Voices of the Apocalypse Classical Choir

[Nick Phoenix]

Introducing a breakthrough sample library from Quantum Leap on 3 CD-ROMs. Voices
of the Apocalypse - Classical Choir. Every vowel sound and consonant sampled at
multiple dynamics, programmed in a way that allows you to create realistic words,
sung in any language, from your sampler. This library sounds nothing like any other
choir library you\'ve ever heard, because we fearlessly went after the full spectrum of
a world class Wagneresque choir. Features; Chromatic multisamples covering a 3 octave
range (yes 3 not 2 like all the other choir libraries) for both the men and the women. Real ambient release triggers for a shockingly
realistic hall sound. Light to heavy vibrato samples crossfaded with the mod-wheel.
Everything from a true classical sound to Hollywood majesty, ANGELIC to EVIL.

I am actually quite fond of some of the choir samples already on the market. But, there is alot missing. This library gives you all of the vowel sounds and all of the consonants. The louder vowel samples have all the intensity and vibrato of a real choir, giving it their all. Cross fading between the mellower and more intense samples gives you a tremendous amount of creative input. The attacks are quick, making the samples very playable. Release triggered samples have also been included so as to completely recreate the incredible sounding hall that this library was recorded in. You might not ever need to add any reverb, with a couple of exceptions.
Besides the large men’s and women’s choirs, I also recorded a smaller section of women to create the Angel patches. These have a purer tone than the women’s choir. The vibrato samples are intended to sound like the choirs heard in old Hollywood Films, although I got the idea from the Monkeybone Soundtrack.
Four different takes of each consonant, or consonant-combo, have been included for the adventurous, who wish to create real words. In testing the library, though, I got excellent results by triggering the consonant for a very short period of time and adding some artificial hall reverb to it and mixing that with vowel sounds without any artificial reverb. Be sure to mix the consonants in at a very low level. When listening to a real choir, you will find the consonants very faint and hard to understand. They should not be up front in your mix.
I found that the best way to make these samples actually sing lyrics, is to first record the melody on a vowel track. Then load up all the vowel patches you will need. Copy the melody onto all tracks, and erase all notes on each track, except the ones that will sing that vowel at the appropriate time. Use the mod wheel for expression and remember that some vowels will be much softer than others in a realistic phrase. Don’t forget that the vowel sound EE is often used to represent the letter Y, and the vowel sound AAY is made by using EH followed by EE. Now load up the consonants and play them at the appropriate time. There are 4 versions of each.

Want a stronger attack? Use keyswitch C#1, or mix in the staccatos AH’s at a low level with any vowel and/or consonant. To my delight, I found that playing descending staccato runs using the upper ranges of the women’s vowels sounds amazingly real and fluttery. Also, when using the loud heavy vibrato samples, it is sometimes nice to start with the softer sample for the attack (mod wheel down) and quickly push the mod wheel up to hear the loud vibrato. Sometimes, it is nice to use the mod wheel to mellow out the reverb trails, as well. You’ll also find MM’s for softer pieces and some shouts and cluster crescendos for intense moments. Enjoy! I think this library is a tremendous source of realistic choir sounds. It also complements other choir libraries really well.

24 bit 88.2 ?

This library was recorded and edited in 24 bit format at 88.2k sample rate. I didn’t want to have to create this library again in a few years. When Gigastudio supports this, you will be able to purchase an inexpensive DVD from EAST WEST with all of the high resolution samples on it. Gigastudio, even now, allows you too replace all the samples within a patch quickly and easily.

PRICE $499 retail
This library is being pressed as we speak and will be available, along with QL 56 Strat, from EAST WEST on or about Nov. 4.




[This message has been edited by Nick Phoenix (edited 10-15-2001).]

[Simon Ravn]

Sounds very interesting Nick! Damn you surprised me there. You havent mentioned this with as much as ONE syllable have you? http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif Anyway... can we get any demos anywhere??

