Spitfire Audio - Abbey Road 2 [REVIEW]

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Spitfire Audio have just released the second library in their partnership with the famous Abbey Road Studios in London. This is a very distinctive solo string library underpinned by some very promising new software. The sound is very different to other solo string libraries. So how does it sound in practice? Guy Michelmore has been trying it out and puts it in context with pop arrangement and a piece of contemporary drama.
You can watch my original review of Abbey Road One here: • Spitfire Abbey Road On...
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Опубликовано:

16 дек 2021

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Комментарии : 205

@H2whoaMusic 2 года назад

Guy, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. I only got into writing music this year, and only found your channel a few months ago. You've taught me so much, and always in a very accessible, informative and charming way. You're my find of 2021!

@eerytunic3839 2 года назад

Just finished listening to some of your stuff. Rlly good bro.

@H2whoaMusic 2 года назад

@@eerytunic3839 Oh wow! Thank you so much. Very nice of you to say and genuinely appreciated :)

@tjkage 2 года назад

My mom says I can't tell a British Man my age how much I love him in a platonic way but I will and I do. You are awesome.

@DanyBolduc 2 года назад

Guy, thank you for taking the time to share this content. It's inspiring to hear people like you sharing your passion for music.

@officialTonestepa 2 года назад

Hi Guy. Thanks so much for your videos and all your amazing reviews. You’ve helped me several times when trying to choose between 2 new libraries (or indeed to realise I didn’t need either). I really appreciate you sharing so much of your time and techniques. Thank you

@gregmatchett7110 2 года назад

Guy, I love all of your videos. I've watched nearly all of them. Huge help on my end. Thank you so much. ❤️❤️

@jesusmedina5886 2 года назад

I have been waiting for your video, Guy. Thanks for always sharing your best thoughts.

@katanalevygames 2 года назад

Awesome to see they put the performance tech in from their solo string libraries. It just makes them so playable and might tempt me to pick this one up as well!

@raymondspagnuolo8222 2 года назад

Very helpful, Guy. Thank you so much for posting!

@Devi_Salias 2 года назад

Sir, I just enjoy your personality. Like the warnings for spilling the cup and the finger pointing and finger wagging. 😄 So beautiful...

@swessels 2 года назад

The composition really came together when you composed the viola part. Very nice.

@simongentry 2 года назад

Guy, i love your enthusiasm.

@JRod37 2 года назад

Glad I watched this - The shorts sound glorious - the longs don't do it for me.. I was wondering if an alternative to Cinematic Studio Solo Strings would be useful (which has it's downfalls but the legatos for me are fab, even if they require a bit of fiddling)

@williedangerr7934 2 года назад

Thanks Guy, this was really informative and helpful.

@jakeskate1998 2 года назад

it seems like they listened to feedback about their legatos being not that great so this one is really great. It would be nice if they went back to some of their older libraries and improved the legatos there

@alexicalzatti3388 2 года назад

Yeah, I would love an Abbey Road One update that both added more Legatos and improved on their already existing one (The low strings legato)

@64guatemala Год назад

Guy... You are really amazing!!! I love watching your videos. They're informative and, well, just entertaining 😄. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise. It's truly appreciated. K

@MartinJG100 2 года назад

Good review, Guy. Solo sampling is so difficult with every detail exposed and nowhere to hide. Probably ideal for launching into some Nymanesque movements.

@Apalamaris 6 месяцев назад

Thank you for a great review, it was really helpful! 🙏

@jonathanbrooker8193 2 года назад

Good review and summary. Thanks as always Guy 🙂👍 Not a library I shall be going for, as already have so many good string libraries in the studio such as AudioBro LASS, and all of the other string and orchestral (and many many others) Spitfire libraries. But its probably good for someone just starting out and doesn't yet have a good reliable close chamber string type of ensemble. Have a great Christmas 🎄

@treee712 2 года назад

New video from Guy means its going to be a good day today

@mattwesney 2 года назад

Exactly, my buying point was never influenced by the location or gear used, not even the players...Great video, Guy! And happy holidays!

