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GarageBand Jam Pack: Symphony Orchestra

Most audio loops created with sampled instruments

Written by JS from Lafayette

16-Nov-2006

For this type of collection, I expect MIDI loops to use virtual instruments, and I expect audio loops to feature real performances by soloists and ensembles. This unfortunately is not the case with the Symphony Orchestra JamPack. As I listen to the audio loops, it is clear that many were made with virtual/sampled instruments and are not actual live performances on real instruments. They may have been produced with more elaborate instrument samples than were included in the package, and they may have nicer reverb than is available in Garageband, but it is clear that they aren't real.

If your expectation is that the audio loops are actual phrases played on real instruments, you may be disappointed. That said, there is a pretty nice selection of musical ideas. And for many projects, this will be a very useful collection.

The sampler instruments that are provided are mostly very good. And impressively, there aren't any of them that are unusable.

109 of 163 people found this useful

GarageBand Jam Pack: Symphony Orchestra

For The Musician....

Written by RL from Seattle

18-Aug-2006

I'm a professional composer and to outline a song quickly, Garageband is great. The expansion packs are underrated for the cost. With Symphony, You can create slow or percussive Orchestral pieces but the strings are tricky. Woodwinds rock out on this, Brass is dissapointing (ensemble brass is nice but for solo instruments...not so much).
You have a choice between sad and morose or punchy and crazy but nothing really..lyrical.

No solo violins? What kind of orchestra is this? And no chorus like that similar to the singers in the World Jampack??

124 of 170 people found this useful

GarageBand Jam Pack: Symphony Orchestra

Blah

Written by JG

26-Jul-2006

I'm disappointed...

There are no solo strings on here. So, if you were planning on having that wonderful, heart-wrenching solo violin to play the melody of your song, find a better program. This one sucks for it. They only have ensemble strings, which sound... alright.. and if you smash your keyboard.. you can get a somewhat decent sound of a solo string, though most people who listen to it say it sounds like an organ or accordian.

Trust me.. there are a few programs out there that DO have solo strings as separate instrument software (apart from just Ensemble). They actually recognize that they're two COMPLETELY different sounds.

However, the rest of the instruments aren't half-bad. If you want good woodwind sounds, especially... then, go right ahead and buy this.

So, Apple.. if you read this.. make another Jam Pack with solo strings, please. They're such beautiful instruments that you completely ignored. I mean.. come on! What's an orchestrated song without the whiny plea of a solo violin playing the lead.. during that sad moment in your song? Geez.

755 of 1020 people found this useful

GarageBand Jam Pack: Symphony Orchestra

Super Value!

Written by BS from Bloomfield

4-Apr-2006

I am so impressed with this Jam Pack. The number and varity of loops added by these DVDs are staggering. Not to mention that you can edit (reverb, tempo, key, ect.) the material that Apple provides to you. Only four stars because I was expecting more real insturment guitar effects. Otherwise 5 stars!!

51 of 92 people found this useful

GarageBand Jam Pack: Symphony Orchestra

stunning

Written by CL from Graham

15-Feb-2006

a great addition for those who want to write movie soundtrack-esque songs or just want better strings. love it!!

59 of 90 people found this useful

GarageBand Jam Pack: Symphony Orchestra

Profound

Written by BB from tyler

10-Feb-2006

I use the word "Profound" because when compared to what we had prior to this product, this Pack is, in fact, profound. It offers a staggering number of orchestral colors and textures. The way these various patches layer together is amazing within itself. My ONLY criticism is the fact that some of them do not blend together in a smooth, natural way where one ends and the next begins. Other than this one flaw, this product has no peer anywhere else that I am aware of. Its price is certainly amazinly inexpensive when one sees what they suddenly have command of. It is a true "Symphonic Experience". Had this been available to me when I was growing up, it would have changed the very course of my life.

63 of 104 people found this useful

GarageBand Jam Pack: Symphony Orchestra

I highly recommend this Jam Pack!

Written by BW from Mission Viejo

4-Feb-2006

I work professionally as a film and game composer, and if I need to do a quick mock up of an orchestra on my iBook, I always reach for these sounds. I agree that there needs to be a solo instrument for each instrument in the string family, as well as solo trumpet, but the limited RAM requirements make up for the lack of these sounds. I have recommended this jam pack to many friends who are too limited on funds to afford the super $3,000.00 (+) Orchestra libraries, but need great realistic orchestra sounds. I do own more expensive libraries, but still use these sounds in my productions as a quick go to. To be honest, I haven’t even checked out any of the loops, but I’m sure they’re good. If you need an orchestra library, and are using Garage band or Logic 7, check this one out. I give it 5 stars mostly for the great value.

76 of 113 people found this useful

GarageBand Jam Pack: Symphony Orchestra

Very Nice

Written by EV from Newton

19-Jan-2006

This is an outstanding product. The strings are lush, the brass is powerful, the winds are ultra-realistic, the keyboards are amazing, and the percussion is fantastic. I am using this product for several compositions. What would be nice would be some solo strings...I have to use other libraries to get those sounds, and maybe a huge "Orchestra" Instrument, to create orchestral hits and also to compose for full orchestra - all from one track - but overall, my reaction is "Wow. Finally, Apple released an orchestral sample library. Keep up the good work."

55 of 81 people found this useful

GarageBand Jam Pack: Symphony Orchestra

An Excellent Collection

Written by TM from Ann Arbor

17-Jan-2006

The loops are good for creating subtle ambience to your iMovies, but the Instrument samples really shine. I would've liked to have seen more solo instruments, and perhaps less reverb on them by default as a whole when adding them to tracks, but all in all a very nice set of sounds for GarageBand.

33 of 41 people found this useful

GarageBand Jam Pack: Symphony Orchestra

A classical classic from Apple

Written by NR from Driffield

13-Jan-2006

Forget the loops (I know they like to make a big deal of them) what really shines is the stunning selection of instruments. Choose a preset from the list and you're ready to start playing instruments from any section of the orchestra. There'll be more dynamic and expressive sample libraries out there, but this is solid and useable and, for the price, certainly above average. Only downside is the lack of solo trumpet and violin, though you do get solo and ensemble versions of pretty much everything else (French Horn, Clarinet, Flute etc.). And, if you like that sort of thing, it has to be said that the loops are very good indeed.

505 of 709 people found this useful