EAST WEST HOLLYWOOD STRINGS User Manual
EastWest/Quantum Leap
Hollywood Strings
Virtual Instrument
Diamond Edition
Users’ Manual
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of East West Sounds, Inc. The software and sounds
described in this document are subject to License Agreements and may not be copied to
other media , except for the purpose of copying the data to the personal computer system
hard drive of the licensed user. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or
otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by
East West Sounds, Inc. All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their
respective owners.
PLAY™ is a trademark of East West Sounds, Inc.
© East West Sounds, Inc., 2010. All rights reserved.
East West Sounds, Inc.
6000 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
USA
1-323-957-6969 voice
1-323-957-6966 fax
For questions about licensing of products: licensing@eastwestsounds.com
For more general information about products: info@eastwestsounds.com
http://support.soundsonline.com
Version of March 2011
ii
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
1. Welcome
2 About EastWest
3 Producer: Doug Rogers
4 Producer: Nick Phoenix
5 Producer: Thomas Bergersen
6 Sound Engineer: Shawn Murphy
7 Credits
8 How to Use This and the Other Manuals
8 Using the Adobe Acrobat Features
8 The Master Navigation Document
9 Online Documentation and Other Resources
Click on this text to open the
Master Navigation Document
1
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
About EastWest
EastWest (www.soundsonline.com) has been dedicated to perpetual innovation and uncompromising quality, setting the industry standard as the most critically acclaimed
producer of Sample CDs and Virtual (software) Instruments.
Founder and producer Doug Rogers has over 30 years experience in the audio industry
and is the recipient of over 60 industry awards, more than any other sound developer.
His uncompromising approach to quality, and innovative ideas have enabled EastWest to
lead the sound-ware business for more than 22 years.
In 1997 Rogers partnered with producer/composer Nick Phoenix and set up Quantum
Leap, a wholly owned division of EastWest, to produce high-quality, no-compromise sample libraries and virtual instruments. Quantum Leap virtual instruments are mostly produced by Nick Phoenix. Some of the larger productions, such as Symphonic Orchestra,
Symphonic Choirs, Quantum Leap Pianos, and Hollywood Strings are co-produced by
Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix. As a composer, Phoenix began scoring film trailers and
television commercials in 1994. To date, he has either scored or licensed music for the
ad campaigns of over 1000 major motion pictures including Tomb Raider 2, Terminator
3, Lord of the Rings Return of the King, Harry Potter 2, Star Wars Episode 2, Spiderman
3, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Blood Diamond, Night at the Museum, and The Da Vinci
Code. Quantum Leap has now firmly established itself as one of the world’s top producers of high-end sample libraries and virtual instruments.
Welcome
In 2006, EastWest purchased the legendary Cello Studios (formerly United Western Recorders) on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, re-naming it EastWest Studios. The 21,000
sq. ft. facility, since remodelled by master designer Philippe Starck, houses five recording studios and is the world headquarters for EastWest.
2Chapter 1: Welcome
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Producer: Doug Rogers
With over 30 years experience in the audio industry, founder and producer Doug Rogers
is the recipient of over 60 industry awards, more than any other sound developer. His
uncompromising approach to quality, and innovative ideas have enabled EastWest to
lead the sound-ware business for more than 22 years. “The Art of Digital Music” named
him one of “56 Visionary Artists & Insiders” in the book of the same name.
He released the very first commercial Drum Samples CD in 1988, and followed it with
the multiple award-winning “Bob Clearmountain Drums” sample collection which he coproduced. In the years that followed he practically reinvented the sound-ware industry.
EastWest introduced loop sample libraries to the market in the early nineties, followed
closely by the first midi driven loops collection (Dance/Industrial). He released the first
library to include multiple dynamics, followed by the first sample library to stream from
hard disk, an innovation that led to the detailed collections users expect today.
