Idea for unique sample library

[susiwong]

Believe me, I've done my share of searching, but to my great surprise haven't found anything useable.
I'm talking about a lib with the most common acoustic country instruments (fiddle, dobro, mandolin, banjo, bluesharp), multisamples, not loops.
Considering the relative popularity of these instruments even in contemporary pop arrangements this might be worth the work for an independent developer, don't you think ?
I know several people, none of them strictly country, who would buy something along those lines in K2 or Wusik format on the spot.
The main problem with these instruments is to find somebody able to play them decently for a quick demo, and the classical samples just don't cut it.
Please don't kill me for daring to ask a question like this here on kvr, but there might be a world beyond trance, who knows ?
Cheers, susiwong

[jeffn1]

Between Chris Heinz and Garritan Strad, you might be 2/3 there.

http://www.soundsonline.com/Chris-Hein- ... S-402.html

and search for Garritan for the Strad 2.

jeffn1

[beej]

Look for the libraries:
"Whole Lotta Country" and "American Heartland" - they have just the stuff you want...

[precisionsound]

Kloo Mandolin:
http://www.store.precisionsound.net/mandolininfo.php

[Armadillo]

acoustic country instruments (fiddle, dobro, mandolin, banjo, bluesharp), multisamples, not loops.
Cheers, susiwong

RA has Banjo, Dobro, Mandolin and Hardanger Fiddle. Close enough? It doesn't have the blues harp (mouth harmonica, right?) though.
http://www.soundsonline.com/Quantum-Lea ... W-163.html
Sure, it's not exactly the cheapest program out there, but it's very good quality. If you listen to the "expedition" demo you'll hear most of the instruments at some point.

[vir2]

Big Fish's Whole Lotta Country has some of these, although it is a hybrid loops/instrument product. Might be worth checking out for the more esoteric stuff.


http://bigfishaudio.com/4DCGI/detail.html?472

Vir2's Acoustic Legends HD also has some of these although it's not the main focus of the product; the main focus is acoustic guitars. But there are some banjo, mandolin, and ukulele samples in there.


http://www.vir2.com/vir2/products/acous ... index.html

As part of a team of sample developers, we love hearing ideas like this for what you are looking for in future sound libraries, so keep the ideas coming!

[susiwong]

Thanks to all of you for your valued suggestions !
Please don't take it as disrespect, but most of these libs are not exactly what I'm looking for.

- Ra is obviously fine, but I wouldn't need most of the stuff it includes, and it's really big money.
- Chris Hein - the same problem, as a guitar player I don't have much use for guitar samples. Btw, the demos completely failed to impress me. Listen to Prominy in comparison to see what I mean.
- I know American Heartland, it's fine if you want "a dobro lick" to spice up a song, if you need real melodies/rhythms it's not the ticket. Good quality though. Whole Lotta Country seems to be a similar concept, I'll check it out .
- Kloo seems to be an option since classical and bluegrass mandolin might not be sooo different sonically and the price is about right. I'll take a closer look.
- Strad is on my wishlist for "fake classical" arrangements since K2 doesn't have a solo violin, but I definitely doubt it will be able to do a convincing country fiddle, the playing techniques are radically different.

What I'm looking for really is an intermediate sized library, more detailed than AH or WLC but not a high end monster like Vienna in the classical realm.
Ideally it would not include guitars or other readily available instruments and certainly no loops.
Combined for all the instruments in my first post I would be willing to part with approximately 200 or 300 $, combined or as seperate smaller libraries.

Again thanks for all your suggestions,
Cheers, susiwong

[susiwong]

Oh, I forgot, vir2, your library looks very interesting but it's not exactly what I'm looking for, as you honestly pointed out yourself.
I'll definitely keep that one in mind to recommend to my non-guitarist colleagues, though.
Cheers, susiwong

[dusted william]

this banjo is better than RA's IMHO

http://www.frontporchband.com/

dw

[susiwong]

precisionsound,
kloo mandolin does sound really good indeed, but more in a mellow, "european" way, which certainly is intended.
For bluegrass related material it lacks the aggression.
I might buy it nevertheless some day for its special sound, it seems to be good quality and is reasonably priced.
Nice one !

dusted william,
that banjo is quite authentic, in spite of the mediocre demo songs. Like it !
A little bit of Pultec might bring it even closer, cut some low mids and add a bit of sparkle.
Added to my list !

The problem with those acoustic sounds is you can't cover up anything with FX if you don't want to lose the vibe ...
At least a 5-string banjo is relatively easy to program.

Thanks again everybody,
susiwong

[symphonysuite]

Hey Vir2

I love Acoustic Legends! And I can't wait for more products from you guys. When is Syntax and VI ONE suppose to come out?

[vir2]

VI.ONE is almost ready to ship (should be just a few weeks as we wait for the replication plant), and syntAX will be a few weeks beyond that. We're excited about both products and we'll talk more about them as soon as we've got the final copies in our hands.