Ew Symphonic Choirs
Shu Manwill
Symphonic Choirs is a vocal synthesizer and vocal library software created by EastWest, designed to imitate an entire vocal choir. The content was created by producers Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix with recording engineer Keith O. Johnson for EastWest. Recorded in a real concert hall, the software initially had two styles of producing a result, the first being the "PLAY" engine version and the second being the "WordBuilder". The WordBuilder works by the user typing in what they want the software to recreate and it playing back the words.
It has vocal samples for male, female and young boys' choirs. It covers the ranges Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass and has audio engine effects and outputs. The SATB sections offer Normal, Legato, Staccato, and Slurred articulations, while the young boys choir offers Normal and Legato articulations. It was recorded with 3 microphones, allowing for results that give the impression of the choir being in different positions.[1] The software only contains choir-themed samples, so it is not designed to sing any other genre of music. Other samples include solo sounds in tones such as whispers covering Soprano, Alto and choir boy, though these samples do not use WordBuilder. The software also works with Kompakt, allowing for use of sound layers for user creation of choirs to suit the means; although the software can be used without Kompakt, the user will not be able to access the full capabilities of the sample library.[2]
In the PLAY version 2.1.1 update released in 2010, WordBuilder and PLAY were integrated into a single interface.[3] The "Choirs (VOTA) Expansion" expansion pack was also later created using samples from Quantum Leap sound libraries. The samples contain heavy vibrato vowels that allow the loudest Symphonic Choirs to crossfade with the FFF Mark Wherry's "Voices of the Apocalypse". They were also built with the WordBuilder in mind. It also includes sample patches, "Angels" and "Demons" from "Voices of the Apocalypse". Unlike the original software, the expansion is recorded with a single microphone.
When reviewing the original version of the software, Sound on Sound reviewer John Walden called the quality "magnificent" and believed it was suitable for hobbyist, educational and professional markets.[4]
Audio Pro Central felt that the software was expensive, but still cheaper than hiring an entire choir for the same session and state its results were "breathtaking". However, it noted the software's limitations beyond choir synthesis.[2]
TechRadar noted the amount of samples crammed into the software at 38GB spread across 9 DVDs and it was part of a growing trend at time of release of amassing large amounts of sampled sounds into a product. The result is that a computer running 64-bit OS was needed and simple Windows XP and 2GBs of data may not cut it. Other criticisms include the note of the wobbliness of some of the solo samples and while the Bass were "gutsy" and the sopranos "ethereal" it was difficult to make samples switch roles. Focusing on the high price, the product was given an overall mixed review and it was noted due to the high price some seeking such a product may be better off if the software offered a quarter of the content at a lower price.[5]
Electronic Musician reviewer David M. Rubin felt the software was "high-end", noting its flexibility. He admitted that you have to learn how to work with the phonetic system quite a bit and the results may not be as good as an experienced choir director can deliver, but noted how it worked to give a great virtual choir. He noted at the time of his review there were no solo, tenor, or bass samples and the WordBuilder did not work with the solo samples, but gave an overall good review. The high demand of the processor was also noted by him as a downfall of the software.[6]
Requiem Light is a professional symphonic choir library specifically designed for epic cinematic scoring and dramatic trailer composition, packed with a huge mix-ready sound in a supremely light ram and disk footprint. Whether you use it in your studio or take it on the road, it has a rich, dynamic cathedral choir sound that's equally perfect for achieving soaring fortissimo power or sculpting delicately soft melodic detail. This library is Powered By the Native Instruments Kontakt Player engine (VST, AU & AAX Plugin formats) and supports all Komplete Kontrol software and hardware.
This library includes three true legato vowels, a variety of classic vowel sustains and staccatos, single-syllable Marcato words, long poly-syllabic Latin sustains and fast, aggressive Latin staccatos, as well as a big selection of classic and uniquely creative dynamic choral effects, a great collection of emotive solo soprano and tenor polysustains and a selection of sound-designed atmospheric pads, drones and choral atmospheres.
We recorded Requiem Light in the massive sanctuary hall at historic Saint Paul's in San Francisco and conducted by award-winning maestro Robert Geary with hand-picked members of Volti, SF Symphony Chorus, SF Opera and the San Francisco Choral Society. The choir was captured with 12 large diaphragm microphones and expertly mixed and mastered into a perfectly-balanced stereo image. This instant mix-ready master mix provides you intuitive ease-of-use and resource efficiency right out of the box, without the usual system resource and performance cost.
