qlegato what do you think?

[wlahc1]

So has anybody listend to the new stuff, what do you think? I dont think that counts as advertising as i did not mention any comany and am just asking an opion.

[midphase]

Not impressed from what I heard.

[dpasdernick]

Not impressed from what I heard.

Kays,

I own Gold and won Gold Pro XP in the Xmas contest last year (sorry pattin' myself on the back here;) I really like the sound of the Qlegato. Are you using an orchestral library? As far as I know the only libabry that really has addressed legato issues ,in a big way, is VSL (of course I could be wrong;))

I'm listening to the "microquartet" demo as I type and it sounds pretty darn nice. Just curious as to what your ears are hearing that mine aren't (aside from voices in my head, and the echo all those late night drum solos I used to have to do when the keyboard player was too drunk to finish the set...)

All the very best,

Darren

[TheLastCrusader]

it sounds amazing. with qlegato, this is probably the most complete lib on the market today

[ArsNova]

qlegato is a vast improvement imo. Problem being that it does add a lot of artificiallity that I really don't hear in the VSL legato. I'm curious to find out how it passes by clients as they are the first ones usually to knock down anything that sounds "fake".

But in terms of being a vast improvement in a sample library xppro delivers.

Ars

[leogardini]

There´s no Qlegato...the legatos still the same as the previous version , fake ones...I don´t understand how someone can say it sounds good...
...but the library surelly has been improved a lot in all sections!!!

[wes37]

On the whole, I think a great library just got even better!

Hopefully someone will post a comparison between VSL's legato and the same passage with QLegato.

[Edward]

I was also disappointed, but too much hype always tends to lead to that. I guess I will wait to hear the impressions from users and their demos before I render a complete verdict.

[davecos]

I was a wee disappointed with some of the sounds I heard in some of the demos. But then again, I heard some great things. Folmann's demos were excellent. He used all of the sounds to their strengths. I think it's a mistake to orchestrate for sampled orchestra the same way one would for real orchestra. I mean, if the end goal is to achieve a completely realistic sound. There are limitations to ANY sampled library and hence one has to play up the strengths of each library. I don't like hearing fast runs on libs that don't have them built in (like the performance articulations in VSL) because string runs sound like poo poo without a legato or blending of notes. My opinion of course.

I pre-ordered Silver Pro XP so I'll be investigating these Qlegatos further. Not bowled away by them thus far though.

[davecos]

There´s no Qlegato...the legatos still the same as the previous version , fake ones...I don´t understand how someone can say it sounds good...
...but the library surelly has been improved a lot in all sections!!!


you are profoundly misinformed good sir. there are several examples of Qlegatos in the demos, some more successful than others.

[midphase]

IMHO, VSL legato tool sounds really good, QLegato sounds, well, I don't quite know what it sounds like but it ain't what the name implies to my ears.

It's possible that the demos don't do it justice, but when I compare those demos with similar ones I hear on the VSL site, the VSL ones sound a heck of a lot more believable to me.

I do happen to use QLSO Gold daily in orchestral composition, there are many things that I like about it and some things I'm not crazy about. Based on the Pro demos, I don't think that I'll be purchasing the new library...but if I hear a demo that really shows the QLegato sounding like I think it should sound, then I will be more than happy to reconsider.

If anyone around here happens to already have the library, and would like to post a solo passage which demonstrates what the QLegato really sounds like, I'd love to hear that!

[leogardini]

you are profoundly misinformed good sir. there are several examples of Qlegatos in the demos, some more successful than others.
Misinformation is when you believe in everything you hear good sir...
...as I said , it still sounding like the first edition...nothing has changed regarding legatos!!!

[lumpyhed]

I was glad to hear some nice string portamentos in there, but i did not hear anything that sounded like the slow legato patches of VSLs Concert Strings or the living legato patches of the VSL flute. infact for the best part it did not sound any more realistic in that aspect in comparision to GPOs approach.

It is however a noticeable improvement over the original library, and its more orchestra-in-a-can than its ever been which is nice for having 'everything' in one place to work from. :)

[davecos]

Misinformation is when you believe in everything you hear good sir...
...as I said , it still sounding like the first edition...nothing has changed regarding legatos!!!

