ARVA Children Choir: A Breakthrough in Children Choir Sampling with Divisi Sections, Legato Modes, and Soloists

Strezov Sampling ARVA Children Choir v1.1 (KONTAKT)

If you are looking for a realistic, expressive, and versatile children choir library for your music production, you might want to check out Strezov Sampling's ARVA Children Choir v1.1. This library is more than just a bonus to their acclaimed Next Generation Choir Series, which includes WOTAN (male choir) and FREYJA (female choir). It is actually the first ever sampled children choir library to include separate boys and girls choirs recorded in divisi sections (sopranos, altos) with full legato and syllable options. In this article, we will explore what makes this library so special, what are its main features and benefits, and how to use it with KONTAKT.

Strezov Sampling – ARVA Children Choir v1.1 (KONTAKT)

Introduction

ARVA Children Choir is a comprehensive collection of children voices that was developed by Strezov Sampling over four years. It features two choirs (boys and girls) recorded separately in a large hall with multiple microphone positions. Each choir has four divisi sections (soprano 1, soprano 2, alto 1, alto 2) that can be mixed and matched freely. Each section also has its own set of syllables and legato modes that can be controlled with keyswitches or MIDI CCs.

The library also includes two soloists (a boy and a girl) that can sing in true polyphonic legato or agile legato with any syllable in the library. The soloists have a beautiful and angelic tone that can add an emotional touch to your compositions.

One of the most powerful features of ARVA Children Choir is its Syllabuilder Engine, which allows you to create custom syllables and words with a simple drag-and-drop interface. You can also use the engine to play polyphonic legato with any syllable in the library, as well as adjust various parameters such as attack, release, speed, offset, vibrato, etc.

The library also comes with some bonus patches that include pads, drones, whispers, shouts, clusters, effects, and more. These patches can be used to create atmospheric and cinematic sounds with the children voices.

To use ARVA Children Choir, you need to have KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER version 5.6.8 or higher. The library has a download size of 7 GB and requires 10 GB of free disk space. You can purchase it from the official website of Strezov Sampling for $279 USD.

The Two Choirs

One of the main attractions of ARVA Children Choir is that it offers you two separate choirs: the boys choir and the girls choir. Each choir has its own unique sound and character, and can be used individually or together to create rich and realistic vocal arrangements. Let's take a closer look at each choir and see what they can do.

The Boys Choir

The boys choir consists of 12 singers aged between 8 and 13, who were recorded in a large hall with three microphone positions: close, decca, and hall. You can adjust the volume and pan of each mic position to create your own mix. The boys choir has four divisi sections: soprano 1, soprano 2, alto 1, and alto 2. You can load each section separately or use the full ensemble patch that combines all four sections. You can also use the mixer patch to control the volume, pan, mute, solo, and purge of each section.

The boys choir has two types of syllables: sustains and staccatos. The sustains include 10 vowels (a, e, i, o, u, ae, ee, oo, uh, mm) and 10 consonants (b, d, g, j, l, m, n, r, s, z). The staccatos include 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 5 consonants (b, d, g, k, t). You can switch between the syllables with keyswitches or MIDI CCs. You can also use the Syllabuilder Engine to create your own syllables and words with these syllables.

The boys choir also has two types of legato modes: true legato and polyphonic legato. The true legato mode allows you to play smooth transitions between notes with the same syllable. The polyphonic legato mode allows you to play up to four notes simultaneously with different syllables. You can switch between the legato modes with keyswitches or MIDI CCs. You can also use the Agile Legato feature to play fast runs and phrases with any syllable in the library.

The boys choir also has a dynamic control that allows you to adjust the volume and intensity of the choir with MIDI CCs or velocity. You can also use the expression control to add more realism and emotion to the choir with MIDI CCs. Additionally, you can use the mic position control to change the sound and ambience of the choir with MIDI CCs.

