14 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
A Wonderful Collection of Symphonic Sounds
Date of Review: Jul 16, 2005
The Bottom Line: This sample library has the highest quality samples, and widest instrumental selection in its price range. It is simply, and I say so without bias, unbeatable.
I am a classical composer and pianist who was looking into sequencing (recording) some of my pieces. Since most of us don't have a philharmonic orchestra at our beckoning (and an engineering staff capable of recording one), we must resort to samples. This sample library is the most comprehensive in its price range. Prof. Keith O. Johnson, who recorded the library, has received two Grammy awards and eight additional nominations for his 90-plus phenomenal recordings. The wide selection of quality instruments available makes this a must for any composer wishing for a good library at a low price.
The samples include the following instruments (with numerous articulations and ensemble abilities):
Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses, Harp, Clarinets, Flute, Oboes, Alto Flute, Bass Clarinet, Bassoons, Contra Bassoon, English Horn, Piccolo Flute, Trombones, Trumpets, French Horns, Tuba, Cymbals, Gongs, Timpani, Bass Drum, Glockenspiels, Orchestral Chimes, Xylophone, Snare, and numerous other percussion instruments. A Steinway B Grand Piano, Pipe Organ, Male and Female Choir are also included.
For a complete listing of articulations please click http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=EW-161.
I am a huge fan of this product for four main reasons:
1) The quality of samples are definitely the best in the market for the price, and the samples were recorded with the SAME EQUIPMENT, in the SAME CONCERT HALL and with the same players as the full "Platinum" edition.
2) The price, as stated earlier, makes it easily accessible to everyone, and 50% educational discounts are available for qualifying musicians.
3) The included Kontakt Sampler makes combining and selecting instrument articulations a breeze.
4) The variety of instruments included makes sure that one may easily mimic a real orchestra on their computer, without missing any sections.
Another great thing about this line of products is the upgrade path. When a user wishes to upgrade from Silver to Gold (and Gold to Platinum) they must pay only the difference between the product prices, and instead of paying $3,000 for Platinum, a Gold user only has to pay $2,000. It's a great deal.
Silver also includes a piano, organ, and choir (which are not included in Gold or Platinum), so it is a must for anyone wishing to utilize these instruments in their orchestra without investing any additional money in separate sample libraries.
The only problems with this orchestra are completely understandable when one considers the price. The instruments contain stretched samples (each note is not sampled individually), and there are no release trails. Some useful articulations are missing (like harp glissandos and violin pizzicatos). Also the Kontakt sampler can only load 8 samples at a time, making very advanced instrument set-ups difficult.
But if one looks at the price, it is completely understandable that these items are missing; this current version is already a steal, and making it even better is simply impossible. The 8 samples at a time limitation can be rectified by actually buying the Kontakt 2.0 Sampler, and more articulations come with Gold and Platinum, as well as chromatic samples and release trails.
All-in-all I HIGHLY recommend this product as the forefront of anyone from a hobbyist to a semi-professional classical or film composer's studio.
