Best full orchestra as first library?

[anomandaris1]

Albion libraries are preorchastrated and aren't that flexible, but if you need that exact sound without messing with EQs and IR reverbs, it's great for what it does.
KH is made by single intruments, not mixed ensembles.

[bigcat1969]

In some ways Kontakt is like an OS. You can get Linux for free. Or you can buy Windows. Windows is a ripoff what does it actually do? The Amiga used to come with its OS written on ROMs. Of course you are quite limited in your choices with Linux. Good luck doing anything that others can easily used and forget gaming.

You don't need Kontakt, you can get the Play engine (and use only EW) or the UVI engine (and use only their products) or many other things that infect your computer with a defacto rootkit. You can get free SForzando which is quite nice and get some instruments for that. Shoot you can use Sforzando with the Sonatina and get a whole orchestra, but you are still quite limited. Or you can bite the bullet and get Kontakt and open up the actual world of the lion's share of sampled music.

I couldn't care less, but I promise you this conversation doesn't even occur on VI.

[Foxedge]

Or you can bite the bullet and get Kontakt and open up the actual world of the lion's share of sampled music.

All Kontakt only orchestral libraries I heard so far were far away from being "the world of the lions", rather average/solid.

[Aryaroman]

In some ways Kontakt is like an OS. You can get Linux for free. Or you can buy Windows. Windows is a ripoff what does it actually do? The Amiga used to come with its OS written on ROMs. Of course you are quite limited in your choices with Linux. Good luck doing anything that others can easily used and forget gaming.

You don't need Kontakt, you can get the Play engine (and use only EW) or the UVI engine (and use only their products) or many other things that infect your computer with a defacto rootkit. You can get free SForzando which is quite nice and get some instruments for that. Shoot you can use Sforzando with the Sonatina and get a whole orchestra, but you are still quite limited. Or you can bite the bullet and get Kontakt and open up the actual world of the lion's share of sampled music.

I couldn't care less, but I promise you this conversation doesn't even occur on VI.

Totally agree.

I'm no NI-fan really, but it's the industry standard. Good luck trying to get away without it, if you're making sample-based/commercial music. Well, unless you can afford to buy only Player-libraries, Play or UVI. For what you get, Kontakt is actually quite affordable.

It's not just a sampler you're buying. There's so much free and affordable stuff available, that in the long run, it might save you some money, time and hassle.

Or maybe money's not a problem. Maybe you can afford to hire session musicians and record you own material.
I too once thought I could do without it, but... yeah.

Or you can bite the bullet and get Kontakt and open up the actual world of the lion's share of sampled music.

All Kontakt only orchestral libraries I heard so far were far away from being "the world of the lions", rather average/solid.

I think BigCat rather meant the amount of content that, without Kontakt is locked away. Or, to be precise, only available to demo for 15 minutes.

But I'm curious now. What is the closest you've heard to the "world of lions" in terms of quality?

Film Score Companion just went on sale for something like -60%, maybe that one might stand up to your world of lions-standard?

Seriously though, I think I've seen Strezov (Full Kontakt) having sale a few times. Maybe get Cornucopia and then the brass packages separate?

[Foxedge]

But I'm curious now. What is the closest you've heard to the "world of lions" in terms of quality?

Film Score Companion just went on sale for something like -60%, maybe that one might stand up to your world of lions-standard?

Things like Project Sam, the Albion stuff, Cinematic Strings II, Metropolis Ark etc.

Can you show me where Film Score Companion should be -60% off? On the store page it still is 50$ off.

[bigcat1969]

My own of course! (runs for cover and ducks behind couch) Yeah right. ;P
No, I didn't quite get my point across there, I meant that a majority of let's say 'useful' instruments require Kontakt, though to be fair some of the top flight ones do come with Player versions. The other eco-systems generally either don't have a lot of third party support, aren't nearly as good for quality Acoustic type instruments or include the hated (by me) dongle / deep computer security systems. ILock can literally refuse you permission to start your own computer.

[Aryaroman]

But I'm curious now. What is the closest you've heard to the "world of lions" in terms of quality?

Film Score Companion just went on sale for something like -60%, maybe that one might stand up to your world of lions-standard?

Things like Project Sam, the Albion stuff, Cinematic Strings II, Metropolis Ark etc.

Can you show me where Film Score Companion should be -60% off? On the store page it still is 50$ off.

Oops, let me paraphrase that again. I meant, which non-Kontakt-libraries you heard, were closer to the "world of lions"?

The Film Score Companion-sale is on Plugin Boutique. Although... ugh. Static sound and controls which don't work... sure, it's cheap. But like BigCat said, ILok is a pain in the ass. And what I heard about one instance taking 1GB of RAM... ugh. Just read the description and make out of that what you will.

"Whether you're the next Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Quincy Jones, or just looking to add some great sounds to your video from last summer's trip to Aruba, you need a complete film score sound production package. You need the best.You need Film Score Companion."

My own of course! (runs for cover and ducks behind couch) Yeah right. ;P
No, I didn't quite get my point across there, I meant that a majority of let's say 'useful' instruments require Kontakt, though to be fair some of the top flight ones do come with Player versions. The other eco-systems generally either don't have a lot of third party support, aren't nearly as good for quality Acoustic type instruments or include the hated (by me) dongle / deep computer security systems. ILock can literally refuse you permission to start your own computer.

