A World Instrument Library sneak preview - my St. Patty's Day music video

[rbowser-]

I've been having fun with what I call my "Music For The Fun Of It" series at You Tube. So far I've done a music video for Halloween ("The Raven") for Christmas ("O Holy Night") Valentine's day ("Let Me Call You Sweetheart") and now for St. Patty's Day which is coming up, I've done a rendition of the traditional Irish tune, "A rovin."

All of these productions have featured Garritan instruments.

Something a bit different this time is that I've used instruments in Gary's World Library which is still under development.

So here's a sneak preview of this much-anticipated collection of world instruments.

"A rovin" - a St. Patty's Day jubilee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDMAzUGUMb4)

To whet your appetite for this great up-coming Garritan library, the instruments used on this recording are:

--Bandoneon - a small Accordion.

--Irish Harp

--Shepherd's Pipe (a hand made flute).

--Bodhran - hand-held Irish drum.

--Uileann Pipes - something like Scottish Bagpipes, except the sound is more delicate - powered by bellows under the player's arm, instead of blown.

--Guitarron - a folk bass.

--Jaw Harp (we don't say--you know, J**'s harp anymore--do we?).

And the late great Garritan Stradavari is also featured, playing the fiddle line.

There are sound effects mixed in, and Irish-style spoon playing provided by Colby Wallace via a You Tube video I found. Sonar editing managed the extraction and tempo manipulation to make Colby's playing fit in to my rhythm section.

I based the arrangement on a MIDI file first sequenced by Barry Taylor.

Google Images was the resource for all the images of Irish landscapes, pubs, and the female Irish beauties.

Go get in the St. Patty's mood, and catch a glimpse of how great this new library is.

Randy B.

[sonata5920]

Randy,

Very well done all round.

Nice Girls. Family photos?



Herbert

[rbowser-]

Randy,

Very well done all round.

Nice Girls. Family photos?



Herbert

Why thank you, Herbert - Cheers me to know you enjoyed my little project.

Family photos? hehehe--No, the women in the video are Irish stars who came up when I Googled for Irish images.

Randy B.

[Dean L. Surkin]

Randy:

"Jaw harp" is a nicer term. It's also called a "mouth harp," but blues harmonica players commonly refer to their instrument as an "harp," so I think "jaw harp" is a better choice.

[rbowser-]

Randy:

"Jaw harp" is a nicer term. It's also called a "mouth harp," but blues harmonica players commonly refer to their instrument as an "harp," so I think "jaw harp" is a better choice.
Great, Dean - I see now that even though the old name pops up often in a Google list of the subject, "Jaw Harp" is the most commonly accepted modern name for the instrument.

When I typed the list, I was surprised to see that in the Beta version of the library, the old term is being used. I didn't want to use that name, so I used the name on a VST of the instrument I've had for quite awhile. But "Blues Harp" isn't right - that refers to a Harmonica. - So -- not sure where that VST's developer got that name.

I'm going to edit my original post. Thanks for the info, Dean!

Randy

[sunbird]

Hi Randy,


I don't know anything about St. Patty's Day, but I am immediately attracted to anything Irish...
so I listened... ;)

As expected from you, a work well done and a wonderful demonstration of those unique instruments.
I hope they will be available in the near future.

Very much enjoyed, :D


~Yudit~

[Dean L. Surkin]

Randy:

Glad I could help. And by the way, that's a great hat!

[rbowser-]

Thank you so much, Yudit--Glad you enjoyed!

St. Patrick's Day has a religious origin, not surprisingly, but it's long since been a secular holiday mostly just for good, jovial socializing, and eating Corned Beef with Cabbage!

We have a great and widespread Irish heritage here in The States, and on this holiday, those of us without any actual genealogical connection to Ireland like to be "Irish for a day" - wearing green, wearing Shamrock pins, and tipping some good stout Irish ale.

Thanks again, Dean---the hat--Lol - that was a last minute thing when that head shot was taken for a play program. I wanted to wear a hat, had none with me, so reached into a costume room box and came up with that very old genuine Beaver top hat, complete with its ragged and worn edges.