His recent productions are Symphonic Orchestra (awarded a Keyboard Magazine “Key Buy
Award,” EQ Magazine “Exceptional Quality Award,” Computer Music Magazine “Performance Award,” and G.A.N.G. [Game Audio Network Guild] “Best Sound Library Award”);
and Symphonic Choirs (awarded Electronic Musician “2006 Editor’s Choice Award,”
G.A.N.G. “Best Sound Library Award,” and Keyboard Magazine “Key Buy Award”). Most
recently, his productions include Quantum Leap Pianos, the most detailed virtual piano
collection ever produced; and Fab Four, inspired by the sounds of the Beatles, a M.I.P.A
Winner and judged the most innovative instrument by 100 music magazines.
Over the last decade he has partnered with producer/composer Nick Phoenix and set up
the Quantum Leap imprint, a subsidiary of EastWest, to produce high-quality, no-compromise virtual instruments. EastWest/Quantum Leap virtual instruments are considered
the best available and are in daily use by the who’s who of the industry.
3Chapter 1: Welcome
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Producer: Nick Phoenix
Nick began scoring film trailers in 1994. To date, he has scored or licensed music for
the ad campaigns of over 1000 major motion pictures. “Star Trek,” “Tron,” “Percy Jack-
son,” “Twilight,” “2012,” “WALL-E,” “Indiana Jones 4,” “Harry Potter 6,” “Inkheart,”
“Tales Of Despereaux,” “300,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Watchmen,” “Angels and Demons,”
“Night at the Museum,” and “Young Victoria” are a few recent examples. Nick founded
“Two Steps From Hell” with Thomas Bergersen in 2006. www.twostepsfromhell.com
The journey as a composer has inspired Nick to record and program his own sounds
and samples. Nick founded Quantum Leap Productions in 1997 and Quantum leap has
since grown to be the world’s top producer of high-end virtual instruments. A 13-year
partnership with Doug Rogers and EastWest has yielded award winning software titles
such as Stormdrum 1 and 2, Symphonic Orchestra, Symphonic Choirs, Silk, RA, Voices
Of Passion, Ministry Of Rock, Gypsy, Quantum Leap Pianos, Goliath, Hollywood Strings,
and many others.
“Hollywood Strings is the culmination of years of experience and the input of a really
strong and diverse team. It is, by far, the best virtual instrument I have been involved
with.”
4Chapter 1: Welcome
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Producer: Thomas Bergersen
Thomas Bergersen holds a composition and orchestration Master’s degree, and has
worked in the capacity of composer, orchestrator, or music arranger on many Hollywood
productions.
He founded Two Steps From Hell (www.twostepsfromhell.com) with Nick Phoenix in 2006
and has since written music for countless movie trailers. “Star Trek,” “Harry Potter 6,”
“Tales of Despereaux,” “The Dark Knight,” “Valkyrie,” “The Hulk,” “Rendition,” “Spider-
Man 3,” “Golden Compass.” “The Assassination of Jesse James,” “Pirates of the Carib-
bean 3,” “Babel,” “Hitman,” “I Am Legend,” “300,” “No Country For Old Men,” “Harry
Potter 5,” “The Brave One,” “Wall-E,” “Blood Diamond,” “Speed Racer,” and “Night at
the Museum” are a few recent examples.
Thomas is also a trumpetist and has performed on major TV productions including NBC
News. In his pursuit of the ultimate realism in samples, he has produced a great number
of orchestral sample libraries for his own use. With Hollywood Strings, it was time to join
forces with veteran producers Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix, and to share this knowl-
edge with the rest of the world.
Thomas’ studio is located in Santa Monica, California. www.thomasbergersen.com
5Chapter 1: Welcome
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Sound Engineer: Shawn Murphy
Shawn Murphy is an Academy Award, C.A.S. (Cinema Audio Society), BAFTA, and Emmy
award-winning sound engineer who has recorded and mixed the scores for more than
300 feature films including: “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “Star
Wars: The Phantom Menace,” “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones,” “Star Wars:
Episode III - Revenge of the Sith,” “Star Wars: A Musical Journey,” “Jurassic Park,”
“Jurassic Park, The Lost World,” “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” “Titanic,”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Minority Report,”
“Saving Private Ryan,” “Munich,” “The Passion of the Christ” (score mix), “X-Men: The
Last Stand,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Ice Age 2,” and “Ice Age 3.”
