/Soundsonline will replace the data should a drive replacement become necessary.
- Recorded in the famous EASTWEST STUDIOS 1
- Neve 8078 mixing console
- Meitner ADC converters
-
5 user-mixable microphone positions (use as sound options):
- Main - Decca tree (Neumann M50s) and Brauner VM1 KHE (Klaus Heyne Edition) outriggers
- Mid - Neumann KMi, Neumann KM 254, Sony C37A, Neumann U-47
- Close - AKG C12, Neumann U47, Neumann U67, Nordic Audio Labs NU-47
- Surround - Neumann KM 83
- Alternate Room - Vintage RCA44 Ribbon
- Convolution reverbs include new impulses from Quantum Leap Spaces. These include soundstages and halls from Southern California.
All sections except the Basses were sampled with wide extended ranges including almost 4 octaves for violins.
5 mic positions plus divisi spot mics
- 16 1st Violins (9/7 divisi mode)
- 14 2nd Violins (8/6 divisi mode)
- 10 Violas (6/4 divisi mode)
- 10 Cellos (6/4 divisi mode)
- 7 Basses (4/3 divisi mode)
- Multiple finger positions for all sections including open strings
-
3 unique styles of legato interval sampling, including never-before-sampled bow change legato,
slurred legato, and portamento sliding legato, sampled at 3, 3 and 2 dynamics respectively, all with speed control.
That's 8 passes of legato intervals, all sampled in long format so each note has time to breath.
Basses only have slurred legato.
-
Up- and down-bowed sustains, all at 4 finger positions, at least one full octave on each string:
- 5 dynamics at non-vibrato
- 5 dynamics at vibrato
- 3 dynamics at molto vibrato
- Extensive runs
- Playable runs
- Spiccato runs for violins
-
Other articulations:
- Bartók pizzicato
- Col legno
- Detaché up and down bows with finger positions and 4 dynamics
- Flautando for violins
- Harmonics for violins
- Marcato short, 3 dynamics, round-robin x4
- Marcato long, 3 dynamics, round-robin x4
- Measured tremolo, 4 dynamics
- On-the-string staccato, 4 dynamics, round-robin x8
- Pizzicato, 4 dynamics, round-robin x4
- Repetitions, 3 dynamics
- Ricochet, 3 dynamics, round-robin x2
- Spiccato, 4 dynamics, round-robin x9
- Staccatissmo, 4 dynamics, round-robin x16
- Staccato, 4 dynamics, round-robin x9
- Slurred staccato for violins, 4 dynamics, round-robin x9
- Sul ponticello tremolo for violas
- Tremolo, 4 dynamics
- Trills (major and minor), 3 dynamics
- Sordino effect available for all patches
- Release trails for everything
- Custom Python scripting
VIDEOS
| Legato Tutorial #1 |
MOV | ZIP
|
| Short Articulations and Mic Positions |
MOV | ZIP
|
| User Tutorial |
MOV | ZIP
|
|
Introduction
An extended video introduction to the sounds and features of this
incredible new virtual instrument.
|
MOV | ZIP
|
After downloading zipped videos, unzip the file.
All videos are in Quicktime MPEG 4 format.
Play with the QuickTime Player.
UPDATES
EastWest/Quantum Leap always recommends downloading and installing the latest PLAY software and all instrument updates. Please consider your timing, however, if you are in the middle of a project.
