Calling All Guitar Players - Real Guitar VS Vir 2

[wagtunes]

I figure nobody can answer this better than you guys who actually play guitar. I do, but I'm a lousy guitarist. So I can't go by my own experience.

I had pretty much decided on getting Electri6ity and Acous6tics as my guitar libraries. Then I stumbled on Real Guitar, Real Strat and Real LPC.

Now there are no demo downloads of any of these. At least none that I can find. Makes sense as Vir2 stuff is 52 gig to download. So whatever decision I make has to be made on sound demos.

Okay, moving on, I have listened to tons of sound demos of all of these. My ears, in all honesty, can't tell the difference, as far as realism goes, between them.

The only pros and cons I can go off of right now is price and number of guitars you're actually getting, which is really no way to make such a decision. But in summary.

The Real Series, 3 guitars, $600
The Vir2 Products, 8 electrics (don't know how many acoustics), $800

$200 is $200. It's not a fortune but it's a significant amount. But like I said, it's no way to make a decision if realism is your ultimate goal.

So those of you who are guitarists who own or at least have played both, which is the more realistic? Or are they both so close, as they sound to my ears, that it doesn't really matter?

Thanks for your help.

[spacekid]

I'm looking into your stitch, based on sound..oh, do you mean electri6ity by vir2. I see it listed for $399. http://www.vir2.com/instruments/electri6ity/

And by the real series, do you mean MusicLab Real series. I'm downloading a demo of their Les Paul pack $199 to compare, since that's what I play. Plus, that would leave you the extra cash to invest in a really good guitar amp vst(plugin alliance models are what I enjoy and will test).

[koolkeys]

The Real Guitar series is alright, but the samples are VERY old. They haven't updated the samples in years, and they sound dated. I own a couple of RG plugins and also own both the Vir2 options. If money is available, get the Vir2 options. You will have more flexibility and a MUCH better sound. They are more in depth which means they may be a little more work to get just the right sound, but you get numerous different sounds in each package. With RG, you get one guitar model with each plugin.

I would recommend the Vir2 products over the RG products any day. You can get decent results with RG, but it just isn't as flexible, chords don't sound as clean, etc.

Brent

[wagtunes]

The Real Guitar series is alright, but the samples are VERY old. They haven't updated the samples in years, and they sound dated. I own a couple of RG plugins and also own both the Vir2 options. If money is available, get the Vir2 options. You will have more flexibility and a MUCH better sound. They are more in depth which means they may be a little more work to get just the right sound, but you get numerous different sounds in each package. With RG, you get one guitar model with each plugin.

I would recommend the Vir2 products over the RG products any day. You can get decent results with RG, but it just isn't as flexible, chords don't sound as clean, etc.

Brent

So in your opinion it's night and day between the two?

[spacekid]

The Real Guitar series is alright, but the samples are VERY old. They haven't updated the samples in years, and they sound dated. I own a couple of RG plugins and also own both the Vir2 options. If money is available, get the Vir2 options. You will have more flexibility and a MUCH better sound. They are more in depth which means they may be a little more work to get just the right sound, but you get numerous different sounds in each package. With RG, you get one guitar model with each plugin.

I would recommend the Vir2 products over the RG products any day. You can get decent results with RG, but it just isn't as flexible, chords don't sound as clean, etc.

Brent

So in your opinion it's night and day between the two?

I noticed the sheen from the sound demos. That's a matter of taste in my opinion. Do you want a glam sound? personally I like grit with my real guitar, so to me the old samples are fine, especially if you are treating them as you would live guitar direct in..just run them through an amp sim.

[loachm]

...don't know the Real Guitar series personally, but I also think they're quite old (at least in part) and I assume something Kontakt-based would be more reliable. Anyway, I think the Orange Tree Sample guitars are regarded among the best when it comes to guitar libraries:

https://www.orangetreesamples.com/produ ... es/guitars

...they're also on sale currently...

[wagtunes]

...don't know the Real Guitar series personally, but I also think they're quite old (at least in part) and I assume something Kontakt-based would be more reliable. Anyway, I think the Orange Tree Sample guitars are regarded among the best when it comes to guitar libraries:

https://www.orangetreesamples.com/produ ... es/guitars

...they're also on sale currently...

Do they have all the articulations and key switches that come with the Vir 2 guitars? Each Vir 2 guitar comes with 27,000 samples. There are key switches for every guitar technique that there is. Is orange tree that extensive?

[spacekid]

...don't know the Real Guitar series personally, but I also think they're quite old (at least in part) and I assume something Kontakt-based would be more reliable. Anyway, I think the Orange Tree Sample guitars are regarded among the best when it comes to guitar libraries:

https://www.orangetreesamples.com/produ ... es/guitars

...they're also on sale currently...

Do they have all the articulations and key switches that come with the Vir 2 guitars? Each Vir 2 guitar comes with 27,000 samples. There are key switches for every guitar technique that there is. Is orange tree that extensive?

Sounds like you made up your mind It's not as expensive as you thought as well

[wagtunes]

...don't know the Real Guitar series personally, but I also think they're quite old (at least in part) and I assume something Kontakt-based would be more reliable. Anyway, I think the Orange Tree Sample guitars are regarded among the best when it comes to guitar libraries:

https://www.orangetreesamples.com/produ ... es/guitars

...they're also on sale currently...