@philh27 2 года назад

Fantastic review Guy. I’d been waiting for your views on this. From the few other videos- including Spitfire’s own launch, it sounds beautiful but I did have some doubts whether it was quite right for me. You’ve helped a lot with your honest views.

@gregoryivesdolbyatmosmusic 2 года назад

Guy, you tipped my scale to grab it as an addition to the others I have in Abbey Road, which I totally use a lot. Thanks for the great review! I have no issues with the memory.

@AKAtAGG 2 года назад

I mean, this is the perfect review. I was gonna buy the pro version before I saw this, and I haven't changed my mind. But your honesty is always a help.

@MaPa60 2 года назад

Came for the Spitfire lib, but went away with Synapse Obsession. What a great sound!

@SergioLopez-el2zy 2 года назад

So enjoyable!! This Guy!!

@PeachesChrenko 2 года назад

Thank you so much for this! Soo helpful as usual :)

@DanaVastman 2 года назад

Your vids are such a joy to watch...

@gavmc 2 года назад

I was hoping you would review this!

@samk4655 2 года назад

Hello Guy, thank you so much for this review. It's always a pleasure to watch your videos..😄 .. I hesitate a lot between this library or the Solo Strings.. Otherwise, I love your new look.. your beard looks great on you..👍

@dafingaz 2 года назад

Beautiful library.

@poodlebites69 Год назад

OMG thank you for the optimize tip!!!

@LeslieEllis 2 года назад

Guy, I LOVE your passion and sense of humor. AND, with regard to AR2: 🤯!!!!

@EbenFernandoHeldrethhome 2 года назад

Guy, can you do a review of Berlin Orchestra created by Berklee? Always love your videos! Thank you for all your contribution to the music community.

@firasalatiyat866 2 года назад

Lovely sound indeed!

@kevinstefano8654 2 года назад

Thanks for another extremely informative and entertaining video. I have made several library purchases base on your reviews. I have 2 questions: (1) You mentioned that this library is dissimilar to other Spitfire Solo Strings libraries. To which one(s) were you referring? and (2) I'd love to know what the piece of studio equipment to your left is (siting on top of your NI keyboard). Thanks Guy & Happy Holidays.

@mindspanconsultants 2 года назад

I think that's Guy's video camera controller. I'd also be curious about which solo string library he prefers for standard quartet/quintet work.

@mikebryant4146 2 года назад

Thanks for the video Guy as I've just purchased this library. A question re: memory management: in this example, are you running the different string instruments as one multi-patch with Aux channels, or are you running separate instances of Abbey Road 2 on each individual channel? Thanks!

@robertrust Год назад

Hey Guy, great video. I’d love to see you include this library in a future scoring demonstration.

@robertrust Год назад

I also prefer the dryer sounds in this library. It’s a lot easier to control the ambiance with my own reverbs, especially when using this alongside other libraries.

@jefskott99 2 года назад

Guy, thank you for the review and the composition showing Abbey Road Two in context. You might mention this elsewhere but what is the controller you are using on the left side of your keyboard? Thanks and have a wonderful Holidays!

@michellamontagne 2 года назад

Thank you so much Guy! Clear and honest. Have you ever thought of doing a review or something with Virharmonic? The reviews about them are so rare I don’t know if they are on the blacklist or what. 🤔 I found their sound so natural but of course we don’t have too much control on it.

@henrikpetersson3463 Год назад

There is plenty of control for the Bohemian strings. You can pick articulations manually and control dynamics just as with any library. But it's also very playable as it is.

@MetalTizi 2 года назад

Hey Guy, how do you compare the solo strings in comparison with the Chris Hein Solo Strings when it comes to playability? How much work is needed until it sounds like a professional player? For me the playablility out of the box is an issue I have with Spitfire Audio. Great Video and Beard. :)

@TheSoundbar 2 года назад

U need a professional player to sound like it. U can listen to any sampled violin and compare it to a real recording. That will always sound better. Even when the sampled instrument is polished with fancy gear.

