IK/SR VI HOT BUY - GROUP BUY on eSoundz!!! SampleTank Instruments for $99 + more!

[Krabat]

Hi,

does anyone have experience with the vocal collection or the world instruments expansion? It's hard to tell from the short demos which variety they cover.

in the vocal collection there are some beatboxing sounds. There are different way to do them: More lofi and hiphopstilish, or hifi trying to imitate real recorded instruments (like the german acapella group 'wise guys' does http://wiseguys.de/clips/)? What category would you put them in?

I still don't know what goodies to take. Miro outtakes seem to be the first choice (squids: Any details on what will be in there?) and then perhaps the both one above. Or vintage keys? Or the other surprise squids was talking about?

There has been a guitars collection I bought in the retank GB. Does anyone know how the content is compared to the 2 electric and acustic collections?

Thanks for help, Gunnar
--
esoundz: krabat

[borkman]

I really like the World Instruments Collection. Split into percussion, strings, and wind, it covers a lot of ground. The esoundz product page lists the patches if you want to get an idea of the scope. I've probably used it more than any other SampleTank library I got in the group buy last year.

[curt1lp]

Hey osidenick, yeah, the tweaking is addictive!

I'm sure you've read some of the posts about instrument layering, and I've found that Miroslav is great for some things and my other libraries (Garritan, Roland Orch I & II) are stronger for others, but that layering several can REALLY get some rich, evolving orchestra sounds. Try putting solo instruments in with your sections too, it "focuses" them nicely.

And I know ST/MPO take some knocks from snobs about their unique sound, but they're really VERY undeserved.

Many companies build in what engineers call a "smile curve" EQ on their instruments. Scooped mids and hyped ultra lows and highs make things sound more "modern" and take up every bit of sonic space in the spectrum.
And it IS seductive. EVERYTHING IS HUGE. But really, everything is just HYPED. On eq, on effects, on compression.

I've made this note before, but try turning on the Master eq/comp and add 3-5db to the treble and bass controls and reduce the mid gain 3-5 db. Sound more "modern"? Add some compression... more "modern" still!

This makes ST sound more like other workstations, but misses an essential point. Some sounds work better when they sit together!
When I build a whole mix in ST, everything sits just as is should. The basses are big and deep, the pianos, guitars and strings compliment each other, and the drums take the ultra highs and lows, just as they should.

I've been able to build the sample library of my dreams on a REALLY tight budget over the last year, and my work has never sounded better.

I think the folks at SR, eSoundz and IK deserve lots of props for breaking the price/performance barrier so thoroughly. And BIG thanks to Allen at eSoundz for sorting out some tech stuff after hours... Wow.

A $99 Choir and Orchestra? Hear that whirring? It's Beethoven's grave!

KVR/eSoundz: Xenobt

Very nice I'm probably going to buy Miroslav - but when people talk about Miroslav being dated - tell me if you can get Miroslav to sound like this:


This is Terminator 2 theme redone by a Youtube user using EWQLSO and Miroslav.

I think not. The demos of Miroslav alone I have heard are lyrical to be sure but don't have the punch and presence of this sound IMHO. I think thats what people mean by 'dated.'
I am not saying the Miroslav for the price is not a great deal however!

[curt1lp]

BTW here is something I knocked up in about an hour using Miroslav CE and some Kirk Hunter Emerald and a midi off the internet. The reverb cuts in and out due to it being a demo of Valhalla Room which BTW I found ideal for this orchestral sound.

http://www.4shared.com/audio/xmiEsENB/d ... phony.html

New World Symphony
Just seeing what I could do with Miroslav CE.

[subtlearts]

That's very well done to be sure, though it still doesn't *really* sound like an actual orchestra, it just sounds like a very good job of using fake ones. [NOTE: I'm replying here to the Terminator one, not the one just above]

I think it's telling that two libraries are mentioned - sometimes one makes up for the shortcomings of the other and together - if you take the time at it, which is kind of the main thing - you can get a bigger, more natural sound with more than one library.

Here's my entry (in context, so it's harder to hear the details, but still), done with the Kontakt orchestral set plus the Miroslav choirs refill. Music by me, too.

[curt1lp]

Subtlearts - that's very good. Great achievement. Hard to tell thats not a real orchestra in the background of the dialogue and action.

[subtlearts]

Subtlearts - that very good. Great achievement. Hard to tell thats not a real orchestra in the background of the dialogue and action.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! I'll see if I can track down the original file without SFX and voiceover somewhere, it might be instructive to compare...
Yup, here it is:
http://tobiastinker.com/demo/HBGA_musiconly_edit.mp3

A brief note: the horns and trombones are a bit more bombastic than I might have otherwise done, in order to cut through the intense battle scenes, swords clashing and so on. I think the bowed staccato basses and cellos don't sound especially 'real' but again, masked by the sfx it all kind of worked.

