Vienna SE vs. EWQL Gold XP

[matto]

Quote:Thanks Mazz,Between your last post, Matto saying I could consider it, and listening to the audio demos on Soundsonline again, I've decided to order Platinum. The bar keeps getting raised, so I want to make sure I jump high enough. I'll install more RAM and hopefully that'll be enough.I'm planning to place my order this weekend, so now is the time for anyone to speak out if it's not realistic to run everything on one computer (hardware stats up above).I hope I'm not too late to throw a monkey wrench into the proceedings but, if I had about a grand to spend on orchestral libraries, and was starting from scratch, i would get the Gold bundle ($445) AND Vienna SE basic edition ($445).This would give you the best of both worlds and provide you with a much wider and richer palette than Platinum, for about the same money.I think the solo woodwinds in EWQL are it's weakest point, and this is where Vienna shines the brightest. You don't really need the extended edition of SE since those are different, more specialized instruments. And 80-90 of the time, you'll be using the "F" samples in Platinum, which are the equivalent to Gold.Quite frankly the 16 vs 24bit issue isn't a real issue IMHO (btw SE is 24bit). Particulary when compared with the greater palette and agility you'd get from combining these two excellent, but yet very differently focused libraries.You could e.g make an SE solo woodwind or trumpet (with performance legato ) soar over the lush Gold background, which IMHO would give a richer and more realistic sound than using the close mic'd Platinum samples combined with the F or S samples.I've been using the Garritan Stradivarius Violin and Gofriller Cello mixed with Gold strings and have been extremely pleased with the results, this would give you similar possibilities for all sections of the orchestra.Anyway...just something (else ) to consider.matto

[mazz]

Matto,Any other woodwind libraries that you'd recommend besides the Vienna? For brass I've added the SAM Orchestral Brass and the solo French Horn is amazingly expressive.Just a shout out to matto for suggesting the Garritan idea to me at the Road Rally, I'd already had the Stradivarius but hadn't really used it yet and I tried what he suggested and it's working out really well.Most MIDI orchestration books recommend running different libraries in conjunction (if possible) just for more realism. Even if the drier Vienna strings were layered behind the lush Gold ones it would give a unique sound that might be more realistic, if the mix and the initial tracking/editing is done carefully.More food for thought!Mazz

[matto]

I don't own these (yet) but I've heard great things about the Westgate Modular Series:http://www.westgatestudios.com/modular.htmThe demos sound impressive and the list of sampled articulations is comprehensive, even includes true legato samples (check the "Oboe product features tour" for an overview of what they have to offer).The price seems very fair and you can buy them one instrument at a time which I think is great and speaks for the developer's confidence in his product.I actually like the flutes in Gold, it's the reeds I'm not in love with (and I don't think I'm alone there...). They work okay in context but it would be nice to have true solo grade reeds.

[mazz]

The oboe demos sound great and the ability to download one at a time is a good feature.I've struggled with the clarinets in EW, although some of the oboe and english horn stuff is pretty good, at least I've been able to get it to work. I agree, the flutes are good.Thanks for the info, Matt!MazzEDIT: I love the Westgate Bb clarinet sound on the demos!! I think they nailed it!

[matto]

Quote:I've struggled with the clarinets in EW, although some of the oboe and english horn stuff is pretty good, at least I've been able to get it to work.Oh I think they certainly work, they're just not at the same level as the rest of the library IMHO.But that's normal, every library will have it's strength and weaknesses. Overall I'm extremely pleased with Gold XP.Quote:...the ability to download one at a time is a good feature.Exactly, you can download the main solo instrument of each series at minimum cost and then still upgrade to the whole pack (DVD) for just the difference in price...frankly I can't believe I haven't tried at least on of these... Must...resist...temptation...

[zircon]

RE: the release tails in Gold messing up legato scripting...Get Kontakt 2 (or 3, I suppose at this point.) You can simply delete the release tail groups of a patch, just for the project that you're working on. It's incredibly easy. You can also use Kontakt's programming capability combined with free scripts to add greater realism to either VSL OR QLSO (at least, the older versions of VSL) - check this article out...http://neobustatunez.livejournal.com/2990.html#cutid1

[rayzer]

Matto,No, you're not too late. I was going to order Platinum around noon today, but went to Guitar Center first to buy EZdrummer (on sale for $99!)Gold AND Vienna SE! What an awesome idea! The best of both! I love it! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!Combining string sections is another great thought. Thanks, Mazz!I can't wait to get started! P.S. I'm not usually an exclamation point type of guy (I leave that sort of behavior to my wife), but this is so cool! Oops, there I go again.Thank you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mazz]

Quote:RE: the release tails in Gold messing up legato scripting...Get Kontakt 2 (or 3, I suppose at this point.) You can simply delete the release tail groups of a patch, just for the project that you're working on. It's incredibly easy. You can also use Kontakt's programming capability combined with free scripts to add greater realism to either VSL OR QLSO (at least, the older versions of VSL) - check this article out...http://neobustatunez.livejournal.com/29 ... cutid1Yeah Zircon,i hear you, I need to watch my Kontakt DVD in order to learn to use it for more than a playback machine! But if I delete the release trails, I lose one of the big reasons I bought the EW library in the first place, the sound of the hall the instruments were recorded in!! I'll give it a shot, though!Thanks,Mazz

[hummingbird]

Quote:Somewhat related, Sounds Online's holiday sale has some interesting deals for orchestra and other instruments:http://www.soundsonline.com/2007-Holida ... 01.htmlOMG!!!! The Gold Bundle is on sale for $445 & shipping is free Thanks for posting this!!

[mazz]

The choir is great, I haven't used it that much but with the ability to "sing" words, it really has some uses. I think you hear it in trailers all the time, singing some latin sounding stuff. It comes with a bunch of latin phrases already programmed in. Like anything, it takes some time to get up to speed with it.Mazz