Best Virtual Guitar Samples or Plugin?

[BBFG#]

The strumming engine of OTS EEG can take a lot of time. I think it's a brilliant design. I would tend to rather call somebody to provide a basic rhythm guitar bit (I won't do fake-sounding midi and I have thrown some time at this kind of part, for something that somebody would do a couple of takes for IRL) and I understand why people don't enjoy this kind of time-consuming work. I think though that once one establishes a workflow it's pretty workable.

Well, so much for 'no learning curve' then.

[BBFG#]

It's definitely a delicate balance when it comes to the simplicity of the library versus capabilities for power users.

For example, the Evolution engine used to have a built-in pattern creator. That was phased out in the next version in favor of the ability to write patterns in your own sequencer and save them as pattern files. That way you could use complex rhythms, patterns with unlimited length, and more--overcoming the limitations of the built-in pattern creator.

That being said, I'm looking to reintroduce a new pattern creator in the next version of the Evolution guitar engine as well as keeping the strum key system--that way you get the best of both worlds: the convenience of a built-in system as well as the control of the individual strum keys that can be used to make your own strumming patterns within your sequencer.

Many of the features in the Evolution libraries are based on customer requests and feedback from this forum, emails, etc. That's the premise of the Evolution line.

Cool, I look forward to checking out the new versions.

[Sampleconstruct]

Made this little track a few days ago when testing the new VVV algos. Orangetree acoustic guitar, some Twin Tube and compressions was used on the guitar. Sounds pretty realistic to me and feels great when playing it.

http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/v ... ate-guitar

From my Warped Strings library (for Alchemy) - guitar played with drumsticks and flagolet guitar, both are also available for Kontakt.

http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/s ... trings-for

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... ntakt-demo


http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/f ... trings-for

http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/f ... ix-kontakt

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... trings-for

[eDrummist]

The strumming engine of OTS EEG can take a lot of time. I think it's a brilliant design. I would tend to rather call somebody to provide a basic rhythm guitar bit (I won't do fake-sounding midi and I have thrown some time at this kind of part, for something that somebody would do a couple of takes for IRL) and I understand why people don't enjoy this kind of time-consuming work. I think though that once one establishes a workflow it's pretty workable.

Well, so much for 'no learning curve' then.

@BBFG# Who wrote no learning curve? I didn't see anyone write that about any of the detailed guitar sample libraries. Such a statement would be ridiculous.

I wrote that some Pettinhouse guitar libraries have virtually no learning curve. Perhaps you are confusing that comment and misattributing it to Evolution? Any of the extremely detailed guitar libraries have a learning curve. That was the point I made on the thread's first page that today's ultra-detailed, ultra-complex libraries have a learning curve and this is why usability and user experience have become an important factor in selecting sample libraries, as opposed to 10 yrs ago when sample libraries were much simpler and didn't have scripting.

[BBFG#]

Sorry eD, your posts have become too long and tedious to read anymore.
Enjoy whatever you're circling.

And to the OT Dev. I hope you know I didn't mean my comment to you as sarcasm. I truly am keeping an open mind towards your products. I do see you have a company with what appears to be good support and a willingness to listen to feedback. I can pretty much guarantee I will check it out again as soon as you announce the next version.

Just remember folks, the OP was asking about all that is out there, not just one.

[eDrummist]

Made this little track a few days ago when testing the new VVV algos. Orangetree acoustic guitar, some Twin Tube and compressions was used on the guitar. Sounds pretty realistic to me and feels great when playing it.

http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/v ... ate-guitar

From my Warped Strings library (for Alchemy) - guitar played with drumsticks and flagolet guitar, both are also available for Kontakt.

http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/s ... trings-for

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... ntakt-demo


http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/f ... trings-for

http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/f ... ix-kontakt

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... trings-for

Hey, Sampleconstruct, that's a beautiful demo for EAG and your own guitar sounds really nice and unique. How about a direct link to its landing page to learn more?