Randy B.

[pokeefe]

... I've used instruments in Gary's World Library which is still under development. ... much-anticipated collection of world instruments. ...


Is there any official word of the instruments that will be included? (No, I'm not asking to violate a non-disclosure agreement. "No" is a perfectly acceptable response.) I'm particularly wondering about eastern European instruments like
Gajda - a bagpipe
Kaval - a soft flute
Zurna - a double reed thing that can be heard 7 counties away
Tamburitza - a family of plucked stringed instruments
Dumbek and Tapan - drums with a high and low (unpitched) sound

Having these would make Balkan musicians happy.

Pat

[rbowser-]

Hi, Pat - You're right that none of us have permission to publish a list of instruments yet. That's part of what is in the process of being determined, exactly which instruments will make the "final cut."

I will say though---I know that at least some of the instruments on your list are in the Beta of World I've been testing. :)

Randy B.

[DPDAN]

That was fun Randy!
Great Job!
Dan

[sonata5920]

Ethnic Instruments?

You could try free Safwan Matni VST Plugins

http://smatni.tripod.com/safwanmatnivstplugins/ (http://smatni.tripod.com/safwanmatnivstplugins/)


Herbert

[rpearl]

Nicely done, Randy! But couldn't you get a sitar in there somehow?:p

Really though, this clip shows off the potential of this new library. You make a great salesman.

Thanks for posting this.

[rbowser-]

Thanks, Dan - It was a fun little project for the wee hours when I could grab a little time to work on some music.

Herbert - Very cool site you posted. I've never seen that before, and am going to be trying out some of those very interesting looking VSTs.

"Ethnic instruments?"--you ask. Well, Yeah - all of the instruments in this up-coming library are "Ethnic." Continents and Countries represented are Africa, China, Europe, India, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East, Oceana and from North America, American Native instruments are included.

Thanks for the thumbs up, Ron. Since I'd been having fun with the Beta of the library, I wanted to share some results - Glad they're being enjoyed!

A TIP TO EVERYONE: In case you're not aware of this group and their amazing site - you owe it to yourself to go investigate:

The Free Sound Project (http://www.freesound.org/index.php)

Members share sound effects they've recorded in the field, and those they've found. Naturally the quality varies, but many are the times I've needed a sound and found very usable ones there. Just be sure to click through to a separate page once you've found a sound, so you can download the highest quality recording available - otherwise you'll just get the MP3 demos.

I mention it because that was the exclusive source for the sound effects sprinkled throughout my "A rovin" recording - the crowd sounds, individual yells, applause, laughter etc. Good quality files.

AND a plug for a little-used sound in JABB - in the choruses of this song, you can hear hand clapping. That's the hand clap in JABB, multiplied by three. I panned the tracks, center, mid-left and mid-right. One copy was at the original tuning, one was tuned up, the other down, and I randomized the timing so the claps are nice and naturally sloppy. :)

Randy B.

[rbowser-]

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

- The day when we can all pretend we're fortunate enough to be from glorious Ireland.

Blatant KerBumping of my own post - I wanted to give my holiday music video another chance to spread some Irish cheer.

A fun thing - First email I got this morning was from a guy in Ireland who found my video, loved it, and wanted to know how I worked it up. He said he could picture his band performing that arrangement in a pub there in his country. It was my chance to plug the up-coming WORLD Library this project was done with. And now this musician and I are Facebook friends. It's perfect - It's St. Paddy's and I have a new Irish friend!

Have a great time, everyone!
http://www.eve-druid.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/irish-shamrock-3.jpg

Randy

[TinPanAlley]

Bravo! - Absolutely delightful! Makes me want to take all my stuff and flush it down the toilet.

Tom

[rbowser-]

Happy St. Paddy's, Tom--Glad you liked my little project. But hey - no flushing of your stuff down the toilet, what are you talking about. What you Should say is "Wow, wait 'till I get my hands on that Garritan World Library!"--You'll be cooking with world-wide gas too!

Randy

[Larry G. Alexander]

Nice one, Mister Randy! )(~ )(~

Very professionally done, as expected and a realistic overall sound also.