@MetalTizi 2 года назад

@@TheSoundbar I know that it doesn't sound like a real professional playing human. But for example Chris Hein's Strings are very playable in a way that you achieve more realism or lyrical playing in less time, than I or other composers I know achieve with SA Solo Strings for example which is my critique on Spitfire products and the question about the new solo strings.

@TheSoundbar 2 года назад

@@MetalTizi I just want you to avoid the pitfall to put to much work into polishing to get a sound u cant get cause the source is the problem. I had some probs with spitfire in the beginning but when u use the articulations. Did u try expression maps?

@MetalTizi 2 года назад

@@TheSoundbar of course I use them. It's not the problem, that I can't get a really polished high production (when you look at my channel the videos are far behind my skills today). I think you interpreted to much in my critique. The only issue I have with spitfire is, that I need more time to get them polished than other orchestral libraries not more not less. But thanks for the engagement. 🙂

@ROBERTBOAK 2 года назад

Awesome review as always Guy, Love the Sound of this Library. On a side note I had to look twice as I thought John Williams was doing the review at first 🤣 !

@xyzcomp08 2 года назад

It was just a cardboard cutout visiting.

@Mansardian 2 года назад

Guy is preparing to take over... 🤫

@ThinkSpaceEducation 2 года назад

@@xyzcomp08 Ha! Indeed. Maybe I should make a cardboard cut out of myself

@xyzcomp08 2 года назад

@@ThinkSpaceEducation Great way to get a holiday out of the deal. May take a day or two before the others catch on.

@StephenSE9 2 года назад

🙄 I've commented before reading this

@guillaumelec8847 2 года назад

Thanks for the frank review Guy. Even with all of the apparent detail and precision captured in this library, there is an odd saturated, slightly synthy quality, probably due to the analog equipment used to record it. I had the same impression from Paul's walkthrough. Very much a niche library and given the price (and the odd discount for Intimate Strings!? and no consideration--other than the $100 introductory discount--for having any other SF library, of which I have several), you've convinced me not to go for this one. Sad, because the programming is quite good.

@PaulRoseGuitar 2 года назад

Another great video Guy, thanks. But for me I can never unhear the fakeness of string libraries. Spitfire sounds great though, probably the best out there. Although, now further into the video you're doing that moody low thing which is very impressive.

@joelwybrew 2 года назад

I was WAITIN FOR THIS ONE

@chromofonic 2 года назад

As usual, great job. But Guy, at that price one could get Native Instruments KOMPLETE, a much better investment (KONTAKT, REAKTOR, a gazillion instruments etc). Also Guy, when I used Session Strings 2, which come with KOMPLETE and passed it through Waves Abbey Road plugins (REDD desk and on to the J37 tape) I got a very decent sound. On top I also added a solo Viola from the legacy VSL library included in the KONTAKT factory library. Finally, I adjusted the harmonics (increasing the 3rd and 5th and lowering the fundamental) to get that edgy intimate sound. Try it. I might make a video about it.

@mikebarnettstuff 2 года назад

I keep a clip-on type cup holder, that I bought online (clips onto any table edge), at my workstation. Not that you need the advice, but if everything has a proper place and is secured it may solve many potential problems.

@TheFinalGamerRN 2 года назад

Daamnn!! The beard suits you really well!!

@thehightenor2596 2 года назад

This library is to my mind Rock n Roll strings …. Tube guitar amps, Hammond organ Big drums off you go - what’s not to love. The recording method gives it an almost Mellotron like quality which to my ear makes it even more desirable. I totally get why this is a niche library. It’s a string library for those of use making music who don’t need an orchestra but do need George Martin arranging for us in Abbey Road - personally I think it sounds wonderful - we’ll done SFA!

@LAghemo 2 года назад

Actually, at min 30.45 there's actually one of the best music I will have heard this month. So thx for the content and also for that music. The library sounds great, so different and fresh. I love Spitfire, they are among the best for me. But they are way too expensive, at least in my humble opinion.