|
Hollywood Strings Instrument Update 1.0.1
- some patches' default mic position was loading all mics, fixed
- measured tremolo patches' base tempo in time stretch options corrected
- pre-recorded runs now use time-stretch and sync to host tempo by default
- 1st and 2nd violins Stac Runs and Spic Runs patches now have legato intervals out to an octave in either direction
- various small mapping and sample errors corrected
1st Violins, 2nd Violins, Celli, Violas, in the Legato / Legato Divisi folder:
- Leg Slur LT 3 Ni
- Marc Leg BC + Slur + Port LT 6
- Marc Leg BC + Slur LT 6
- Marc LegBC LT 6
- Marc Leg Port LT 6
- Marc Leg Slur + Port LT 6
- Marc Leg Slur LT 6
- StacSl Leg BC + Slur + Port LT 6
- StacSl Leg BC + Slur LT 6
- StacSl Leg BC LT 6
- StacSl Leg Port LT 6
- StacSl Leg Slur + Port LT 6
- StacSl Leg Slur LT 6
Basses / Basses Divisi
- Basses Leg Slur LT 3 Ni
- Basses Leg Marc Leg Slur LT 7
- Basses Leg Marc Leg Slur Slower LT 7
1st Violins, 2nd Violins, Celli, Violas, in the Legato / Legato Divisi folders:
- Marc Leg BC + Slur + Port
- Marc Leg BC + Slur
- Marc Leg BC
- Marc Leg Port
- Marc Leg Slur + Port
- Marc Leg Slur
- StacSl Leg BC + Slur + Port
- StacSl Leg BC + Slur
- StacSl Leg BC
- StacSl Leg Port
- StacSl Leg Slur + Port
- StacSl Leg Slur
Basses / Basses Divisi
- Basses Leg Marc Leg Slur
- Basses Leg Marc Leg Slur Slower
Full Strings / Full Strings Divisi
- Full STR + 1st Vin Leg
- Full STR + 2nd Vin Leg
- Full STR + Vc Leg
|
Mac
Win
|
|
PLAY Software Update v2.0.9
- fixed Cubase GUI crash
- fixed drop note when playing at voice limit
- full snow leopard and windows 7 compatibility
- re-designed browser window for enhanced control and overview of loaded instruments
- several new convolution reverb IR's and presets
- optimized streaming engine on all platforms
- optimized memory footprint and CPU utilization in all platforms
- fixes to offline bouncing and freezing in several host platforms
- several other fixes and enhancements in all host platforms
- additional fixes to prevent stuck notes on some hosts
- new micro tunings for QL Silk and QL Ra
- extended streaming setting dialog with reset engine functionality
- fixed sustain pedal threshold
- improved fonts for Stormdrum 2 and Orchestra
- hard limit to 0dB on the audio output for standalone
- implemented poly aftertouch automation
- product libraries entries in the browser now can be changed/added/deleted
- fixed portamento and first silent note issue
|
Mac
Win 64-bit
Win 32-bit
|
AUDIO DEMOS
| Allegro Agitato (Bergersen) |
MP3 | WAV
|
| Soaring Over Hollywood (Bergersen) |
MP3 | WAV
|
| Love Suspended (Bergersen) |
MP3 | WAV
|
| Threnody Divisi (Bergersen) |
MP3 | WAV
|
| Missing Letters (Phoenix) |
MP3 | WAV
|
| Desiderata (O'Malley) |
MP3 | WAV
|
| Haunting (Frulio) |
MP3 | WAV
|
| Hollywood Spiccati (Frulio) |
MP3 | WAV
|
TECHNIQUES
Hollywood Strings offers a unique set of patches called "Playable runs" which allows you to play fast scales and have it sound very realistic. The Vivaldi demo uses two alternating playable runs patches: slurred runs and spiccato runs.
Hear how Hollywood Strings' groundbreaking measured tremolo patches respond to changes in tempo. You can also listen to different mic positions.
| Close and main mics, plus reverb |
MP3
|
| Divisi mics |
MP3
|
| Main mics |
MP3
|
| Close mics |
MP3
|
The instrument-specific technique examples below are 24-bit, 44.1kHz wave files.
Mixed mic positions are used unless otherwise noted.
| Legato Slur Molto Vibrato Fast |
DRY | WET
|
| Legato Big Interval Steps |
DRY | WET
|
| Legato Slur Arpeggio Dynamic |
DRY | WET
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (close mics) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (main mics) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (mid mics, con sordino) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (mid mics) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento |
WET
|
| Legato Slur and Portamento |
DRY | WET
|
| Legato Slur and Portamento 2 |
DRY | WET
|
| Legato Bow Change Ostinato |
DRY | WET
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (mid mics) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (close mics) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (main mics) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (mid mics, con sordino) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (close, main, surround) |
WET
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (close, mid, surround) |
WET
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (surround mics) |
DRY
|
| Legato Slur Fast |
DRY | WET
|
| Legato Slur Fast 2 |
DRY | WET
|
| Legato Slow |
DRY | WET
|
| Legato Slur Fast |
DRY | WET
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (close mics) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (main mics) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (mid mics, con sordino) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento (mid mics) |
DRY
|
| Legato Bow Change, Slur, and Portamento |
WET
|
| Legato Bow Change Slow |
DRY | WET
|