Hollywood Strings is the first virtual strings collection he has engineered.
6Chapter 1: Welcome
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Credits
Producers
Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix, Thomas Bergersen
Sound Engineer
Shawn Murphy
Production Coordinator
Rhys Moody
Programming
Justin Harris, Nick Phoenix, Thomas Bergersen
Scripting
Patrick Stinson, Thomas Bergersen, Klaus Voltmer
Editing
Arne Schulze, Pierre Martin, Justin Harris, Michael DiMattia
Art Direction
Steven Gilmore, Thomas Merkle, Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix, Thomas Bergersen
Software
Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix, Rhys Moody, Klaus Voltmer, Klaus Lebkucher,
Julian Ringel, Patrick Stinson, Adam Higerd, Ezra Buchla,
David Kendall, Nick Cardinal, Jonathan Kranz
Manual
John Philpit
7Chapter 1: Welcome
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
How to Use This and the Other Manuals
All documentation for the EastWest PLAY Advanced Sample System and its libraries is
provided as a collection of Adobe Acrobat files, also called PDFs. They can be viewed on
the computer screen or printed to paper.
Each time you install one of the PLAY System libraries, two manuals are copied to the
file system on your computer:
• The manual that describes the whole PLAY System. This, the largest of the manuals,
addresses how to install and use all aspects of the software that are common to all
libraries.
• The library-specific manual, such as the one you are currently reading. This smaller
document describes aspects that differ from one library to the next, such as the list
of included instruments and articulations.
Using the Adobe Acrobat Features
By opening the Bookmarks pane along the left edge of the Adobe Acrobat Reader, the
user can jump directly to a topic from the section names. Note that some older versions
of Acrobat Reader might not support all these features. The latest Acrobat Reader can
be downloaded and installed at no cost from the Adobe web site. (As an example of a
hyperlink, you can click on the last words of the previous sentence (“Adobe web site”)
to be taken directly to the Adobe site.)
When reading this and other manuals on the computer screen, you can zoom in to see
more detail in the images or zoom out to see more of the page at once. If an included
picture of the user interface, or a diagram, seems fuzzy or illegible, then zoom in using
one of several means provided in the Acrobat Reader software. Note that images are
clearest and screen shots most legible at 200% and next best at 100%.
The Master Navigation Document
Because the EastWest PLAY System is a collection of components, each with its own
User’s Manual, a Master Navigation Document (MND) is provided to allow users to jump
quickly between these PDFs when being read on the computer screen. This MND is a
one-page file with hyperlinks to the PLAY System documentation and to all the library
manuals. Hyperlinks to this Master Navigation Document are found on the title page of
each chapter in each document. From there, you can open any other document in the
collection.
For example, if you’re reading something in this documentation for the EastWest/Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings library, and need to open the manual for the PLAY System
as well, go to any chapter title page and click on the link that says, “Click on this text
to open the Master Navigation Document.” It will open in a new window on the screen.
In that document, click on the icon for the PLAY System and its manual will open in the
same window, hiding the MND. You now have both the Hollywood Strings library manual
and the PLAY System manual open in separate windows so you can refer to them both.
8Chapter 1: Welcome
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Separate Gold and Diamond Manuals
The EastWest/Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings virtual instrument is available in two
versions: Gold and Diamond. And each has a manual slightly different from the other,
so it is important that you use the correct version of the manual. This is the manual for
the Diamond Edition. If you have the incorrect version of the manual, contact Technical
Support at EastWest.
Online Documentation and Other Resources
For the most up to date information, visit the support pages at EastWest’s web site.