[Maarten Spruijt]

VERY interesting, Nick!
Seems there are a lot of interesting libraries coming from the QL corner lately. First Rare Instruments, now this!

If you need a demo composer, just give me a call http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif
An earlier choir piece I wrote using Siedlaczek\'s Classical Choir: http://www2.hku.nl/~maarte2/audio/faith.mp3 (\"http://www2.hku.nl/~maarte2/audio/faith.mp3\")
It would be quite interesting to see if it can be improved by using your new library!

Maarten

[This message has been edited by Maarten Spruijt (edited 10-15-2001).]

[KingIdiot]

SSSAAAAWWWWWEEEEETTT!!!

I want now! http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

He did mention it a little Simon...as in \"I\'m working on something amazing right now\"

I couldn\'t ever figure out what he was doing tho http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

------------------
Really...I am an Idiot

[Lance_M]

Nick, I hate you. I truly, truly hate you. http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

First, I decide to finally buy Rare Instruments, and now this... it looks like I\'m gonna have to drop another 500 bucks before the New Year.

Darn you and your hard work.

[Nick Phoenix]

Demo in about a week!

[PatS]

I love surprises, and this one is certainly a humdinger!

***

Did you base the vowels and consonants on the IPA (see http://hctv.humnet.ucla.edu/departments/linguistics/VowelsandConsonants/c ourse/chapter1/chapter1.html (\"http://hctv.humnet.ucla.edu/departments/linguistics/VowelsandConsonants/course/chapter1/chapter1.html\"))?

How large is each section of the two choirs (SATB and SSAA)?

Do the basses drop below E2?

Can the sopranos reach A5, perhaps even C6?

Can the tenors hit C5? (You know the joke about Wagnerian tenors, right? It\'s a bit painful.)

Any falsetto tones, or did the men sing only in full voice?

***

Very exciting news!

Pat

[Nick Phoenix]

PATCHES

MENS CHOIR RANGE C2 -> C5 800 MB

MCahMOD C1 -> C#1 AH vowel sound. Mod wheel cross fades between softer, light vibrato samples and loud, heavy vibrato samples. KEYSWITCH C1 gives you natural attacks. KEYSWITCH C#1 gives you a slightly faster attack.
MCooMOD C1 -> C#1 OO vowel sound. “ “
MCeeMOD C1 -> C#1 EE vowel sound. “ “
MCohMOD C1 -> C#1 OH vowel sound. “ “
MCehMOD C1 -> C#1 EH vowel sound. “ “
MCihMOD C1 -> C#1 IH vowel sound. “ “
MCuhMOD C1 -> C#1 UH vowel sound. “ “
MCmmMOD C1 -> C#1 MM sound. Mod wheel gives you air control. KEYSWITCH C#1 gives you a slightly faster attack.
MC Shouts Pitchless shouts. HAH, HEE, HO, HEY, HUM.
MC Staccato AH vowel sound. Staccato.
MC Cluster Crescendos Clusters that come to a big climax after 15 seconds.
MC Consonants C1 -> D#1 Starting on C3. B,CH, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Qu, R, S, SH, T, V, W, X, Y, Z. KEYSWTCHES C1 -> D#1 switch between 4 different versions of each.

WOMENS CHOIR RANGE G3 -> G6 800MB

WCahMOD C1 -> C#1 AH vowel sound. Mod wheel cross fades between softer, light vibrato samples and loud, heavy vibrato samples. KEYSWITCH C1 gives you natural attacks. KEYSWITCH C#1 gives you a slightly faster attack.
WCooMOD C1 -> C#1 OO vowel sound. “ “
WCeeMOD C1 -> C#1 EE vowel sound. “ “
WCohMOD C1 -> C#1 OH vowel sound. “ “
WCehMOD C1 -> C#1 EH vowel sound. “ “
WCihMODC1 -> C#1 IH vowel sound. “ “
WCuhMOD C1 -> C#1 UH vowel sound. “ “
WCmmMOD C1 -> C#1 MM sound. Mod wheel gives you air control. KEYSWITCH C#1 gives you a slightly faster attack.
WC Shouts Pitchless shouts. HAH, HEE, HO, HEY, HUM.
WC Staccato AH vowel sound. Staccato.
WC Cluster Crescendos Clusters that come to a big climax after 15 seconds.
WC Consonants C1 -> D#1 Starting on C3. B, CH, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Qu, R, S, SH, T, V, W, X, Y, Z. KEYSWTCHES C1 -> D#1 switch between 4 different versions of each.


