New to Project SAM and your reviews have been ultra helpful - thank you! I love your showcase of Symphobia 2 and I love the Metropolis Ark style ensemble mixes. You've convinced me to snag this one up as money allows. Symphobia 1 I'm not so keen on since I'm well covered (too covered, perhaps) on the bread and butter orchestra stuff. I see you have a review on Symphobia 3 so that's where I'm off to next! Thanks again, Sam!
Great sound, easily as good as my other 11 string libraries; the only reason to buy it - for me - are the multi-patches, which provide inspiration! One or two of the articulations are very good too, but still cannot justify the cost. Perhaps I'll buy the cheaper hand-picked selection like the green and red libraries from a few years ago. They're still relevant and still sound great.
@@damirmusicverse Try! :) Well, the rooms might sound different, but in general you can combine any library. They are quite different in approach though.
recently also bought Spitfire's BBC SO core and VSL BBO Altair..all of them in discount. Now I can compare :) For me the cheapest thing (VSL BBO Altair) just blew my mind away.. I now..they all are different kind of animals, but the quality of sound of VSL instruments is just on a different level. The biggest disappointment was for sure BBC SO core..weird sounds, lots of weird glitches, weird interface where C-1 is actually a C-2 and so on... I spend most of the first moments with plugin trying to figure out how keyswitches work..not inspiring at all! but Symphobia 2.0 was definitely a good purchase, fine value for the money (especially when discounted) which is the case at the moment!
I think it is a matter of taste and workflow. BBC is truly excellent but geared more towards an experienced composer. Symphobia is very quick and doesn't require individual knowledge of instruments and layers, but you also get less control. I'm not too familiar with Altair. I've tried a few vsl instruments, and they are very well made, but sometimes i find them a bit lifeless.
bbc orchestra is sadly a joke, looked under the hood to see what was going on and somehow some of the samples don't even load in real time to save on space or are lowered in quality to allow the engine to catch up. as well as there's virtually no compression either, it's almost all raw wavs just in a new format
If I may ask @snesmocha - how exactly did you ‘look under the hood’ of BBC SO? As far I know the Spitfire Plugin isn’t equipped with a ‘hood’ for it’s engine. That must have involved some serious machine code level skills and a lot of free time? ;D
Great video! I'm starting choose some orquestras. I'm in doubt if i choose this (symphobia 1 and 2) or nucleus (and areia light). I tried the project sam free orquestra, and have a lot o fun. What you think in terms of sound (and for begginers)? Both good? One better than other. Thanks!
I got it basicly as a gift and only payed 30 euro for the license transfer. The ulliean pipes are a bit disappointing but the rest does the job very nice
Thx for the video. I do not know why but when I load legato patches, I need to push my sustain pedal on my piano in order to stop the sound. Otherwise If I press a key, it triggers the sound but then using another key, it adds the new sound , but keeps the first one... Is this an option to deactivate somewhere ? Adding voices to voices to voices if I do not cut each note with my piano sustain pedal.
Your sustain pedal is not setup correctly. It does the opposite of what it is supposed to do. Look if there is a switch on it, or turn off the keyboard hold down pedal then turn on keyboard.
When creating sounds from scratch, and "downgrading wave files", a higher sampling rate can be a good idea, but you are not making anyy difference with a higher sampling rate while working with sample libraries.
Top reviews of both this and version 1. They have a sale right now and I'm in love with the sound of Symphobia but both have major flaws IMO. Version 1 has no legato at all. Version 2 has limited articulations (No marcato in the string patch, for example). It would be a dream if they somehow amalgamated both versions into an "Ultimate" version or something. Do you think the lack of legato in version 1 could be covered up by using a legato patch from another library in conjunction with version 1? Should I be putting my money somewhere else? Thanks for a great demo/review!
Hard to know. Symphobia is very fast to write with, thats it's strength. I don't use it myself when I want detailed, deep sampled music, but more for background music and cues. If you can find a library that has many great sounding legato patches for a lower price, perhaps audio imperia. Otherwise I think 1 and 2 work well for what it is meant to do. If I want more detail I go to other libraries entirely, more complete orchestral libraries
@@SecondTierSound I have Nucleus Lite which is fine, but even the full version is limited in articulations. Again, I don't think there's marcato, crescendo/swells, etc. I also have Composer Cloud but would like to escape the subscription model. What's your go-to libraries out of curiosity? Appreciate the reply btw!
