25 replies to this topic

[Stefancos]

I am looking for a fairly simple and easy to use orchestral sample program. Doesnt have to be super realistic.

Any suggestions?

[ggctuk]

Depends on how much money you want to spend on a library.

[Stefancos]

Not a lot, something entry level, for a novice.

[Faleel]

finale notepad?

[Stefancos]

I thought Finale was notation software?

Anyone have experience with Garritan?

[InTheCity]

The simplest ones are most likely the Garritan libraries - maybe the EWQL Silver. These are nearly 10 years old now.

Higher Tier stuff comes from:

Cinesamples (www.cinesamples.com) My own company. We record at SONY scoring stage, union.

I also favor LASS from audiobro and the VSL woodwinds from the SE

[ggctuk]

Even EWQLSO Silver is bloody expensive to somebody like me, though (I was lucky to have mine off a friend who managed to save up for the Gold version and no longer needed Silver, but I had looked at the prices beforehand).

[InTheCity]

I think your word expensive is really just a point of view. Having paid for making these libraries, they costs 100's of thousands of dollars to produce. Having access for $399 or whatever is quite friendly.

[Stefancos]

I guess you are right.

Expensive really is a point of few.

I'm just looking to doodle away the lonely hours with something that sounds more realistic them MIDI. 399 is way to much for that.

[lostinspace]

I use EWQL silver (budget version) I think it's about $200USD? I also use Garritan Personal Orchestra 4 which when used with ambience produces some really nice ( but still synth) sounds. Garritan is excellent value for money and it includes heaps of instruments and articulations that you can play with.

[Blumenkohl]

I guess you are right.

Expensive really is a point of few.

I'm just looking to doodle away the lonely hours with something that sounds more realistic them MIDI. 399 is way to much for that.

There's a lot of free more realistic than midi libraries called SoundFonts or VST's out there that'll work with a lot of standard programs. If your program supports sound fonts, these are good resources:

http://www.sf2midi.c...ge=sdet&id=7109

http://www.hammersound.net/

No need to spend $300 or $200 or even $99 if you're just doodling.

[Alexcremers]

I would listen to the demos of affordable libraries like Garritan, East West, et cetera, and then decide. If you want to fool around with plenty of virtual brass and wind instruments, you can download the free trial version of Wallander Instruments. It's fun but you do need a keyboard with aftertouch and controllers (or a midi wind controller) to make them expressive. The great thing about WIVI is that it takes hardly any space on your hard disk.

http://wallanderinst...de=news&lang=en


Alex

[Stefancos]

I found someone fairly close by selling a second hand copy of Garritan Personal Orchestra 4 for cheap, so I will probably go for that.

What's good, simple software to record, mix and edit music from a sample library? Cubase?

[Lundquist]

If you're just starting out with samples, I'd also recommend Sonatina http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/
it's pretty good considering it's free

[Stefancos]

seems right up my street, thank you.

[Stefancos]

Ok so I now have Garritan Personal Orchestra 4. What software can I use to record and edit what I play from there? Again if possible something easy to use.

[Datameister]

REAPER might be a good choice, assuming GPO 4 is a VST.

[filmmusic]

Well, i think the top 2 that are used are Nuendo and Cubase.
I myself use Nuendo.
I'm not an audio specialist or audio technology geek, but I found my way through the basics...

[ggctuk]

I personally use FL Studio. It's given me no problems.

[Stefancos]

REAPER might be a good choice, assuming GPO 4 is a VST.

It is.

I am able to load and play Garritan in REAPER, but when I try to record it won't do it?

[Stefancos]

Why is it that to even get to the basics of these programs you need to be a computer expert?

[Jason LeBlanc]

It took me forever to get Reaper to work right, and I work in IT!

[Stefancos]

But why?
Even if this stuff is geared towards a professional user, there is no reason developers can't make it easy to use.

That's what made Apple so big.

It took me a day for Garritan to work and record in Cubase5, and I'm not even sure how I did it, or that I could do it again.

[MrJosh]

I feel the same, Stefan. I am currently trying to do the same as you...figuring out Reaper. My issue is that I'm too busy with work to get a decent ammount of hours set aside to figure it out.

[Stefancos]

I've bailed on Reaper. Trying Cubase now.

[tharpdevenport]

I use FL Studio, too.

I had many inferior samples, and some even missing, so I had to hunt around. Since then I've deleted over half the stuff it originally came with, re-organized the folder system, and added new instruments and replacement instruments from various sources: many of which professionally recorded, some sounding fantastic, like the cor anglias, bassoon, solo violin.

If anybody has FL Studio and wants to pay shipping and packaging, I can burn what I have to CD-Rs and tell you where to put it*.







* = not dirty.

Here's some music I've created with it (no training, mind you):