There you can find:
• information made available after these manuals were written
• FAQ pages that may already list answers to questions you have
• suggestions from EastWest and other users of the EastWest PLAY System
• news about upcoming releases
The address is:
http://support.soundsonline.com
You can also visit the EastWest online forums. There you can read comments and ques-
tions from others who use EastWest products and post your own. The many forum participants are a good source of helpful information about both the technical and musical
aspects of this software.
The address of the forums is:
http://www.soundsonline-forums.com
If you visit the forums to receive support from EastWest (instead of going directly to the
support site listed above), make sure you post your support request in the Support forum
and not in the General Discussion forum.
9Chapter 1: Welcome
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
2. Hollywood Strings, An Overview
11 The Design Point for the Hollywood Strings Library
13 What’s Included
13 Hardware Requirements
Click on this text to open the
Master Navigation Document
10
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Hollywood Strings, An Overview
The Design Point For the Hollywood Strings Library
Hollywood Strings was designed to be the most detailed collection of string orchestra
instruments ever assembled. And with their long history of creating virtual instruments,
writing and scoring the music for hundreds of actual Hollywood trailers and films, coproducers Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix and Thomas Bergersen already understood what
was needed to create the authentic Hollywood sound.
Another factor in defining the sound of this library is that it was recorded in EastWest
Studio 1, formerly Western Recorders and then Cello Studios. The recordings created in
this building have, for decades, received more engineering awards than any other studio.
Producers Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix, and Thomas Bergensen,
with (2nd from left) Sound Engineer Shawn Murphy
The combination of the right producers, an actual Hollywood recording studio, the best
mics and other recording hardware available, and string players familiar with the Hollywood sound all came together to capture the authentic sound you can hear in this virtual
instrument.
When designing this library, the producers decided to take advantage of the recent advances in computer technology that make possible instruments of greater complexity to
achieve more realistic results than libraries of even two years ago. For example, for over
11Chapter 2: Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings, An Overview
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
20 years libraries have been recording multiple dynamics for each articulation and layering them to capture the different timbres heard at different dynamic levels. These libraries usually used the MIDI Velocity parameter to select which layer to play back. While
this approach achieved excellent results, it meant that typically 2 to 5 distinct layers
were available, and timbre could not change mid-note.
Those libraries would use cross-fades for a small number of patches where mid-note
changes were beneficial. But they kept the number of those cross-fades small to prevent
their greater use of the computer’s memory from becoming overwhelming. In Hollywood
Strings, the producers greatly expanded the use of cross-fades, both in their numbers
and in how many concurrent voices participate in the cross-fades within a given patch.
This approach results in instruments that capture the way string instruments can vary the
sound during a crescendo or swell, or as the depth of vibrato changes, like a live musician playing an acoustic instrument.
Studio 1 at EastWest Studios, during setup for the Hollywood Strings recording sessions
The EastWest sample player software, known as PLAY, had to undergo a few improve-
ments in version 2.0 to make these larger instruments possible, especially to improve
the efficiency of the software when loading and playing back large numbers of samples
in a single instrument.
When all these factors come together, they create a virtual instrument of unparalleled
detail and power. With almost 2,900 instruments and over 800,000 sample files, the
library captures the great variety of sounds possible in a lush string orchestra. The PLAY
Sample engine lets you create performances that will excite your creativity.
12Chapter 2: Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings, An Overview
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Comparison of the Diamond and Gold Editions
The Gold Edition is mostly a subset of the Diamond Edition. It is intended for those with
smaller or less capable computer systems, and for those looking for most of the features
and power of the Diamond Edition but at a smaller price. Here are the differences:
• Bit Depth: the samples in the Diamond Edition are 24-bit; those in the Gold Edition
are 16-bit.
• Delivery: the Diamond Edition is provided on a hard drive; the Gold Edition is provided
on a set of DVDs.
• Mic Positions: The Diamond Edition includes samples from 5 independent mic positions that can be mixed together to achieve control over both acoustic vantage and
spaciousness of the sound; the Gold Edition provides a single mic position.
• Legato: The Diamond Edition includes several types of legato transitions, including
what’s called “Bow Change Legato”; the Gold Edition does not include “Bow Change
Legato.”