Thanks for sharing.

My Best,

[RichR]

Well, Erin Go Bragh!


)(~Nicely done, Randy, nicely done. )(~


I enjoyed that, but we are listening to something that we don't know the time frame of release. Everything seems to be in beta. Where is ARIA JaBB, Where is ARIA GM instruments, Where is ARIA Choir, etc. etc. Has the recession set things back that far for Gary and company? I am concerned and not mad (my wallet is happier right now that these are not available :)). Also, I know the Garritans are having family health issues and I worry when I don't see any signs of Gary on the forum. To me that is not a good sign.

That all being said, What you did with the instruments and the video was a really entertaining and fine presentation of video syncing and quality music writing. You were right on with this presentation.

Thanks, I enjoyed it!

[rbowser-]

Why thank you, Mr. Larry - I appreciate you letting me know you had a listen and enjoyed.

And thank you also, Rich. You bring up several unknowns in your post - things not known by me, and I doubt by anyone else. You're right that everything is in Beta - BUT I can say that I have reason to feel that the new Aria JABB's release is eminent.

Development does seem to have slowed, but I can say with certainty that I know work Is being done.

I may have been premature with this World preview. I couldn't restrain myself - Once I had the idea of doing an Irish folk song, I knew I wanted to use some of the great samples in the Beta version of World, and thought it would be a fun teaser to post here. The only problem is that there's no way of telling when this library will be released. Aria JABB and CMB are closer to being finished and ready, I can say that much.

SO - until upgrades are available, we can all still keep making good music with the Garritan Libraries we already have. Fire those instruments up if you haven't recently!

Randy

[RichR]

Thanks Randy,

Those were rhetorical statements and not really directed at you. Your piece was the vehicle for my statements. I just hope all is moving smoothly in the development of these fine products and that the Garritan's are coming through their ordeal in a wonderful way. My thoughts are always with them and I do wish them the very, very best.

BTW, music is still an ongoing situation for me with the products that I already have. And, though impatient at times, I can certainly weather the time frame needed to get these products on the market.

[rbowser-]

H'lo again, Rich - I understood, my thread was a vehicle for your questions, no problem. And your post gave me an opportunity to say a bit on the subject, vague as I was. - In general, things do seem to be moving along faster now with the up-coming programs, faster than a couple of months ago.

Randy

[chesterdesmond]

This really is a great piece and a super demonstration of the library. I am really looking forward to checking it out (buying it with no questions asked ~|) when it's released. I love the live feel you've given the piece and it came across as very 'real' to my ears.
Well done sir!!

[rbowser-]

Nice! Thank you so much, Chester - Glad you enjoyed.

I haven't worked all that much with instruments like the hand-made flute in this, and had never attempted the Uilleann Pipes used in this project.

In case it's useful info, after doing several experiments, here's something I found effective while working on those two instruments in this track:

--The "chiff" sound of the flute, and the similar "honk" sound of the pipes were achieved in the same way. Working in Sonar with quantization grids off, I inserted short notes, like maybe 32nd notes at the start of of some phrases - The notes would be an octave higher than the true starting note which would be moved slightly to the right of the inserted note, making them slightly delayed. The two notes were overlapping. On playback, the results sound to me like that nice chiffing of uncertain pitch which is characteristic of so many folk instruments.

We should be happy that this chiffing isn't part of the samples - You'll hear that a lot on Sound Fonts. It's OK for short phrases, but of course it's over-kill to have the effect on every note. So I chose, somewhat randomly, notes to add the effect on. And I used it more extensively on the Uilleann Pipes, since that twanging, honking sound is so characteristic of pipes. I'm especially happy with the way that instrument sounds on this.

The great, but discontinued Garritan Stradivari is the fiddle, all the rest is from the beta of the World library, except the spoons which are from a You Tube video by Colby Wallace. Recorded in Sonar, instruments panned fairly wide across the stage, small room reverb. And of course the crowd sounds help immensely in establishing a live sound. I have non-stop pub-style conversation rumbling under the entire track, even though it's almost subliminal in some sections. It helped add a roughness to the whole track's sound.

Randy