Do they have all the articulations and key switches that come with the Vir 2 guitars? Each Vir 2 guitar comes with 27,000 samples. There are key switches for every guitar technique that there is. Is orange tree that extensive?

Sounds like you made up your mind It's not as expensive as you thought as well

Far from it. In fact, I'm going to Youtube to watch the Orange Tree tutorials now. But the prices, even the sale prices, are crazy. The electric and acoustic bundle together is $1,200. That's a $400 difference between Orange Tree and Vir 2. There better be $400 difference in sound for me to spend that much money.

[spacekid]

LMAO. I gave up on that very quickly. I don't care how bad your think you play guitar. I think you should do it with a real one. Programming things takes a different set of skills then playing a real guitar..IMO it will never be a replacement for the things you will come up with while holding a real one in your hands..can be made to sound similar, but it's not very spontaneous.

[wagtunes]

LMAO. I gave up on that very quickly. I don't care how bad your think you play guitar. I think you should do it with a real one. Programming things takes a different set of skills then playing a real guitar..IMO it will never be a replacement for the things you will come up with while holding a real one in your hands..can be made to sound similar, but it's not very spontaneous.

Except I do have an advantage. As a guitar player, I know how to write as a guitar player. As I also know how to do extensive MIDI programming, I think I can combine the two things together.

Will it be easy? No. Here's what it will be. It will be easier than trying to get my 59 year old slightly arthritic hands to move as quickly as they did when I was 21. It's just not going to happen. The massive number of takes that I would have to record, not to mention the PITA of integrating a guitar (which, by the way, I sold my Strat last year so would have to buy a new one) with my DAW, makes using a library a no brainer. It will sound infinitely better than I will EVER sound. I just want the library that will get me the best sound possible.

From what I'm hearing from the Orange Tree demos so far, I am definitely not hearing $400 difference between it and Vir 2.

But I'm still demoing because this isn't a decision I want to make quickly.

[wagtunes]

Okay, the Orange Tree strumming is horrendous. End of story. Overpriced, not nearly as good as Vir 2.

Unless somebody has something better, NOW decision has been made.

[BBFG#]

My main search is mostly focused on finding what I expect for a Ricky first, Strat second, and lastly Les Paul.
Spent a few hours demoing Vir2 Elec6ity and while the processed sounds were good, I found the raw unprocessed ones for clean sounds to be disappointing and with a very weak output. Perhaps too accurate in trying to be an unplugged electric?
During a sale I picked up a couple of the OTS basses and Lap Steel. They're good, but I still was disappointed in them. So I'm assuming with all the hype on them, they'll equally be something that others swear to, but still effectively not for my tastes/use/playing style.

Guitars... they're all so dated! Seriously though, what they are is a basic timbre that have earned their place (as long as it hasn't been mixed into the band by a guitarist). BTW, I do play guitar also and it was my second or third instrument after piano. So I mix from a multi instrument & vocal totality rather than a need to show guitar above the rest as the guitarist mentality so often swears to.

MusicLabs recently updated their software which I haven't had the time to dig into to find the differences yet, But for sound and play-ability I consider it the best I have. Even makes marginal amp-sims sound great.
Sale prices often run around $115-$120 for each and I feel you really only need the three classic (outdated) electrics. Especially the Ricky. I feel they've nailed it better than anyone. And especially noticeable in the clean simulations. The one caveat: they are NFR products and the updates are mostly around $50. (Last sale they finally knocked ten off of that, but it does feel as if they kind of penalize us for being an earlier adopter. Seems standard fare with a few companies though.)

[b15fliptop]

I play guitar, and have MusicLab's stuff, Electri6ity, Orange Tree, Ilya Efimov, AcousticSamples, Shreddage, and have demoed AmpleSound. 99.9999% of the time, I use MusicLab. Sure, they're small sample sets, but they have great articulations and can be very realistic. Electri6ity is really complex, uses lots of RAM, and can be finicky.

Here are some MusicLab examples:

https://soundcloud.com/b15fliptop/ampli ... demo-track

https://soundcloud.com/b15fliptop/pummelfist-final-mix

https://soundcloud.com/b15fliptop/rockin-the-rick

And Vir2:

https://soundcloud.com/b15fliptop/ghost ... extended-1

https://soundcloud.com/b15fliptop/angus-johnson-th2

Hope that helps.

[wagtunes]

I play guitar, and have MusicLab's stuff, Electri6ity, Orange Tree, Ilya Efimov, AcousticSamples, Shreddage, and have demoed AmpleSound. 99.9999% of the time, I use MusicLab. Sure, they're small sample sets, but they have great articulations and can be very realistic. Electri6ity is really complex, uses lots of RAM, and can be finicky.

Here are some MusicLab examples:

https://soundcloud.com/b15fliptop/ampli ... demo-track

https://soundcloud.com/b15fliptop/pummelfist-final-mix

https://soundcloud.com/b15fliptop/rockin-the-rick

And Vir2:

https://soundcloud.com/b15fliptop/ghost ... extended-1

https://soundcloud.com/b15fliptop/angus-johnson-th2

Hope that helps.

The RAM I'm not concerned about, but when you say finicky, can you be more specific and/or give examples?