EastWest Hollywood Fantasy Strings

Full Description

Hollywood Fantasy Strings

This collection features five of the most emblematic instruments from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, accompanied by modern-day orchestral musicians' new stylized recordings. It encompasses authentic legato and a wide range of articulations, equipping you with all the tools required to create outstanding fantasy cues to the highest professional standards. To ensure complete compatibility with Hollywood Strings, we have infused it with identical power and flexibility. It includes similar microphone placements recorded in the same studio, customized for perfect blending, allowing you to confidently utilize our string libraries to achieve exceptional results.

Create epic classic arrangements

The collection departs from traditional cello ensembles and instead features a viola da gamba ensemble, alongside violin replacement with a Hardanger fiddle ensemble. Lutes and dulcimers are skillfully recorded in trios, resulting in a stunning sparkling stereo image that can effortlessly blend into any mix. Furthermore, it includes hurdy-gurdies and vast-sounding traditional string ensembles effortlessly recorded in octaves, ideal for those instances where a little bit of bombast is necessary to elevate your fantasy sound.

OPUS Engine control

To ensure consistency and continuity, every instrument in the collection was mic'd in the same manner as the highly acclaimed Hollywood Orchestra series and was recorded in the world-renowned Studio One. Going the extra mile, we have incorporated modern octave-doubled strings to provide an extra layer of cohesion to the sound, resulting in a truly cinematic feel. Additionally, you have full autonomy to adjust the level and pan of four distinct mic positions, including close, mid, main, and surround, giving you complete jurisdiction over the sonic dimension of your compositions.

Meticulously sampled

The collection contains almost 150 instruments, featuring around 60 GB of samples. It includes elements from six ensembles and two solo instruments, all geared towards creating incredible fantasy-inspired compositions. The instruments offer vast sustains, true legatos, repetitions, short notes of varying lengths, ornaments, crescendos, and trills that meet professional standards. You can also create Key-switch instruments with multiple articulations that can be switched seamlessly in real time with blue-coloured keyswitch notes outside the instrument's key range. While not exhaustive, these Key-switch instruments are generally comprehensive in their articulation.

Command the Mood

Every instrument is programmed with 3 moods, on a scale from most authentic to most cinematic: Classic, Soft, and Epic. You can rotate through these different qualities to suit your needs (the choice will typically be a no-brainer) and fill in the exact fantasy orchestra sound you hear in your head. The Classic MOOD delivers the signature sound of previous Hollywood Orchestra libraries, offering a softer sound that's ideal for slower, emotional passages and solo pieces. Turn it up to 11 with the Epic MOOD setting and unlock a more aggressive and punchy sound that could be the remedy for action-packed adventure scenes or high-speed chase scenes.

What's included

• Three Hardanger Fiddles: Deemed Norway's most treasured musical contribution, it's similar to a regular violin but its body construction and doubled strings result in a more vibrant and brilliant quality. When played, it produces a unique sound resembling that of two violinists playing simultaneously. Masterfully used in modern music, such as Howard Shore's Rohan theme from Lord of the Rings and Bear McCreary's traditional string arrangements in God of War. Its brilliant and lyrical melodies make it an excellent substitution for violins when looking to add a touch of Viking flair.
• Three Lutes: Renowned for its contribution to Renaissance folk music by troubadours and singers, the Lute bears a striking resemblance to the 12-string guitar, with a more predominant midrange and a milder tone. Gracing numerous soundtracks including The Tudors, Whisper of the Heart, Only Lovers Left Alive, and the widely popular roguelike game Hades. Excelling in the creation of seamless chordal backgrounds for the viola da gamba and Hardanger fiddle, this 10-stringed instrument has proven its versatility time and time again.
• Three Viola Da Gambas: This lush full-spectrum instrument can be considered the precursor of contemporary string ensembles. It remained in relative oblivion until Tous les Matins du Monde - a film which revived its popularity. Over time, the viola da gamba has made appearances in several musical scores, including Austin Wintory's soundtrack for The Pathless. For an authentic Baroque chamber ambience, try replacing the cello with this instrument!
• Six Celli and four Basses: The modern-day string bass serves a crucial purpose - to provide power. In the absence of this instrument, ensembles lack the essential low-end energy that is indispensable for contemporary soundtracks. Adding string bass to your music ensemble ensures a consistent style and timbre while instantly expanding the range of your entire group. It is undoubtedly the perfect way to complement your fantasy strings and elevate your ensemble's overall sound quality.
• Eight Violins and six Violas: Blending perfectly with your low-stringed instruments, the violas and violins provide the backbone for other instruments to shine through.
• Three Mountain Dulcimers: Originating in the Middle East before being brought to the Appalachian Mountains by travellers from Scotland and Ireland, the Mountain Dulcimer is a staple in folk music. Heard in songs by some of the biggest modern-day musicians including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles, the rich warm body and bright tone can be closely attributed to a Mandolin and pairs perfectly with Lutes and Fiddles.
• Two Hurdy Gurdies: Undoubtedly, the most exceptional instrument in the collection is the hurdy-gurdy, which is played through cranking a wooden wheel across several felt-coated strings to generate a multi-layered drone with melodic undertones. It has been featured in a plethora of movies, games, and shows, including The Witcher, Fringe, The Conjuring, and many more. However, its most unique usage was in Black Sails, where its raw "broken" nature created a perfect contrast to the mellowness of other pieces in the collection.

