I am currently working on Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30, but in between, I have been sequencing Schumann’s Cello Concerto.
I had been struggling for a long time to decide which solo cello library to use for this piece. Each of the libraries I own (Library-3) has its own strengths and weaknesses, so I experimented with different options using the first 34 measures.
It was a continuous cycle of swapping libraries, making adjustments, and then second-guessing my choices. Unlike percussive instruments like the piano, crafting a convincing sound for a sustaining instrument like the cello is far more challenging.
On top of that, the cello is a remarkably expressive instrument, capable of producing a wide range of tones—from powerful and rich to delicate and graceful. Additionally, its timbre varies significantly depending on the instrument itself and even the type of strings used, which never ceases to impress me with its incredible versatility.
Now, let's compare the three cello libraries I am considering:
1. Emotional Cello by Best Service (a sampling-based library)
2. SYNCHRON-IZED SOLO STRINGS by Vienna (also sampling-based)
3.SWAM-S (Cello) by Audio Modeling (a physically modeled instrument)
Each has its own characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses, making the selection process quite complex.
1. Emotional Cello
- Offers a variety of articulation patches, allowing for diverse tonal expressions
- Weak and unnatural portamento functionality
No glissando capability
- No control over vibrato frequency or depth
Dry sound by default (with adjustable wetness)
2. SYNCHRON SOLO STRINGS
- Offers a variety of articulation patches for diverse tonal expressions
- Smooth and natural portamento and glissando
Allows vibrato control
- Although it is a sampling-based library, the tone can sound somewhat synthetic and monotonous
- Slightly wet sound
3. SWAM-S (Cello)
- Nearly all articulations, including vibrato control, are generated through real-time computation
- Allows highly detailed parameter adjustments, but requires significant time for fine-tuning
- The tone still has a synthetic quality and tends to become monotonous
- Dry sound (reverb is essential)
As a conclusion, I have decided to use Emotional Cello as the main library while layering SYNCHRON-IZED SOLO STRINGS as a secondary source, slightly reducing its reverb component with a de-reverb plugin before blending the two.
I would be very happy if Emotional Cello allowed vibrato control, but since it’s quite an old library, that might be difficult to achieve.