[progtronic]

Performance style and genre have to be taken into consideration before choosing any sample library.

I knew I'd be working primarily in Extreme Metal, with a very Progressive playing style.. so I looked into a variety of guitar, drum and bass libraries to help get that overall sound.

I also needed a variety of instruments, for each instrument category.. so I went for the biggest bang for the buck wherever I could.

After checking out and considering many products.. my final setup included:

Drums:
Toontrack: Superior Drummer 2, w/The Metal Foundry SDX.

Bass:
Spectrasonica: Trilian

Guitars:
Vir2: Electri6ity

The main reason I initially went with Electri6ity was the variety of guitars included. I didn't want the guitars to all sound the same through each song and throughout the project.. so I needed to have a bunch of different ones to choose from.

I also needed to be able to dig deep into each guitar patch, to get the right tone and feel. I had a very specific sound in mind that required a lot of tweaking under the hood to get it just right.

The rediculous amount of stuff you can alter in Electri6ity, is the thing that puts most people off of it.. but that feature really worked out well for me.

In comparing the sound to other guitar libraries.. Electri6ity was the only one that really had the thick overall tones I was going for. The articulations were there in the other ones.. but the Metal tones were just too thin sounding in most of the demos I had listened to.

Even Prominy's V-Metal, designed particularly for Metal.. still sounded way too thin to me.

Anyway.. point is.. really think about the overall sound you are going for, and consider all the products available.

Even after you've decided, there will be a learning curve. Nothing will do absolutely everything you need just perfectly, out of the box, without some tweaking and experimenting.

My latest album, Mortis Metallum, uses Electri6ity for all the electric guitars.. and you can stream it if you're interested.

[eDrummist]

@progtronic Seriously nice work on the album, it had to be an immense amount of work! Very impressive! I listened to several of the tracks and couldn't help but wonder what your "main" instrument is (I would guess keyboards, but the guitar was so on, I wonder if you have a background with guitar too), as those tracks are pretty slick. (While I'm not a metal drummer, I do like metal here and there and have been impressed by the drumming of a number of metal drummers). I'd be very interested what you played and what you programmed in. This is pretty intricate stuff.

[Sampleconstruct]

Made this little track a few days ago when testing the new VVV algos. Orangetree acoustic guitar, some Twin Tube and compressions was used on the guitar. Sounds pretty realistic to me and feels great when playing it.

http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/v ... ate-guitar

From my Warped Strings library (for Alchemy) - guitar played with drumsticks and flagolet guitar, both are also available for Kontakt.

http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/s ... trings-for

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... ntakt-demo


http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/f ... trings-for

http://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/f ... ix-kontakt

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... trings-for

Hey, Sampleconstruct, that's a beautiful demo for EAG and your own guitar sounds really nice and unique. How about a direct link to its landing page to learn more?

Thank's - sure, landing pages:

Warped Strings for Alchemy

Kontakt Guitars

[Keith99]

Realstrat with one of those gaming guitars is great fun! I know it sounds like a rather toy way of making music but actually the tyo guitar playing adds the human element to the strumming quite nicely

[progtronic]

@progtronic Seriously nice work on the album, it had to be an immense amount of work! Very impressive! I listened to several of the tracks and couldn't help but wonder what your "main" instrument is (I would guess keyboards, but the guitar was so on, I wonder if you have a background with guitar too), as those tracks are pretty slick. (While I'm not a metal drummer, I do like metal here and there and have been impressed by the drumming of a number of metal drummers). I'd be very interested what you played and what you programmed in. This is pretty intricate stuff.

Thanks.

I'm really just a geeky a keyboardist.. I even own a keytar (don't judge me!). I have no serious background with any other instruments.

When I record, I generally play in the slower parts.. and program (draw in) the faster parts. Though sometimes even the slower parts get drawn in as well. No matter how it initially gets into the sequencer.. everything is heavily tweaked and 'fixed' after the fact.