@Jason_Carnes 2 месяца назад

I am impressed. It is on my Black Friday list.

@BaraMatahariPagi 2 года назад

Love the new hair and beard cut Guy 👍

@ThinkSpaceEducation 2 года назад

Thank you

@BaraMatahariPagi 2 года назад

@@ThinkSpaceEducation You're welcome Guy! Maybe do a review of Obsession sometime, just a suggestion :)

@Yishinyourear 2 года назад

Wow! Didn't recognize you with the beard! Very cool looking!

@andymacc 2 года назад

In the pro version you also get the ADT. Do you find this to make much difference in your or a pop mix?

@jingleskhanaudioproductions 2 года назад

4:55 sounds absolutely delightful. It is "entzückend" as we say in German ;)

@blackbeardsghost6588 3 месяца назад

"How many times could all the literature in the world ever written fit into that?!" . . . . . . . . .

@LindaMissad 2 года назад

great review, Guy....OUCH -- I really cringed with the tea in the keyboard story. Happy Holidays!!

@g3cd 2 года назад

Actually, I DID tell you "always place your mug BEHIND stuff!". So if you must have it on your desktop, put it BEHIND your laptop screen, NOT right next to your keyboard. Better yet: put it on a little side table. Your new grey beard looks like you're ready for side tables now. With a floral design 😜

@johnbell5151 2 года назад

Love it !

@mrdali67 2 года назад

Love the new beard Guy .. fits you :)

@jimp5713 2 года назад

At 2.14 -2.15 on Marcatto -is there some strange sounds i heard produced -like some strange artifacts that maybe krept into the collection that Guy discovered somehow and could this have a potential to be prolific?

@tonyr.4778 2 года назад

The performance legato doesn't seem that new when you look at Joshua Bell and Bohemian violin, that have had the mix of legato and portamento via velocity for years. But the sound is quite pleasing.

@BrunoBizarro 2 года назад

Sounds amazing. But owning the Spitfire Chamber Strings (and yes it sounds different, I know), buying this one, isn't it a bit overkill?

@Elizemusic1 2 года назад

Same question I ask myself every time a new thing comes out. I guess the real question is: do you need it? If you have chamber strings then how many string quartet/small ensemble writing jobs are you getting that you need ANOTHER small ensemble library. Yeh it sounds lush, but sounds like you’re already sorted with enough sounds

@D20Music 2 года назад

I just loaded up my ensemble patch for CSSS to compare as I watch the video..... 4.05GB memory! - so maybe Abbey Road 2 isn't so bad. However, CSSS loads all the longs and shorts within the patch, so it's probably very comparable. Sound-wise, I still love CSSS but as you say in the thumbnail, AR2 is something different and sounds gorgeous.

@apogeexxl 23 дня назад

Hi Sir.I would really appreciate your opinion ,in short I own almost all 8Dios string libraries and HOOPUS (and some Aria when I was new to sampling, plus KOMPLETE 14) . Would you suggest I get this ?? my goal is to complement my sonic palette.regards

@silicon1138 2 года назад

What is the controller on the left Guy is using?

@Bonbon1948 2 года назад

The optimize is for indexing of all the samples. Same as bach re-save in kontakt.

@d8scorelab869 2 года назад

I bought it. The pizz and stacc are great...really great. The longs are horrible...REALLY HORRIBLE. I kinda regret it but i cant think of a library with better shorts. On a seperate note, have you ever done a vid on Swing and Swing more? Very tempted but since i blew my budget on Abbey rd 2 i have to wait a while. :(

@inspisiavideos8542 2 года назад

Hi! I want to buy Abbey Road 2 but I have a this question: Do you know if Abbey Road 2 for $299 wouldn’t take long to load the instrument or is that problem only for the Professional version valued in $499? Please let mw know

@johntitor. 2 года назад

Would be good to have a video on your tech specs.

@Jason_Carnes 2 месяца назад

Can you do a review of Synapse Obsession? Do you have Dune3 or "The Legend" ?