I do think the Miroslav choirs are fantastic. If the rest of the library is up to the same standard, it's definitely a steal and a half at this price.

[curt1lp]

Yes in the music only version - I'm getting the same punch and clarity as the Terminator (allowing for the differing styles of music)so I guess there is proof of the great results an expert user can get with relatively inexpensive libraries.

[torgo]

Hi,

does anyone have experience with the vocal collection or the world instruments expansion? It's hard to tell from the short demos which variety they cover.

in the vocal collection there are some beatboxing sounds. There are different way to do them: More lofi and hiphopstilish, or hifi trying to imitate real recorded instruments (like the german acapella group 'wise guys' does http://wiseguys.de/clips/)? What category would you put them in?

I still don't know what goodies to take. Miro outtakes seem to be the first choice (squids: Any details on what will be in there?) and then perhaps the both one above. Or vintage keys? Or the other surprise squids was talking about?

There has been a guitars collection I bought in the retank GB. Does anyone know how the content is compared to the 2 electric and acustic collections?

Thanks for help, Gunnar
--
esoundz: krabat

Vocal Collection: this one disappointed me a bit. I didn't expect an all-comprehensive collection (that's the obvious problem with any library of vocals - if you're looking for something specific, odds are it will NOT be in whatever library you have available). But I had hoped for more multisampling. The sounds here tend to be useful only within very specific ranges, as you can only stretch the pitch of a given sample so far and keep any hint of realism.

The beatbox stuff is the coolest part of this set. (And if I remember correctly, the beatbox sounds are not included in the Kontakt version, so this is a scoop for SampleTank users.) But it's definitely not the "wise guys" type of material. It's one guy doing a wide range of goofy vocal effects. Lo fi/hip hop all the way.

I'd describe this set as a fun extra - particularly for the beatbox - but not among the best offerings on the list. If you're torn between this set and nearly any of the others, go with one of the others.



World Instruments Collection: this one is good, but obviously only if you want those instruments.

The main two questions = how often you'd actually need didgeridoo, bazouki, shika etc sounds, and whether you'd know enough about stylings to perform them convincingly.


Personally, I'm nearly useless at percussion. I like having the tabla, dumbek, etc sounds in this set. But I have no idea what to do with them. Clueless idiots like me get more mileage out of the World Grooves set and the three Latin Grooves packages.

(You don't even have to use the actual loops in those grooves packages. If you think loops are "cheating", you can play the slices just like you play regular percussion instrument sounds. The full loop plays on the B1 key. The keys from C2 up play the individual sounds in the loop. So you can demo the loop on B1 to hear how it sounds when it's all put together, and then play the individual hits yourself on the other keys.)





Vintage Keys: think of it as the Electric Piano Collection. For that matter, think of it as the Yamaha CP70 Electric Grand.

Pretend there's absolutely nothing else in the set. Would you want to use a selection to get the biggest and best electric piano available in SampleTank format? If so, this set is your choice. If not, keep looking.

I say that because most of the other sounds are pretty easy to find elsewhere - not necessarily the exact samples (I know of only three that are exact duplicates), but it's not too tough to find a decent Rhodes EP, Hammond B3 organ, Clav, etc.

On the other hand, that CP70 is a monster. It's 190 meg all by itself, and except for the C0 to G0 range down at the very bottom, the thing is multisampled to the point that every zone is just one or two notes - and mostly single notes.

So if you play EP enough to want the most detailed electric grand you can get in SampleTank format, this is it. It's one of my favorite sets on the list. But if you don't want the CP70 and the big Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos (also over 100 meg each), there wouldn't be much reason to get it.

(It also includes several variations of Mellotron strings and a choir. Those are GREAT if you don't have Sonik Synth or SampleTron/Squids Tron, but totally unnecessary if you have any of those packages.)





Guitar Collection: I'm not familiar with the one you have. I know that years ago there was a title called Guitar Collection, but I don't know if your set is that one or something different. (How big is the set? What are some of the parent sample names?)

The original Guitar Collection was first offered as part of the Expansion Tank line. SR also had acoustic and electric guitar sets as part of their Sonik Capsules series.

They split the Guitar Collection into acoustic vs electric and combined them with the Sonik Capsules titles to make the Acoustic Guitar Collection 2 and Electric Guitar Collection 2 titles listed here.