• Divisi: The Diamond Edition includes separate samples to accommodate Divisi passages; the Gold Edition does not.
The list of articulations for the two libraries are the same, except as described above.
What’s Included
This EastWest/Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings library (Diamond Edition) you purchased
includes all the following:
• a complete set of sample-based instruments, enumerated later in this manual
• approximately 312 Gigabytes of 24-bit, 44.1 kHz samples
• the EastWest PLAY Advanced Sample Engine
• the unique authorization code that identifies the license you bought
• manuals in Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) format for both the EastWest PLAY System and the
EastWest/Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings Virtual Instrument
• an installation program to set up the library, software, and documentation on your
computer
• an Authorization Wizard for registering your license in an online database
One required item not usually included is an iLok security key. If you already have one
from an earlier purchase of software, you can use it. Otherwise, you need to acquire one.
They are available from many retailers that sell EastWest and Quantum Leap products, or
you can buy one online at www.soundsonline.com.
Hardware Requirements
See the Play System manual for a complete list of the Hardware and Software Requirements for installing and running any PLAY System library.
13Chapter 2: Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings, An Overview
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Because both the size and complexity of many of the Hollywood Strings instruments are
greater than in other PLAY libraries, you will likely need an even more capable system
than is recommended for those other libraries:
• Intel or AMD quad-core processor, or higher, running at a minimum of 2.66 GHz
• 8 GB of RAM or more
• a 64-bit operating system; and a 64-bit host when running PLAY as a plug-in
Note that this is a recommended system, and is more powerful than the minimum of
what is required.
Important Note: Hollywood Strings includes two folders of instruments that are designed
for computers that meet or exceed the specifications for the recommended systems
listed above. Some of these instruments can load up to 1 GB of samples per mic position
into the computer’s memory. In addition, because of their size, these patches may need
to be used with fewer other instruments open. Smaller versions of the instruments are
available for systems with more limited resources. See pages 45 and 55 for details.
Solid State Drives
There is no doubt solid state drives (SSDs) are a revolution for storing and streaming
samples. While currently more expensive than traditional hard drives, the seek and retrieval times are almost instantaneous, which means you may be able to create even
larger projects and/or to use lower latencies without needing workarounds to avoid disruption of the audio output. For the largest instruments in Hollywood Strings, SSDs may
be your only option (light programs are provided for other users), and the number of mic
positions that can be accessed simultaneously may also be dependent on solid state
drives. Installing 2 or more smaller SSDs with a true hardware RAID 0 solution offers the
best performance. For professional users, we recommend consulting computer system
specialists to achieve the best performance.
EastWest has done extensive testing in which PLAY running with solid state drives for the
samples and instruments was able to reproduce over 700 concurrent voices without any
pops, clicks, or other artifacts that can occur when the same sequence streams from a
traditional hard drive.
This difference indicates that it is not the PLAY software that provides the bottleneck
in the data flow, but rather the “seek time” required to locate the many hundreds of
samples on a traditional hard drive when they need to be streamed to the CPU all at once.
For those composers and orchestrators looking to build large projects using the kinds of
instruments that add realism through the use of complex cross-fades, solid state drives
(along with more than 8 GB of RAM) can help make that happen.
Requirements for Sample Storage
The available space on the hard drive required for an installation of EastWest/Quantum
Leap Hollywood Strings (Diamond Edition) is approximately 312 GB (Gigabytes).
14Chapter 2: Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings, An Overview
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
3. The Hollywood Strings User Interface
17 Performance
18 Finger Position Knob
23 Round Robin Reset Button
23 Stereo Double Controls
23 The Master Button and Pre-Delay Knob in the Reverb Controls
24 The Graphical Representation of the Envelope
24 The Browser View
25 Performance Scripts
Click on this text to open the
Master Navigation Document
15
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
The Hollywood Strings User Interface
Each PLAY library presents its own interface when one of its instruments is the current
one, as specified in the Instruments drop-down in the upper right corner. The image at
the bottom of the page provides an overview of the entire window in Player View when
the current instrument is from the Hollywood Strings library.