I'm afraid i have no go to library. It all depends on what i need. Opus is not bad, and you can buy it rather than having the subscription and it is often on sale. BBC orchestra is also good. The audio imperia solo library is excellent for solo instruments
I’ve watched a bunch of these videos and I’m still confused: is this an expanded Symphobia or a totally different library? It looks exactly the same. If I’m new to ProjectSAM, what should I purchase? Both? Or just 2?
So Sam, for a 14 yrs old library, is this update including new sampled content or is it just an update for the interface and the adaptive sync feature? ... The sounds don't seem that old. I wanna grab it but everybody says it's an old library.
I don't know what to say about if you should get it or not. Despite its age I think it works really well, and the update made it more modern and easy to work with. I don't think the samples are updated, but the scripting is. But come to think of it, it isn't true that samples today are much better than 14 years ago. Scripting, interface and computer power is what has changed.
@@SecondTierSound Makes sense Sam. I am not an audio engineer and correct me if I am wrong. I am learning here, not debating at all. Isn't the improvement in microphones techs, big studio halls,..etc contributes in producing samples today that much better than 14 yrs ago?
Well, there are always improvements, new ideas. But i still argue that recording techniques hasn't improved that much, and the gear hasn't. People still prefer the older stuff. I wouldn't worry about it. If you like it, it works. Computer power has changed, so that you can have more complex stuff, but recording hasn't really.
New to Project SAM and your reviews have been ultra helpful - thank you! I love your showcase of Symphobia 2 and I love the Metropolis Ark style ensemble mixes. You've convinced me to snag this one up as money allows. Symphobia 1 I'm not so keen on since I'm well covered (too covered, perhaps) on the bread and butter orchestra stuff.
I see you have a review on Symphobia 3 so that's where I'm off to next! Thanks again, Sam!
You're very welcome
I just bought it.
Enjoy!
I use Symphobia2 for orchestral metal. It works very well. Thanks for the review. Very inspirational too.
That sounds fun! 🙂 Cheers!
Big thank you very much great review.
Big thanks!
Thanks Sam for this great overview of this beautiful library!
My pleasure!
LOVE PROJECTSAM !!!!
Great sound, easily as good as my other 11 string libraries; the only reason to buy it - for me - are the multi-patches, which provide inspiration! One or two of the articulations are very good too, but still cannot justify the cost. Perhaps I'll buy the cheaper hand-picked selection like the green and red libraries from a few years ago. They're still relevant and still sound great.
Those are not bad, but lack some of the more modern features and legatos. But if you have 11 string libraries, you should be covered😊
Thank you for this - it was exactly the comparison I was looking for.
Great! You're welcome! 😊
Thank you for the review. It really did clarify the difference between 1 and 2. Which was one of my biggest questions.
Do you think this will combine well with BBC Core library?
I'm glad it helped!
@@damirmusicverse Try! :)
Well, the rooms might sound different, but in general you can combine any library. They are quite different in approach though.
Great video!! Program sounds really awesome!! 🙂
I have higher level orchestral libraries... but using this in certain ways makes sense.
I know what you mean. I agree
Very good review, thanks mate.
Thank you Temme. I'm having a review coming up soon that might interest you. Soon...
recently also bought Spitfire's BBC SO core and VSL BBO Altair..all of them in discount. Now I can compare :) For me the cheapest thing (VSL BBO Altair) just blew my mind away.. I now..they all are different kind of animals, but the quality of sound of VSL instruments is just on a different level. The biggest disappointment was for sure BBC SO core..weird sounds, lots of weird glitches, weird interface where C-1 is actually a C-2 and so on... I spend most of the first moments with plugin trying to figure out how keyswitches work..not inspiring at all!
but Symphobia 2.0 was definitely a good purchase, fine value for the money (especially when discounted) which is the case at the moment!
I think it is a matter of taste and workflow. BBC is truly excellent but geared more towards an experienced composer. Symphobia is very quick and doesn't require individual knowledge of instruments and layers, but you also get less control.
I'm not too familiar with Altair. I've tried a few vsl instruments, and they are very well made, but sometimes i find them a bit lifeless.
Native instruments had a 50% off sale. I pounced..
bbc orchestra is sadly a joke, looked under the hood to see what was going on and somehow some of the samples don't even load in real time to save on space or are lowered in quality to allow the engine to catch up.
as well as there's virtually no compression either, it's almost all raw wavs just in a new format
If I may ask @snesmocha - how exactly did you ‘look under the hood’ of BBC SO? As far I know the Spitfire Plugin isn’t equipped with a ‘hood’ for it’s engine. That must have involved some serious machine code level skills and a lot of free time? ;D
Again a great video! 👍
Cheers!
