Tips to start with Symphony Series Collection

Hi there!
Finally I click the trigger and I upgrade to K12U CE as I want to start to learn to compose to Orchestra. I know the very basic theory and I played piano in the past. I am using Logic Pro X.

I think so
I think nice strat will be to get a template with NI SS for Logic, but I can’t find anywhere.

Any tips or advice about how to start? Any good online course to use NI SS?

thanks in advance!!

 

Vi control will have more answers.

 

Emilio_n, I upgraded to K12U CE just for the same reason - to have something like an orchestra. But I also have Spitfire Albion One, The Orchestra from Sonuscore, and I have Steinberg's Symphonic Orchestra which have good solo strings which are missing in other libraries I have.

One way is to create a template for full orchestra and you will compose all compositions similar to each other. It is good when you already have your unique signature. Another way is to start from scratch every single day and you will grow not only musically, but will gain experience and ability to manipulate your "orchestra" very rapidly. That's IMHO of course, but I do this way. I also do some sound design and synthesize orchestral pieces with electronic style, but in general anyway I use orchestral standard - violins I, violins II, violas, cellos and basses.

Take a look in Youtube channels from Christian Henson Music, Junkie XL. Stockenhauser and many others. Maybe just search youtube for "orchestral template"? You will get lot of good videos.

 

Now, this might not be the best tip out there but it definitely worked wonders for me... If you're going to set up an orchestral score then don't rely on a classic MIDI keyboard but instead get yourself something else, my suggestion would be a MIDI pad controller that's supported by whatever DAW you're using.

The problem, in my opinion (and experience) obviously, is that a keyboard can easily 'confine' you to standard thinking. The basic chords, the scales you can probably dream and you'll also know exactly what to expect when playing. Although that's a good thing I found it very limiting as soon as I picked up on orchestral because the required playing style is very different depending on the instruments and/or style of the material.

A pad controller otoh more or less forces you to think "outside" the box and deal with something different than those keys you probably can dream off. Which for me was a huge push into becoming a lot more creative with some of my scores. But most of all... because I felt more free to experiment and fool around I was also much more open (and relaxed) towards different playing styles, it came a lot more natural to me than when using a keyboard....

Of course we all have our different approaches and preferences and as always: what works for me doesn't have to work for you. But even so... I would still recommend to keep this option in mind... Get another controller besides a keyboard to play your orchestral scores.

 

What are you suggesting, wind controller, e drums?

 

I'd go for a pad controller such as a Novation launchpad for example, but only if the controller is fully supported by the DAW that's in use, that's an important detail.

 

Ah launchpad, so just switches and pots as featured on most keyboards.

 

That's the usual approach people have, yes, but that often changes once you try playing one yourself