@kumarsajal8400 2 года назад

Sorry Spitfire but its just really mind boggling managing just my Kontakt libraries and the Kontakt software. Its just a pain nowadays to install a separate software and signing in and managing all its libraries separately. I don't know if companies release their own software engine to run the library due to the Kontakt licence amount sharing thing or if it makes any difference in the sound quality or not.

@mindspanconsultants 2 года назад

I had this library in my shopping cart at Spitfire, but after listening to all of the demos associated with it, it seems quite thin, close, and niche. Their venerable Solo Strings library seems much better for standard quartet/quintet work; however it is still using Kontakt as the player which still isn’t Apple Silicon Native… and it’s still the same price when you take the current discount into consideration for AR 2.

@martijnvanbeek4387 2 года назад

Funny; I had exactly the same experience listening to the demos

@Po1itica11yNcorrect 2 года назад

With ever dwindling drive space, my next sample library will need to knock my socks off. Unfortunately, Abbey Road Two doesn't do that for me. I have Spitfire Audio's BBCSO Pro, all the ARO's and Albion's but I think I'll have to pass on this one. Great content as always, Guy.

@JohnMcGFrance 2 года назад

Thanks for the review Guy. I’m looking for some solo strings to go with BBC SO Core. The Pro version is too big for my computer so thought I’d give it a miss. Not sure this fits the bill though. I’ll keep looking around. I really need something with a small download size but good sound and of course not too expensive. I just write for enjoyment and have a very slow internet connection. If you know of anything worth looking at please tip me the wink. Ts.

@ThinkSpaceEducation 2 года назад

TBH I only recently tried the first chair or leader thing with BBC SO and its surprisingly good. A bit too much vibrato however. I have struggled with solo strings as well.

@richardjecooke8036 Год назад

@@ThinkSpaceEducation I'd love to see you review the newly released SampleModeling Solo Strings in comparison to this. Same price as the core, same instruments. Different approach entirely to sampling.

@EdVizenor 2 года назад

It's SEAN CONNERY! :)

@ThinkSpaceEducation 2 года назад

shaken not sitirred

@rogernewton7831 2 года назад

It's not strictly a string quintet, but it has at least, 5 string instruments and the double bass does occasionally make up a quintet.

@ricardodasilva9184 2 года назад

Is the sound in the video in reverse Guy? The instruments sound out of place, kind regard.

@markelvinstudio 2 года назад

Great review, as always. It's a pity there are not enough string libraries in the world :) strings, percussion and piano I imagine are easier, in terms of realism, to reproduce. Brass libraries however remains so weak in comparison.

@MrACangusyoungDC 6 месяцев назад

Lesson is to be a brass player and guitarist and fight for your relevance. Guitars are harder to recreate we're cannon fodder in numbers

@markelvinstudio 6 месяцев назад

@MrACangusyoungDC I am a brass player, it's why I am so disappointed in many of the offerings out there.

@Papangiri Год назад

Hahahahaha Guy! Best moment of comedic commentary on the internet: 07:55 (Deep voice) "Starting down here we have the double bass...." (increasing pitch slightly) "going through cello..." (even higher) "on to vi-oooola..." (higher) "into second violin and" (falsetto) "then FINALLY up to first violin".

@TheArtOfJerry 2 года назад

How do start learning keyboard? im over 40 yrs old. Are there crash courses to quickly pick up keyboarding skill? something low budget or free.

@ThinkSpaceEducation 2 года назад

Have a look at this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CfcpzsPGClw.html

@ThinkSpaceEducation 2 года назад

If this is the kind of thing you want let me know

@anderskofoed6949 2 года назад

There is a tool called Melodics. You can use it for free (but only 5 minutes per day) or subscribe to it.

@BrunoNeureiter 2 года назад

Cheap here, cheap there. You'll never go anywhere

@symfonik-pl 2 года назад

You start to look like J.W. :D Greetings Guy! Great stuff!

