Fascinating stuff, as I am always interested in learning how various people hear things differently.
Also, I re-read the thread to refresh and have some additional thoughts-
First off, the O/P said H/F and only in one note, which both may have misled me. Then later identified 3.2kHz or something which isn't really H/F to me, then @squeekie describes something like white noise on all (or more) samples..... Maybe we are talking about the same thing, or not, I cant say...
I'll get back to that.
First my audio example. Noting that I posted an MP3 strictly because of forum limitations. I created a quality wav version and didn't think the difference was significant enough in this instance to warrant the extra hassle of hosting it elsewhere for those who chose to check it out.
The file is six sounds.
Reminder:
Possibly interesting to others.sjoens wrote:Out of the 6, I can hear it on 2, 3, 4, & 6.
#1 is an IKM Sampletank2 string section. Cello based as I recall.
#2 is Acoustica hall strings slow, with a minor tweak to the EQ preset to reduce the "brassiness" that I previously mentioned- Sounds more "woody" to my ear and taste.
#3 is Sampletank2 again, this time I believe it was a violin section.
#4 we are back to Acoustica hall strings slow, this time unmodified.
#5 is a string sample from a simple string section VSTi that is included in a competitors DAW. To me, though dry and in need of some "sweetening" it is a pretty realistic sample.
#6 is a trick. Its all 5 blended together, roughly level matched to the others and a minor amount of panning of a couple to add interest.
So interestingly, sjoens says he hears the "artifact" in all but the cello section.
(Noting that violin does often have some harsh overtones where cello is often "mellower". Just a thought.)
But going back to squeekies description, there might be something to that. (Perhaps I was "looking" in the wrong place?)
What I do hear in some of the samples, is very subtle, and not what I would describe as a "background" sound or "white noise" but I would describe it a little differently.
Many of the samples have a very slight, perhaps I would say "overtone" or something, that I would say is similar to the "buzz" or "Zzzz" of bow hair on the strings. I know its probably not that, but that's what I would describe. If you play the fiddle or similar, you hear it. Close mic position would hear it. And I say not a "background" noise because what I hear seems to begin the sample, and end with it so to speak? And I haven't checked to see, but I bet its close to 3.2K as well? And perhaps it is ever so slightly more noticeable in the one note described? And perhaps our O/P is sensitive to that frequency or tone? (It isn't uncommon.)
Another factor might be part of focusing on the solo sound and it may not be an issue in context at all. I always caution about this, as it is a common issue. What sounds like a problem in solo may be fine in context and even more so, what sounds great in context often sounds pretty bad if you solo the individual sounds or tracks.....
Maybe a factor, maybe not.
And either way, some of these aren't exactly high end sample sets either, no offense intended. But they are a great leap above old general MIDI sounds, and quite usable in many cases. I don't know their origin or make up, so I can only guess, but there are many options if they don't suite ones needs. Or one could change them from the given preset and for instance use a higher quality reverb on them, etc?
I like realism, but honestly, as pads and such, these can be pretty good.