Just how many ads do you need to put on your video? Wow!!

This is exactly what the internet was invented for. The entire free package of sounds, tools and information you guys have put together quite literally brings a tear to my eye. Just beautiful in it's generosity of spirit and pure solidarity with the need to create musical art. My heartfelt thanks to you and Christian and all the guys at Spitfire Audio.

I'm just starting to learn composing for an orchestra and have no musical education, this was insanely helpful, thanks a million

Yes Paul, I found this extremely interesting. I have just got Albion One and I am still getting to grips with it. Just like so many others you talked about, I have no musical eduction (yes, I can read music). As I a rapidly approaching 70 (not sure how that happened) I am extremely grateful that I can embark on a journey of learning something that I have wanted to do for far too long. Obviously, it is going to be an uphill battle but one I am looking forward to. Thanks and keep the instructional videos coming!!!!!

The thing I really enjoyed about this video is that you demonstrate not just what works, but what doesn’t work and why not.

“It's becoming a more indistinct, unsatisfying sound” he says-meanwhile I'm like THIS IS GORGEOUS, GIVE ME MORE SOUND SOUP.

The timing of this video couldn’t be better. I’ve been rearranging the strings & winds of a new piece over and over for a week. I needed a fresh perspective! Thank you for this.

I really appreciate the love and passion in articulations in this demo.

Thank you for taking the time to do this. It is the best tutorial on this subject I have found. Please more!

Thanks for taking the time to create the different arrangements and showing the effect achieved by each of them. I learned a lot and it inspired me to experiment more myself.

This was such a helpful video, thank you so much Paul!

Always good to hear your voice and learn from you , thanks!

This is just great information Paul, more like this please!

Thanks for making this video! I'd love to see more instructional stuff like this. You break it down so eloquently.

Always appreciate the depth of knowledge and advice shared on your videos, Paul.

Fantastic video! I've love what you mentioned about not being afraid to "learn" how to write for the orchestra. I've been a musician for most of my life and love studying music for my own composing and guitar playing, but writing for the orchestra is a newer adventure for me. I've loved learning how to write better string parts, adding a whole new universe of colors into my arrangements. Thanks so much for the tips in this video!

Thanks Paul, great video! I've been crying out for this type of video, that bit at the end summed it up for me, this is so valuable for those of us trying to get the hang of this! And the way you went through the options made it so much clearer. Can't wait for the next one, would love to hear more on what impact different voicings can have.

Thank You for the lesson Mr. Thompson. I always enjoy and find very helpful and useful. I'll be looking forward for the next one as always

Paul, this video has been both delightful and educational. I started a piece from scratch following each and every harmonization you made. Can't begin to tell you how much fun I had while learning. But above all, your last words about diving in and not worrying about formal training are even more inspiring and educational. I attended Berklee and studied film music composition, but I have to agree with you. There is no need for formal training. Just being passionate, willing to explore and being creative. My most admired composers do not have formal training. Thank you for taking the time to share this video and your words of wisdom. Cheers from Argentina.

Thank you so much for this video Paul. I learned a lot about proper string voicing today.

Watching this three years after it was published and it's a gem. The things learned here will definitely stay with me.

Fabulous start Paul. Please keep going on this .... And thank you for your time and sharing your experienced perspectives 🙏🏻

Extremely clear and well explained, it's useful to follow your thoughts flow, this helps a lot to understand voicings.

Very helpful, thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge!

Thanks Paul. Exactly the sort of insights I've been craving. This is the sort of content that takes your writing to the next level. In my ignorance I've always thought that writing voices in unison or octaves would be seen as 'lazy' and uninteresting so I have probably suffered from over-thinking it and trying to be overly clever with my arrangements (and making them sound murky). But your demo at the very end blew that away for me.

I would have paid for this as a masterclass. Absolutely brilliant. Thank you.

Excellent video Paul, really helpful and runs at a great pace. I hope there's plenty more to come. Who knew Johnny Bairstow knew so much about composition.. :)

This was fantastic. Many thank, Paul. Cheers!

Hey Paul! Had this video sitting in my Watch Later folder for way to long. Great info and easy to follow presentation. Thanks for all you do

Wish I could give you multiple "likes". Especially for the stuff you said during the end. I also love your Basic Instinct analysis video. Looking forward to more of that type of videos.

