I’m Pete Whitfield, violinist, arranger and orchestrator.
Contact details:
+44 (0)7958 708661
pete[at]realstrings.com
Skype = realstrings
realstrings on myspace
Pete Whitfield on Facebook
Pete Whitfield on Twitter
Digital Musician podcasts on iTunes
Dear Pete,
I just wanted to say thank you for putting up your royalty free string samples, I have rinsed them out over an over, my break through track featured one of your samples and I a eternally grateful! It’s nice that you help producers out with stuff like free sample packs because I have no money and could never afford a session violinist to feature on my music. I’ll mail over all the tracks so you can have a listen later on tonight.
Best Regards,
Jon
Hi Pete,
Do u have a course that i can buy for string arranging or a DVD.
I am a pianist composer and i would like to make arrangements for lets say a string combo and how to make tracks with 2 violins, viola cello.
Thank you in advance for your reply
All the best
Tom
Hi Tom, I don’t have anything formal. I’ve done a few short videos about how I work (scattered around this site and on my YouTube channel). Please feel free to ask any questions via this site or Twitter.
Hey Pete I’ve watched some of your youtube videos and found them really helpful thank you for those. I was wondering how I can achieved a string arrangement like the one you did on the rhymefest song. I understood what you spoke about in the video but I was wondering if you know of another source such as a book or another website that can help me understand the techniques in more detail. Thank you for help
Hi Michael, I feel like I should have a good answer to your questions about further study, but I don’t! Are you a string player? For me, that is a big part of it, as I hope I have a good feel for what string instruments do. I guess half of the task if simply thinking up sympathetic lines, the other half is knowing what the instruments do.
Hi Peter, I found your videos excellent to watch on youtube. I am 16 and play the piano and compose my own music sibelius. How would you recommend i get into the composing scene? I find this very interesting.
Hope to hear from you soon
Tris
Hi Tris, your question was about getting into the composing scene. There is no simple answer to that (not surprisingly!) but I would recommend a few things that I know are helpful.
Complete as many compositions and recordings as you can. You are developing your style, your character, and each new creative endeavour will help that evolve.
Get feedback for your compositions; from friends, teachers and anyone on the web who will listen.
Join online communities: vi forum, composersforum.ning.com and follow composers on twitter. You’ll find some in my ‘following’ list. Through these social networks, join the conversations with other composers.
You will have a special interest in a particular area probably, so focus on people in that specialism.
If you don’t already have good facilities to record you own compositions (computer, software, virtual and real instruments) invest what you can.
And above all, be individual; sure, take influence from other composers, learn their tricks, copy their styles, but develop your unique voice as this is what will make you stand out from others.
Good luck. Do you have any compositions online yet?
Hi Pete, I just wanted to let you know I’ve been a fan of your work since it was brought to my attention through your ‘Real Strings’ sample series. I’m pleased to say I own 3 of the sample packs through loopmasters and they are outstanding and inspiring to work with. It’s hard not to get carried away with using them all the time but I’ve been layering and editing them to hopefully create unique patterns that don’t just simply copy your work.
I’m currently writing and recording my album ‘Pills for Pills’ and I like to read your a big advocate of ‘real’ musicians! It’s something I work towards everyday…..some call me a pain but I just have to have real instruments!!!! This leads me to the reason I’m contacting you. Whilst working with your loops is an excellent way to write & create demos, I wondered if we could talk more about original arrangements for my songs?
Anyway, I currently have a demo up of one of my original songs ‘In The Road,’ which features your strings! (reverbnation link attached to this comment) I’d love for you to take a listen, see what you think and if I’m someone you’d consider working with some day?
Thanks for your time.
Best Regards,
Andy.
Thanks for your comments Andrew, it really helps to get feedback! I’m listening to In The Road now, very creative use of the loops and excellent, musical, songwriting. Please feel free to contact me if you’d like me to work on an arrangement.
Hi!
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed watching your videos. Looking forward to picking up your loop packs. Nothing like a good string arrangement to put a song over the top.
Best,
sj
Thanks you!
Real Strings Ballads(lol)
Hi, Pete!
I bought Real Strings 1, 2 and 3. Fantastic. Unfortunately some loops change their tone, semitone below or above, using the right bpm.Do you know how to solve this issue? Wave loops should not behave like that.
You created Pads (1), Cinematic (2) and Dark (3), which I bought. I think you could think of with fondness in a strings sample loops for Ballads, with 65 bpm, 70, 75 and 80. In major tom: D, F, G, A and C. With exemple sequences: (D F#m G D A), (D Bm G A), (D A Bm G). Doing the same sequence in F, G, A and C. In minor: Dm, Fm, Gm, Am and Cm
Sequece exemples: (Dm Gm C F),(Dm Bb F C), (Dm E Am A).
I think there is a lack in that area, and with these chord sequences you would cover. I would be the first to buy.
Hi Dalmo, thanks for the feedback, I am always considering new ideas for loops packs, based on the comments of users. The string loops you have come in various formats – I’m not an expert of the Windows version of audio, but I know on a Mac, you would need to use Apple Loops rather than the Wav versions, in order to get the loops to follow pitch and tempo changes. They might be REX or ACID files you need?
Ah, I have read you comment more carefully now! I think when loops are pitch or time changed, the tone will change, particularly if you move a long way from the original time and pitch.
Hi, Pete!
Thanks for the fast feedback.
I’ve been using Sonar x2 on my PC.
.I think the acid format would be better, since some Sonar looplibraries comes in acid loops, including loopmasters beats.
Do you have this format?Can you send me, or can I find it in Loopmasters support?
I commented on the
ballads loops, because I think there is a lack of it in our music market.
We need loops with major tom and those conventional sequences such as (D F#m G A), (D A Bm G) for pop music, with BPM from 65 to 80. I know I can use your pads or held notes to
build these songs, but I’ll never have their articulations, melodies …
You have done a nice job, helping musicians worldwide, giving us
r e a l i s m.
Congratulations!!!
Peace.
I don’t have the Windows formats Dalmo. I think there is usually an option to buy the format you need when you choose a loops pack.
Great job, awesome ….God bless you!!!