How to synchronize sustain strings with the rest of the orchestra?

Question

I am trying to write a track that has sustain strings and when I listen to it, it seems to me that the strings are delayed with respect to the rest of the orchestra. Strings have a slower attack and they sound as if they are not synchronized with other instruments, can you suggest a way to fix this? I know I must play them earlier so they can catch up with the other instruments, but how much earlier should they play to synchronize with a pluck sounding instrument like celesta?

Answer 1

It's important to remember that the attack of a bowed string instrument is only inherently slower than a plucked string due to the bow itself. It has been displayed many times over that both bow speed and bow pressure affects the speed, volume, and timbre of the tone being played.

Additionally, consider that notes that are plucked and bowed on the same beat by different instruments will fill different aural and temporal spaces. The sustain of the bowed strings will hold when the plucked string fades, whereas the transient of the plucked string will be more prominent right on the beat. If it's critical that you hear the bowed strings at the same intensity as the plucked strings, consider adding a sforzando or fortepiano performance note for your bowed string players.

With that said, I'd caution against being too specific in your performance direction. The beauty of music, especially for large ensembles, is in the interpretation of the composition by the performers and the conductor. Also consider who the work is commissioned for, or who is likely to perform it. Precise synchronization across many instruments is extremely difficult, even for the highest-skilled players. Instead, I'd suggest letting the natural characteristic of each instrument shine and simply allow each one do what they do best.

Hope this was helpful. Happy composing!