This article weighs up the pros and cons of using samples against using a real orchestra in film production.
More and more in the modern cinematic productions we see composers called to deliver the finished product. Reason being that there is a plethora of sample libraries at a very reasonable priced that can produce some good results. Truth is however, as good they may be, sample libraries cannot really compete with the real thing. The parameters that set an orchestral recording apart from sampled recordings are way too many to mention. Every instrument gives a massive amount of information in terms of articulation, feel, imperfect performance (by that I don’t mean wrong, I just mean human - non-sequencer type of performance) and colour. Imagine how these instruments interact with each other on a live situation. All the millions of random audio information that are generated in one passage are impossible to calculate. From the recording side of things, top studios use equipment that create unparallel results of such rich and deep orchestral sound which render any attempt to fully duplicate orchestral music unfeasible. Testament to that is the fact that all top film studios use only professional orchestras. Smaller studios with low or zero budgets do use sampled recording purely because the cost of hiring an orchestra can be massive but obviously this hinders the quality of the soundtrack and ultimately the film. However, sample libraries have their purpose. They are invaluable for mock orchestrations. In the 90s composers were facing immediate rejection if one que wasn’t right for the film. Purely because orchestras cost so much money and there was no space for error. Nowadays directors can have the luxury of receiving mock orchestrations. They are not perfect but can give the producers a good idea of a given que and then discuss and amend if necessary any imperfections in the compositions. Another side of the industry that has benefited from libraries is the video games arena. It’s a common technique to have music made entirely by samples and video games music has also earned a separate status as a musical genre. To sum up, orchestral libraries are great as a tool to review compositions and complete a few low budget projects and games that can’t afford an orchestra. Even so every orchestral composer and production company should aim towards using the real thing as a) the results are unparallel and b) there are some great European orchestras that don’t cost the Earth and are consisted by extremely talented musicians.