Much of this interface is shared by all PLAY System libraries, and the common features
are described in the PLAY System manual. The Hollywood Strings-specific controls described later in this section are those listed on the next page. If you don’t see a control
described in this chapter, look at the PLAY System manual; that’s the other manual
installed on your hard drive during program setup.
16Chapter 3: The Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings User Interface
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Here are the controls described in this manual (and not in the PLAY System manual):
• Performance
• Round Robin Reset
• Stereo Double
• the graphical representation of the Envelope
Performance
There are six buttons grouped together in the Per-
formance section, together with the Finger Position
knob. They include three buttons for turning on and
off scripts specific to Hollywood Strings that control performance parameters:
• Portamento
• Repetition
• Legato
A fourth button turns on the sound of:
• Con Sordino
A fifth button lights up to show that one or more of the “hidden scripts” are in effect for
this instrument (and the button should not be turned off):
• Other
The sixth button in the group, Round Robin Reset is described in its own section below.
See the section on Performance Scripts, starting on page 25, for information on how to
use the three scripts that have user-modifiable parameters: Portamento, Legato, and
Repetition. When you first open an articulation, there are default settings (On or Off) for
each of these three scripts, as chosen by the EastWest sound designers. If you want a
different set of defaults, you will need to save the .ewi file that way and load your new
version when you need it.
Legato Button
Legato is the style of playing notes in a phrase with no significant silence between them
in order to produce a smooth and flowing melodic line. Use this button to turn on a legato
effect for the articulation. This script-based effect is separate from the actual Legato
instruments included in Hollywood Strings. For information on how the Legato script
compares with the Legato instruments, see the discussion starting on page 74.
Portamento Button
Portamento, also sometimes called glissando, is the technique of a continuous slide in
pitch from one note to the next note in the phrase. Portamento, as available with this
script, is usually a short, anticipatory movement between the pitches of two adjacent
notes. This script-based effect is separate from the actual Portamento instruments included in Hollywood Strings.
Turning on the Portamento script in a phrase is a subtle way to increase a sense of real-
istic playing.
17Chapter 3: The Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings User Interface
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
Repetition Button
Repetition, in this context, refers to the playing of a single pitch more than once with no
different notes played between them in the same phrase. Turning on this button causes
repeating notes to sound slightly different, avoiding the sense of mechanical repetition.
See a more complete description of the repetition script, starting on page 26, for more on
how to use this feature.
Other Button
This button controls whether a hidden script is turned on or off. This script, if present,
manages some important features of a wide variety of articulations: from scripting that
selects the correct staccato sample based on the speed with which notes are played to
scripting that manages release trails for legato patches. Do not turn off this button when
it’s lit (unless you know how that action will affect the audio output). Turning it on when
an instrument contains no script has no effect.
Con Sordino Button
The term “con sordino” means “with mute.” On string instruments, a mute attaches to
the strings near the bridge and dampens the vibration, creating a sound with its higher
overtones reduced. Turn on this button to hear the “con sordino” sound.
Finger Position Knob
The Finger Position knob controls—as much as possible—the string on which the note
will be played. An instrument’s lowest notes, such as Middle C on a violin, can
only be played one way, but as you go higher up the scale, the number of ways
to play a note rises to 4, and then decreases again for the highest notes.
These 4 values available with this knob correspond to the hand positions that a string
player uses during a real performance. You can use this knob to approximate the same
position-related change in sound that can be achieved on a real instrument.
The sound changes for any given note when played on different strings. It is theoretically
possible to play some notes in an instrument’s mid-range in up to 4 different ways (ignoring harmonics). In practice, most string players use two—or occasionally a third—finger
positions in most cases. The Hollywood Strings virtual instrument gives you much of that
control, providing the two most common options.
Of course, because not all notes can be played on all 4 strings, the Finger Position value
you enter is only a guideline of the sound you’re looking for. In general, notes played
on shorter string segments—that is, with the finger position closer to the bridge—have
a warmer and more emotional sound. So this knob can affect that quality in the sound
you’re generating.
