Effect of IR-Body in SWAM Solo Cello (v3.11): Audio Comparison with SCES

I examined the effect of the newly introduced IR in SWAM Solo Strings (Cello) by comparing actual audio examples.
The musical material used for this test is the opening phrase of “Le Cygne” from The Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns.

Test Environment

- DAW: Cubase Pro 11 (no effects inserted)
- Instrument: Audio Modeling SWAM Solo Cello v3 (3.11.0)
- Sound Preset: Saint-Saëns
- Ambiente Room Simulator: OFF

Sound Variations Compared

1. SWAM DRY
2. SWAM CREMONA (Body with physical model)
3. SWAM TRIESTE (newly added IR-Body)
4. Reference: Sample Modering Solo Chamber & Ensemble Strings, Solo Cello (CC100=1, minimal Body IR)

The MIDI data entered under the Dry condition in 1 is compared by replacing it with 2, 3, and 4 as it is.
However, for SCES 4, these CCs were applied only to SWAM, since there is no bow pressure or bow position specification. Since there was a slight difference in volume, we adjusted them so that they are almost the same in auditory perception.

Results

Overall, 1, 2, and 3 sound similar, but clear differences in timbre can be heard.
My general impression would be 1 < 2 < 3.

1. Dry
   The sound feels somewhat flat, as if the notes are merely being connected in order to sustain them.
2. CREMONA
   Compared to DRY, the sound feels more coherent and better integrated.
3. TRIESTE
   The sense of coherence is further improved.
   However, both CREMONA and TRIESTE share a tendency for the release phase to thin out slightly, and the vibrato can sound somewhat artificial.
4. SCES(Reference)
   Even after taking into account the slight room character, the sound quality is noticeably better.
   Long notes are less prone to thinning, and the connection between individual notes feels more stable and reassuring than in 1, 2, or 3.
   The vibrato also sounds more natural.

That said, example 4 should be regarded only as a reference.
The primary purpose of this article is to compare the effect of the newly introduced IR in SWAM. From that perspective, the difference between CREMONA (2) and TRIESTE (3) did not strike me as particularly large—at least to my ears under these conditions.
With more advanced MIDI programming techniques, the results might well have been different.

Note on IR
IR (Impulse Response) is data that captures how a space or a physical object responds to sound.
In the case of SWAM’s IR-Body, it is used to reproduce the resonant characteristics of the instrument’s body rather than room acoustics.

Sound source: Sound Library: 1.SWAM Cello V3(DRY)
Audio file format: wav

Sound source: Sound Library: 2.SWAM Cello V3(CREMONA)
Audio file format: wav

Sound source: Sound Library: 3.SWAM Cello V3(TRIESTE)
Audio file format: wav

Sound source: Sound Library: SCES Solo Cello(CC100=1)
Audio file format: wav