ANGELS RANGE A3 -> C6 200 MB

Angels nonvib oo/oh MOD Smaller group of women.Mod wheel crossfades from OO vowel-sound to OH vowel-sound. This is a pure non- vibrato patch.

Angels Ah classic MODatk Classic Hollywood angelic vibrato
with a natural crescendo built in.
Mod wheel controls attack time.

[PatS]

Would someone be so kind as to help me pick my jaw off the ground? Grab a mop while you\'re at it. http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif

Pat

[KingIdiot]

looks liek I\'m buying myself an early B-day present http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

BTW Nick, I\'e been getting great results with my Guitar Controller for portamento soudns with the right attack and decay settings. I cant wait to try out these tricks on your library....I hope I have the time thats all http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

------------------
Really...I am an Idiot

[Marc Floessel]

WOW. Can\'t wait for the demo, Nick. http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

I wonder where this will leave Pure Choir by Yellowtools? Hmm, I still want a really good boychoir...

[Lance_M]

\"I wonder where this will leave Pure Choir by Yellowtools? Hmm, I still want a really good boychoir...\"

Ditto. I was JUST about ready to buy either Rare Instruments or Spectrasonics SoV (I can only afford one at the moment)... But after remembering about Pure Choir, I figured I would just wait for it to come out before buying any new choir library.

And now this. It seems very promising, except for the lack of a boys choir, which to me is almost a *must* when buying a choir CD these days (since I don\'t own any other with a boy choir).

Anyway, I\'ll probably end up getting Rare Instruments now and maaaybe Pure Choir when it eventually comes out (fall 2001? Q1 2002?), unless Nick\'s new demo blows me away (which it probably will http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif). But for now, it just seems like an extra for people that already have SoV (and vice versa). Hopefully some info will be out on Pure Choir soon so I can frigging decide! http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif


Lance, professional forum lurker, desperately in need of cash

[This message has been edited by Lance_M (edited 10-16-2001).]

[Doug Bircher]

Nick, I didn\'t see it in your patch list, but I thought I\'d ask...does the new choir library contain any soloist voices like SOV?

[Damon]

This library sounds incredible Nick. I didn\'t ever think of a choir library that could actually speak...you\'re beginning to freak me out.
Can\'t wait to hear a demo!

[Nick Phoenix]

No boy\'s choir. That will be a seperate library, assuming I can find the right choir. No luck yet. No solo voices. No plans for anything like that.

[KingIdiot]

Mac I agree.. more focused is the right direction http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

near the end of last year and the beggiing of this yer I was throwing around ideas of how to produce a choir library. I\'ve come up with some different techniques that are mostly progrmig/gigaeditor based.

Nick are the consonatns really short staccatto as ell..or are they slurred in some cases?

the ones in Extended classical choir are way too \"tight\" and I\'d like to have loose consonants. Even if they aren\'t I thik I might have some sampe editing ideas to fix this http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif
--
EDIT-NEVERMIND.. I seee that there are 4 different versions of each....

again...
SSSSAAAWWWEEEEET!!! http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif
--

I\'m REALLY anxious to get this library hopefully graphics done get screwed up keeping it back like the new guitar library.

Still waiting on Donnie\'s new percussion too.

------------------
Really...I am an Idiot

[This message has been edited by KingIdiot (edited 10-16-2001).]