Note that finger position settings do not apply to all articulations, only those in which the
bow moves across the string in a long movement. Those articulations that respond to finger position controls include “KSFP” in the name. And those that include “4th pos” in
18Chapter 3: The Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings User Interface
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
the name do not contain such a capability but, instead, always play notes in the 4th position (nearest to the bridge), where possible, for the warmer and more emotional sound.
Using Keyswitches for Finger Position
The instruments that include “KSFP” in the name allow you to change the finger position
not only with the knob but also with keyswitch notes. The lowest of the 4 keyswitches
(C0) sets the finger position to 1, causing the note to be played as far away from the
bridge as possible. And the highest keyswitch (D#0) sets the finger position to 4 for the
warmer sound.
If you decide to use both the keyswitch notes and the knob, then PLAY will use whichever
finger position was set last (by either means). In fact, when you change either the Finger
Position knob or the keyswitch note, you’ll see the other change as well.
Details
The following tables, starting on the next page, and spread over 3 pages, specify how
the 4 positions on the Finger Position knob translate into actual string selection for each
note in an instrument’s range. If you want to ensure that a specific note will be played
on a specific string, find the note name at the left side of the table. Then scan across to
determine which columns are shaded with the color of the string number you’re looking
for. (Remember that Middle C is named C3 in EastWest software.) For example, in the
1st or 2nd Violins:
• If you want A#3 to be played on String 3 (the green shading) then you need to set the
Finger Position knob to 1 (or use keyswitch note C0).
• Or, if you want that same A#3 played on String 2 (the tan shading), then you need to
set the Finger Position knob to 2, 3, or 4 (or use keyswitch note C#0, D0, or D#0).
The actual values for the Violas and Celli are different from the Violins, but the principle
of how to read the tables is the same.
Note that an open string note is specified with the letter “O” in the tables. The sound
of an open string is significantly different from the same note played by articulating the
string on the fingerboard, so you will want to explicitly decide whether you prefer that
sound or not, and select the Finger Position accordingly.
In addition to the tables for each of the 3 sections where a Finger Position control is
provided, the same information is provided in traditional music notation, for those who
prefer to read the note values from staves.
19Chapter 3: The Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings User Interface
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
FINGER POSITION: VIOLINS
FP 1 FP 2 FP 3 FP 4
A#4 and above are all played on String 4
A4 String 4
G#4
G4
F#4
F4
E4 O
D#4 String 3
D4
C#4
C4
B3
A#3
A3 O
G#3 String 2
G3
F#3
F3
E3
D#3
D3 O
C#3 String 1
C3 and below are all played on String 1
String 4
FP 1
FP 2
FP 3
FP 4
Violins
String 1
String 2
String 3
20Chapter 3: The Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings User Interface
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP HOLLYWOOD STRINGS
FINGER POSITION: VIOLAS
FP 1 FP 2 FP 3 FP 4
D#4 and above are all played on String 4
D4 String 4
C#4
C4
B3
A#3
A3 O
G#3 String 3
G3
F#3
F3
E3
D#3
D3 O
C#3 String 2
C3
B2
A#2
A2
G#2
G2 O
F#2 String 1
F2 and below are all played on String 1
String 4
FP 1
FP 2
FP 3
FP 4
Violas
String 1
String 2
String 3
For those not as fluent when reading a
viola’s alto clef, note that the breaks
between strings on the celli are at exactly the same notes as on the violas,
but an octave lower. You might find it
easier to read the bass clef for the celli
and mentally transpose up an octave
for the violas.
