Wanting New Gear... Help me choose please.

[mazz]

I wouldn't get the 500 G drives from Apple. They make it really easy to install drives and if you've done one in a G4, it's become even easier. You just have to make sure you get the right flavor of drive but that's easy enough to find out. Places like pricewatch.com have much better prices on things like bare hard drives. That could possibly save you enough for the Kontakt upgrade.The Kontakt upgrade is a cross-grade from the player that comes with EW. You can't use EW until you get Kontakt anyway. Kontakt comes with a large library of very good sounds. The Gold bundle will be overwhelming at first, there's just so many articulations to choose from. If you already have an ear for orchestra composing and some knowledge of the instruments, it will help make your pieces even better. Even so, the learning curve is steep at first. It's a new instrument. Add Stylus to that and you'll be busy!BTW, what is the iLok for? I know it's only 20 bucks but nothing that you are buying requires one, as far as I know. The new EW Play libraries require one and some other software but for right now, I don't think you need one, unless you just want a funny looking thing sticking out of the USB port on your computer! Have fun!Mazz

[matto]

Yeah I agree no iLok is required for any of the stuff you're buying Nick afaik...I know about the Gold Bundle to K3 upgrade...but, depending on what Sweetwater is charging you for the Gold Bundle, you might save that much if you wait to get Gold directly from Soundsonline during one of their sales. They might have one for Memorial Day, if not then for sure for 4th Of July.

[nickfever]

sorry, I was unclear... The composers bundle.

[mazz]

The composer's bundle is AWESOME! And it's a huge amount of stuff to absorb. If you can swing it, go for it but don't expect to get your arms around it in a short time.Cool!Mazz

[matto]

Yeah, plus...there's a fair amount of duplication from Gold and RA in Colossus...k3 may cover a lot of Colossus territory...you may not need RA if you don't do world music...you can find better pianos than the Boesendorfer 290...the choirs are great but a very specialized item...things like that have to be considered I think, particularly if you're not making income from your music.That's what I mean by "buying what you need when you need it". Yeah buying a big bundle of sounds at an awesome price is tempting, but is it going to make you more productive and allow you to write better music? It might, but it might also overwhelm you.It's also importnat to realize that the reason the composer's bundle is such a steal is that most of these are older titles. Not to say that great music can't be made with them...but technology and sound development marches on...You *will* spend more if you buy "a la carte", but in the end it's all about what you get out of it. Getting to really know your sound libraries will usually allow you to write better music than filling your harddrive to capacity with sounds you may not need...Just my opinion...

[nickfever]

pricewatch.com.... I totally forgot about that site!I was thinking I needed the ilok for Eeast West.Mazz, and Matto, I can't thank the 2 of you enough for tall of the info. I REALLY do appreciate it!ok, must digest info and Think.Nick

[nickfever]

ok update,I just ordered the Mac, no extras. I just got Kontakt 3, and I went ahead and got Stylus RMX.I held off on EAST WEST stuff.I am shopping for the best price on RAM and Hard drives.I am thinking mushkin for RAM.Nick

[nickfever]

I just upgraded DP, and ordered hard drives and 4 gigs of RAM.Nick

[nickfever]

oh, and Mazz, I got the 2 hard drives and an additional 4 gigs of RAM for about $400. It would have been $500 just for 2 more gigs of RAM thru Apple.

[nickfever]

Actually if I would have got 2 gigs of RAM thru apple, and the 2 hard drives, it would have been $900, but I ordered 4 gigs of RAM and the 2 hard drives for a total of $430.You saved me more than half on the upgrades!