I have had my eye on Saxlab for years, was wondering if I should get it or look for something else. I may put in a WTB listing soon if it seems my best sax/woodwind option. I particularly want to try and squeeze out some flutes as well as saxophones from it.

you may want to check out "WIVI Band", seems they have a student discount also, incase your a student...another physical modeled instrument(like Arturia's)

http://www.wallanderinstruments.com/?mode=products

be forwarned, it's NFR the minute you purchase it - so you won't find one on the Marketplace.

That's out of my range. Saxlab is $99 so I'm guessing I can get it for less than that used, or Linplug may even offer a deal at some point. So I guess the qualifier for alternates is something in the same price range, and possibly used.

Wivi Band...

Price: $129

Academic discount: $79 <<< I take it you're not a student then?

Yep, unless you consider the school of hard knocks

Looking at WiviBand, it doesn't seem there is much control for altering each sound, as Saxlab has pretty extensive controls. But then Saxlab doesn't have as wide a selection of instruments.

It uses the same engine as the full WIVI, but yes, with less control. That doesn't mean it's hampered in terms of playability because I believe it still offers the various dynamics and articulations of it's older brother, but you just can't tweak the settings as much. It relies more on real-time controllers.

It does have a different sound than Saxlab though(I personally think Saxlab is geared towards solo, while WIVI shines in section playing, though it can do solo well too), so I would listen to the demos and/or download the demo first.

Brent

Yeah, I want to get in touch with my inner Coltrane, so soloing is where its at for me.

WIVI can still do great solos, but it lacks a little of the growl of Saxlab with the default settings. Now, with the full version, you can tweak this more and get a bigger growl. But I'm assuming that WIVI Band uses the "default" from WIVI and maybe not as solo-friendly as you would like.

I could be wrong though. There is a demo if you happen to need it. But I think Saxlab is very underrated despite it's age. I wouldn't mind owning it myself, but have never taken the leap.

Brent

I'm just curious if there are enough copies around that I'll actually fine someone would want to part with for what I'm willing to pay, I'm not really needing it that badly but it would worth maybe $50 to me. If I did pay full price I would want to know a Saxlab 3 was coming and that I could upgrade cheaply, as it is an aging plugin.

I liked Saxlab a lot when I made the demos for the Linplug site.

It has a soft lazt jazzy vibe that is very enjoyable.

There's also Mr Sax, wich has a brighter tone and is a real pleasure to play. Not in the same price league though.

As for the age, well Saxlab works very well like it is. ImpOSCar the first was very aged too when they released the version II. Still the first version is one of the best character VA, wich has not been approached by any other plug -I'm aware of -

Same with NI FM7, that NI only revamped with new effects and a more intuitive GUI ie FM8. It was perfect in its first incarnation, its stays perfect.

Its true, age might be a problem for some plug ins, but when it sounds good, it just sounds good.

LtZ

Yeah, I'm just thinking of it keeping up with any new similar plugins that may be coming, it sounds fantastic just I am thinking of the long term, I don't know yet. At least the demo isn't limited by time nor is the noise too unbearable or intrusive to trying out the plugin.

IMO the best Plug-in for easy usage and quick results. For short patterns for pop or dance Saxlab it's great.
But I would not use it for a Smooth Jazz production I think the other libs are more realistic when used with the switches, articulations and stuff. But are often also more complicated to use.

Well I'm soon to be the proud owner of a shiny copy of Saxlab I'm wondering about how to get a breath controller into my setup, are there stand-alone controllers, and what about midi wind controllers? I played clarinet and sax in gradeschool, I'd actually love to get good at it, a keyboard is cool but something about fingers on keys and blowing in the wind is just too cool.

The Akai usb breath controller has several of the most common fingerings,
and comes with a soundset...about $255 using the ever present GuitarCenter
15% off coupon during the Easter holiday weekend.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/New-Gear.gc?internal=1&browser=& src=akai+ewi
Last edited by glokraw on Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:02 am; edited 1 time in total