Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Orchestra As A Mythical Creature




There are two kinds of virtual instruments. The first type generates sounds by creating and modulating waveforms like a synthesizer. The second type are sample-based, i.e., they trigger recorded tones, loops, and phrases performed by musicians. These “samples” are edited and assembled for use in a sample library, which can be accessed in real-time by the software instrument. In the case of an orchestral sample library, single notes and tone sequences (phrases) are recorded in several variations such as expression, tempo, articulation, etc., for each instrument as well as whole instrument groups. These recordings are edited in the studio and processed for use in a sample library or a virtual instrument.

... Vienna Instruments are sample-based virtual orchestra instruments that combine sound data and their sequential arrangement (which is determined by the musical context) with the player software. They enable the user to arrange his or her composition on the computer so that, in many cases, the results cannot be distinguished from a real orchestral recording.


from “What is a Virtual Instrument?”
at Vienna Symphonic Library




Kate Beckinsale in a sprayed on, skin tight bodysuit. Again. I’m there.
Comment by Ripsnorter — Thursday December 22, 2011 @ 3:54pm PST

They are popcorn movies for smart people.
Comment by fan — Thursday December 22, 2011 @ 5:59pm PST

There’s just something about these movies. Love ‘em. Hope Kate signs on for many more… I really will miss Michael Sheen, though!
Comment by Cali — Thursday December 22, 2011 @ 8:56pm PST

“something about these movies”? In the comments just above yours, ripsnorter did some research into that very point and discovered Kate Beckinsale in a sprayed on, skin tight bodysuit may be an element of the franchise’s appeal.
Comment by markLouis — Thursday December 22, 2011 @ 9:26pm PST

Thank you, markLouis, I didn’t go into the details, but my research shows Kate Beckinsale in a sprayed on, skin tight bodysuit is the only element of the franchise’s appeal.
Comment by Ripsnorter — Friday December 23, 2011 @ 2:13am PST


an internet ‘conversation’
about the film
“Underworld: Awakening”
at Deadline Hollywood




I have used the Vienna Symphonic Library as my primary source for orchestral sounds throughout the writing and production process for “Underworld.”

Like no other library, the Vienna Symphonic Library has enabled me to blend orchestral samples with electronic sounds. Furthermore, its musical sophistication and sonic excellence have even made it possible to use Vienna’s samples next to actual orchestral live recordings as complementing elements.

To me, this fully integrated approach marks a significant shift in the way film scores, and for that matter, any kind of orchestral music can be written and produced in the future.


film composer Paul Haslinger
quoted at Vienna Symphonic Library




All you need for a movie is a gun and a girl.


from the journal of Jean-Luc Godard
quoted at Wikiquote







It may or may not be a real orchestra
adding drama behind the girl with a gun
but that isn’t a real girl holding the gun.

That’s a vampire with a gun. Two guns, in fact.

It may or may not be a real orchestra
but a gun is an object from the real world
and vampires are creatures from mythology.

There’s a lot of synthesizing going on.

She’s a vampire with guns for killing werewolves.

Werewolves are creatures from mythology, too.

There’s a lot of synthesizing going on.

And with all the synthesizing going on
many people who watch this in the real world
watch it with the sound turned down and don’t follow
the vampires-fighting-werewolves business at all
and hardly hear the orchestra, real or fake.

Many people who watch this in the real world
just enjoy watching a beautiful actress
running around in a sexy bodysuit.

“What the hell’s going on here?” somebody asked.

“It’s vampires and werewolves, fighting,” someone said.

“Vampires use guns?” the first person asked, laughing.

“That pretty actress,” the second person said,
“is from England. Her name is Kate Beckinsale.”

“She’s very pretty,” the first person agreed.
“But, really, what’s the deal with vampires and guns?”

There’s a lot of synthesizing going on
but Kate Beckinsale really is from England.

An orchestra’s not a mythical creature.

























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