[KingIdiot]

With something as expressiveas a choir, I\'m sure there will be \"missing things\" from an library. This one looks very impressive and will probably be a must have if you are doing anythign requiring choir work. I really think the yellow tools will also be a great library. The thing is I will probably get both since I have a feeling that layering them will sound wonderful http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

In fact I wonder how this one ounds layered with existing libraries.

Not to mention I wonder how it will take to formant shifers and vocoders http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

------------------
Really...I am an Idiot

[Marc Floessel]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=\"1\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">quote:</font><HR>With something as expressiveas a choir, I\'m sure there will be \"missing things\" from an library. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think less (=more focussed) is more for samples. Nick seems to have the right things covered, now let\'s find out how it sounds. http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

[leadbelly]

WOW....this sounds incredible. I have every QL library so far and beleive me, they are among the best out there. I can\'t wait to get my hands on this, Nick. I ama guitarist and I own quite a nice collection of Strats, so I don\'t think I will go for QL \'56 Strat. But this choir thing blows my mind.....can\'t wait to hear the demo, Nick.

BTW, I finally went for the VP-9000 and I love using it for vocal harmonies and fx. It has really turned my \"Symphony of Voices\" and \"Vocal Planet\" libraries into much richer and useful tools!

Peace,

leadbelly

[eilamgross]

Its funny
As I read the correspondence I strated to convince myself WOW I have to buy it...
But where the hell will I find $500?
But it looks better from mail to mail..
Then I asked myself, Hey man, is it possible that half of these e-mail are simply a plot, a brain wash to make some ignorant like me thinking that he can make great vocal music...
Guys are you real?
Or????

[Nick Phoenix]

I am hoping to create a demo that will be very honest. Truthfully, most people will be too lazy to mess with trying to create lots of words. But, the library is great without that feature. It\'s not perfect, but it is RADICALLY different than any other choir library and, in my opinion, a GIANT leap in terms of realism, scope and expression. By the way, it took me 2 weeks to tune the M*th*r F*!k*r.

[Marc Floessel]

Nick,

One thing I haven\'t seen asked yet is how many singers are there per patch group?

[PatS]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=\"1\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Nick Phoenix:
By the way, it took me 2 weeks to tune the M*th*r F*!k*r.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think I\'ve heard that \"tune\" before. Would your virtual choir sing it for us? You have the c*ns*n*nts! http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif

***

Oops! I don\'t see \"th\" (voiced or voiceless) in your list of consonants.

Pat

[This message has been edited by PatS (edited 10-18-2001).]

[PatS]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=\"1\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Marc Floessel:
Nick,

One thing I haven\'t seen asked yet is how many singers are there per patch group?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I did ask about the size of each section (SATB and SSAA), but I don\'t think a \"patch group\" is the same as a choir section. I could be wrong, but it looks like the tenors and basses are combined into one patch group and the sopranos and altos into another.

Pat

[Nick Phoenix]

I sampled the basses and the tenors together, and the altos and sopranos together, so there is alot of overlap. In other words, everybody is singing the majority of the notes and people drop off as the notes leave their range. This way I got a bigger sound with less people. I went for a slightly smaller choir anyway, to avoid the kind of sound that has been sampled in the past. Siedlacek\'s choir is too big. This makes the vowels sound wierd and unintelligable. If you play a chord, which is commonly done, it sounds too thick in a synthetic way. Think I will let everyone guess how many singers. Also, I forgot the \"th\". I realized it during editing. Luckily, there are some other consonant takes that sounded like \"th\".

[Lance_M]

Could you include something with a false \"th\" in the demo then, please? Gracias.

[KingIdiot]

Probably the \"z\" instead of \"th\" even \"V\" can sound like it. Maybe a slight amount of \"T\" over \"Z\"

there seems like alot of options for creating sounds that one will be looking for. I\'m pretty excited about this one Nick! I\'ve been waiting for a ne choir for along time.

