SWAM String Section!

mjcouche

https://audiomodeling.com/sections/swam-string-sections/

When does it come to iOS?? Any insiders here?

Stuntman_mike

I believe any day now, because I remember the roadmap mentioning first quarter…

Stuntman_mike

https://community.audiomodeling.com/index.php?u=/topic/24/a-rough-roadmap

ion677

$500 USD, wonder what price on iOS will be if/when released.

ion677

Philandering_Bastard

What’s the difference when one already has violin, viola, cello and double bass?

Gavinski

@ion677 said:

This does not surprise me that much. I think they probably sold a lot less of those solo apps on iOS than they had hoped. Certainly, based on video views, there wasn't huge interest. Also, I think they really missed an opportunity in not putting good general bundles up quickly. They also now need to maintain a huge number of separate apps. Lots of things there that maybe weren't thought through so well, imo. Pity though, as the solo instruments are all fantastic and I'm sure these are too.

_ki

The absense of IOS is also mentioned in AudioModelling‘s String Section faq:

https://kb.audiomodeling.com/en/swam-string-sections/are-the-swam-string-sections-available-for-ios--why-cant-i-find-the-swam-string-section-on-the-ios-app-store

Are the SWAM String Sections Available for iOS? / Why Can't I Find the SWAM String Section on the iOS App Store?
v(1.0)

The SWAM String Sections products are currently available exclusively for desktop systems running macOS and Windows. As of now, these exceptional string ensemble instruments are not available for iOS devices, and therefore, they cannot be found on the iOS App Store.

While our commitment to delivering high-quality virtual instruments remains unwavering, the current focus of SWAM String Sections is on desktop platforms, providing musicians and composers with a powerful and expressive tool for their music production needs.

We appreciate your interest and understanding, and we continue to explore new possibilities for the future. Please stay tuned for any potential developments regarding iOS availability, as our commitment to innovation is ongoing.

ErrkaPetti

I’m very very glad that I already have ten (10) different SWAM instruments to my iPad Pro - sounds freaking awesome and a joy to use!

Recommend everyone to buy at least one instrument and test it out… Worth every penny!

_ki

But perhaps we are lucky and it will just take some time - i really enjoy playing the SWAM solo instruments and also had setup string sections (using my divisi scripts) but that never worked out realistic even when each of them was driven with individual articulations. The new plugin on the other hand sounds fantastic as ensemble, i listened to all of the demo videos on their site.

To get an estimate about a possible price, i took the desktop vs IOS ratio of the trumpet bundle (250€ vs 175 €) and applied that to the String Sections 500€ price - resulting in 350€ … woah … … but probably worth it … still way above my pay grade and professionality

hes

@Philandering_Bastard said:
What’s the difference when one already has violin, viola, cello and double bass?

I'm curious about this, too, especially when there is already an iOS bundle with these exact instruments.

NeuM

Relatively reasonably priced on iOS, I just can’t spend the kind of money they want on desktop. I can rely on other alternatives.

hes

@hes said:

@Philandering_Bastard said:
What’s the difference when one already has violin, viola, cello and double bass?

I'm curious about this, too, especially when there is already an iOS bundle with these exact instruments.

Okay, I think I get it now. All the Swam instruments on iOS are 'Solo' instruments. These new ones play a whole orchestral section (of 4 to 6 instruments, I think) at one time.

NeuM

Sounds pretty good in these demos, keeping in mind that these strings are still broken into groups so one would still have to play specific instrument sections individually, versus simply performing with an orchestral pad.

ruggedsmooth

$500 USA Smackers

NeuM

@ruggedsmooth said:
$500 USA Smackers

Too rich for my blood, but for working pros it might be just what they're looking for?

Philandering_Bastard

@NeuM said:

@ruggedsmooth said:
$500 USA Smackers

Too rich for my blood, but for working pros it might be just what they're looking for?

Yeah. For 500 quid there better be a corresponding income stream.

NeuM

@Philandering_Bastard said:

@NeuM said:

@ruggedsmooth said:
$500 USA Smackers

Too rich for my blood, but for working pros it might be just what they're looking for?

Yeah. For 500 quid there better be a corresponding income stream.

Exactly. If the product flops, they'll rethink their pricing structure.

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

I don't personally have a need for modeled instrument choir sounds. String pads and fugues usually sound fine played on a keyboard. I'm not able to imagine how to take advantage of the model for this kind of sound. But I hope to hear someone do something creative that changes my mind.

NeuM

Dr. Mix doing a demo with the strings:

wingwizard

@ion677 said:

Cant be arsed with them if this is the case.

wingwizard

@NeuM said:
Sounds pretty good in these demos, keeping in mind that these strings are still broken into groups so one would still have to play specific instrument sections individually, versus simply performing with an orchestral pad.