The library contains polyphonic true-legato sustains for full unison choir, with essential Ah, Eh and Oh vowel types with smooth piano-forte dynamic cross-fade control. It also includes men's and women's divisi sustains for six common vowel sounds (Ah, Ee, Eh, Ih, Oh and Oom). There are 24 staccato syllables with round-robin and 16 ultra-forte sustaining single-syllable marcato words to choose from, with integrated phrase-sequencing.
We also include 20 fast and 12 slow multi-syllable Latin words with time-stretching, tempo-synching and legato control. It also features 10 expressive poly-sustain articulations for Tenor and Soprano soloists.
You'll also find hundreds of dramatic and creative choral effects including clusters, demonic chants, glisses, swells, sweeps, consonants, shouts, stomps, breaths, claps, snaps and more. You can also choose from 119 custom convolution reverb and FX impulse responses to place the choir in different environment or create unique atmospheric and special textural effects.
For over a decade, our mission has been to create an ever-growing selection of inspiring instruments, orchestral sections, drums, percussion ensembles, choirs, solo voices, folk and vintage instruments, experimental sonic contraptions, cinematic effects and sound-designed creations.
Recorded in Lyndhurst Hall, at AIR Studios, London, performed by a gold generation of musicians who have featured on some of the top film scores of the last decade. This definitive selection of blockbuster sounds are some of the best, most classic recordings by Spitfire Audio, a set of flagship virtual instruments which are already used by the worlds top composers and music-makers, and have already played a part in the productions of the hundreds of AAA film, game and TV scores over the past decade.
There is a gentle reverberation in the room that adds beauty to anything played there. The sound produced by a soloist, or a full symphonic orchestra expands and blooms inside the space, a truly versatile palette giving access to a range of textures from delicate and intimate to thunderous and epic.
One of my aims is to make Baltimore Choral Arts as flexible of an ensemble as possible; one of the challenges we have is to adapt to many different musical styles and concert environments in a natural and convincing way whether we are singing Renaissance polyphony, a Baroque church cantata, or commissioning a new choral piece. Our projects with the BSO demand that we become a symphonic chorus. What does this entail? Musicologist Rosalynd Smith has some interesting things to say about this in her essay Symphonic Choirs: Understanding the Borders of Professionalism.
McGuire Auditorium was filled with tidings of great joy during the Wintersong 2023 event organized by the Portland Symphonic Choir. This cherished tradition, initiated in 1945, is driven by a mission to perform choral masterworks with excellence and passion while engaging, educating, and inspiring both members and the community.
Wintersong serves as an annual gathering, bringing together Choir members, alumni, local high school choirs, and a diverse audience spanning generations. The concert strives to advance and diversify choral music by showcasing young singers alongside supportive Choir members, fostering an educational environment that connects high school choral scholars and cultivates inspiration for the upcoming generation of musicians.
The Barrett Symphonic Choir is a singing community open to all students regardless of major who have had previous choral experience in high-school, affinity group and/or faith-based choirs, or community ensembles. This ensemble is designed to foster an inclusive environment in which musical curiosity, collaborative musicking, and intentional skill building in vocal technique and musicianship are bedrock principles.
The Herberger Institute comprises ASU Art Museum, ASU FIDM, The Design School, The Sidney Poitier New American Film School and the Schools of Art; Arts, Media and Engineering; and Music, Dance and Theatre.
Now more powerful than ever! New version with WordBuilder inside the included PLAY software. Imagine typing words into your computer and hearing a choir sing them in any key(s) you play! Well imagine no more, that's exactly what this unique product does. Electronic Musician's Editor's Choice Award.
Imagine typing words into your computer, in any language, and hearing a world class Symphonic Choir sing those words in any key(s) you play "live" on your keyboard controller! Well imagine no more, that's exactly what this revolutionary "award-winning" virtual instrument does. In addition, the Platinum edition (Gold edition has one mic position and is 16-bit) is the first 24-bit Choir virtual instrument to include three simultaneous stereo mic setups (close, stage and hall), so users can mix any combination of mic positions to control ambience. The Choirs were recorded in the same concert hall, by the same team as the EastWest/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra and blend perfectly with EWQLSO.
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