Orchestral plug-ins

[trbguy]

I just ordered M-Audio BX8A studio monitors and I think my next investment will be some orhestral plug-in. I have Kontakt 3 which has some good strings, but no solo instruments and Logic has some section sounds also.

Are there any differencies on how articulations and dynamics are used between different orchestral plug-ins?

Budget is 200€ish

Here are some I've been checking demos of:
IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik Classik What is missing in Classik version?
Garritan Personal Orchestra Why is it so cheap? Is there something wrong with it? Demos sound nice.
East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Silver Complete What is missing in Silver Version?
MOTU Symphonic Instrument
Best Service PETER SIEDLACZEK Complete Classical Collection, 2nd edition - Comprehensive Collection Of The Finest Classical Sounds

As a brass player I would like to have good brass instruments too. Anyone has any experience with these?

[sureno]

iv heard the IK mirolov jobby has the best strings in that price bracket i was and still am really intending to buy the full version

as for the silver i believe that the samples are only in 16bit as opposed to both 16 and 24

[trbguy]

Originally Posted by sureno

iv heard the IK mirolov jobby has the best strings in that price bracket i was and still am really intending to buy the full version

as for the silver i believe that the samples are only in 16bit as opposed to both 16 and 24

So silver includes all the articulations then?

[sureno]

Originally Posted by trbguy

So silver includes all the articulations then?

i cant confirm that, sorry

[terminal3]

No, Silver does not have all the articulations, only a selection of the most common.

Oddly though, Silver does include a church organ and some choir samples that NONE of the other editions have.

The 16-bit-vs-24-bit differentiation mentioned is correct. You need Platinum to get 24 bit (and Platinum Plus includes both 24 and 16 bit samples, so you can mock it up in 16 for extra firepower and then switch to 24 when it comes to the final bounce).

The big advantage of Platinum over the other two is that there are three mixable mic positions. The others only include one.

For my money, I'd look at Miroslav. I have it (and EWQL) and it's a great starter set. Far less complex than EWQL but also far more stable and has some good core sounds. I often reach for it first when the orchestra isn't the primary "instrument."

The CE version does not include the choral samples, and there may be some other differences. But, there's some good bang-for-your-buck right now as if you buy Miroslav you can have another free IK plug-in when you register - one of AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix, AmpliTube Metal, or possibly more usefully if you don't play guitar, T-RackS 3 Standard.

[modz1]

Originally Posted by trbguy

Edit:
Garritan Personal Orchestra Why is it so cheap? Is there something wrong with it? Demos sound nice.

Hi trbguy..
I heard the Garritan P/Orch in a good friends studio the other day. He'd constructed a super realistic string quartet with it for a track he was working on - I was extrememly impressed and have added it to my 'treat yourself for Xmas' list..

[OJB]

Originally Posted by modz1

Hi trbguy..
I heard the Garritan P/Orch in a good friends studio the other day. He'd constructed a super realistic string quartet with it for a track he was working on - I was extrememly impressed and have added it to my 'treat yourself for Xmas' list..

Can you add it to my list too please? When will it be delivered? Im so excited!!!

[Monarch]

Garritan does have quite a following now. He seems to have a very popular set of products on offer.

[trbguy]

Hi trbguy..
I heard the Garritan P/Orch in a good friends studio the other day. He'd constructed a super realistic string quartet with it for a track he was working on - I was extrememly impressed and have added it to my 'treat yourself for Xmas' list..

How well does that Garritans modwheel, sustain-pedal,note-velocity thing work?
Do I need sustain pedal at hand all the time to get all articulations?
Garritans brass sounds are , but woodwind

For my money, I'd look at Miroslav. I have it (and EWQL) and it's a great starter set. Far less complex than EWQL but also far more stable and has some good core sounds. I often reach for it first when the orchestra isn't the primary "instrument."

The CE version does not include the choral samples, and there may be some other differences. But, there's some good bang-for-your-buck right now as if you buy Miroslav you can have another free IK plug-in when you register - one of AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix, AmpliTube Metal, or possibly more usefully if you don't play guitar, T-RackS 3 Standard.

Miroslavs strings sound better than Garritans , but are there something relevant missing in CE articulation/bowings wise?

Does anyone have Motu Symphonic Instruments?

[mutilatedlip]

Best strings I ever heard were from Miroslav's solo instruments in AKAI format from many moons ago.

They were absolutely beautiful. Not particularly controllable or anything - I literally just used them as string sounds without articulations or anything like that.

Really lovely.

[Dave Boulden]

IMHO, best bang for buck option is the Garritan GPO, other than that I'd save a little more and get EWQLSO Gold. To put my asuggestion in context, I already own both EWQLSO Gold (was an upgrade from Silver), an old copy of the Seidlaczek Complete Classical Collection and Garritan GPO, but haven't ever really tried the Miroslav or Motu products.

[trbguy]

IK Multimedia TOTAL Workstation Bundle UPG Does this really include Miroslavs full version+Sonik synth 2+ Sample tank. Is that the newest version of Miroslav? It costs the same as only Miroslav symphonic+ I still get free download of one software from Ik multimedia's site?

At least in Finland they sell those so that you have Sampletank Le which you install first and after that upgrade/grossgrade. Is that DV's version similar?

[sureno]

Originally Posted by trbguy

IK Multimedia TOTAL Workstation Bundle UPG Does this really include Miroslavs full version+Sonik synth 2+ Sample tank. Is that the newest version of Miroslav? It costs the same as only Miroslav symphonic+ I still get free download of one software from Ik multimedia's site?

At least in Finland they sell those so that you have Sampletank Le which you install first and after that upgrade/grossgrade. Is that DV's version similar?

this is exactly what i wanted to buy, yes it is the full shabang

[sphelan]

Originally Posted by trbguy

IK Multimedia TOTAL Workstation Bundle UPG Does this really include Miroslavs full version+Sonik synth 2+ Sample tank. Is that the newest version of Miroslav? It costs the same as only Miroslav symphonic+ I still get free download of one software from Ik multimedia's site?

At least in Finland they sell those so that you have Sampletank Le which you install first and after that upgrade/grossgrade. Is that DV's version similar?

Why does this offer say "Offer valid from 01/12/2006 to 31/01/2007"?

[cane creek]

I own IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik and im very happy with it the solo strings are superb.
Also got EWQLSO silver which i dont like at all.

Id love to buy 'Project sam symphobia' however at £899 its out of my price range at the moment especially since i have my eye on a Metric Halo ULN-2