Regarding Jana's soundtrack post

[petekelly]

Thought I'd add this to Jana's unfortunately now lost post, which started to touch on the ubiquity of orchestral libraries used for soundtracks:

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/cinematic/arkhis/?content=5451

[chris23]

Probably not the reaction you were seeking, but here it goes: That looks like fun. I can imagine spending hours playing with that.

[petekelly]

Probably not the reaction you were seeking, but here it goes: That looks like fun. I can imagine spending hours playing with that.

Yes Chris, it does look to be fun, but it's the 'instant soundtrack' idea behind it (and other the libraries referred to in the original) that I have a bit of an issue with.
To quote their strap-line:

Quickly create screen-ready, powerful atmospheric scores for any project

What happened to imagination, craft etc ? when everything is made so easy, it actually limits the imagination, in my view - homogenity can ensue.

[petekelly]

Thanks for reopen the "cinematic" topic, Pete.

We talked about cinematic sample libraries the last time and "Arkhis" offer easy access for everyone to play around with the samples.
No time was better than today to create cinematic music. Not only the filmscores were remolded but also music of all genres.
Especially in ambient and classic music you can observe a trend to integrate equal cinematic sounds. This seems to be a movement becoming the spirit of time.

Classical music, cinematic atmospheres, film scores need liveliness. Without liveliness, without imperfection, without timbre, without character it is not what it should be.
To work with samples (digital, virtual) is not easy and needs lots of practice, fantasy, movement and passion. One should not forget. To play an instrument is to play an instrument.

I think many artists work only on the surface of music.

I tend to agree, Jana.

[phobos]

I haven't even bothered to check out this latest incarnation from NI. I don't think we need yet another "cinematic sound library".
Just wondering if they might eventually come up with something unique, and doesn't include the word "cinematic" in it   :D

[petekelly]

Interesting to do a search for NI cinematic libraries - there are a lot there:

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/catalog/komplete/cinematic/

Maybe 'Cinematic' is considered to be a genre now (of sorts) ? I must admit I wasn't too tempted with this one, but I did try the demo of 'Pharlight' and was somewhat underwhelmed. I think it was more a collection of vox textures / loops etc. rather than a really interesting granuliser - which is more what I was hoping for. In fact, I think you can do more with the ancient (but venerable) 'Travelizer'.

I should say I'm not bashing NI, I think they do some great stuff. I did a whole album using predominantly their 'Rounds' synth.

[phobos]

Exactly Pete, and you hit the nail right on the head, a lot are "underwhelming".