Diamond Symphonic Orchestra by Kirk Hunter Studios

Diamond Symphonic Orchestra has several features to aid realistic performance, including:

IntervaLive® – this is used for legato notes. Raising or lowering the pitch wheel (TVEC2) triggers manufactured release samples that bend up or down to lead into the target note. Used full-bore, the effect is almost portamento; used more subtly it just adds a realistic transition between two notes. The farther you move the pitch wheel, the louder the transition effect. You can also dial the amount of bend up or down using on-screen controls.

Human Pitch Correction or “HPC” – Notes start a little out and then gradually adjust, simulating what real players do. You can control the amount of this effect.

Keyswitches – These are labelled very clearly and are consistent across all instruments. If you want to tweak the attacks, basic controls are provided. The mod wheel always controls volume, unless it’s set up to control vibrato; beyond that, velocity, and the pitch wheel-controlled transitions.

This library sounds very realistic and doesn’t sound artificially clean – an effect that Kirk Hunter have cultivated very carefully. This is a great sounding orchestra and it has solo string programs to die for!

Flexible Ensembles For The Ultimate Control!
The “Diamond Symphony Orchestra”library covers all the standard orchestral instruments, with very large “Concert” string sections (36 tutti vns, 18 1sts, 18 2nds,10 vas, 9 vcs, 6 bss), large “Symphonic” Strings (24 tutti vns, 10 1sts, 10 2nds, 16 vas, 12 vcs, 6 bss), (smaller “Studio” string sections (9-9-6-5-3), and both chamber (4-4-3-2) and solo strings.

Similarly, the brass is available in Concert ensembles of four trumpets, horns, and trombones; three bass trombones; and two tubas; Symphonic ensembles of 6 Trumpets, 6 French Horns, 5 Trombones, 3 Bass Trombones, 2 Tubas (the bass bones and tubas being the same as in “Concert” brass); and also Studio brass; two each trumpets, horns, and tenor trombones, and tuba; and solo instruments. Both muted and unmuted versions of the strings and brass are included.

The winds – including alto flute and contrabassoon—are available in solos and/or some duets. Finally, there’s orchestral percussion, celesta, harpsichord, and a piano.

You can also load lighter versions of all the instruments, and individual articulations are available. Finally, there are ensemble programs – all the strings on one keyboard, for example. Rather than having you load up all the instruments and use up lots of polyphony for these programs, there are sets of “Bonus” programs made up of combined sections that have been merged into one set of samples.