East West

Most electronic musicians who have wrestled with orchestra simulations often complain about how difficult it is to replicate the variety of expression that a string section in an orchestra can demonstrate. I myself get frustrated with this fact, since you're not even going to see a "spicatto" patch on most synths. Expression and articulation breathe life into music and so top-notch producers and instrument makers for EastWest/Quantum Leap have come up with EastWest/Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings.  

Combining the Halls of Fame collection with the powerful impulse response modeling capabilities of Yellow Tools ORIGAMI has borne fruit in the form of Best Service Halls Of Fame ORIGAMI Edition. Which is great for them, but what are their grandchildren's surnames going to look like?  

If you're a composer, and you coincidentally loathe scavenger hunts, let EASTWEST / Quantum Leap do the scavenging for you. The EASTWEST / Quantump Leap Complete Composers Bundle puts it all together, saving you the time and trouble . . . and probably some dinero in the process.  

We check out some EastWest software and sample libraries at Winter NAMM 2009, including EastWest RA. In addition to a wide load of instruments from around the world, you also gain access to microtunings that lock your controller keys in place so you're always in key.  

As the rep from East West explains it, East West Play 2 will "now allow you to do what you want it to do." It's a big improvement over the first version of Play, which had an artificial intelligence hellbent on thwarting your every creative impulse.  

The radically-advanced virtual instrument called East West Quantum Leap Silk is one of the most realistic "ethnic" instrument collections we've ever heard. Sampled note transitions and smart micro-tuning make this collection play and sound as smooth as. . . uh. . . pudding.  

For EastWest's NAMM debut of Quantum Leap SILK -- a collection of historical instruments of Persian, Indian and Chinese ancestry -- Adam Sandler will perform the famous shampoo monologue from Billy Madison at EastWest's NAMM booth . . . No, no he won't. But you could imagine what it would be like if he did.  

The amply named John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton once said ". . . absolute power corrupts absolutely . . ." If that's true, EastWest wants to absolutely corrupt you with the release of PLAY 2.0.  

At Winter NAMM 2009, EastWest Quantum Leap SD2 gets a booster shot of percussion. The 4 GB update gives you 2.5 GB of solo instruments, war drums and a whole bunch of flavors of percussion from around the world and 1.5 GB of classic samples from SD1.  

If you're looking for more grooves that emphasize the feel of some of the smoothest sailing piece of the 70s and 80s, look no further. EastWest releases Satin Grooves!  

How to make EastWest Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra -- a veritable symphony in a box:

1. You cut a hole in a box
2. You stick your symphony in that box

 

EastWest / Best Service really gets thorough with horns. If you thought Chris Hein Horns Vol. 1 was a little solo heavy, Chris Hein Horns Vol. 2 might please you. It's a more sectional approach to horn sampling.  

When he wanted big, cinematic percussion sounds to add to his electronica tracks, Mike from Agency of Spirits knew exactly where to turn: EastWest Quantum Leap Storm Drums 2. As you can see in this video interview, the mere mention of the sample collection summoned gathering storm-clouds from the fringes of the Ft. Lauderdale sky.  

Focusing on four, solo brass instruments -- Alto-Sax, Tenor-Sax, Trumpet and Trombone -- the new EastWest Best Service Chris Hein Horns Vol. 1.5 features so much human-like personality, you'd think Andy Dick himself were playing trumpet on your mixes.  

When a chamber ensemble sample pack is as hot at the from EastWest / Best Service Xample Chamber Ensemble, it's gotta be rated "X!" What exactly goes on in that chamber, and why is the whole ensemble in there at the same time? Can I get a side of sax with these violins? HEY-O!  

EastWest is proud to present Best Service Club Revolution Vol. 1. These dance themed beats bring beastly amounts of samples and troops of loops to your control.  

According to the press release for Reggaeton Meets Dancehall Vol. 1, EastWest's newest loop sample collection features over thirty construction kits for building the perfect soundtrack to your next baby seal hunting excursion. Or are they talking about that other kind of clubbing?  

EathtWetht and Betht Thervith annouthed a follow up collection to their thelebrated library of loopth thuited for electro-houth, tech-houth, and minimal houth. Itth called Thynththon Produtherth Collecthon Vol.2, and itth thure to have DJth thimply thalivating in antithipathon!  

Feeling a might saucy, are we? Mayhaps the good sir wouldst care to rollick to the sweet tone of a Dulcitone Celeste or an English Spinet or an Italian Harpsichord? If thou wouldst tarry but for the moment, I shall acquire license to practice upon the newest collections from EastWest and Best Service, on the nonce!  

Zero-G by EastWest has announced five new sample libraries to their budget-friendly SoundSense series: LA Drums, Grime Scene, Street Beatz, Old Skool House and Electrolytic.  

As Iron Maiden proved, one of the main keys to being awesome is the ability to harmonize. EastWest's new z.plane developed vielklang harmony generating software will make your vocals or brass awesome.  

J. Irving-Giles rolls up his sleeves to dominate EASTWEST PLAY-powered virtual instrument users in the "Score This Movie" contest. Watch out, challengers. He's throwing 'bows this time.  

With over 1,000 presets designed by industry-leading sound designers, this new wave-based synth allows users to combine, morph, process and modulate sample-based sounds to create ambient soundtracks and scores way scarier than anything Leslie Nielsen had to deal with on Altair!  

EASTWEST and Quantum Leap expand the Colossus sound set with Goliath. Goliath is so beefy that you'd think it's on some kind of steroids that fills you with instruments and presets instead of muscles.  

Swedish "Riot Opera" band, Diablo Swing Orchestra's guitarist talks briefly about various gear the band uses recording.  

Jokes that involve understating the Beatles' importance are not very funny anymore, which makes it even harder to crack wise about EastWest's long-awaited Fab Four Virtual Instrument, which is finally available for a...  

EastWest recently announced the debut of the new Sound Sense series from sample manufacturers Zero-G and Xfonic. The libraries featured in the series include:

Ambiosis - Atmospheres and soundscapes from electronic...  

Now we've seen everything. In the coming weeks East West, one of the top producers of sample libraries, is going to release an instrument meant to bring the sound of The Beatles into your computer. Is it just me or does...  

In this episode we finish up our brass sample listening test. This test once again featured the following instruments:

Roland XV5050 Yamaha Motif Rack Yamaha MU100R Sonivox Muse East West Symphonic Quantum...  

Happy Friday the 13th! Time for Episode 30 of Gearwire Crosstalk.

In this episode we finish up our brass sample listening test. Check the video for the results. Also Dan, Mike, and Drew watch a few videos that our...