Maybe you can upload some MIDI files and performances with words like \"the\" or common words. Like you said people may be too lazy to do it all..but having some of the simple words already might help.

------------------
Really...I am an Idiot

[EternalBlue]

Have the mp3 demos been released and I just missed it?

[Lance_M]

I\'m guessing it\'s been pushed back quite a bit, since there\'s been no news in a few weeks.

Also, will there be a patch for \"th\", or will we have to fudge it ourselves?

[Nick Phoenix]

Been too busy to figure out a demo. Yes, you\'ll have to fudge the \"th\". But, its not a problem. lots of things work.

[Munsie]

\"Been too busy to figure out a demo\" No offense but for $500.00, please figure this out and put out a demo! And please have demos ready for the strat!!!!!!!

[Nick Phoenix]

Yes, the demo will be out before the library. I wouldn\'t expect people to buy it on faith.

[ryounger]

Hey Nick, I just wanted to say that I am very excited about the new library. I just wanted to know if the choir has that Walt Disney 40\'s and 50\'s choral sound that he had in his animated features. You know that big choir sound. Something that would sound large with say a typical 1st and 2nd soprano, alto, tenor baritone and bass. Thanks again for the very cool concept.

Thanks
Russ

[Nick Phoenix]

There is a female old hollywood wide vibrato patch.

[Thomas_J]

Hey Nick, Just wanted to say I\'m very excited about your new Choir Library! It sounds like you\'ve nailed down all the articulations that we\'ve missed for so long. I can\'t wait for a demo! If you\'re busy I could help you out, if you\'re interested? It looks like you\'ve covered all the necessary articulations! Like PatS, I would like to know if there are SATB programs available.
Truely exciting! The price looks reasonable too!

Thomas

[ursatz]

I wasn\'t planning to buy any choir library for a long time if ever, but this sounds too good to pass up. Eagerly awaiting demos.....

[Danny Lux]

Nick,
I was channel surfing a few nights ago, and caught a scene on Scariests Places....it caught my attention because of the choir. Was that from your new library?? I ask this because I am under the impression you do the music for that show. If that was your library, it sounds really interesting.

[Nick Phoenix]

Danny,
Maybe. I only finished the samples recently and have used it on a couple \"Scariest...\" cues. I don\'t really score the show , though, I just write random scary cues and they cut and paste. It\'s kind of fun, actually.

I just finished the 1st part of my choir demo. Its a one minute piece. I will email it to anyone who wants it. bunschel@aol.com

[Doug Bircher]

Thanks for the demo Nick. I am very impressed. Will you be putting out any demos that more broadly demonstrate the abilities of the choir set?

Doug

[Robert Kral]

Doug & Nick,

Um, WHAT demo and where?!

http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

[Doug Bircher]

At the end of Nick\'s last message, he left an e-mail address to request the demo.

Doug

[Bardstown Audio]

Nick, very impressive and powerful voices on the demo. I am impressed, great job!

Kip
Bardstown Audio www.bardstownaudio.com (\"http://www.bardstownaudio.com\")

[Doug Bircher]

The end of Nick\'s last post has his e-mail address for requesting a copy of the demo.

[Nick Phoenix]

This demo is just the 1st little part of what will probably be a long involved demo.

[Nick Phoenix]

I\'ve got a 2nd demo. Its trailer music. Came out great, I think. I will send it to all that got demo #1. Next demos will be mellower.

[Nick Phoenix]

By the way, on both demos there is no additional reverb on the choir vowels. You are hearing release samples. There is reverb on the consonants + some low end cut. This makes them blend well.

[EternalBlue]

Re: Demo 1

Very impressive Nick! Yet another new sample set to add to my short list.

Can\'t wait to hear the second demo.

[Simon Ravn]

I wasnt so impressed with Demo1. The 2nd one is much better imho. I still lack some bass in the men, or is it something in my head?? I would like to hear how full the men could sound, because I think they sound a little \'puny\'.