Quite true. I meant to say that you are mistaken. I do hear a difference in the lines that are legato compared to the original EWQLSO versions. However, I don't think they are as overt as VSL performance legatos. I do agree with you on that.

[FV]

Hi,

It is interesting. I personally don't think that Qlegato is the only thing to buy the Pro upgrade for. From what I can hear in the demos, the sound quality has improved quite a bit over the first version of QLSO. I'm hearing better staccato in many of the different instrument groups, they've toned down some of the brightness in the library, and it seems possible (or at least easier) to get a more intimate sound. From the articulation list, they have also provided more flexibility as well.

In some areas, Qlegato appears to work fine and in other areas, it does sound quite fake. There were some passages where it just sounded like a slurred mess. I know that when you have an ensemble playing a run the notes slur but not in this way (at least to my ears).

It was inevitable that Qlegato would be compared to VSL's legato. It's too bad as I remember Nick saying that it wasn't the same approach as VSL's legato and, as such, would not be able to compete with it certain areas. He said that in some areas, it would work better and in others, VSL would still work better.

For myself, I'll probably get the PRO XP upgrade. I do think that it is an improvement myself. If Qlegato was the only thing that we were getting in the upgrade, I probably wouldn't feel the same though.

FV

[PaulR]

Not impressed from what I heard.

Liked the demos - particularly ones from Richard Birdsall and Anton - but that's just musical taste. A good writer will make any library sound good actually, if they are prepared to jump through the convoluted software hoops these companies set them.

On Q Legato - gotta say, listened to all the demos and couldn't hear the difference - or that much difference. The sound is good though - it was before. I was waiting for some really hot new things in terms of string sounds - didn't really hear any. The legato thing that we all discuss from time to time is not the be all and end all anyway - it's useful to be sure - but VSL still own the rights on that one - make no mistake - it's the sampled intervals that do it for me.
Obsessionally, I would say, give people bite sized chunks library wise - not these massive great lumbering libs whereby three quarters of it won't get used. The Horizon series is a good example of the way to go imo.

Soft silky resonating strings - JW style violin section lead line sounds etc.

However, best of luck to the EW team and great success, given all the work they put into this new upgrade. :)

[leogardini]

For sure there´s much more good things than bad ones...actually there´s nothing bad , it´s only the Qlegato that seems not to work...I could hear good things with the run simulator and some real intervals portamento , but Qlegato leave to desire...
...anyway , the library has been improved a lot due to the good choices of new articulation and instruments...it´s worth upgrading!!!

[davecos]

FV, I agree with you on that. I spent an hour today playing through VSL sounds loaded into a Mac at Saved by Technology and although they didn't have the performance tool activated, I wasn't floored by that either. I know the perf tool is almost mandatory to get the samples to breath and I love my VSL included sounds with Kontakt 2- perhaps that's the problem- I already feel like I have quite a lot of great VSL sounds. EWQLSO Pro upgrades do have tghe benefit of offering more than just the Qlegato. Solo strings are included now, alternate articulations, wider diversity of instruments, etc. I find that balancing between both EW and VSL yields some terrific results.

[ArsNova]

I already feel like I have quite a lot of great VSL sounds.

Quite true. They gave away a lot of good stuff with K2. 15gigs is a lot. I think we're so spoiled these days. A few years ago just the freebee k2 vls library would have dwared all other libraries.

Now we have choices and we're getting really picky.

xppro is a great library. But like any library it's not going to do it all. But what it can do is remarkable.

Ars

[Haydn]

I thought most of the demos sounded quite good although I still think the strings sound synthetic. The woodwinds are definitely much better than the original library.

Was it my ears or is there tuning problems in the Venus demo?

[brilohead]

I thought most of the demos sounded quite good although I still think the strings sound synthetic. The woodwinds are definitely much better than the original library.

Was it my ears or is there tuning problems in the Venus demo?

You mean that wasn't done to add "realism"?

[wlahc1]

It could have been?

