Strings and Brass

[Tim Z]

Following up on my Independence questions, for synths I have decided to go with either u-he Diva or Zebra 2. So I still need some good sampled strings and brass. What are some good suggestions under $100 each? I would consider the Independence String library for $65, but I am fearful that it will become obsolete and not work in Samp since Magix has abandoned Independence.

[Kraznet]

 

The independence native strings and brass are pretty good actually. I don't think MAGIX will drop Independence is just that information I had was that they weren't planning on developing it any further just supporting it. 

In many ways you pay for what you get Spitfire Audio is probably the currently best quality sampled libraries but you pay a premium for it. Garritan is good value and has strings and brass. He was probably one of the first guys to start making large string sample libraries with multi-samples. I didn't manage to find the demos of the brass but there are string samples plus short staccato stuff which is always a good test :

https://www.garritan.com/products/personal-orchestra-5/features-benefits/

Regards, Kraznet

[Kraznet]

Best Service do a large selection of libraries. Quite a few of them can be run inside the free Engine player which is basically a simplified version of independence. The advantage of it being that the authorisation the library within Engine is much easier. Plus once it is authorised you can run inside independence as well. Although maybe at your price point they aren't what you're looking for.

https://www.bestservice.de/en/virtual_instruments.html

Regards, Kraznet

[Tim Z]

Thanks very much for the help and info man. One thing to note is that most of my string and brass uses will be in Jazz, Rock, Funk, R&B, Blues & Fusion music. I will not be doing any classical style orchestra stuff. So would the Garritan stuff still work for that? It does sound very good, but also very good for classical symphony music. I thought the Independence Brass samples sounded awesome and in the style I would use them. 

In a response from Magix support they indicated to me that Independence was a dead product from their end. I can't remember the exact words they used, but that was the impression they left me with.

[Kraznet]

I doubt Garritan would be suitable for  Jazz, Rock, Funk, R&B, Blues & Fusion music. Yes I heard about Independence from another source of MAGIX so it's interesting that you can confirm it as well. Whether they have something else up their sleeves I don't know. the Independence brass samples are excellent. Myself and a fellow beta tester A/B'd them with the Native Instruments session horns and Independence horns sounded much nicer. The independent strings are from Kirk Hunter are from some of his earlier libraries but they are pretty good although maybe lacking the round robin alternating strokes of later libraries.

I can't remember which version of Samplitude do you have is it the one with the smaller full 70 gig library or the 12 gig? Some of Vita instruments are based on the Independence library as well although the non-Suite version there will probably be fewer libraries. I don't think the Independence sampler is going to suddenly stop working I think it will just be maintained. After all it's supposedly one of the main features of Pro X Suite. Are you planning on using your MIDI guitar with the strings and brass?

Regards, Kraznet

[Tim Z]

I have the first Pro X version v12.5.2.284 which only has the 12 GB of samples for Independence. There's not much in those 12 gigs that really works well for me, but I do really like the Simple Pad Basic and Simple Pad Two. I will record some stuff (mostly lead synths) with the guitar synth, and other stuff with a keyboard. I can probably get by with synth pads and strings, but I do really want real brass samples. Maybe the Independence Brass might be the way to go, if you're confident that they should work for the foreseeable future?

[Kraznet]

Even if they abandon Independence completely the library will still work in the Engine player I mentioned. However to buy the brass library will be £89 in the UK http://www.magix.com/gb/independence/libraries/. The cheaper option would be to get the Vita instrument Pop Brass VSTi $39.99 http://www.magix.com/us/hidden-extras/additional-instruments/2015/ although the demo on the website doesn't really do it any favours. I have it myself I will check it out later. Maybe I can put together some demos of the various sounds of the different libraries.

Also I found this which is within your budget :

https://www.ueberschall.com/en/product/131/Horn-Section

Regards, Kraznet

 

[tlwebb]

RE: Garritan Libraries for jazz

I haven't done much of anything with midi for quite a while now, but my first foray into libraries years ago involved Garritan; "Personal Orchestra" and "Jazz and Big Band". At that time JaBB had quite a reputation for the brass articulations, making significant use of "key switching". Like I said, it's been a while, and I'm not sure what they're charging now, but at least for the brass JaBB may be worth looking at.

 

[Kraznet]

20 minutes ago, tlwebb said:

RE: Garritan Libraries for jazz

I haven't done much of anything with midi for quite a while now, but my first foray into libraries years ago involved Garritan; "Personal Orchestra" and "Jazz and Big Band". At that time JaBB had quite a reputation for the brass articulations, making significant use of "key switching". Like I said, it's been a while, and I'm not sure what they're charging now, but at least for the brass JaBB may be worth looking at.

 

Sounds like something worth looking into for sure although it's $149. https://www.garritan.com/products/jazz-big-band-3/

[Kraznet]

Kirk Hunter is doing a deal on his Virtuoso Ensembles library. "The Most Playable Ensembles To Conduct Your Orchestra! Get it now for $299.99 $89! Use this coupon code on cart or checkout page: VE70". His libraries have always been very good.

https://www.kirkhunterstudios.com/products/virtuoso-ensemble/?ct=t(70_Off_Virtuoso_Ensemble10_16_2017)&mc_cid=7fbe79ad62&mc_eid=3a188fc0f6

Regards, Kraznet