last important question before making the GS plunge !

[sirbellog]

Okay, I made my mind and I’m \"one-music-retailer away\" from joining the GS users band !
But I have a last important question (have been waiting 2 days for Nemesys answer to that, am still waiting….), and let me introduce it in 2 points :
1) GS 96 fits my budget far better (the whole Giga setup will make me nearly broke for some weeks at best).
2) GS 96 seems to fully meet my polyphony needs, since, to be quite frank, I’m not musically able to manage more than a few instruments and voicings at once… And about FX section, I’ll have a multiple outputs card, and two good external FX processors on my 03D, so the NFX extras are not necessary.
-------
SO GS 96 SEEMS to be the right answer for me, BUT for one thing MAYBE….
and here‘s why I GREATLY need advice :
I saw that GS96 has a 2 « multi-level » capacity, vs 4 for GS 160.
I believe (from what I understood) it’s the number of layers available in a program, am I right ? So I’d really appreciate people to tell me if the « only 2 » of GS 96 is a severe limitation in real life, when wanting to play sophisticated instruments (such as the Scarbee’s basses, or Seyers bass, or Gigapiano, or whatever…) or NOT.
Besides, I own many Akai samples (like Quantum Guitars, for instance), which sometimes use 3, 4 or 5 layers to velocity-switch betweeen sounds…. Is it easy to convert them in order to use the « dimensions » rather than these « layers », in order to play them as they were intended (I mean not via velocity anymore, but at least via keystrokes or controller action? ?
Thanks for helping me find my sleep again ! !
Gilles

[Chadwick]

Hey Giles

I think by 2 Vs 4 \'multi levels\' you\'re probably referring to the fact that G96 can respond on two midi ports (32 channels) as opposed to the 160\'s 4 midi ports (64 channels).

Each channel would normally represent an instrument, and from what you say, you\'re immediate needs probably won\'t take you past 16 channels, let alone up to 64.

I\'m pretty sure the 160 layering is identical to the 96.

[SCARBEE]

GigaSampler and GigaStudio instruments can have up to 32 Dimensions pr. key.

Example from Scarbee J-Slap/Fingered
(Studio bass):
Pr.key: 4 velocities and 8 dimensions controlled by key-triggers (4 x 8 = 32)

or

(Jam bass)pr.key: 4 velocities, release-trigger, 4 dimensions controlled by mod-wheel. (4 x 2 x 4 = 32)

It could also be 8 velocities and 4 dimensions, etc.

hope it helps

Scarbee


------------------
Visit www.scarbee.com (\"http://www.scarbee.com\") and check out the demoes from The Scarbee Bass Libraries:)

[sirbellog]

SO, just to make it CLEAR once and for all (excuse my « sillyness », but as a « will-be-a-user », I know GS just from the outside -by the forum’s feedback and the specs I read on Nemesys’ site-) :
----
It’s really sure that in no way the choice of GS96 will prevent me from using « big » programs like Scarbee’s or Seyers’ basses ? The ONLY difference is in the number of available midi channels, in the FX section and in the polyphony, right ? ?
Well, 96 voices, NFX1 and 32 midi channels will make make me perfectly glad as long as I can play any kind of program with that ! (I do prefer less voices at my disposal, and have some money left to start my sound bank very soon so I can feed the 96 ones!)

[Z6]

If you search the net (or call soundchaser and speak to Paul) you\'ll find that using \'creative\' upgrades, you can get the 160 for less than $300. If you\'re forking out for a whole new system I\'d say don\'t skimp on the \'jewel\'. Even if 96 is enough right now, you never know what you might need down the road. Other places are Jacksmusic, audiomidi etc.; they all have different prices for different \'parts\' that can be upgraded.

[EternalBlue]

What do you mean by creative upgrades? http://www.northernsounds.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif I\'m still on my research phase before I plunk down the cash for GS/samples...So I am looking for the best deal if possible, do you by chance mean LE -> GS160?

Thanks,

[SCARBEE]

It’s really sure that in no way the choice of GS96 will prevent me from using « big » programs like Scarbee’s or Seyers’ basses?

No problem - you can even use GigaSampler if you want. But get some RAM (512 is cool)! I just bought 512 MB for about $100.00. Last year it was $1000.00...

Scarbee

[Munsie]

\"so I can feed the 96 ones!)\"

Go with GS 160 if possible. Keep in mind alot of samples use more than 1 voice at a time. I have several patches (guitar for instance) that use 4 voice per note. So, if you play a 4 note chord, there goes 16 voices already. I routinely use over 96 voices at a time, just by using a few guitar patches, bass, and drums. I have learned a long time ago, it\'s better to grow INTO something then grow OUT of it.

[Z6]

I should also add (while we\'re on the subject of keeping the price down) that Time & Space in the UK (timespace.com - I think) has prices on libraries that blow away anything else I\'ve seen here in the states (and I mean really blow away - and we don\'t have to pay that crazy VAT - AND their shipping costs seem miniscule compared to some others).