[ArsNova]

Oboe is still flat. That's the trademark ewqlso sound though. I actually have gotten use to it and no client has ever complained of a flat sounding oboe.


Ars

[command_shift]

Was it my ears or is there tuning problems in the Venus demo?

Yeah. I found it pretty bad too, glad it wasn't just me. I can live with 'human' tuning to a point, but this was uncomfortable IMO. I couldn't use that tuning ''as is".

[brilohead]

It could have been?

I guess it didn't come across but I was trying (vainly) to be sarcastic. I need to use emoticons more :o :) :D :( Poor tuning in the original sample is probably what it was. I only hope they release a patch to fix it.

Tuning like that is particularly noticeable when woodwinds (or oboe and anything) are playing in unison. It's hard to play in real life but really, with tuners and equal temperament there's not much excuse (except the bordom of playing not by note, over and over).

Ars, I'll have to check the oboe in Gold. I have noticed minor tuning descrepencies. One is some of the clarinet releases. The releases seem to be flatter than the body of the sample.

All in all, the demos have a good sound and I'm looking forward to my copy but the legato makes me want to get VSL performance set more than ever (or the Garritan Strad for solo violin). The difference in realistic performance between the QLSO and VSL is very apparent. I'm sure we would all want both though!

Cheers,

Christiaan

[ELP71]

I've listened over and over, and though there's much to like I'm not 'blown away' by the QLegato examples I've heard, nor with the 'run simulator' patches. It just sounds synthy to me. Now, I am aware that it IS in fact a 'synth' (read: sampler) and a certain level of realism is accepted, but I think we've all been a little too anticipatory with regard to these mysterious patches.

I think the articulation choices, the additional smaller 'sections', and additional instruments (esp. additions to the percussion) are welcome and a worthwhile investment.

I keep going back and forth...I'm thinking I need to add more intimate sounds than even this lib can offer...not that I will stop using the 'earlier version' of the lib that I use daily.

[davecos]

I think another poster hit the nail on the head- there are advantages to having EWQLSO and VSL samples. I find VSL very defined and more "classical" sounding in the sense of concert arrangements. The performance legatos in VSL probably will never be outdone. They are truly spectacular. But EWQLSO offers some great things too- fat, warm sounding samples and in Gold, an environment to compose in without worrying about added effects/ambience. I have a chance to get Opus 1 but I'm waiting for my Pro upgrade to arrive since its paid for and might add just what I need. I have VSL instruments in Kontakt 2 and I was surprised when I was playing through the full set of VSL that a LOT of quality samples were included with K2. Legato horns and flute are to die for!

I think most sampled orchestral libraries these days has something to offer to be honest. I even use the Apple Symphonic Jam Pack on my Mac in tandem with K2 and EWQLSO because it does some things very well. And it's not too excessive on the processor.

I think we're all very lucky to be composers/musicians at this time. I remember trying to sketch orchestral pieces out on an ESQ-1 back in the late '80s- what a hassle!!!!

[lumpyhed]

I think we're all very lucky to be composers/musicians at this time.

Quoted for frickin truth!

[ArsNova]

I don't think that the demos of proxp have fully exploited what the new library can do or is. But for me it is very different in a lot of ways from the old library and I go back and forth because I don't want to give up the old library.


SISS has some good stuff and as far as intimate more warm sounding I think I shoud go with that at least for the strings. And the oboe in SISS is to die for but I'd hate to pay $800 just for an oboe so I'll stick with the strings.

I really think that even with the stuff I have in my library I'm set. So it's become tough to justify any huge expenditures on samples anymore. So these days I'm looking a lot at the mini versions of stuff. And, again, the included k2 library is saving my arse more and more everyday! Anybody that isn't using K2 is mising out and probably wasting a lot of money on samples. From VSL to Asian percussion, jeez almightly! This library dwarfs all my other libraries that I spent years to collect.

Too bad SISS didn't add anything to K2. Maybe I'll talk to that Sonic Implant guy. Is he still around?



Ars

[greatzed]

VSL still rules in the realism department. They've got the right idea.