Best Orchestral Libraries - The Oscar goes to...

[jubal]

ok...so since we have a shortage of opinions on this forum I\'ll give my first pass list (as well as runner ups). I don\'t include ones I don\'t own.

Strings:
(1) GOS
(2) Miroslav
(3) Kirk Hunter
(4) Advanced Orchestra

Brass:
Ens
(1)QLB
(1)AO
QLB is not complete enough so I use them both
Solo
(1) DDSB
They all play pretty nice together.

Woodwinds:
Ens
(1) Miroslav Mini ****
Sorry it\'s the only one I have.
Solo
(1) DDSW
(2) XSample
I like XSamples Oboe and English Horn a bit more than DD
Percussion:
(1) UOP
(2) AO
I know...LOP is better..don\'t own it yet
Piano
If I had to choose one...it would be Malmsjo by Hans...very nice

Choir:
(1) Symphony of Voices
(1) Voices of the Apocalypse
(1) Vocal Planet
sheesh....I can\'t choose...SoV and Vocal Planet have more breadth...VotA has more depth..if that makes sense.

FX (in no particular order):
GOS, AO (comes with the brass disc), Total Piano, SoV, Drone Archeology

Just my opinion...of course.


[This message has been edited by jubal (edited 04-10-2002).]

[composer22]

My vote:

DDSW
DDSB + QLB
LOP
Ultmarima/Vib
UltTimp
Malmsjo PA
Giga PA
Total PA (FX)
GigaHarp
DDSS
GOS

Other:
Native American
Ethnic World
QLGuitar + Bass

XMAS LIST
XSample 10 + 11 (solo string FX)
BardstownAudio PA
Symphony of Voices
Heart of Asia
Distorted Reality 2 - \"Darkness & Light\"

[nf]

I would like to know what libraries do you prefer for each section of the orchestra,ie, best library for woodwinds, best library for brass, best library for percussion, best library for strings. If you want to split in solo and ensemble, even better.
And the Oscar goes to ...

[buluba]

Woodwind http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gifD & X-Sample
Brass-QLB
Strings.-GOS & AO

[Zelota]

Hi, nobody likes Ultimate Strings for Ensembles, and Dan Dean Solo Strings, for solos??

Peace

[jubal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=\"1\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Zelota:
Hi, nobody likes Ultimate Strings for Ensembles, and Dan Dean Solo Strings, for solos??

Peace<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

oops...yeah...Dan Dean Solo Strings for the vibrato...XSamples for non-vibrato and fx.

[Z6]

The one I enjoy most is the Malmsjo piano. It is joy. I cannot stay away from it. It doesn\'t sound \'perfect\' by any means, but I think this is where it really shines, it plays like a real instrument and has the most beautiful rich sound.

Rare Instruments is also wonderful.

Both of these libraries are a credit to their creators. I can\'t believe that libraries could get any better than this; different maybe, but not better.

[composer22]

I agree about the Malmsjo. Its really nce...not perfect...but warm and sensitive

DDSS is good. the demo doenst do it justice. I don\'t own the Xsamples versions yet, but they should be concidered as supplements.

[buluba]

...And Percussion:
Ultimate Orchestral Percussion.

[EviLjuaN]

Indeed the full library is expensive... I\'m still paying for them, and will be for a long time yet. But if you\'re composing for a living, I would still consider it a wise investment - it\'s not like the sounds will ever go out of date. http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif

I play my work for people all the time, including heavy-duty orchestra types (including a former conductor for Phantom of the Opera here in Toronto) and they\'re continually blown away.*

*by the samples, not by my compositions. http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by EviLjuaN (edited 04-12-2002).]

[composer22]

go with London Orchestra Percussion, not Ultimate

[EviLjuaN]

I don\'t have experience with all the libraries that have been mentioned in this thread, but in my opinion, and despite its geezerdom, the Miroslav library still outshines all the rest. The samples aren\'t absolutely pristine and there is background noise and air, but that\'s what makes them so great. Certain solo brass and woodwind legato samples are so expressive that you find yourself lead from note to note by the samples themselves. Yes, corny, but oh so very true http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif GOS can\'t be beaten for its variety, no question, but to my ears the section string samples of Miroslav can\'t be bested - so beautiful and airy. And relating to a current hot topic on this forum, the samples are mic\'d in such a way that a lot of hall ambience has been captured, which makes the samples even more exquisite.

I suppose my top 3 orch. libraries would be:

1. Miroslav
2. GOS
3. AO

[This message has been edited by EviLjuaN (edited 04-12-2002).]

[Z6]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=\"1\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by EviLjuaN:
I don\'t have experience with all the libraries that have been mentioned in this thread, but in my opinion, and despite its geezerdom, the Miroslav library still outshines all the rest.
[This message has been edited by EviLjuaN (edited 04-12-2002).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It\'s hard to disagree about the Miroslav, but they are so damned expensive! (Damn)