The Girls Choir

The girls choir consists of 12 singers aged between 8 and 15, who were recorded in a large hall with three microphone positions: close, decca, and hall. You can adjust the volume and pan of each mic position to create your own mix. The girls choir has four divisi sections: soprano 1, soprano 2, alto 1, and alto 2. You can load each section separately or use the full ensemble patch that combines all four sections. You can also use the mixer patch to control the volume, pan, mute, solo, and purge of each section.

The girls choir has two types of syllables: sustains and staccatos. The sustains include 10 vowels (a, e, i, o, u, ae, ee, oo, uh, mm) and 10 consonants (b, d, g, j, l, m, n, r, s, z). The staccatos include 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 5 consonants (b, d, g, k, t). You can switch between the syllables with keyswitches or MIDI CCs. You can also use the Syllabuilder Engine to create your own syllables and words with these syllables.

The girls choir also has two types of legato modes: true legato and polyphonic legato. The true legato mode allows you to play smooth transitions between notes with the same syllable. The polyphonic legato mode allows you to play up to four notes simultaneously with different syllables. You can switch between the legato modes with keyswitches or MIDI CCs. You can also use the Agile Legato feature to play fast runs and phrases with any syllable in the library.

The girls choir also has a dynamic control that allows you to adjust the volume and intensity of the choir with MIDI CCs or velocity. You can also use the expression control to add more realism and emotion to the choir with MIDI CCs. Additionally, you can use the mic position control to change the sound and ambience of the choir with MIDI CCs.

The Soloists

Another highlight of ARVA Children Choir is that it includes two soloists: a boy and a girl. These soloists have a very pure and sweet tone that can add a lot of character and emotion to your music. They can sing in different languages and styles, and can blend well with the choirs or stand out on their own. Let's see what they can do.

The Boy Soloist

The boy soloist is a 12-year-old singer who was recorded in a large hall with three microphone positions: close, decca, and hall. You can adjust the volume and pan of each mic position to create your own mix. The boy soloist has two legato modes: true legato and agile legato. The true legato mode allows you to play smooth transitions between notes with any syllable in the library. The agile legato mode allows you to play fast runs and phrases with any syllable in the library. You can switch between the legato modes with keyswitches or MIDI CCs.

The boy soloist also has a dynamic control that allows you to adjust the volume and intensity of his voice with MIDI CCs or velocity. You can also use the expression control to add more realism and emotion to his voice with MIDI CCs. Additionally, you can use the mic position control to change the sound and ambience of his voice with MIDI CCs.

The Girl Soloist

The girl soloist is a 15-year-old singer who was recorded in a large hall with three microphone positions: close, decca, and hall. You can adjust the volume and pan of each mic position to create your own mix. The girl soloist has two legato modes: true legato and agile legato. The true legato mode allows you to play smooth transitions between notes with any syllable in the library. The agile legato mode allows you to play fast runs and phrases with any syllable in the library. You can switch between the legato modes with keyswitches or MIDI CCs.

The girl soloist also has a dynamic control that allows you to adjust the volume and intensity of her voice with MIDI CCs or velocity. You can also use the expression control to add more realism and emotion to her voice with MIDI CCs. Additionally, you can use the mic position control to change the sound and ambience of her voice with MIDI CCs.

The Syllabuilder Engine

One of the most innovative features of ARVA Children Choir is its Syllabuilder Engine, which is a powerful tool that allows you to create custom syllables and words with a simple drag-and-drop interface. You can also use the engine to play polyphonic legato with any syllable in the library, as well as adjust various parameters such as attack, release, speed, offset, vibrato, etc. Let's see how the Syllabuilder Engine works and what it can do.

What is the Syllabuilder Engine and how does it work?

The Syllabuilder Engine is a unique feature that allows you to create your own syllables and words with the children voices in ARVA Children Choir. You can access the engine by loading the Syllabuilder patches for each choir or soloist. The engine has a simple and intuitive interface that consists of three main parts: the syllable matrix, the word builder, and the settings.

