Best soudfonts for solo strings?
Can anyone recommend soundfonts with good solo strings for quartet writing, and post a link showing where they can be downloaded?
The default Musescore soundfont is ok for string sections, but there doesn't seem any solo violin, solo viola or solo cello options.
Thank you in advance for your help
Jack
Comments
Hey, Jack. The default soundfont has been updated to MuseScore General_full sf3.
Like the previous version it does have listed violin, viola, 'cello and contrabass.
I have used the solo violin and solo viola (each with a pizz.) in the font called Symphonic Soundfonts with some satisfaction. Compared to the default, there is more of an expressive quality, a better sense of bowing detail and the low strings (G and C respectively) are the most noteworthy of them. There are also several 'cello sound available in that font.
Discussed here: https://musescore.org/en/node/278859 with a d/l link
Also, the is the Aegean sounfont and others found here:https://musescore.org/en/handbook/soundfonts-and-sfz-files
but I cannot speak for the strings there.
There is an example of the violin font (from Symphonic Sounds) in Made with MuseScore in my piece called Amaretto. Therein you can hear it in both a schmaltzy adagio followed by vivace spiccato et. al .(if you can get past the schmaltz.) It is a custom audio, so it might give you some idea.
My experience with fonts is quite limited; these are the only free ones I've heard.
EDIT: if you do check out the font in Amaretto, do it here: https://musescore.com/user/29586932/scores/5362449 on my page. (The score is not scrolling on the site here)
In reply to Hey, Jack. The default… by penne vodka
Thank you PV, I know Violin, Viola and Cello are available in the default MS soundfont - but they really sound like sections, not solo instruments.
As mentioned, I'm looking for solo sounds for string quartet writing.
I tried Symphonic Soundfonts and Aegean SO, but while Violin, Viola and Cello solo are available, the sound quality is really poor.
Any other suggestions?
In reply to Thank you PV, I know Violin,… by JW30
Wish I could help. Know how you feel. Don't know of better free ones. There is much talk around this site about fonts ...I'm searching myself...esp. trombones (very tough)
The best fonts I've heard are costly, at Vienna Symphonic Library, but I've never heard their solo strings.
Good luck