@tonio3375 2 года назад

You should check out Tokyo Scoring Strings! They are so so so good

@DavidPalmer_blinder 2 года назад

yeah this is a pretty clever bit of kit, and i'm not sure it's because you called it out or it really is this way but yes, that first violin sounded way too resonant too me. again i'm not sure if that was my ears playing tricks on me because you mentioned there being something lacking with that sound. but yeah, it was harsh and resonant sounding to my ears and that is just really nearly a deal breaker for me. i don't know, the British Drama Toolkit for me is really their best sounding string library, and as it turned out for my garbage, the most useful.

@angelomarchelletta 2 года назад

I'm just gonna buy REDD ,TG12345, RS56, RS124 outward gear and make my own LMAO could imagine the price tag if they have any to sell... I love abby roads it just sounds magical.

@Kingchord2000 2 года назад

Guy what do you think if this Abbey Road Two be use on a Mozart String quartet?

@ThinkSpaceEducation 2 года назад

That's not its strength

@JamieSolan 8 месяцев назад

Which is better for disco strings? Chamber strings or this?

@autotunesucks3546 2 года назад

keep up the great work guy... funny seeing you make sims 4 music just saying

@ST-fl5fy 2 года назад

Guy do you feel the pro version with all the mics is really needed?

@ThinkSpaceEducation 2 года назад

No but the legato is useful so it’s hard. I would look at the core version on valance not the pro

@tanukibrahma 2 года назад

The legato sounds very mechanical and unnatural to me; I guess it's the uniform vibrato. Judging from this, I'd say VSL Synchron or LASS 3/Modern Scoring Strings sound more realistic, though lacking, unfortunately, this focused Abbey Road pop vibe -- which I'd really like to have if done better.

@switterbeet 2 года назад

You look so fresh with the beard bro !

@TheStevenrobinson 2 года назад

Heres what's good with this library.. Spitfire engineered good mechanics into the library player. Here's what's wrong with this library. 1. It sounds dead. The strings were played with ZERO emotion whatsoever. Whoever was playing should have been payed more. They might have put in more effort. 😑 2. Spitfire Audio overprocessed the shit out of these samples in an attempt to make library sound good which is impossible due to reason stated above. It caused strings to sound synthy. Library would have been better without any processing whatsoever in this case. End thoughts - credit card back in pocket on this one.

@jaywoelfel9228 2 года назад

I feel like this Abbey Road library has more personality to the sound than the first Abbey Road that they brought out.

@PaulWW36 2 года назад

Why is The Hunt for Red October era Sean Connery playing piano ???

@danielecohen2266 2 года назад

Your beard looks great!

@Mikhael_bureau 2 года назад

0:45, my grandpa say the same thing about my sister's new boyfriends. What is even weirder is that he also refer to spitfire, for unknown reason, crazy old man.

@alexpandey6876 Год назад

Hi I am from Nepal, this spitfire audio has not given sound in lab sound and bbc orchestra output. plzzzz make a video about it.

@lxuaes6915 Год назад

3:49 Guy for the win! God I hope this works.

@omnipop4936 2 года назад

Beard is on point.

@6stringbeats397 2 года назад

I think Spitfire is on to something. Years ago Michael Jackson’s drummer Ricky Lawson was telling me that I should start playing upright bass (I’m a bass player). He was saying that the old sound is going to come back in the music and it’s going to be the new “modern” sound. He was right. Artist like Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars etc all have since went back to that classic sound and made it more modern.

@MrACangusyoungDC 6 месяцев назад

It is rather Richard Pryn who is onto something who plays his on Cello for his trailers, though he barely can play it.

@notaname8140 2 года назад

6:15 Well the Library of Congress alone contains over 25 million books, and even assuming a pretty small size like 100KB (an average Kindle ebook is 2.5MB, and the Project Gutenberg download for The Picture of Dorian Gray, the first one I saw when I clicked on the site, is 250KB for the text only option) per book, that would still be 2.5 terabytes, and that's still not all of the literature in the world, 270GB kind of pales in comparison