Re: Good deals and good tools

crs7string · Post by **crs7string** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:17 am

This doesn't fall under the good deal category but I recently got Ivory and it's IMO a great piano plug in. It has the reputation as a resource hog. (The library is 40 gigs!!! I've installed it on an external firewire drive)Recent software upgrades have improved load times and it is far more efficient now. The pianos are tweakable in terms of tuning, position (player vs. audience perspective) and the built in effects sound good.I'm using it as a vst plug in in Sonar 6 and have had absolutely NO issues. Also, no dongle!!!ChuckI just received the Twisted and Claustraphobic expanders for EZ Drummer. I'll report back on these soon.

mazz · Post by **mazz** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:59 am

Vienna is closing out some of their libraries. Apparently they are moving away from the Kontakt family of software. One place that is selling it is: http://www.audiomidi.com/Vienna-Symphon ... id=2706For some reasonably priced sampled acoustic instruments try http://www.store.precisionsound.net/ they have some exotic stuff not normally seen on this side of the pond. Most stuff is downloadable.....Nine Volt Audio has some good REX files that load in to Stylus very nicely.Mazz

anne · Post by **anne** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:07 am

I purchased EWQLSO silver pro xp bundle for mac and windows for 195 at SoundsOnline. Excellent deal, if I can get it working .Is there anybody that can help me get my plugin recognized by Logic? I have searched all of the help files / faq / forums - It seems to work as a standalone item but it isn't being recognized in Logic at all. Thanks

mazz · Post by **mazz** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:27 am

Anne, I don't know Logic specifically but I do use the EWQLSO orchestra. Make sure you've installed the AU version of the plug in. Logic wasn't running when you installed it, right? Some programs run a check for plug-ins when they first start up. Digital Performer (what I use) does a scan during start up and if there is something new installed, it performs a check to make sure it meets the AU specs. Also, the Kontakt player software does not work with Intel Mac. If you have one, you won't be able to use the software unless you buy Kontakt 2. I think you can get a crossgrade but you will still have to fork over some more cash.East/West tech support is pretty responsive, I suggest you send them an e-mail.Good luck,Mazz

anne · Post by **anne** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:57 am

Hi Mazz - the first time I installed it Logic was running I did send off an email to EW tech support just now. Thanks! I found the AU folder - I just don't know where it is supposed to go for Logic to see it. Same with the VST folder. I have now reinstalled it for the 5th time - 2 are my own mistakes - and I'm waiting for the response from EW. It is working as a standalone though - that much is fine - so I do believe I'm just doing something incorrectly as I purchased the bundle version, which will run on the Intel Macs, but it doesn't have very good instructions with it.

crs7string · Post by **crs7string** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:02 pm

This is a GOOD Deal if you have a need for atmospheric, ambient, and some "weird" stuff.Worth every one of the $30 you'll spend, check out Golden ASEThttp://www.artvera-music.coClick on the Products header. There are online demos etc. It's a download and seems to be very stable.Chuck

mazz · Post by **mazz** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:46 pm

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the Kompakt interface the ships with Silver is not compatible with Intel Macs. Look at the paragraph at the bottom of this page. It sucks that East/West didn't make this clearer on their product page, at least I couldn't find it at a glance. I hope I'm wrong! Kontakt 2 is fantastic and is much more memory efficent but it isn't free http://www.native-instruments.com/index ... 0a&flash=8

anne · Post by **anne** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:12 pm

A GOOD DEALHere is a good way to get some good sounding samples that work as an pluginhttp://andydrabble.users.btopenworld.com/soundfontcatalog/moreinfo.html

og · Post by og » Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:36 pm

Iwas looking on the sounds online page--if a package says GIGA or AKAI or something after the name, does that mean you need special software to use the samples? Or will they still work in Live or Sonar as single loops?

mazz · Post by **mazz** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:11 pm

GIGA and AKAI are proprietary formats that would need to be converted prior to use. There are 3rd party programs such as CDXTRACT or Translator that will do the conversion. Kontakt 2 will convert most formats as well. Usually the samples come through fine, the programming (filters, envelopes, etc.) sometimes doesn't get fully translated. An AKAI or GIGA disc cannot be read directly by a Windows or Mac computer. The software mentioned above will also convert Roland, EMU and SampleCell discs as well.There are some great deals right now on AKAI, Roland, etc., discs since those formats are pretty much obsolete right now in the world of computer based sampling. The loops and samples tend to be short due to the limitations of the hardware that the sounds were programmed for but there are still some very nice libraries out there for deeply discounted prices. I would recommend Quantum Leap Guitar/Bass and Quantum Leap Brass in any format. If you use Reason, there is a program called Reload from Propellerheads that will convert AKAI discs to NNXT formatted programs. I've used all the software I mentioned above except Translator and they all work pretty well.Good luck,Mazz