The syllable matrix is where you can see all the available syllables in the library. You can drag and drop any syllable from the matrix to the word builder to create your own words. You can also right-click on any syllable to edit its parameters, such as volume, pan, attack, release, speed, offset, vibrato, etc. You can also use keyswitches or MIDI CCs to switch between different syllables on the fly.

The word builder is where you can see and edit your custom words. You can drag and drop any syllable from the syllable matrix to the word builder to add it to your word. You can also drag and drop any syllable within the word builder to rearrange or delete it. You can also double-click on any syllable in the word builder to edit its parameters. You can also use keyswitches or MIDI CCs to switch between different words on the fly.

The settings are where you can adjust some global parameters for the Syllabuilder Engine, such as legato mode, legato speed, legato volume, polyphony, round robin, purge unused samples, etc. You can also save and load your custom words and settings with the preset manager.

How to create custom syllables and words with the engine?

Creating custom syllables and words with the Syllabuilder Engine is very easy and fun. Here are some steps to guide you through the process:

• Load the Syllabuilder patch for the choir or soloist you want to use.

• Drag and drop any syllable from the syllable matrix to the word builder to add it to your word.

• Drag and drop any syllable within the word builder to rearrange or delete it.

• Double-click on any syllable in the word builder to edit its parameters.

• Use keyswitches or MIDI CCs to switch between different syllables or words on the fly.

• Save and load your custom words and settings with the preset manager.

Here are some examples of custom words you can create with the engine:

WordSyllables

KiraKi-Ra

LunaLoo-Na

MiraMi-Ra

SoraSo-Ra

TaraTa-Ra

How to use the Agile Legato and Polyphonic Legato features?

The Agile Legato and Polyphonic Legato features are two of the most impressive features of the Syllabuilder Engine. They allow you to play realistic and expressive legato transitions with any syllable in the library. Here is how they work:

The Agile Legato feature allows you to play fast runs and phrases with any syllable in the library. To use this feature, you need to enable it in the settings panel of the engine. Then, you need to select a syllable in the word builder that you want to use for your run or phrase. Then, you need to play a series of notes on your keyboard with a high velocity (above 100). The engine will automatically play legato transitions between each note with the selected syllable. You can also use keyswitches or MIDI CCs to switch between different syllables on the fly.

The Polyphonic Legato feature allows you to play up to four notes simultaneously with different syllables in the library. To use this feature, you need to enable it in the settings panel of the engine. Then, you need to select four syllables in the word builder that you want to use for your chords or harmonies. Then, you need to play up to four notes on your keyboard with a low velocity (below 100). The engine will automatically play legato transitions between each note with the corresponding syllable. You can also use keyswitches or MIDI CCs to switch between different syllables on the fly.

The Bonus Patches

As a bonus, ARVA Children Choir also includes some extra patches that can add some variety and creativity to your music. These patches are based on the children voices, but processed and manipulated in different ways to create new sounds and textures. Here are some of the bonus patches included in the library:

Pads

The pads patches are ambient and atmospheric sounds that can create a sense of space and mood in your music. They are made from the children voices, but stretched, layered, and filtered to create smooth and ethereal sounds. You can use them as backgrounds, transitions, or soundscapes in your compositions.

Drones

The drones patches are dark and ominous sounds that can create a sense of tension and suspense in your music. They are made from the children voices, but distorted, modulated, and granulated to create harsh and gritty sounds. You can use them as impacts, risers, or stingers in your compositions.

Whispers

The whispers patches are creepy and mysterious sounds that can create a sense of mystery and horror in your music. They are made from the children voices, but whispered, reversed, and randomized to create eerie and unpredictable sounds. You can use them as effects, accents, or vocals in your compositions.

Shouts

The shouts patches are loud and energetic sounds that can create a sense of excitement and action in your music. They are made from the children voices, but shouted, chopped, and gated to create rhythmic and dynamic sounds. You can use them as percussion, loops, or hooks in your compositions.