21Chapter 3: The Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings User Interface
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FINGER POSITION: CELLI
FP 1 FP 2 FP 3 FP 4
D#3 and above are all played on String 4
D3 String 4
C#3
C3
B2
A#2
A2 O
G#2 String 3
G2
F#2
F2
E2
D#2
D2 O
C#2 String 2
C2
B1
A#1
A1
G#1
G1 O
F#1 String 1
F1 and below are all played on String 1
String 4
FP 1
FP 2
FP 3
FP 4
Celli
String 1
String 2
String 3
22Chapter 3: The Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings User Interface
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Round Robin Reset Button
A round robin articulation is one in which several different samples are recorded with all
parameters, such as volume, speed of attack, and so on, being essentially constant. The
PLAY Engine then knows to alternate between the two or more samples during playback.
The goal is to avoid what’s often called the “machine gun effect,” in which playing the
same sampled note repeatedly causes the unnatural sound of consecutive notes being
mechanically identical.
Any articulation with “RR” in its name uses round robin technology. Those with an “x3,”
“x4,” or the like in the name, use 3, 4, or more different samples for each note
There’s one potential problem with round robin technology, and one way to solve it is
the Round Robin Reset button. The PLAY Engine remembers which sample should
be played the next time the note sounds. If, for example, a round-robin patch contains
two samples, A and B, and a piece uses that note 7 times, the PLAY Engine plays A B
A B A B A. If the piece is played again from the beginning, the engine will play starting
with B, because that’s next in order. The second rendition will be subtly different. Being
able to reset all round-robin articulations to the beginning of the cycle allows for consistent playback.
You can use this button to reset all round robin articulations on demand. Or use your
choice of a MIDI note or MIDI control code to reset them one instrument at a time
from a MIDI keyboard or the data stored in a sequencer project. See the description of
the Settings dialog (in the main PLAY System manual) for more information about this
articulation-specific approach.
Stereo Double Controls
This knob, with its three buttons, gives the user the option of using
exclusively the left stereo signal or right when “Stereo” is selected
from the Channel Source drop-down. For any other setting, this control has no effect.
The knob lets the user determine the spread of the signals, how far apart the ear per-
ceives the stereo channels to be. A value of 0% brings the two channels together at the
center (unless the Pan knob positions the output differently), and is the equivalent of
turning off the controls with the button below the knob. A value of 100% calls for the
maximum spread available. Select between the left and right signal with the L and R
buttons, respectively.
The Master Button and Pre-Delay Knob in the Reverb Controls
The common features of the Reverb Controls are explained in the main PLAY System
manual, but the Hollywood Strings user interface includes two feature not in all PLAY
libraries:
23Chapter 3: The Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings User Interface
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The Master Button
When this button is pressed and the On light is illuminated, the Reverb for this instrument applies to all the other instruments in this instance of PLAY, including instruments
from libraries that do not include a Master button.
If the Master button is already engaged in another instrument in the
current instance of PLAY, and the Master button is pressed in a new
instrument, then the settings in the UI of the new instrument become the settings for all instruments in this PLAY instance.
The processing of high-quality reverb can be very CPU-intensive and it is often the case
that you want to use the same reverb on all the instruments in an audio track. Engaging
the Master Reverb button allows you to run a single instance of the reverb processor and
have the effect apply to multiple instruments.
When you engage the Master button, PLAY puts up a warning message, as shown above,
to remind you that the reverb settings in this instrument will now apply to all instruments
in this instance.
The Pre-Delay Knob
Increasing this level delays the onset of the reverb so that the initial section of the
sample is unaffected. This feature allows the sound of each attack to maintain its true
color while the rest of the note still gains the benefit of the reverb effect.
The Graphical Representation of the Envelope
The Envelope Controls are described in the main PLAY System
manual because they are common to all PLAY System libraries.
Only some libraries include the graph, as shown here, so it is included in the manuals for those libraries only.
Note that the total width of the graph represents the total length
of all phases of the envelope. Therefore, when you change something in one part of the graph, for example, the length of the decay,
you may see the slopes of other components, the attack and the
release, change as well because those phases become a larger or smaller percent of the
whole; this is as expected.
The Browser View
The Browser behaves identically among all PLAY System libraries. Read the main PLAY
System manual for information about how to use that view.
24Chapter 3: The Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings User Interface
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