I haven\'t used them yet so I can\'t vouch for them but they\'re often referred to in SoS articles so they\'re probably kosher. But watch out! Sterling is going up against the dollar so these prices are creeping up (I\'m trying to hold out as long as I can before I take the plunge - I\'d hate to blow my budget then see a spate of new and improved libraries hit the market - also, I can\'t bloody decide, there are so many fantastic libraries out there).

Oh, yes, Augusttech (I\'m not sure if it\'s really got two \'t\'s in it) is where I got 512MB RAM for $40 (they do stick it to you in the shipping costs though).

[Z6]

By \'creative upgrades\' I mean trawling the web for endless hours, noting down all of the prices of Lite, 64, 96, and 160, then working out which way is the least expensive. To make your life easier (maybe) I did this then found that Sounchaser managed to beat the price of any combination I came up with (but you could also try Bay View Audio and the places I mentioned earlier).

I\'d also say that remember that those \'voices\' get eaten up pretty quickly. Even if you paid full price it would probably be worth toning down the spec on your computer (but be careful where) to get the 160.

I found RAM (specific to my motherboard though) for $40 for 512MB. An IBM 40GB (fast) drive for less than $110. I\'m just pointing out that if you research until your eyes are out of a Tom and Jerry cartoon you can find some great deals (a 1.2GH Athlon is less than $100) so there\'s no need to miss a good spec.

[MikeGraybill]

Wow, just checked out the prices on TimeSpace.com... that\'s pretty crazy stuff. Can anyone here vouch for the company? I\'ve been carefully planning my progression of purchases for the last couple of weeks, but this changes everything! If my translation was right (yahoo\'s currency exchange rate) then QL Brass is going for 295.32 It seems too good to be true, so I felt I should ask around a bit before I purchased anything. DD SStrings are only like 88 american dollars. Like I said, crazy. Anyway, if its for real, I\'m buying tommorrow, just gunna keep my fingers crossed.

-Mike-

[sirbellog]

Well, I read everybody\'s reply (even the \"bit-off-topic\" ones....)
From all that info, I see that I can quietly buy GS96 now, play great programs with it, and still have the option to update later, if those 64 extras voices really miss...
Thanks very much to all for advice !
------
But generally speaking, I wonder why so many people are so voice-hungry...
Of course, stereo voices cost double, of course, crossfades are expensive...
But is\'nt it the same price as in synths or hardware samplers ??
Or would by any chance GS have a very \"special\" way to cope with polyphony which makes it a more \"voice-user\" than all these blacks/grey/boxes-keyboards ??
My guess is :
1) my music is simple enough to be done with a modest amount of voices,
2)the 160-voices-or-nothing people make their music solely with GS. I for myself have other companions (Kurzweil K2500, Emagic\'s EXS 24, which may be of use, and that I won\'t leave on the road for now !)
Thanks again !

[Sapkiller]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=\"1\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MichaelAngelo450:
If my translation was right (yahoo\'s currency exchange rate) then QL Brass is going for 295.32
-Mike-<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sorry to disturb your sweet dreams :-), but
you apparently got the exchange rate
wrong.
The price for QL Brass is 429 GBP incl.tax
That amounts to approx. 620 USD.

So dont rush away and order a lot.

Kind regards
Bjk

[Simon Ravn]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=\"1\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MichaelAngelo450:
Wow, just checked out the prices on TimeSpace.com... that\'s pretty crazy stuff. Can anyone here vouch for the company? I\'ve been carefully planning my progression of purchases for the last couple of weeks, but this changes everything! If my translation was right (yahoo\'s currency exchange rate) then QL Brass is going for 295.32 It seems too good to be true, so I felt I should ask around a bit before I purchased anything. DD SStrings are only like 88 american dollars. Like I said, crazy. Anyway, if its for real, I\'m buying tommorrow, just gunna keep my fingers crossed.
-Mike-<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


How did you do these calculations? QL Brass is 429 pounds (that includes VAT which you will probably have to pay), which must equal about $600.... Pretty far from your 290-ish.

[MikeGraybill]

Doh... Well, I just realized what I did wrong. The exchange was .6884 European to my one dollar... I went the wrong direction with it. Back to Plan A, and thanx for catching that (I thought it sounded WAY too good to be true).

-Mike-

[Z6]

Yes, the prices are good but not that good, unfortunately. I didn\'t check the QL Brass but the stuff I\'m after is all less than anywhere else.

Also, as far as I know there is NO V.A.T to pay if you order from abroad: if a company charges VAT on international orders then they\'re pocketing the money. The difference between the VAT they pay and receive is the swag the government grabs. They get a full rebate on anything they\'ve payed VAT on and didn\'t get VAT for (if that makes sense - don\'t flame me if it doesn\'t cause I don\'t care :-)) unless it\'s changed since I used to collect tax for the government (i.e. do VAT returns).

I\'d say don\'t give up on that site though, they do have some fantastic bargains (if you can access the info - I can\'t right now).

One more word to our friend who started this thread: I\'ve had studio 160 installed for a couple of days, I loaded a piano piece by Albeniz to test the giga piano - with two hands and a pedal it peaked at 160 voices, 96 sounds like a lot until you load those gargantuan (and beautiful) samples.

Have fun whatever you buy, they\'re all great products.