I've been a Metalhead all my life.. though never took to actually trying to learn to play an actual guitar. Simulating guitars, however, has always appealed to me.

I've been 'faking' guitar sounds my entire amateur/hack life..

[Cimbasso]

Ample Sound guitars sound superior to my ears. Great new tab features.

[eDrummist]

I'm really just a geeky a keyboardist.. I even own a keytar (don't judge me!). I have no serious background with any other instruments.

When I record, I generally play in the slower parts.. and program (draw in) the faster parts. Though sometimes even the slower parts get drawn in as well. No matter how it initially gets into the sequencer.. everything is heavily tweaked and 'fixed' after the fact.

I've been a Metalhead all my life.. though never took to actually trying to learn to play an actual guitar. Simulating guitars, however, has always appealed to me.

I've been 'faking' guitar sounds my entire amateur/hack life..

Haha. Well, I've been faking guitar sounds since the 80s, so we have that in common, but I'm nowhere near your level! I'm almost certain I remember the article you posted from when you won the Keyboard Magazine Reader SoundPage Contest (yeah, I've been a subscriber since the 80s)! It's amazing how far "fake guitar" has come. But it also takes talent and you clearly have a lot of it. I think you did a fantastic job and was shocked to read that you are self taught, considering the complexity of your music. You deserve hall of fame status in the world of "fake guitarists" imo! Your music is very well conceived and executed. Kudos on some superb work. Seriously folks, have a listen. This man has skills.

[eDrummist]

I really tried to like the orange tree stuff. To hear the quality others spoke of. Downloaded the demos and while running through the simple chromatic testing found myself asking 'what happened there?' Some of the sample transitions are not smooth. Granted they're not many, and most just playing certain phrases will probably never notice them. But my biggest problem with them is the acoustics sounded more like home made dulcimers to me than guitars (again, this is a personal preference in sound and should be remembered as such).

Someone just PMed me about the above and a RED FLAG (in your above statement). JanCivil was on to something when citing BBFG#s pointed attacks on Orange Tree Samples having something behind them.

BBFG#'s criticisms of Orange Tree Samples' libraries were all based on his assertion that he "downloaded the [product] demos and while running through simple chromatic testing" found them to be inferior, yet Orange Tree Samples has never made a single sample demo library in their 5 yr history. So we know for certain that BBFG# has completely fabricated his story. I checked with Greg Schlaepfer, the owner of Orange Tree Samples and he confirmed that his company has never had a downloadable demo of any of its libraries. So either BBFG# has never used any Orange Tree Samples product or he has used a pirated library and then went on KVR to take cheap shots (that are completely off the mark). BBFG# is very insistent on having spent time specifically demoing Orange Tree Samples acoustic guitar library in several posts, so it's clear with a total of at least one dozen references in his posts, references to Orange Tree Samples group buy and sales in the marketplace that BBFG# is very specifically targeting this developer and is not confusing them with another developer. In any event, I am puzzled why this guy has lied and why he has targeted this developer. It's suspect. All we know for sure is that the guy's story is bogus and he has some kind of vendetta against the developer.

[BBFG#]

Perhaps it was another company that I demo'd then. I checked out two or three that week. I do remember liking OT the least of those. Doesn't matter though, because I still don't like the OTree sounds. I do remember during their 50% GB liking one of their sets though and only one. Unfortunately, it wasn't any of their guitars. Like I told the dev. though, I'll check them out when they announce the new version he spoke of.

Been reading some other reviews by owners of Vir Electri6ity though and really think I will jump on it as soon as I can. People that own it seem to really rave about the sound and possibilities far above the learning curve or others they own like OT & Ph. I really like the sounds of the Idiginus Delta guitar for acoustics too. I hear great things about the Vir2 Acoustic Legends also but am not in the market for it yet. Soundwise though, I prefer it over the OTree.
And that is the bottom line for all of us - sound. To each their own.