Mini Orchestra

Superb!

Kudos GSI. What a fantastic undertaking. Thanks for leading the way in this domain of music apps. Even if the app gets HALF the functionality that it does and never got an up date for another two years (hopefully not, but sooner🙂‍↕️), there’s enough in its current release to keep the true mobile midi producer busy and appreciative👍🏾.

Not Pro but better than nothing

iOS we must first remember has serious resource limitations and mocking up a whole orchestra takes up a lot of even a modern desktop’s capability, so here there is only one dynamic layer, no round robins, no shorts or legatos, at most 61 keys of range across ensemble patches, ensembles in octaves, a general emphasis on tutti arranging, a general prosumer emphasis on velocity vs mod wheel. But you can set the mod wheel as expression and lean in favor of expression vs velocity. You can brighten up the dull tone with a decent EQ and level up the reverb with Pro R2 etc. The “Violin Viola” is full ensemble strings and “Cellos” is this meager cello with a massive molto vibrato on a tight loop to save sample size and is only good for blending in at 75% panned a bit right for a touch more definition on the ensemble. Brass never gets very bright but is okayish, it’s easy to adjust attack and release times for a bit better transitions. Choir isn’t all that bad for an Aaaahh. The misspelled “Percussions” is a stacked tympani cassa and piatti smash that’s fixed to a single note, sorry no way to tune it or separate it. The glockenspiel is adequate but remember to set the velocity range full if using this on its own track. The woodwinds are fair enough but don’t do contrabassoon or piccolo range. There is an optional M/S stereo widening effect but thankfully the samples are already stereo and that effect is clumsily unnaturally wide and you can do better with a proper plugin. I got this on sale and it’s good enough to not ask for a return but I preferred the stuff in Korg Module Pro, and iSymphonic I haven’t tried yet but is obviously more comprehensive. Staffpad is the only iOS thing with Pro sounds but it isn’t usable as AUv3 as this is. Although SWAM is arguably Pro sound as well. So this is good at least for some layering and might fill some gaps with the Korg/KAPro sounds at times, which I recommend trying first. For serious work I will of course stay on desktop lol.