Eastwest Composer
Marthe Bernskoetter
Hi everyone. I use Cubase 12, Wavelab, and Dorico. My machine is a solid state windows pc. I have been using composer cloud from East West for a few years now. I have most of the VSTs on an internal drive but I would like to download and use all of the East West VSTs and etc. I would move the additional VSTs to an external drive. Does anyone use external drives for VSTs? This may be the most cost effective solution for me because PC Audio labs built my studio pc a few years ago and there is no more room for another internal HD to be added. Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.
VST2 plugins you can keep where you like. You tell your hosts where they can find them. Still, different plugins may expect to find their content and other resources at a very specific location (see instructions and installers for your plugins).
Thanks for the replies guys. I think, just to be safe on this, I will get with PC Audio Labs and pay for some official guidance. I can do the work but have the tech pros help me get all done correctly on the first try. Thanks all! Jim
A VST in the cloud maybe? A VST is a piece of software that one install on hard disk on one's computer as far as I know. Everything in "the cloud" (read: just another server on the internet) needs to be downloaded and saved to disk or accessed by "special" software AFAIK. Sometimes things Midi etc. can be done via an interface in Chrome, but I'm too old and simple to understand how that works. And I fear that it's bound to break with any minor update/upgrade.
BTW YABridge is very nice software to "bridge" Windows VST (you know: the ones you own and have on hard disk) to Linux VST. But as with any software from one OS you'd like to run on another OS: your mileage may vary. So beware before you pay for Windows stuff to use it on Linux. As a matter of fact: never use Windows stuff on Linux except for the occasional time you absolutely have to. Once. My 2 cents.
It is subscription-based service where you get huge number of sampled orchestral instruments. Just like when you are playing guitar, not one guitar is not enough, but optimal number of guitars is 'one more than you have'. Same way when you make orchestral music, one symphony orchestra is not enough.
Thanks for replying. But what do actually you get then? WAV files from the samples? VST instruments (read: a downloadable file)? Or do you have to install a Windows application that will "access" and play it via the internet?
But what do actually you get then? WAV files from the samples? VST instruments (read: a downloadable file)? Or do you have to install a Windows application that will "access" and play it via the internet?
But I have watched videos of composers using their "cloud library" tooling. Their model is that you run their VSTi (a Windows plugin) and use it to download (as needed) and compose with any of the sample libraries in their online collection. As with any other subscription model, you have to keep paying to guarantee continued access to the libraries, which makes this a firm NO for me. But for students or new-to-the-business composers who are looking for a way to produce this week's film / animation / game score, without the upfront capital cost of buying the actual libraries they need, it might be an attractive option.
They do allow activating to a computer (on Linux it would be to a wineprefix or bottle) instead of to a dongle, but then I think you would have to be careful to lock/hold the wine version for that wineprefix or bottle to avoid losing that activation (if I understand this correctly).
I have few iLok plugins, and they are working ok even wine version updates. When I re-installed my computer (ubuntu 1804 -> devuan 4) and tried to use same wine prefix, that did not work. And could not free those activations, so I needed to ask plugin makers to free my licenses. Best thing ever, have to ask freeing of license for something that you get without paying a single penny. For example VSL has such products
Kontakt is a good sample engine in my experience. I also had to upgrade my ram a while back and although it sometimes gets taxed, it runs pretty darn smooth. I think eastwest is less taxing on my cpu than kontakt, but context (or should I say, kontext) dictates this.
EastWest Composer Cloud
Posted by Greg Jones - 23 Sep 11:57PM (edited 23 Sep 11:58PM) Hide picture I just found out that EastWest has a new Composer Cloud membership program which can be used by anyone who use these samples (e.g. Quantum Leap Symphonic, Hollywood Brass, etc.) as VSTs for their compositions, including Sibelius ( ).
What are you thoughts about this?
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Sibelius 8, MacBook Pro, OS X Version 10.11 El Capitan, Logic Pro, Garritan Personal Orchestra 4, Garritan Jazz Ensemble/Big Band 3, Garritan Concert and Marching Band 2, Note Performer 1.5.0, 8 GB 1067 Mhz DDR3, 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5, Yamaha Motif XF8 Back to top Allthreads Re: EastWest Composer Cloud
Posted by Peter Roos - 24 Sep 02:59PM Hide picture Eastwest's sounds are excellent. The cloud service is an inexpensive opportunity to explore them. Keep in mind that it is a subscription service, after you stop paying the monthly subscription fee your license expires. If you want to integrate them with Sibelius you'll have to separately buy the appropriate soundsets from
Or you can just use them as they are in a sequencing program.
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Peter Roos
www.summeroflovemusic.com
IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm2039241 Back to top Allthreads Re: EastWest Composer Cloud
Posted by bashkii - 26 Sep 01:01AM Hide picture
HI!
I just purchased the EWSymphonic Orchestra but I don't know how to integrate it with Sibelius. Could you tell me where can I found a guide to do this please?
Appreciate your help.
Al
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Sibelius 7.5
iMac 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
OS X 10.10.2 Back to top Allthreads Re: EastWest Composer Cloud
Posted by Roy Moore - 26 Sep 06:57AM Hide picture As Peter says above - You need to buy the soundset ($25.00) from:
The instructions are in there.
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Roy Moore
London UK (2015)
Sib 7.5,8.0-Win 10 pro x64 8gb ram,512gb SSD
Laptop Win 10-32gb ram 512 ssd 750 hd
Various East West, Hollywood Strings Gold, Note Performer
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Posted by bashkii - 27 Sep 12:10AM Hide picture
Thanks ,Roy!