Great video! I'm starting choose some orquestras. I'm in doubt if i choose this (symphobia 1 and 2) or nucleus (and areia light). I tried the project sam free orquestra, and have a lot o fun. What you think in terms of sound (and for begginers)? Both good? One better than other. Thanks!
The first one is better for all purpose. The second one sounds a bit better and is more fun.
Nucleus is not bad for a first orchestra though
Wonderful review, thank you so much! You really made that (already great by itself) library shine!
Thank you. Very kind of you.
Now thats a good hall.
I got it basicly as a gift and only payed 30 euro for the license transfer. The ulliean pipes are a bit disappointing but the rest does the job very nice
I always tought that the flutes from ProjectSAM sound so good
amazing review! great library. i think , better than Session Strings 2 !
Yes, it sounds better, but isn't as flexible as session strings
Thx for the video.
I do not know why but when I load legato patches, I need to push my sustain pedal on my piano in order to stop the sound. Otherwise If I press a key, it triggers the sound but then using another key, it adds the new sound , but keeps the first one... Is this an option to deactivate somewhere ? Adding voices to voices to voices if I do not cut each note with my piano sustain pedal.
Your sustain pedal is not setup correctly. It does the opposite of what it is supposed to do. Look if there is a switch on it, or turn off the keyboard hold down pedal then turn on keyboard.
Also the libraries use 44.1khz 24 bit... I usually create sound in 96khz.
When creating sounds from scratch, and "downgrading wave files", a higher sampling rate can be a good idea, but you are not making anyy difference with a higher sampling rate while working with sample libraries.
Top reviews of both this and version 1. They have a sale right now and I'm in love with the sound of Symphobia but both have major flaws IMO. Version 1 has no legato at all. Version 2 has limited articulations (No marcato in the string patch, for example). It would be a dream if they somehow amalgamated both versions into an "Ultimate" version or something. Do you think the lack of legato in version 1 could be covered up by using a legato patch from another library in conjunction with version 1? Should I be putting my money somewhere else?
Thanks for a great demo/review!
Hard to know. Symphobia is very fast to write with, thats it's strength. I don't use it myself when I want detailed, deep sampled music, but more for background music and cues. If you can find a library that has many great sounding legato patches for a lower price, perhaps audio imperia. Otherwise I think 1 and 2 work well for what it is meant to do. If I want more detail I go to other libraries entirely, more complete orchestral libraries
@@SecondTierSound I have Nucleus Lite which is fine, but even the full version is limited in articulations. Again, I don't think there's marcato, crescendo/swells, etc. I also have Composer Cloud but would like to escape the subscription model. What's your go-to libraries out of curiosity? Appreciate the reply btw!
I'm afraid i have no go to library. It all depends on what i need. Opus is not bad, and you can buy it rather than having the subscription and it is often on sale. BBC orchestra is also good. The audio imperia solo library is excellent for solo instruments
I’ve watched a bunch of these videos and I’m still confused: is this an expanded Symphobia or a totally different library? It looks exactly the same.
If I’m new to ProjectSAM, what should I purchase? Both? Or just 2?
I'd hoped the reviews would make this clear. Symphonia 1 and 2 are similar but have different functions and instruments. Only 2 has llegatos.
thanks!!!
Why would I get both 1 & 2, like what’s the purpose of having separate ones lol
I'm not sure what you mean, but they are a bit different. Hopefully the review is making clear what is what. Cheers!
someone said it had bagpipes in it did i missed them or was he lying?
Not really bagpipes in the traditional sense, but a uillean pipe
So Sam, for a 14 yrs old library, is this update including new sampled content or is it just an update for the interface and the adaptive sync feature? ... The sounds don't seem that old. I wanna grab it but everybody says it's an old library.
I don't know what to say about if you should get it or not. Despite its age I think it works really well, and the update made it more modern and easy to work with. I don't think the samples are updated, but the scripting is. But come to think of it, it isn't true that samples today are much better than 14 years ago. Scripting, interface and computer power is what has changed.
@@SecondTierSound Makes sense Sam. I am not an audio engineer and correct me if I am wrong. I am learning here, not debating at all. Isn't the improvement in microphones techs, big studio halls,..etc contributes in producing samples today that much better than 14 yrs ago?
Well, there are always improvements, new ideas. But i still argue that recording techniques hasn't improved that much, and the gear hasn't. People still prefer the older stuff. I wouldn't worry about it. If you like it, it works.
Computer power has changed, so that you can have more complex stuff, but recording hasn't really.
@@SecondTierSound Can't agree more. Keep up the wonderful work Sam :))))
The new interface is as easy as a restaurant menu.