Features

• Includes everything you need to create fantasy film, TV and game soundtracks
• Catered to epic fantasy tales or medieval dramas
• Produced by industry veterans Nick Phoenix and Doug Rogers
• Includes unique ensembles of world instruments mixed with modern orchestral instruments
• Nearly 150 instruments (including 30 quickstart instruments), divided into: Three Duclimers, three Hardanger Fiddles, three Lutes, three Viola Da Gambas, six Celli and four Basses (low octave strings), eight Violins and six Violas (high octave strings) and two Hurdy Gurdy's
• Discover five of the most iconic instruments from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras at your fingertips
• Each instrument features a wide range of articulations, from true legatos, repetitions, short notes, ornaments, crescendos, trills and much more
• Features octave-doubled strings to add extra glue to your mix
• Played back through EastWest's powerful OPUS sample engine
• Recorded in a world-class studio with premium equipment, performed by seasoned sessions musicians
• Individual control over the level and pan of four microphone channels to precisely adjust the dimension of your sound
• Three Moods (Classic, Soft and Epic) lets you instantly adjust parameters such as microphone mix, reverb and MIDI parameters
• Staggering 60GB of samples across six ensembles and two solo instruments
• High-resolution and streamlined interface lets you create faster and easier than ever
• Build your own Keyswitch instruments to create multi-articulation instruments on-the-fly
• Advanced automation

Specifications

• Operating system:
  • Mac: macOS 10.13 (or later)
  • Windows: Windows 10 with ASIO sound drivers
• CPU: Quad-core (four cores), running at 2.7 GHz (or above)
• RAM: 16GB
• HDD: HDD (7200 rpm, non-energy saving)
• Compatible programs:
  • Mac: EW Play 6 Stand-Alone 6.0+, EW Opus Stand-Alone 1.0+, Ableton Live 10.0+, Apple Logic Pro 10.0+, Apple Garageband 10.3+, Avid Pro Tools 2018.1+, Bitwig Studio 3.0+, Cockos Reaper 6.0+, Image-Line FL Studio 20+, Motu Digital Performer 9.0+, Steinberg Cubase(1) 9.0+, Steinberg Nuendo(1) 8.0+, Presonus Studio One 4.0+, VSL Vienna Ensemble Pro 6.0+, Avid Sibelius 2018.1+, MakeMusic Finale 25.0+, Steinberg Dorico 3.0+
  • Windows: EW Play 6 Stand-Alone 6.0+, EW Opus Stand-Alone 1.0+, Ableton Live 10.0+, Avid Pro Tools 2018.1+, Bitwig Studio 3.0+, Cockos Reaper 6.0+, Image-Line FL Studio 20+, Motu Digital Performer 9.0+, Steinberg Cubase(1) 9.0+, Steinberg Nuendo(1) 8.0+, Presonus Studio One 4.0+, VSL Vienna Ensemble Pro 6.0+, Avid Sibelius 2018.1+, MakeMusic Finale 25.0+, Steinberg Dorico 3.0+
• Product code: 1181-116