So if the original Guitar Collection turns out to be what you have, then you'll have some of the sounds in the sets listed here, but not all of them. You'll have to check the list of sounds to compare.

[torgo]

A question for other users who have the World Instruments Collection:


When I load up the "Banjo Noise" sound, nothing plays. All four zones are completely silent.

Do I just have a corrupt file on my hard drive, or do the rest of you have the same problem?

[Squids]

The Miroslav orchestral material is more for warmth, richness, beauty, emotion... less so for aggressive, bright, bombastic etc. Although it can be used for both. I find that a combination of different libraries is the best way to go for anyone simulating orchestras with midi. But if you're on a budget and had to go with one or just a few then there's no question this is a very good choice.

I wouldn't call it dated though. The word "dated" to me suggests "out-dated" meaning that if you hear it then you think "oh I don't want to hear THAT sound again". But some sounds are time-less... like a Rhodes or B3. They are "vintage". So is a Mellotron. The Miroslav sounds are almost like that in a way. It all depends on their use but in a lot of cases - especially within pop, rock and other styles, no one would even know you used a sample library or which one. So it wouldn't be an identifiable "dated" sound compared to say... that DX7 Piano 08 sound. It's all relative. In any case, for this price it's just good to have in your set up even if you have a ton of other orchestral libraries. If you don't have this then you've got about a week left to pick it up for under a hundred bucks. I have to think it's gotta be worth it no matter what. But that's up to you!

Almost done with the Miroslav Outtakes. Don't get TOOOO excited though as they ARE "outtakes' and not the holy grail. It's cutting room floor stuff that didn't make it into the original but for FREE it's a pretty cool extra. Some misc cool scraps and gems in there. Anyway, because it took so long I think we're just going to give it to everyone who joins the group buy and not make it take up one of your choices. Sort of a gift and a thank you. You know what that means? That means that when we reach 300 (and we're less than 20 away now) you'll be able to not only pick out a THIRD library out of the big list but you'll get this one as a fourth when it is ready next week. You don't HAVE to download it and no you can't swap it out for something else if you don't want it (do I know you guys or what? haha). But, hey why not? You're all so cool for keeping this thread alive and sharing your opinions. We're always grateful for that and like to give back. So expect an official announcement about that some time next week. In the meantime keep it going! There's still time to reach the 4th tier and get 4 free libraries (plus the Miro Outtakes - and remember those sounds are exclusive ONLY to the people joining the group buy on www.esoundz.com )

By the way, some have asked about more Tron sounds. YES they are coming but not as part of this. Won't be ready in time but more Tron sounds are being sampled and Un-Earthed... including some rare stuff.

[torgo]

SWEET!! That's an extra library for everyone!

And even sweeter is hearing that more 'Tron frames will see the light. I've been waiting for Squids Tron Collection Vol 2 for years...

[borkman]

A question for other users who have the World Instruments Collection:


When I load up the "Banjo Noise" sound, nothing plays. All four zones are completely silent.

Do I just have a corrupt file on my hard drive, or do the rest of you have the same problem?

The noises are there for me, but they are very quiet. I had to really crank it to hear them.

[torgo]

Thanks borkman. They weren't even showing up on the level meter for me, but a little editing did bring them out.

I cranked up the level in the ENV1 control, turned on the EQ/Comp effect and cranked up the gain, and then added in even more boost by adding ToneControl as a second effect and turning up the level on it as well.

Really not worth the effort just for four random noises. That's a disappointing instrument sound.

Lots of good sounds in the World Instruments set, but "Banjo Noise" definitely isn't one of them.

[torgo]

A random tip to kick off the weekend...


If you're getting the Acoustic Drum Collection or Electronic Drum Collection, or if you have SampleTank or Sonik Synth, you should also grab the MIDI drum loops from Groove Monkee.

Esoundz included them in the Drum Masters packages plus other drum offerings. If you picked up one of those deals, you might already have them. If not, you can get them directly from the Groove Monkee web site.



For utterly hopeless non-drummers (like me), they make a huge difference in being able to get the most out of the drum kits.

You load the .mid file into your workstation and play them on any of the GM or IMAP drum kits in SampleTank, Sonik Synth, or the Acoustic or Electronic Drum collections. (There are different .mid files for each mapping format.)



Even after you've programmed your tracks, you can quickly swap out from one kit to another. If you listen to your masterpiece and decide the toms aren't right, no problem. Just change the instrument sound to whatever kit you like.

And if you decide to upgrade to a higher end drum package later, such as Neil Peart's Snakes and Arrows kit (http://www.esoundz.com/details.php?ProductID=4432), any drum tracks you've already programmed will be easy to switch to your new gear.