Brilliant, I love your videos Paul. Really insightful

Just fantastic. One of the best clear voicing for those of us not classically trained.

This is really great stuff for novices like me. I'm slowly building up an understanding of orchestral matters and the various outlets from Spitfire are playing an increasingly major part in my education. Thank you so much.

the way this guy explains things is amazing.

God those strings sound amazing. Never wanted a library as much as the BBCSO! Useful video Paul, thank you! I would love a series exploring string voicings more in depth and specific compositions would be great!

This is super helpful for those of use coming at strings/piano from other instruments (in my case, guitar). Thanks for posting!

Very informative Paul, and much appreciated! 👍👍👍

Wonderful and very insightful video Paul. This is exactly what I needed to get to grips with my first piece of music using the BBC SO Library. I cannot thank you enough for sharing your experience and understanding of orchestration. I am in the same boat as you. Self-taught but just taking it all in step by step. Many, many thanks.

Really interesting and helpful series of videos, waiting for the brass episode!!

Thank you - very interesting video. I appreciate you taking the time to share your insights.

This is an amazing video. Thank you so much. I myself am self taught and have been looking into learning to orchestrate my music. This video is a great stepping stone into the world of orchestration. Thank you, once again.

Pure Gold, thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the tips! I've been using the BBCSO nonstop the last few days. Loving the strings especially!

Super helpful and exciting, Paul. Love the idea of incorporating the orchestra into all kinds of modern music.

Fantastic information. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much for this Paul. I have been creating some travel videos using music from other sources even though I am a musician (Piano, clarinet, guitar, etc.) I've recently retired and decided to spend the rest of my years creating video and music. This is actually the first video I've listened to on orchestration. It was well done because I was able to follow your every move and your reasoning. You have really inspired me. I have always played by ear and written a few pieces of music. Because of what you have done here I am ready to really delve into it. :)

I revisit this video from time to time because it is so useful in terms of educating me about how strings work together. I make instrumental hip hop with orchestral elements and information like this is invaluable. Thank you Paul! 🙏🏿

I think one important aspect in voicing is that the when the thirds are played at a lower frequency, this causes a lot of harmonics that clash with the actual root of the chord. Thus it's always better to keep the lower notes playing the root or fifths. Try avoiding the thirds for Celli and Bass. Not a hard rule, but I guess something will help?

Excellent video. Coming from organ and guitar, I had no idea how to voice string orchestra parts. Very helpful. thanks.

Great Video Paul. Thank you for making this. Very useful

Hey Paul, thank you so much for this video and the sort of content you post in general! I have a solid background in music but all these sort of vids are fantastic help!

Absolutely excellent, really inspirational, thank you Paul🙏

Likewise .. approaching 76 and still learning every day as I try to write for my own sake and not "to order" .. It's tremendously liberating to watch you teach us to "make better and better mistakes" and so free ourselves from the shackles of our limitations. Good stuff. Thanks.

This is great. Thank you so much for breaking this down.

Christ on a bike those strings sound stunning. Thank you paul, that was really helpful

That RE-20 sounds Amazing at that distance. Great work!

I can't shake off the feeling that going up a half step with those second violins and or the cello, in the second half of the last bar, would've made this so epic

Most mind opening and inspiring. Thank you

This was extremely helpful and thank you for sharing. I have ordered several of the books referenced. I would certainly be interested in more videos regarding string arrangements as from what I have read they are the most important and foundational instruments in orchestral music.

One think I like to do when I write for strings is to use an approach of countermelody. I like to give the 4 parts of the string family a voice. My favorite instrument to do so would be the celli. I love to give the celli their own voice that would support the violins! But at different times. So when the violins sustain the note the cello would play their part and viceversa. I’m a self taught. But I find it quite useful and feels amazing really! I study everyday of my life the orchestra. So I can do this professionally one day. Filmscore and tv work are my favorite! Thank you very much for your approach, effort and hard work in this video. I love Spitfire Audio I learn so much from all your and teammates videos! 🙌🏼

Wow, great video!! Very informative, detailed, and yet simple.

