How do you setup your orchestra?

I have several different kinds of templates that I use for different purposes. For example, I create my own backing tracks for cover songs. So, I built a template for that. For "symphonic" music, I have a template for that. For songwriting, I have a sketch template with many ensemble instruments. This helps me keep my memory utilization in check and helps prevent building a hopelessly large, complex template. The planning that goes into each helps me know what I can add on an ad hoc basis when/if needed.

I have a lot of virtual instruments in my collection and a pretty big set of synths. The hardest thing I had to contend with was keeping it all straight. I needed to know what I had in the set and where it was when I needed it. It sucks to have a great instrument and then to leave it to chance that you'll find it. I use a tagging scheme that starts with the instrument I'm interested in and will help me find the library where I can find that instrument.

The final thing that goes along with this approach is to take the time to walk through each of the instruments, their patches, and mic positions. Don't get me wrong, this can take significant time, but it's a worthwhile investment. Doing this will help ensure you really learn what your instruments and libraries are capable of. When you think of a sound you want, you've likely heard that before and are more likely to go to it rather than go "dumpster diving" for something. I think that's a sub-optimal use of time.

It's important to have a lot of RAM for orchestral work. The more you have, the faster you can create.

That said, there are workarounds. You can leave tracks disabled until you're ready to use them, you can freeze tracks that you're not actively creating, and you can create project-specific templates that only use a predefined set of sounds tailored to the work at hand.

Best,

Geoff

I upgraded to a MacBook Pro with M3 Max and 128 GB of RAM specifically so I can playback my orchestral Disney medley with my computer freezing up.

I generally use orchestral sections or solo instruments from specialized NI instruments/plugins since I don't yet own the NI Orchestral instrument/plugin.

I use Cubase, and like others have commented here, my tracks are all "disabled" when I first load my template. When I want to use the instruments I have a key command that enables them. The template loads very quickly; have over a couple hundred instruments in the template. Using a second computer is a good idea; I used an older Mac for my second computer for a long time until I got my last iMac (which is an "old" 2017). My current iMac has 64GB ram, and so far haven't needed to use a second computer for libraries. I think in Ableton you can "deactivate" tracks, so maybe you can create a template of several instruments and have them deactiviated when you first load them, then activate as you need them.

I prefer the Cremona Quartet for all of my string needs, but I really wish NI would release an Amanti Bass library.

I have a number of different libraries and plugins for orchestral work, but not having a lot of spare cash these days, none of them are particularly "high-end" (thinking some of the Spitfire Libraries, which at this point I can only dream about).

If I'm starting an orchestral piece, my starting point is the BBC Discovery Orchestra. That gives me a nice basic "starter palette" from which to work, but often as the piece evolves, it requires a different "take" on a particular orchestral section. Then I will turn to what I need and specialize. Sometimes I pull out Miroslav; sometimes it's one of my Heavyocity libraries (eg. Intimate Textures), sometimes Project Sam, etc.

Every composition will be different, and it's pretty hard to try and come up with a template (although I do have one) that is going to work for every situation. I have 32G of RAM on my 'puter, so I don't have the luxury of loading everything at once.

I think taking advantage of the "purge" functionality in Kontakt has helped me on several occasions (where it purges unused samples from memory). Failing all that, sometimes I just create subprojects (using REAPER) for various orchestral sections and render them out for use as a "working" mix while making the master composition. You can run into trouble doing this, though, if you need to go back and modify that submix later.

What do they say? Necessity is the Mother of Invention. (And Zappa, too) 😄

Excited to see thr reveal