Sounds extremely artificial, as commented in the other thread. I stated I think it’s his playing but that is half wishful thinking. Those articulations sound so unnatural for a section,

I think it’s possible that modelling articulation changes and complex dynamic in a section sounds naturally pants, like these, due to the variation in reality between members of the section, which is easy enough to comvey in a sample or one sound, but not in transitions. But again, I’m not really sure how they modelled not only members differences in playing, but the differences between those differences in every transition and articulation

Gavinski

@wingwizard said:

@ion677 said:

Cant be arsed with them if this is the case.

Ah yeah, but hey I don't think we should take it personally. There's really not a big enough market for these kind of things on iOS, it seems. Or at least, Audio Modeling maybe failed in creating that market with the solo instruments. If there was, they'd be porting it for sure.

I think that 'maybe failed' comment is important here, because I see a lot of people who write as though the market is a thing outside devs' control but which they have to cater to, and do so rationally and with some kind of all seeing eye. This is, of course, nonsense, because companies don't just cater to needs and desires, they also create and shape them. And even though they have more data than we do, there's often also a lot of guess work and even luck involved in launching and maintaining a successful product.

wingwizard

@Gavinski said:

@wingwizard said:

@ion677 said:

Cant be arsed with them if this is the case.

Ah yeah, but hey I don't think we should take it personally. There's really not a big enough market for these kind of things on iOS, it seems. Or at least, Audio Modeling maybe failed in creating that market with the solo instruments. If there was, they'd be porting it for sure.

I think that 'maybe failed' comment is important here, because I see a lot of people who write as though the market is a thing outside devs' control but which they have to cater to, and do so rationally and with some kind of all seeing eye. This is, of course, nonsense, because companies don't just cater to needs and desires, they also create and shape them. And even though they have more data than we do, there's often also a lot of guess work and even luck involved in launching and maintaining a successful product.

You’re probably right, I’m just irritated because I waited three years for it. Plus it’s morning 😂

I do think it sounds really poor in the demos though with a few possible reasons, not entirely convinced it’s just the playing.

I definitely feel like a relative minority on this forum, and so probably ios, in terms of not making EDM and producing only as a necessity I’ve had to learn to record songs and music I’ve written rather than vice versa. And I imagine a lot of vi composers etc are very much entrenched in the system of big sample libraries etc. But I really love the textural qualities in orchestration and ethnic instruments. The more of these apps come onto iOS the more people use it that way, as you mentioned.

Gavinski

@wingwizard said:

@Gavinski said:

@wingwizard said:

@ion677 said:

Cant be arsed with them if this is the case.

Ah yeah, but hey I don't think we should take it personally. There's really not a big enough market for these kind of things on iOS, it seems. Or at least, Audio Modeling maybe failed in creating that market with the solo instruments. If there was, they'd be porting it for sure.

I think that 'maybe failed' comment is important here, because I see a lot of people who write as though the market is a thing outside devs' control but which they have to cater to, and do so rationally and with some kind of all seeing eye. This is, of course, nonsense, because companies don't just cater to needs and desires, they also create and shape them. And even though they have more data than we do, there's often also a lot of guess work and even luck involved in launching and maintaining a successful product.

You’re probably right, I’m just irritated because I waited three years for it. Plus it’s morning 😂

I do think it sounds really poor in the demos though with a few possible reasons, not entirely convinced it’s just the playing.

I definitely feel like a relative minority on this forum, and so probably ios, in terms of not making EDM and producing only as a necessity I’ve had to learn to record songs and music I’ve written rather than vice versa. And I imagine a lot of vi composers etc are very much entrenched in the system of big sample libraries etc. But I really love the textural qualities in orchestration and ethnic instruments. The more of these apps come onto iOS the more people use it that way, as you mentioned.

I love those kind of sounds too, yes, and I love physical modeling, but for sure most people here are not really that interested in those things. Same with pianoteq - it's brilliant, but because it's perceived as 'not a synth', though it is, in fact, many here are not interested. Price is also a factor. Swam stuff was priced a bit highly for the taste of most people here. The fact that they always released so many at the same time didn't help. Audio Modeling have consistently shown poor judgement in their dabblings with iOS, imo.

mjcouche

After watching some videos I may walk back my excitement. Pretty fake sounding.

NeuM

@mjcouche said:
After watching some videos I may walk back my excitement. Pretty fake sounding.

Considering everything they're trying to get these modeled sections to do, I think it's a good first effort. In the hands of a skilled player, there might be more to these than first appears... or maybe not.