Clusters

The clusters patches are dissonant and chaotic sounds that can create a sense of drama and conflict in your music. They are made from the children voices, but stacked, detuned, and randomized to create complex and dense sounds. You can use them as chords, melodies, or textures in your compositions.

Effects

The effects patches are weird and experimental sounds that can create a sense of surprise and curiosity in your music. They are made from the children voices, but processed and manipulated in various ways to create unique and unexpected sounds. You can use them as transitions, embellishments, or sound design elements in your compositions.

Conclusion

ARVA Children Choir is a remarkable library that offers you a realistic, expressive, and versatile children choir for your music production. It features two separate choirs (boys and girls) recorded in divisi sections with full legato and syllable options. It also includes two soloists (a boy and a girl) that can sing in true polyphonic legato or agile legato with any syllable in the library. It also has a powerful Syllabuilder Engine that allows you to create custom syllables and words with a simple drag-and-drop interface. It also comes with some bonus patches that include pads, drones, whispers, shouts, clusters, effects, and more. It is compatible with KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER version 5.6.8 or higher, and has a download size of 7 GB and requires 10 GB of free disk space.

If you are looking for a children choir library that can deliver realistic and expressive vocal performances, as well as creative and flexible vocal sound design, you should definitely give ARVA Children Choir a try. It is a great addition to any composer's toolkit, and can be used for various genres and styles of music. Whether you want to create epic and cinematic scores, emotional and intimate pieces, or quirky and experimental tracks, ARVA Children Choir can help you achieve your musical vision.

For more information and demos, please visit the official website of Strezov Sampling. You can also check out their other products, such as WOTAN (male choir), FREYJA (female choir), RHODOPE (ethnic Bulgarian choir), STORM CHOIR (ultimate epic choir), THUNDER (epic percussion), CORNUCOPIA (string ensembles), TUPANS X3M (ethnic percussion), BALKAN ETHNIC ORCHESTRA (ethnic instruments and voices), AFFLATUS CHAPTER I: STRINGS (inspiring string ensembles), JADE Ethnic Orchestra (Chinese instruments and voices), and more.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions related to ARVA Children Choir:

• What is the difference between ARVA Children Choir and other children choir libraries?

ARVA Children Choir is the first ever sampled children choir library to include separate boys and girls choirs recorded in divisi sections with full legato and syllable options. It also includes two soloists that can sing in true polyphonic legato or agile legato with any syllable in the library. It also has a powerful Syllabuilder Engine that allows you to create custom syllables and words with a simple drag-and-drop interface. It also comes with some bonus patches that include pads, drones, whispers, shouts, clusters, effects, and more.

• How can I use ARVA Children Choir in my music production?

You can use ARVA Children Choir in various ways in your music production. You can use it as a standalone library or as a complement to other vocal or instrumental libraries. You can use it to create realistic and expressive vocal arrangements, as well as creative and flexible vocal sound design. You can use it for various genres and styles of music, such as classical, cinematic, pop, rock, ambient, electronic, etc.

• How can I get the best performance out of ARVA Children Choir?

To get the best performance out of ARVA Children Choir, you need to have a good computer system that meets the minimum requirements of the library. You also need to have KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER version 5.6.8 or higher installed on your computer. You also need to have enough disk space and RAM to load the samples and patches. You also need to have a good MIDI keyboard or controller that can send MIDI CCs and keyswitches to control the library. You also need to have a good pair of headphones or speakers that can reproduce the sound quality of the library.

• How can I learn more about ARVA Children Choir?

You can learn more about ARVA Children Choir by visiting the official website of Strezov Sampling. There you can find more information and demos of the library, as well as user reviews and testimonials. You can also watch some video tutorials and walkthroughs on YouTube that show how to use the library effectively. You can also join some online forums and communities where you can ask questions and share tips with other users of the library.

• How can I purchase ARVA Children Choir?

You can purchase ARVA Children Choir from the official website of Strezov Sampling for $