Please pardon my ignorance in all this, I am quite new at it all. So, you mean that without these soundsets EW symphonic Orchestra Gold would not be "seen" by Sibelius at all. Am I understanding this correctly?
I appreciate your help,
Al
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Sibelius 7.5
iMac 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
OS X 10.10.2 Back to top Allthreads Re: EastWest Composer Cloud
Posted by Mike Lyons - 27 Sep 06:44AM Hide picture No, but the setup is extremely complicated and why reinvent the wheel? The hard work has already been done by someone.
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1.6GHz Intel i7 Quad core, Win 7 Pro (x64), 8GB, 7TB HDD, Scarlett 6i6, Sib 6.2, 7.1.3, 7.5 EWQLSO Plat, Miroslav Phil, NotePerformer, Harmony Asst, EWQLSC, GPO, COMB2
Si me castigare vis, necesse est me intellexisse. Back to top Allthreads Re: EastWest Composer Cloud
Posted by Walter Weckers - 27 Sep 01:42PM Hide picture I am jumping on this wagon, since I am considering acquiring this service (probably cloud based). If I get the Symphony Orchestra can I assume that once the plug-in is properly set up, the instruments would play back with the EW version? Also, there is reference in EW to three microphone set ups (solo, conductor, hall). Would I need to identify for each instruments which one to apply.... and I am sure I would have many more questions. The most important, though, is how difficult is integrating EW with Sibelius? And if I get the Cloud subscription is it still essential to purchase the sound set from EW to make things easier? I have never gotten a plug-in yet so I am a bit intimidated by it all and the EW service, though reputedly excellent, seems more complicated than average. Many thanks for a reply here. Back to top Allthreads Re: EastWest Composer Cloud
Posted by Roy Moore - 27 Sep 04:59PM Hide picture
Yes, you will still need the soundset.
You also have to, either, use the manuscript template supplied with the soundset, or import the House style to convert existing scores. If you just import the instrument definitions and associated text you will not lose all your settings.
If by plugin you mean plug-in-and-play, it is far from that. Great sounds when you get it working though.
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Roy Moore
London UK (2015)
Sib 7.5,8.0-Win 10 pro x64 8gb ram,512gb SSD
Laptop Win 10-32gb ram 512 ssd 750 hd
Various East West, Hollywood Strings Gold, Note Performer
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Posted by Peter Roos - 27 Sep 10:31PM Hide picture You'll still need the soundset to easily integrate Symphonic Orchestra with Sibelius. Sibelius has its own mysterious way to handle virtual instruments, very clever in concept, but not very intuitive; and if you want to control all of the sounds manually and individually, you'll get lost quickly in the thick woods of the soundworld. My advice is to save yourself a lot of headaches and just buy the soundset.
Note, by the way, that Composer Cloud has a lot of different libraries - of note, the symphonic choirs are quite stunning, and for orchestra, there is the Hollywood Series (Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion) which are nothing short of spectacular.
Each of these can be integrated with Sibelius, but they all have their own soundset (purchased separately).
As to the close / hall / surround mikes of Symphonic Orchestra, the samples were recorded about ten years ago during two summer sessions at the symphony hall of the Seattle (Benaroya Hall - this is a public secret, never officially confirmed by Eastwest). They recorded each sample in three different ways: (a) up close, for each instrument; (b) hall, from conductor's perspective, with decca tree microphone; and (c) surround, from the back of the hall. You're really going to have to experiment with what sounds best to your ears, there are no magic formulas.
Symphonic Orchestra was first released 10 years ago, at that point it was absolutely groundbreaking, especially with the natural reverberation from the symphony hall. That natural reverb is something that is very difficult to emulate, no matter how expensive or fancy your reverb is, software or hardware. After all these years SO is still a favorite for many people.
Last, even with the soundset, it's not going to sound like a real orchestra, Sibelius is primarily a notation program and to get a realistic performance you need to fiddle with the midi notes, add expression; all of which is a bit tedious, but can be fun at the same time.
Nothing will ever beat a live orchestra, but the reality is that most people don't have the ability to have their compositions performed by a full fledged live orchestra. Having fancy virtual instruments is a good second best.
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Peter Roos
www.summeroflovemusic.com
IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm2039241 Back to top Allthreads Re: EastWest Composer Cloud
Posted by bashkii - 28 Sep 12:24AM Hide picture
Thanks Peter, great explaining! And to you all, thank you so much.
Al
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Sibelius 7.5
iMac 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
OS X 10.10.2 Back to top Allthreads Re: EastWest Composer Cloud
Posted by Asterius - 01 Jul 06:13PM Hide picture Having real trouble installing the two (composer cloud) and sibelius. Not as easy as it sounds, even after I purchased the soundsonline package!! Still not working but I'll have to wait for a reply from support. Back to top Allthreads Re: EastWest Composer Cloud
Posted by Roy Moore - 01 Jul 07:07PM (edited 01 Jul 07:08PM) Hide picture The samples in EW libraries are great but...using with Sibelius is a steep learning curve.
I assume you have purchased the soundsets from the Soundset Project (Jonatham Loving). Follow exactly the instructions in the soundset manual. Make sure you place the supplied files in the correct folders. The instructions take a bit of digesting. I think Jonathan Loving offers (paid?) support.
At the risk of sounding too negative, you only access a fraction of the samples available from Sibelius. Each articulation has several versions in EW but Sibelius always uses the same one(s) - you need a DAW/Sequencer to use them all.
Having said all that, you'll get some great sounds.
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Roy Moore
London UK (2016)
Sib 7.5,8.3 -Win 10 pro x64 8gb ram,512gb SSD
Laptop Win 10 pro x64-32gb ram 512 ssd 750 hd
Various East West, Hollywood Strings, Note Performer
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