Great Video Paul, as was the Basic Instinct Vid. Thank you for going through the lengths of producing this stuff for the community. The manner in which Christian and you are passionately sharing with the community of musicians and the whole way you are going about and communicating your business is a true inspiration and makes me feel quite good having spent thousands of Euro on your libraries. I am looking forward to seeing many more of those Videos. A great happy day to everyone reading!

That‘s great content. You‘re a great instructor, thanks a lot.

Right off the bat, excellent video! I'd like to make my string sections in my work sound better, so this is great for it. Thank you =)

Excellent content and teaching approach. Thanks and keep it up, kind sir!! :)

Such a useful video... thank you so much for this x

I just got my copy of BBCSO Discover and this demonstration is very helpful. Thank you for sharing some insights into string arrangement.

Awesome. Thanks. That BBCSO sounds stunningly good.

Sounds pretty cool, thank you for the lesson!

Absolutely great thank you Paul

Great stuff Paul. Would love to have a similar thing on woods, as I'm always confused how/when to use those. BBCSO sounds great btw, I love it

Just Amazing, Thank you for share I just bought my BBC Symphony Orchestra core. love every sample.

Really helpful, Paul. Thank you for sharing .. 😊😊

Thank you, I don't think I'd have ever figured out on my own that one can put the harmony high up as well. I'm still trying to figure out how to best apply that in a larger orchestration as opposed to just the isolated string section, but it has an incredible sound.

Hi Paul - thanks for doing these demonstrations. They are super useful and there is nothing else quite like them on KZfaq. I've just bought BBCSO Core and I'd really love to see a video that goes into effectively using dynamics and expression together and in particular how to get the most natural dynamic shapes out of various types of instruments and sustains. Cheers!

This was perfect timing that i found this before starting my Westworld composition. Thanks so much for this video, super helpful!

Such great information. Thank you!

Absolute gold. Thanks!

Beautiful sounds! That BBCSO library is awesome! I actually kinda like the sound you got with the cello playing the 5ths. Very conflicted and dark.

I love your systematic approach. Trying them 1 by 1

Have purchased BBC Maida Vale Pro. I am an old punk guitar player. Thank you so much for this video gift. Furthermore : you have given me permission to break the ingrained idea; that I am not worthy to even try. Spitfire is very special. I love you all. ♥️♥️♥️

Very, very interesting to watch you explaining voicing analytically. I used to do it intuitively, but sometimes it didn't work out. Now I learned why. For me, one of the most important things you said, however, was the encouragement to try things out and that orchestras welcome new music!! Thank you!

Excellent work, thanks.

A great video, thank you!!! I will find this very useful with my recent Spitfire purchases. But also, as an aside, a great slam dunk on why you need an RE-20 in your locker 😎

This is pure GOLD! Thank you for this! If you can- Winds, please!!!

Great thank you so much Paul, this is really useful. I did study music, including some composition, and harmony, but only to A level, also it was nearly 25 years ago. I'm really wanting find out more about orchestral composition, love the sound . of a full orchestra, can be so powerful but also quite gentle. I've just bought BBC Symphony Orchestra, which I love, stretched the budget a little but sure it will be worth it. Take care and thanks again, best wishes Terry

Thank you for this, Paul.

Excellent explanation! thanks

that was amazing. thank you very much for this video

This video is very informative. Thank you!

Great video. Thanks for this.

Thank you Paul, very encouraging.

Hi Paul…purchased BBCSO core and then pro and piano and I feel like I’m getting an orchestration course for free. Brilliant stuff; this and all your other videos.

This video is absolutely perfect! It’s answering the question I never knew how to ask properly to get an answer, how do string players interact on a basic level. As a guitarist of 28 years (wow) I didn’t even know what a 3rd or 5th was

Good Lecture Paul.Thanks a lot.

I'm a noob for orchestral composition and I found this very helpful.

this is extremely eye opening

As a Funk guitarist, this was an outer worldly experience for me but having ordered the Spitfire BBC Discovery package its a great start, thank you.

Thank you, Paul for taking to time to do this video. I enjoyed it very much. I was wondering what your thoughts are about voicing strings in different chord inversions?

Thanks Paul - this has answered questions I always smack against when arranging - especially what to do with the V1s. Now I just need to get to grips with Brass Cheers J