[Lance_M]

Yeah, the first demo kinda had me disappointed, but this second one is much, much better.

As for the fullness, maybe something as simple as a little EQ could help. Or even cheat a bit and play something with a little bass behind them. *shrug*... works with the french horns on QL Brass.

[SyQuEsT]

Where are the demos ?

Thanks,

Mathieu Laprise

[Nick Phoenix]

I fixed the mix of the second demo. Shouldn\'t have rushed it. I should have the complete demo done in a few days. That will be up at .com.

[DanS]

I think the whole idea of sampling a choir is interesting, and it must sound great, but are there that many of you out there working on Excaliber II to drop $500 on a choir library?
Just curious.

[KingIdiot]

MWAHAHAHAHA!

Maybe somebody is doing \"Apocolypse Then\" http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif

Actually I think Having a library that sounds \"huge\" is something that is missing from the current crop out. I Hope that the library is \"flexible\" in terms of how \"intense\" the sound is, but honestly I think This library will ahve two things I\'m really looking for in choirs right now. The angel sound and the \"huge\" sound. Not to mention all the consonant samples.



------------------
Really...I am an Idiot

[Nick Phoenix]

As much as I like SOVoices and Extended Classical Choir, they are limited. SOV is noise reduced and processed to death. The result is big sounding choral pads. Very nice, but useful only some of the time. No useful vibrato samples, limited range, no release samples, only some of the vowels, no consanants. Extended Classical Choir lacks expression, because there is only one velocity. The samples are forte with some vibrato. This makes life tough if you want to do something dynamic. Also, limited range, no release samples, not all of the vowels. That being said, I have been using both of these libraries for years and am grateful for them.
It is very difficult, time consuming and expensive to record a choir, so I think many people will be happy to pay $400-$450 for this.

[Francis Belardino]

It sells for, $499.99 @ !

Is this a type O ?

------------------
Francis Belardino
Sound Designer
Audio Visions, LTD.
Wilmington, DE.
www.audiovisionsonline.com

[Francis Belardino]

Sorry. I just read your original post and you stated, $499.99. My fault.

[Dis]

Nick: Yes, you described it very well! SOV+PS Choir are absolutely insufficient. They are not usable for dramatic, expressive passages. In SOV even Choir F is so noise reduced and thin, just as you wrote - like some pads and not real choir. That\'s great you came with such choir library!! At last.

[Francis Belardino]

A few questions.

I had asked Nick if this CD release has Pads and he said, no.

I may have confused Nick with my question.

What I want to know is, does this library have long sustained samples of ooh, ohh, ahhs and etc. Or, is it all short, staccato syllables and constants?

In other words can I play a female ahhh like a string patch...slow and airy?

Thanks, and sorry for the confusion.

I must admit that I am still leaning heavy on
SOV because I am under the impression that I can achive soft and haunting choirs like in the movie Glory, etc. Everyone here swears by the boys choir.

Thanks all
Ready to purchase

------------------
Francis Belardino
Sound Designer
Audio Visions, LTD.
Wilmington, DE.
www.audiovisionsonline.com

[Nick Phoenix]

Yes, the library is primarily comprised of long looped vowels. All the vowels in fact, at multiple dynamics crossfaded with the mod wheel. I started a piece showing of the expressiveness of the library this morning. Most of what you will hear in the final demo would be impossible to create with any other library.

[Francis Belardino]

Great!!! Thanks, Nick!

I can\'t wait to hear this demo.

So, I take it that creating an errie and softly haunted score should not be a problem? http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

------------------
Francis Belardino
Sound Designer
Audio Visions, LTD.
Wilmington, DE.
www.audiovisionsonline.com

[Robert Kral]

I\'ve just heard the new demo and posted my response at the \"final demo\" thread.

This library is a winner and I\'ll be buying it as soon as possible!

Congratulations Nick!!