Should you choose instruments based on sound or theme?

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a xylophone does NOT belong in something like the Odessa Steps sequence. too bad you don't know any cello players, a cello can be both bowed and plucked.

Yeah I thought the choice of a xylophone was definitely interesting. Another example of a xylophone used in suspense music is in this clip at 2:08 in the clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3altR0wWF-4&t=141s

And they also use it throughout this chase music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TaCuvDaFTU

Oh but even though a cello could be plucked, wouldn't a plucked cello not sound percussive enough and sound too melodic for that type of effect? It's just for that for something like that Odessa steps music, I asked if a piano would work before, since I already budgeted for that, and know a piano player, it was said before in another thread of mine that piano wouldn't be percussive enough compared to the xylophone for that effect. So if that's true, would a cello not be any better than a piano therefore?

google "chronos quartet" as they do percussive things with their stringed instruments.

Oh okay thanks. I listened to a bit and will listen to more when I get home, thanks .

So if I decide not to go with a xylophone then and use strings as percussion, with instruments I already have samples of, then I guess that means I can by the classical guitar samples instead. But I also have to choose between a duduk and a cello, but since I really like the sound of both, do you know how choose between the two?

the duduk at least in samples is gonna be hard to percussion-ize. but the cello far less of a problem. cello lets you get two for one.

Oh sorry. What I meant was there is another section of my music entirely where I don't want percussion but a long lasting sounding instrument. I wand the the tune to sound like the duduk, in this example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssHHOejixY0

But if I want something like that, I could also use a cello, since I find they sound alike, and like them both. But if I am only going to use one, how do you decide which one to use, if they both sound similar and like both?

do like a lot of video or film music directors do and go for the less expensive option. budgets ye shall always have with you.

Oh well if I buy samples, the price is the same almost, just not sure I want to buy both.

so save money and choose the jack of all trades instrument.

Oh I'm not sure which one that would be though.

being that you seem to be fond of the duduk, if you had an expert player on hand, he or she could make percussive sounds come from it, in person, not from samples.

Oh okay, but I wasn't planning on having percussive sounds from the duduk or cello.

what does the producer or director think?

Oh well I am also the producer and director but I am not sure. There is just so much to choose from of course .

^^^i am sure you'll do alright.

Oh okay, thanks .

Well when it comes to deciding the instruments in the budget, which approach should one take:

1. You pick the instruments you like the sound of the most, and try to come up with tracks score around that.

or:

2. You listen to score track samples that inspire you and use the instruments in those ones, because they are in the context that inspired you.

Or is the first one better, because you are picking what you think sounds best for your own context?