Overview
The Modern Symphonic Orchestra was designed specifically to be highly efficient in RAM use. All of the demos posted, except for the Star Spangled Banner, we're recorded in a system with 1GB of RAM. The Star Spangled Banner required 2GB. This is a PC only product. You download for free from www.emu.com the new Proteus VX software and run MSO with that.
The Modern Symphonic Orchestra offers a comprehensive collection of over 10GB (five DVDs) of the finest string, brass, woodwind, and percussion samples - all meticulously sampled for just the right expressiveness in each recorded note to convey a truly realistic feel.
Programmed specifically for the powerful Emulator X/Proteus X sound engine, each of the Modern Symphonic Orchestra's presets is mapped to the MIDI real-time controllers for enhanced expression. The pitch wheel and modulation wheel, and other continuous controllers create various performance effects such as: bend-up/ down, voice switching, chorus, or layer crossfade.
MSO Bundle Contents
Together with the included Overture 4 SE notation software, E-MU's Modern Symphonic Orchestra offers a total "plug-and-play" soundset for your Emulator X and Proteus X that lets you dial in the perfect orchestral sound every time.
Details
Advanced Sound Design...
Programmed specifically for the powerful Emulator X/Proteus X sound engine, each of the Modern Symphonic Orchestra's presets is mapped to the MIDI real-time controllers for enhanced expression. The pitch wheel and modulation wheel, and other continuous controllers create various performance effects such as: bend-up/ down, voice switching, chorus, or layer crossfade.
Many presets in Modern Symphonic Orchestra include multiple voices for each note. Depending on the preset, when you play a note on your controller, several factors determine what voice plays, including: modulation wheel position, note velocity, keyswitch, cycled or random voice switching.
Flex Preset Technology
The Modern Symphonic Orchestra includes the concept of Flex (or "flexible") Presets. Flex presets are multi-voice, multi-sample presets that automatically or manually switch voices to realistically emulate a performing musician. The flex preset control keys allow you to choose between different up/down bowing patterns for strings, and various tonguing and articulation techniques for woodwind and brass.
Modern Symphonic Orchestra includes the following banks:
Disc 1 - Strings
1st Violins 10 violins on the far left.
2nd Violins 10 violins to the left of the center.
Violas Eight violas in the center.
Celli 12 celli to the right of the center.
Basses Six basses to the far right.
All Strings 1st violins, 2nd violins, violas, cellos, and basses mapped to keys in the appropriate ranges.
Advanced Sound Design Notes:
Automatic Up/Down bowing for the sustained notes
Up/Down bowing for staccato, détaché that including separate presets for Up/Dn, Dn/Up, Up/Dn/Dn, Dn/Up/Up (triplets)
Presets designed for the Pizzicato, referred to as Dbl 1, Dbl 2, Trp 1, Trp 2, and Qdp (Quadruplet)
Keyswitch preset that allows you to switch between each of the bowings using the keyswitch
A "KSW All+Flx" preset that contains the sustained Up/Dn, détaché, and staccato in one preset so you can switch between those articulations and bowings using a keyswitch
Disc 2 - Woodwinds
The Modern Symphonic Orchestra includes each of the woodwind instruments found in a standard symphony orchestra:
Bassoon
Clarinet
Contra Bassoon
English Horn
Flute
Oboe
Piccolo
Advanced Sound Design Notes:
When you use woodwinds from the same family in harmony (such as two flutes or two clarinets), use the same solo woodwind as the second part, and then, in your sequencer, you can use a technique called delay that lets you "slide" the second part down a few ticks. This creates a more realistic sound and avoids a recording problem called phasing.
Additional Features
Double, Triplet, Quadruplet and Random tonguing creates a more realistic sound to avoid a "machine gun" effect when repeating the same key
A "KSW AllFlx" preset that contains the sustained, staccato, 1/2 step and whole step trills in one preset so you can switch between those using a keyswitch
Disc 3 - Brass
Solo Instruments
Trumpet
French Horn
Trombone
Tuba
Duet Brass
2 Trumpets
2 French Horns
2 Trombones
2 Tubas
Large Brass
Trumpets - Three trumpets
French Horns - Four French horns
Trombones - Three trombones
Bass Trombones - Trombones specially designed to reach C1
Tubas - The "bottom" of the brass section
Advanced Sound Design Notes
For a balanced sound, the Modern Symphonic Orchestra uses a Baroque orchestral setup with the brass stretching from left to right (left of center to right of center). Duet Brass presets create the sound of two brass instruments playing in unison. Use these when you want a slightly larger sound than a single brass instrument.
Additional Features
Double, Triplet, Quadruplet and Random tonguing creates a more realistic sound to avoid a "machine gun" effect when repeating the same key
"KSW AllFlx" preset that contains the sustained and staccato, so you can switch between those using a keyswitch
Disc 4 - Percussion
Solo Instruments
Celesta
Glockenspiel
Harp
Percussion
Tubular Bells
Xylophone
Timpani
Advanced Sound Design Notes
A comprehensive percussion battery with an assortment of specialized presets that include everything from short, sustained and dampened hits to edge and center drumhead samples. These presets have all been mapped to the powerful Emulator X and Proteus X effects and synthesis architecture, giving you unprecedented real-time control over attack, decay, timbre and ambience.
Disc 5 - Symphonic Collection
The Symphonic Collection Disc is an invaluable composition tool that gives you over 50 plug-and-play combination presets, covering everything from individual instrument sections to the grand "Symphonic Collection" preset that puts an entire orchestra at your fingertips spread over 32 MIDI channels.
Advanced Sound Design Notes
This bank also includes multisetup presets that allow you to switch different setups by changing the channel on your MIDI controller. For each multisetup preset, there is a setup for each channel from 1 through 32.
Disc 6 - Overture 4 SE Notation Software
Overture 4 SE is easy-to-use notation software that is great for demanding composers, arrangers, music educators, and students - anyone who wants the flexibility to create complex musical scores, and do it quickly.