Vista Strings vs. Cinematic Studio Strings: String Libraries Compared

The same scene scored first using Cinematic Studio Strings (CSS), then Vista Strings by Performance Samples. Let me know in the comments which version you prefer!

Both libraries sound stunning and emotional in their own way because of their intriguing legato transitions. To let both sample libraries shine I worked with them the way I felt did them justice. For example, the automation follows where the respective samples led me to go. I added just enough reverb to give it some sense of a larger room. For fairness, I made sure that the overall loudness is the same for both the Vista and the CSS version.

Reverb: Seventh Heaven (Scoring Stage, 1.8 sec)
Dynamic EQ: Ozone 8

No other libraries were used except for the harp on the CSS track: Skaila Kanga (Spitfire Audio).
The harp in the Vista Strings version comes with the library.

[MattiaChiappa]

Forget about the libraries, how beautiful is the music!

[AlexSonicsMusic]

First off- what a wonderful composition, Thanks for this beautiful music.
It's all Vista for me. It's just so natural. I'm not saying css is bad, but Vista is just heartwrenchingly beautiful- I love Jasper's approach. I'm a professional cellist and I'm not easily impressed, but Vista- o my God- always does something to me emotionally, particularly when used I such brilliant compositions.

Again, thanks for the music, Frank!🎶🌞

[johnlocrian]

Can we all just take a minute and appreciate how CSS after all these years still gives brand new, best-in-class libraries a run for their money? I think CSS has the edge here, though both sound stunning :) Beautiful composition, too!

[timothycharlesfehling]

Excellent work! The writing, performance, and production are all fantastic.

[JohnCervantesMusic]

Thanks for making this, beautiful music and mock-up production. I think the conclusion is.. both, for different situations!

[remmyrambrandt]

Really well done ! I favour Vista. The way each note connects with each other and the molto espressivo vibrato gets me emotionally every time i hear this cue. In the first part when you play in the lower register, it transports me straight to this old classic movie sound. The price of Vista is insane right now (on sale) and it amazes me what you get for this little amount of money.

[thecafedisco]

holy shit, the music is amazing first off! And I think you sold me on Vista over CSS lol

[kurttomlinsoncompositions]

Love the tone of Vista, but the fact that it's a legato only library makes me hate the fact it has so much sucking between notes. It does sound like it would layer really nice with CSS for the ultimate sound, however. Nice composition, btw!

[bertrandpellerin]

Awsome music, this is a great great work !! well done ))

[TalmoTheSell]

I just got CSS recently and I'm absolutely in love with them. While I'm honestly not really into their darker tone (I just do a little EQ to compensate) I really really love the playability and its ease of programming. It's really taken my music to the next level

[Metalpazallteway]

Wonderful piece and mockup...splendid work!

[slimyelow]

Thanks for this comparison. It very much helped me decide for CSS.

[ObsessiveCostumingDude]

Excellent comparison of a beautiful piece! Thank you for sharing. :)

[PierreAlexandrePlessix]

Vista is now part of my template. Amazing string library!

[MichaelPilipp]

Wunderschön! Beide Versionen klingen sehr gut. CSS etwas echter.

[dkish]

Both are easily the most beautifully lush strings sample libraries I've heard yet! As compared, Vista has a more open sound & stronger rosin effect, which I feel is more suited to classical, but CSS was really geared towards the controlled Hollywood studio sound, so as applied to the latter, CSS has the edge, though I would use Vista for layering under CSS for heft, if absolutely needed. I should add, that the music itself is beautiful!

[simonw]

great job! keep on sharing your compositions!

[stevengiurgiu]

First off, BEEEAUTIFUL composition man!!! I love your comparison videos. After watching this one, I am seriously interested in purchasing vista. However, I already own afflatus strings, and I’m not sure how the vista libray stacks up against afflatus’ “scene d’amour” patch. Think you could do a comparison video between the two?

[georgeadel]

Frank.. Very nice composition. I loved it. Both libraries are awesome. I only have CSS and I use it 95% in my work. I can say that both libraries have the same character in which I guess blending them together might not gain a different sound. I sometimes blend CSS with low level of Cinematic Strings 2 or with 8Dio Anthology just to get from CSS a more warmer strings sound. Try to blend each of them (CSS and Vista) with another library and check the result.

[robshrock-shirakbari]

I know this is an older video now... but I would love to hear CSS and Vista layered together on this piece to see how they would blend/complement each other and what would result. Thx