Afflatus vs. Cinematic Studio Strings - String Libraries Compared
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- This comparison between Strezov Sampling's Afflatus and Cinematic Studio Strings presents the same track realized with four different virtual string ensembles. Let me know in the comments which one you like best!
1. Afflatus "Scene d'Amour", 2. Afflatus "Lush Strings", 3. Afflatus "Minimalist Strings", and 4. Cinematic Studio Strings.
Since Afflatus "Scene d'Amour" does not have its own bass section, I used the basses from Minimalist Strings to complete the ensemble. Due to the fact that every library responds differently to the same midi data, I adjusted the midi automation according to each library.
The same external reverb was used for all versions: LiquidSonics Seventh Heaven (Scoring Stage). The reverb for the final chord is Eventide Blackhole.
Other plugins used:
Logic Pro X Channel EQ
Ozone 8 Dynamic EQ
Soundtheory Gullfoss
Ozone 8 Limiter
Film Clips: artgrid.io
Film Edit: Frank Wolff
I think Aflatus Scene d'Amour sounded the most dramatic. But they all sounded similar to a certain degree, and all sounded wonderful.
Thanks for making this comparison video.
Thank you for listening and sharing your thoughts, Muziksculp!
Excellent comparison (and composition!) - thank you for making and sharing this, and well done! :)
Thank you very much! I am glad you enjoy my comparison and thank you for the compliment :)
To my ears, CSS is the winner here. A silky-airy tone, near perfect intonation and the portamento is beautiful. Not to mention it's half the price of Afflatus. Mind you that Nothing can replace a real string section with live players, but CSS comes very close. Although I do wish it was recorded a bit dryer.
Great comparison, CSS after all these years is still a force to be reckoned with in my opinion. Afflatus also sounds great and is obviously a lot more versatile, I'm hoping they do another half price sale on black Friday, because £800 is a bit above my budget. Got CSW recently and wow those woodwinds are something else, soooo expressive. Keep the videos coming, great piece!
Thank you, I will! Keeping my fingers crossed for another sale soon! :)
wow, great composition! 👍
Cheers, Simon! Glad you like it!
I have them both and I love them both. Depending on what you want out of the sound. CSS is very soft and dark. Wheras some of the Afflatus can be very modern sounding and punchy.
Thank you for listening and for your thoughts!
Afflatus Strings has a good inspirational for the John Williams, it can be good for the sound in my opinion.
I prefer love scene, cinematic studio, lush and minimalist
I know it's difficult to answer this question but if you had to choose only one string library, which one would you choose between Cinematic and Afflatus?
Did you apply a lot of EQ on Afflatus? I read that this library could lack of low end...
Thank you for your videos, you are a real musician and I really enjoyed listening to your music
Thank you! To a beginner who doesn't have any libraries yet, I would no doubt recommend CSS. It's versatile, has a gorgeous sound and is relatively affordable. I did apply EQ to level out the sound, but not specifically to boost the bass. Quite the contrary, some of the bass patches in Afflatus are really profound.
Für mich klingt Beispiel 1 am realistischsten. Man muss aber immer auch die Bedienbarkeit berücksichtigen. Zudem klingt ein Stück, das man für eine bestimmte Library gemacht hat oder sehr viel anders, man kann die gleichen Aufnahmen also schlecht portieren. Ich selbst verwende CSS und EW-HHO sehr gerne. CSS mit etwas angehobenem EQ in den Höhen.
Thank you for sharing aspects of your work process, Michael!
Das ist aber ein schönes String Arrangement!! I like!
Thank you, Lukas! Your feedback means a lot to me. Did you actually listen to all four versions? Which one do you like best?
@@francolupo23 Yes. I'm a huge fan of the Scene d'Amour patches so think that's my favorite. Then CSS.
@@studioonetutorials I can totally relate to what you're saying. Still, I think the other two versions have strengths of their own, thus delivering quite unique nuances of emotion. Bottom line: I'm totally grateful to the developers of these stunning string libraries.
@@francolupo23 Yes exactly... I really like all four versions and I love the "Lush Strings" too (I made a long Afflatus preset walkthrough as well) and they definitely have their strengths. But the chords and lines in your arrangement really fit well with the more "agitated" Scene d'Amour patches... so that's probably what this is my favorite version.
very good, a comparison with spitfire string orchestra is missing
Thank you, Ruben! You’re right. Actually, I could think of quite a number of libraries that could be compared here. I’m definitely going to make more videos comparing and presenting string and other libraries!
@@francolupo23 tank you ¡
Afflatus is sounding more Dramatic and lively to me, The dynamics is more precise in afflatus......CSS is also great......but i am going with Afflatus😊
Thank you, Vishnu Anil, for your thoughts. Which of the Afflatus versions do you like best?
AFFLATUS forever!!!
Thank you for your heartfelt comment, Oscar!
Spannende Komposition! Bartok wäre bestimmt angetan!
Thank you for drawing my attention to Bartok, who wasn’t a conscious inspiration for the track. Listening to his music again, I am realising how close I seem to feel to his musical aesthetic.
Now I know who burned down my house 🧐
1. CSS 2. Afflatus 1 "SdA"
Thank you, Sunny, for commenting! Do you see any strengths in the other two versions, too? I feel that there is a fragile authenticity to them that deserves recognition too.