You mustn't be shy!

And can ILok really do that?

Edit: I went and read a review by SoS on FSC. Now I understand when someone said they lost their trust in SoS ages ago or something.

[bigcat1969]

I've read horror stories from guys who basically have to use it. I remember one who said across 10 years ILok basically destroyed his computer twice. I ran it all by a non-music buddy of mine who runs the network for a school. He researched it some and said avoid at all costs.

Non-kontakt well...
VSL is still in my mind the standard. I sometimes listen to the demos in awe.
EW stuff isn't for me, but the recent Hollywood Orchestra stuff is highly praised.
The VirHarmonic stuff for UVI seems quite good.
I like Pianoteq.

[Foxedge]

Oops, let me paraphrase that again. I meant, which non-Kontakt-libraries you heard, were closer to the "world of lions"?

Despite I wasn't bringing in this "world of lions" sentence, you told me that getting Kontakt 5 is unavoidable to dine at the table of valhalla . The libraries I listed are all compatible with the free Kontakt 5 player.

I just don't see sense in buying a product for hundreds of bucks that I don't want/need, just to use another library.

Show me one orchestral lib. for the commercial Kontakt 5 player that is so top notch, that when I put the amount of money I spend on Kontakt 5 itself before on the top of my budget, I still woulnd't find even an equal great sounding library.

The Film Score Companion-sale is on Plugin Boutique. Although... ugh. Static sound and controls which don't work... sure, it's cheap. But like BigCat said, ILok is a pain in the ass. And what I heard about one instance taking 1GB of RAM... ugh. Just read the description and make out of that what you will.

I haven't read the description, but are using the Film Score Companion trial for 2 days now. The fact that they even have the whole library as trial is a big plus for me, no matter how funny their description may be, they don't hide behind their product as other companies do.

ILok so far did not cause any problem. It just registered the products, one click on continue and everything is fine. The sound is not bad to be honest, sure noting special but for this price it seems to sound partially a bit better than other libraries in this price range and while I haven't played with all controls yet so I can't judge about if they all work or not, it didn't seem that one instance is taking up 1GB of ram. I had 3 or 4 active and they run as smooth as always.

[anomandaris1]

Film Score Companion is super old library (more than 10 years old).
I wouldn't buy it, if I want high quality samples.

[Foxedge]

Film Score Companion is super old library (more than 10 years old).
I wouldn't buy it, if I want high quality samples.

? It was released last year in 2015.

[anomandaris1]

Film Score Companion is super old library (more than 10 years old).
I wouldn't buy it, if I want high quality samples.

? It was released last year in 2015.

This is cut down version of the Sonic Implants Symhonic library.
You can check and read reviews before you buy.

[Foxedge]

Hmm.. all right, thanks for telling me. I didn't plan to buy it yet, firstly just wanted to play around and see how an orchestral library in general works in its core.

[lolilol1975]

In some ways Kontakt is like an OS. You can get Linux for free. Or you can buy Windows. Windows is a ripoff what does it actually do?

Except Windows has 50M lines of code behind it. There is actually a lot of work behind it and it does TONS of things. The web browser itself probably is at least a 10 to 20 times more complex program than Kontakt. In fact most big videogames are massively more complex than Kontakt.

I couldn't care less, but I promise you this conversation doesn't even occur on VI.

Because they are all professionals and make money with it.
As an amateur, I simply can't justify spending $250 for a mere sampler. And that it comes with 43Gb of stuff I can't choose and won't use doesn't help a bit.
I can understand that they sell the full Kontakt and don't give it away, but at this price ? Well the justification is the same as in the hifi cables business.

[bigcat1969]

Watch out for the Complete Orchestral Collection as well. I got it at a huge discount and still not worth it. The string essentials aren't terrible, I give away better stuff than is in the complete classical collection.

This is a good thread with lots of opinions. In the end you need to form your own. I've seen this conversation many times. Look them up, there is much discussion on VI of the upper tier.

Basically VSL, Spitfire, 8dio, LASS, those things are the best.
If you like wet, EW Hollywood is very good.
The new NI stuff is quite good, but not as good as people had hoped.
Kirk Hunter is older but held in high regard by some who are pros, call it high mid level. Having messed with it some more, wouldn't go there without desire to actually orchestrate heavily and time to learn its many patches.
The old EW is solid and good for the price again very wet. If you don't mind the play engine, I'd go here as a starting composer. Will sound good out of the box and less skill needed than VSL or Hunter.
The IKM stuff is decent especially for rock guys who want an instant orchestra on stage. Rompler.
The GPO is nice hobbyist level composer and priced accordingly. Not a bad place to start. User friendly.
The Kontakt Factory is old and was heavily stripped down when released. The new GUIs made it pretty not better. Very entry level. Choir quite nice.
Omnisphere / Machfive and a diversity of others really do other things better than they do orchestral instruments. It would be like getting Trillian when you want a double bass.
Much else is old / recycled and not worth the price of admission unless the price is free.