Available for download, the Hollywood Strings Diamond Edition from EastWest is a virtual instrument featuring a huge collection of beautifully recorded string instruments, while simultaneously providing extensive control over the sound and performance. Recording for Hollywood Strings took place at EastWest Studio 1, the same studio where many Hollywood soundtracks and television themes were recorded with a live orchestra.
The Diamond edition separates itself from the Gold version in several key ways. First, it provides 24-bit samples for an increased and more fluid dynamic range. Secondly, the Diamond edition offers five mic positions, where the Gold edition only provided one. You can blend all of these mic positions together in any way you see fit. You'll also see a number of articulations not present in the Gold version, including Bow Change Legato and dedicated Divisi content. The result is a sample library comprising approximately 312GB.
Heading this project were coproducers Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix and Thomas Bergerse, and sound engineer Shawn Murphy, who has recorded and mixed the scores for more than 300 feature films. The exceptional sounds of the virtual strings are the result of having a top sound engineer, a beautiful-sounding recording studio, an incredible selection of microphones, the best analog and digital recording equipment, and top Hollywood string players.
- Recorded in the famous EastWest Studios 1
- Neve 8078 mixing console
- Meitner ADC converters
- 5 microphone positions
- Main: Decca tree (Neumann M50s) and Brauner VM1 KHE (Klaus Heyne Edition) outriggers
- Mid: Neumann KMi, Neumann KM 254, Sony C37A, Neumann U-47
- Close: AKG C12, Neumann U47, Neumann U67, Nordic Audio Labs NU-47
- Surround: Neumann KM 83
- Alternate Room: Vintage RCA 44 Ribbon
- Multiple finger positions for all sections including open strings
- 2 unique styles of legato interval sampling, including slurred legato and portamento sliding legato, sampled at 3 and 2 dynamics respectively, all with speed control; that's 5 passes of legato intervals, all sampled in long format, so each note has time to breath
- Basses only have slurred legato
- Up- and down-bowed sustains, all at 4 finger positions, with at least one full octave on each string:
- 5 dynamics at non-vibrato
- 5 dynamics at vibrato
- 3 dynamics at molto vibrato
- Extensive runs
- Playable runs
- Spiccato runs for violins
- Bow change legato
- Dedicated Divisi Section
- Other articulations:
- Bartók pizzicato
- Col legno
- Detaché up and down bows with finger positions and 4 dynamics
- Flautando for violins
- Harmonics for violins
- Marcato short, 3 dynamics, round-robin x 4
- Marcato long, 3 dynamics, round-robin x 4
- Measured tremolo, 4 dynamics
- On-the-string staccato, 4 dynamics, round-robin x 8
- Pizzicato, 4 dynamics, round-robin x 4
- Repetitions, 3 dynamics
- Ricochet, 3 dynamics, round-robin x 2
- Spiccato, 4 dynamics, round-robin x 9
- Staccatissmo, 4 dynamics, round-robin x 16
- Staccato, 4 dynamics, round-robin x 9
- Slurred staccato for violins, 4 dynamics, round-robin x 9
- Sul ponticello tremolo for violas
- Tremolo, 4 dynamics
- Trills (major and minor), 3 dynamics
- Sordino effect available for all patches
- Release trails for everything
- Custom Python scripting
- 16 x 1st Violins (9/7 Divisi mode)
- 14 x 2nd Violins (8/6 Divisi mode)
- 10 x Violas (6/4 Divisi mode)
- 10 x Cellos (6/4 Divisi mode)
- 7 x Basses (4/3 Divisi mode)