Definitive Harp

[J. Whaley]

It\'s been a while since I\'ve seen a post regarding harps. I\'m curious what the favorite is. I don\'t really hear a lot about Gary\'s Harp, but I presume it must be pretty good. I\'ve got the AO harps, but I\'m not crazy about them. The glisses in particular aren\'t always what I want. Any suggestions?

[Alexcremers]

Definitely the harp from Xsample!!! It\'s on Xsample 8 and you also get other instruments like psalter, celesta, klavicymbel. The harp is the highlight of the Xsample series.

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Alex Cremers

[MDesigner]

I second that. Xsample harp is really nice. Here\'s what it sounds like:

http://www.samhulick.com/xsampleharp.mp3 (\"http://www.samhulick.com/xsampleharp.mp3\")

[J. Whaley]

thank you for the quick response! I\'ll check it out images/icons/smile.gif

J-

[J. Whaley]

All I hear in the demos is a pluck. Is there any good Glisses?

[MDesigner]

Nope, no glissandos. I use AO for that. Xsample harp has pluck, stopped pluck (in the .mp3 i posted), and harmonics. There\'s actually more than I ever use.. I think there are also pedal sounds I think

[Alexcremers]

It\'s single notes sustained, single notes stop and single notes harmonics. Nothing else. You have to make (play) them yourself.

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Alex Cremers

[J. Whaley]

So the question is at $134 - it\'s not a bad purchase. BUT, is it better to spend $500 and get all 9 CDs? The Double Reeds sound pretty good in the demos..... hummm.....

[Alexcremers]

Oops, too late. Should learn how to type faster.

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Alex Cremers

[J. Whaley]

So does anyone have Giga Harp?

[Alexcremers]

The woodwinds\' staccatos are very good. The sustains are looped and don\'t sound so natural. The harp is a must buy!

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Alex Cremers

[J. Whaley]

while we\'re at it, I\'m also in need of a really great upright bass for a Pit-orch. type sound. Anything available? (Cheap please)

[rob morsberger]

Hi, I have gigaharp. I consider it a definiive representation of the instrument...it has everything you need including harmonics and midi tools to facilitate your own highly authentic gissandi in any key. Couldn\'t be happier.

-Rob

[J. Whaley]

hummm... decisions.....

[rob morsberger]

Hi, I have gigaharp. I consider it a definiive representation of the instrument...it has everything you need including harmonics and midi tools to facilitate your own highly authentic gissandi in any key. Couldn\'t be happier.

-Rob

[Alexcremers]

Listen to the Gigaharp demo if there\'s still is one and then decide.

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Alex Cremers

[DevonB]

My friend owns GigaHarp, and I\'ve played with it. Absolutely GORGEOUS. Certainly a worthy disc to buy.

Devon

[rob morsberger]

Hi, I have gigaharp. I consider it a definiive representation of the instrument...it has everything you need including harmonics and midi tools to facilitate your own highly authentic gissandi in any key. Couldn\'t be happier.

-Rob

[rob morsberger]

I have no idea why my reply is replicating itself....can a moderator please help out here?

Thanks!

[Z6]

I have them both, but I haven\'t touched the Xsample since I got Gigaharp.

The Xsample is very good indeed. I don\'t do any sequencing but I suspect that it would fit nicely with other instruments. I only play it simultaneously with one or maybe two others (in fact, I don\'t play it at all these days).

However, the gigaharp just \'feels\' and sounds perfect to me. Where the Xsample sounds well recorded and clean, the gigaharp sounds full of resonance - as if it\'s right there with you (I don\'t want to get into the old dry/wet thing because it misses the point - imho).

The gigaharp also has a very nifty gliss tool.

So, on solo harp there is no contest: gigaharp wins. In a mix; it would be up to you; the Xsample would sit nicely in the background and I\'m not sure whether gigaharp would or not; it has a lot of sustain/presence.

I like the Xsample. I love the gigaharp. My opinion is based solely on playing; the gigaharp is a joy to play, while the Xsample feels kind of disconnected.

Man, I keep repeating myself cause I can\'t find the right words: one last try - Xsample feels like playing a very good recording of a harp; Gigaharp feels like playing a very good harp.

[A_Sapp]

I have gigaharp as well, and it\'s pretty good. The thing I don\'t like out about is is that there are no soft plucks. All the attacks, even soft velocities are sharp. I would like the xsample harp so I can make some pretty arpeggiations with passages, but I don\'t care to get the celesta with it. I\'ve heard much praise for the vsl harp and the one in ewqlso is nice too.

[J. Whaley]

Well, I could be stupid but I can\'t find a demo. Does anyone know where a demo would be for Giga Harp? Also on Harps.com Gary announces a new \"heavenly Harps\" collection. Does anyone know anything about it?

[Duncan Brinsmead]

I have the Garritan harp, and find that it is one of the most present, or live sounding, of my sample sets. What I miss are things that are standard with piano samples: release samples( i.e. finger stops, not reverb), and multiple velocity layers. Nail vs. flesh plucks would be nice as well. I think that until someone includes all of this we will not have a true solo harp.

[Alexcremers]

Originally posted by J. Whaley:
Well, I could be stupid but I can\'t find a demo. Does anyone know where a demo would be for Giga Harp? Also on Harps.com Gary announces a new \"heavenly Harps\" collection. Does anyone know anything about it? <font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">You\'ll find demos on this page!!!


Gigasampler Mp3 Demos (\"http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:u6AOi0innW8J:www.nemesysmusic.com/sounds/mp3/mp3.html+Gigasampler+gigaharp+demo&hl=en&ie=UTF-8\")


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Alex Cremers

[Alexcremers]

This one takes you straight to it.


Gigaharp MP3 demos 2 (\"http://www.nemesysmusic.com/sounds/mp3.html#gg_harp\")


IMHO, this harp doesn\'t sound orchestral. It\'s too twangy (perhaps sharp). It\'s a good harp for Eastern flavored music. Xsample comes closer to the harpsolo on Angela\'s Ashes (J. Williams).

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Alex Cremers

[scores4film]

The VSL harp is even better than the xsample.

-C

[J. Whaley]

and how much IS VSL? Xample is a fine $134. not too shabby images/icons/smile.gif I like cheap if the difference is minimal.

[esperlad]

I also think the VSL harp is the best one avalible today. The single notes are great, plus there are muted notes, a \'mandolin\' effect, as well the large of amount of glissandi.

The harp is packaged with the string set. The glissandi come with the performance set.