KVR Audio

JohnPativens · Post by **JohnPativens** » Fri Sep 22, 2017 4:11 pm

Hi,

To me the Acousticsamples Sunbird is one of the best, if not the best, sampled acoustic guitar. There's one thing I hate though: it's not powered by Kontakt. It's the only UVI library I own and it requires the iLok license manager to be installed also, that's why I often think about replacing it with something else.
What's a good Kontakt alternative in your opinion? I mean, same level of realism, strumming pattern programming, chords customization and general features.

Thanks

Notagify · Post by **Notagify** » Fri Sep 22, 2017 4:32 pm

I'd say take a look at Prominy Hummingbird. Its a bit on the pricey side, but from what I've seen is probably the most heavily sampled acoustic guitar out there. Though I cant speak for its programming, I have only listened to demo's and seen its specs.

http://prominy.com/Hummingbird.htm

JohnPativens · Post by **JohnPativens** » Fri Sep 22, 2017 5:50 pm

Notagify wrote:I'd say take a look at Prominy Hummingbird. Its a bit on the pricey side, but from what I've seen is probably the most heavily sampled acoustic guitar out there. Though I cant speak for its programming, I have only listened to demo's and seen its specs.

http://prominy.com/Hummingbird.htm

I knew their version of the Gibson Hummingbird, but as you said, it's expensive and kinda overkill about sample content size (if I do remember well).
I also know the OTS Evolution Steel, but its strumming engine didn't convince me completely when I checked it out (that's why I bought the Sunbird). Maybe their new Flatpick 6 is more on the same ballpark soundquality-wise, but I'm always concerned about the strumming capabilities.

FLWrd · Post by **FLWrd** » Fri Sep 22, 2017 6:19 pm

For cheaper and decent alternatives, you can consider Replika Sound: http://www.replikasound.co.uk/replika_s ... nstrs.html. A bit more expensive: http://www.pettinhouse.com/, although the sale makes it pretty cheap.

JohnPativens · Post by **JohnPativens** » Fri Sep 22, 2017 7:01 pm

FLWrd wrote:For cheaper and decent alternatives, you can consider Replika Sound: http://www.replikasound.co.uk/replika_s ... nstrs.html. A bit more expensive: http://www.pettinhouse.com/, although the sale makes it pretty cheap.

I already know the Pettinhouse libraries, never heard the Replikasound though. I'll check them out, thanks!

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Fri Sep 22, 2017 7:13 pm

Indiginus

Musical Gym · Post by **Musical Gym** » Fri Sep 22, 2017 7:57 pm

RealGuitar V will be a good choice if you don't limit yourself to Kontakt only: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXkAAyOeyWY

JohnPativens · Post by **JohnPativens** » Fri Sep 22, 2017 8:09 pm

Aloysius wrote:Indiginus

I like them! Inexpensive, sound good enough and easy to use! The Renegade and the Strum IV have been on my radar for quite sometime. It's just they can't fully replace the Sunbird (or similar complex library) feature-wise.

Musical Gym wrote:RealGuitar V will be a good choice if you don't limit yourself to Kontakt only: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXkAAyOeyWY

I'd like to "keep it clean" and focus on a few sample engines only. That's why I excluded Real Guitar and Amplesound.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Fri Sep 22, 2017 11:20 pm

JohnPativens wrote:I also know the OTS Evolution Steel, but its strumming engine didn't convince me completely when I checked it out (that's why I bought the Sunbird). Maybe their new Flatpick 6 is more on the same ballpark soundquality-wise, but I'm always concerned about the strumming capabilities.

Greg is working on an update which will massively improve the strumming engine, AFAIK.

JohnPativens · Post by **JohnPativens** » Sat Sep 23, 2017 3:37 am

EvilDragon wrote: Greg is working on an update which will massively improve the strumming engine, AFAIK.

He already did a major update to the strum engine a few years ago, didn't he? If he improved that, the Flatpick 6 would be first on my bucket list.

What I like the most about the Sunbird is that they kept the thought process of a guitar player while creating the whole mapping of the keyboard rather than converting it in a more "pianist-friendly" one. I mean, chord fretting with left hand, strumming and fingerpicking (one key per string) with right hand: wish every guitar library developer copied such model.

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Sat Sep 23, 2017 3:54 am

No idea if it's suitable but Ilya makes some fine instruments for Kontakt.

http://www.ilyaefimov.com/products/acou ... strum.html

JohnPativens · Post by **JohnPativens** » Sat Sep 23, 2017 4:29 am

Aloysius wrote:No idea if it's suitable but Ilya makes some fine instruments for Kontakt.

http://www.ilyaefimov.com/products/acou ... strum.html

Kinda don't like their strumming audio demos. I think the Indiginus Strum IV has better strumming than that at half the price

One option could also be getting the NI Session Guitarist 2 to cover the strums plus an OTS for deeply customised picking mockups.

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Sat Sep 23, 2017 4:40 am

... or a guitar, or some guitar loops.

JohnPativens · Post by **JohnPativens** » Sat Sep 23, 2017 4:56 am

Lol, yes! A real guitar would be great, I'm just too lazy to set mics and everything only to lay down some quick ideas.

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Sat Sep 23, 2017 5:05 am

High quality loops might be worth thinking about. You won't even have to process them to get a good sound. Anyway, just a thought.

Kontakt alternatives to Acousticsamples Sunbird