Expressive Strings (Video Tutorial, Keyboard + Sampler Required)

It took me a while to find this out, but the reason Sampled strings sound so synthy is due to the dynamics between note A shifting to note B. This tutorial shows you how to make it sound like a solo string sample is bending. All it requires is a sampler and a keyboard:

Even if you think you know what I'm talking about, please check out the video anyway. You may be surprised...

YouTube - How to make your String Quartets Expressive even though they aren't real!

I am using Reason 3 in this tutorial with the free soundfont named "Fluid 3", though some of the demos are Garritans GPO Lite Refill for Reason (though you do NOT necessarily need good quality string sounds of any kind AT ALL to make things expressive, have faith in your synths, samples can only get so good on their own Wink )

Hope you find something useful. Smile

Chances are you could get some pretty amazing results with East West or Vienna. (I think East Wests Portamento is called "Glide" or something?) Just apply the same thing, and remember that synths sing.