Hi Folks

Im using AKAI samples and logic 7. Would like to get some tips from other
orchestral composers and producers here on how you mix and pan your
arrangements. How do you pan divide the 4 string parts in a mix . What efx
do you put on them. Love to hear your tricks

Thanks Ivan

For a typical modern orchestral arrangement, violin1 would be left,
violin 2 left of center, viola right of center, and cello (plus double
bass) right. That's the setup of a typical orchestra in modern times
(from the audience's point of view). Back in history other orchestral
positionings were used, such as the "antiphonal" idea with violin 1
left and violin 2 right, cello and viola in the middle. So you can
experiment for older sounds.

The effects you use would depend on what orchestral sound you want . .
.. if it's a genunie orchestral sound in a concert hall you want, you
probably only need the right reverb.

BUT, however good your samples are, and however well you use them (and
whatever you do with Effects etc.), it's still not going sound anything
like a real orchestra. Did you know that you can get REAL strings
played for very reasonable costs? In fact, this is one of the areas I
specialise in. For a few hundred dollars, you can have real strings
playing your parts . . . played by a top professional with real
experience of playing (and writing) in a variety of genres (as used by
Virgin Records, Atlantic Records and many others).

A typical way of working would be for you to send me MIDI files of the
strings you want, and I would tweak those as neccessary and go into a
top studio to play them on real strings, getting the sound files back
to you very quickly (by www.yousendit.com).

Have a listen to my demo, and see what you think . . .

http://www.chris-melchior.com/strings.htm


Chris