KVR Audio

an-electric-heart · Post by **an-electric-heart** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:36 am

Hi guys,

If you've heard my music, you'll know I'm into the '80s sound.

Having said that; one thing I don't have is a decent saxophone.
I look at saxophone kontakt instruments every now and then, thinking I'd use saxophone in my music if I had one... but I've yet to commit.
So what are the better virtual saxophone instruments out there? It doesn't necessarily need to be kontakt (but most do seem to be for kontakt).
I'm specifically after something to do the raunchy saxophone solo sound like how Pink Floyd do it, and the solo in electric Blue is an example of the '80s "rock saxophone" sound I'm after.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUFOVu1CurM
(As usual) I am going to do plenty of Googling of my own, but it's also nice to have a chat and get some opinions!

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:11 am

Warp IV, no contest.

an-electric-heart · Post by **an-electric-heart** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:56 am

I actually tried to buy this one, it sounds quite good... and it's cheap, but I'm getting denied by Paypal. I wonder if they've gone under or something.
http://www.cmusic.pro/product-cat/solo- ... saxophone/
But yes, that Warp IV one sounds great, and the Vienna... but I'll go cheaper if I can, but then I'm not really getting "the best" I guess if I go cheaper.

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:58 am

an-electric-heart wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:56 am I actually tried to buy this one, it sounds quite good... and it's cheap, but I'm getting denied by Paypal. I wonder if they've gone under or something.
http://www.cmusic.pro/product-cat/solo- ... saxophone/
But yes, that Warp IV one sounds great, and the Vienna... but I'll go cheaper if I can, but then I'm not really getting "the best" I guess if I go cheaper.

Well, if you want the best, Warp IV demolishes everything. The number of articulations is off the charts. I'll be picking up the entire brass and woodwind collection sometime in the very near future for my big band meets Earth Wind & Fire meets Chicago project.

an-electric-heart · Post by **an-electric-heart** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:59 am

This is what actually set me off thinking about saxophones, it sounds alright too, I'm just not keen on all the gigs of stuff that isn't saxophones.
https://vstbuzz.com/deals/78-off-broadw ... le-sounds/

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 11:03 am

an-electric-heart wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:59 am This is what actually set me off thinking about saxophones, it sounds alright too, I'm just not keen on all the gigs of stuff that isn't saxophones.
https://vstbuzz.com/deals/78-off-broadw ... le-sounds/

I was originally going to go with one of their collections. It's good. Just not as good as Warp IV. And with all that extra stuff you don't need, you're probably better off just getting the Warp IV sax collection. It may be a little bit more money but it'll be worth it.

metaside · Post by **metaside** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 2:46 pm

There are some modelled saxophones available, but if you like to program melodies, it might be better to get something sample-based.

Forgotten · Post by **Forgotten** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 2:57 pm

It depend which saxophone you're looking for, and what kind of articulations you want.

There are so many things that influence how a sax makes a sound - breathing, embouchure, tonguing, overblowing, choice of keys, swinging it towards or away from a mic, etc. - that it's near impossible to accurately reproduce a performance.

It's a very hard instrument to accurately sample, so you probably shouldn't look for perfection - you might want to look for which kinds of articulations are available for each one and determine if they're appropriate for the sound you're looking for.

datroof · Post by **datroof** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 3:17 pm

Forgotten wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 2:57 pm It's a very hard instrument to accurately sample, so you probably shouldn't look for perfection - you might want to look for which kinds of articulations are available for each one and determine if they're appropriate for the sound you're looking for.

Yeah, it is a very hard instrument to reproduce convincingly, all of the articulations and subtleties are ridiculous. If I can get away with it, I often prefer to find a synth sound that evokes the sound of sax, but also sounds cool on its own merits, without actually trying to be a sax - if that makes sense. If you make it work, you can get a sound that satisfies the need for a sax, but also has the advantages of being a synth.

Ploki · Post by **Ploki** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:20 pm

wagtunes wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 11:03 am
an-electric-heart wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:59 am This is what actually set me off thinking about saxophones, it sounds alright too, I'm just not keen on all the gigs of stuff that isn't saxophones.
https://vstbuzz.com/deals/78-off-broadw ... le-sounds/
I was originally going to go with one of their collections. It's good. Just not as good as Warp IV. And with all that extra stuff you don't need, you're probably better off just getting the Warp IV sax collection. It may be a little bit more money but it'll be worth it.

What about Swam saxes?

Jerru · Post by **Jerru** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:42 pm

Seusual Sax - Embertone $20.00
https://www.embertone.com/instruments/sensualsax.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr1UgsHWUhs

grdh20 · Post by **grdh20** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:17 pm

I'm going with SWAM overall..

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 7:16 pm

Ploki wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:20 pm
wagtunes wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 11:03 am
an-electric-heart wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:59 am This is what actually set me off thinking about saxophones, it sounds alright too, I'm just not keen on all the gigs of stuff that isn't saxophones.
https://vstbuzz.com/deals/78-off-broadw ... le-sounds/
I was originally going to go with one of their collections. It's good. Just not as good as Warp IV. And with all that extra stuff you don't need, you're probably better off just getting the Warp IV sax collection. It may be a little bit more money but it'll be worth it.
What about Swam saxes?

I'm listening to the tenor sax now. It's okay. Two problems for me, however. One a major one.

Soundwise it sounds slightly artificial. I really don't think sample modeling is quite there yet. It's good, but it still doesn't sound as good as Warp IV. But that's not the major problem for me. In a pinch, it'll do BUT...

It's solo only. Warp IV comes with ensemble patches which you desperately need for any big band ensemble track. And stacking 3 solo saxes is not going to get you that ensemble sound no matter what you do.

Yes, WARP IV is like twice the cost but you get what you play for.

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 7:17 pm

Jerru wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:42 pm Seusual Sax - Embertone $20.00
https://www.embertone.com/instruments/sensualsax.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr1UgsHWUhs

And this is just a total joke. But then what do you want for $20?

metaside · Post by **metaside** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 8:37 pm

wagtunes wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 7:16 pm
It's solo only. Warp IV comes with ensemble patches which you desperately need for any big band ensemble track. And stacking 3 solo saxes is not going to get you that ensemble sound no matter what you do.

Yes, WARP IV is like twice the cost but you get what you play for.

Imho it's ok for expressive solo playing, but not for ensembles or non-natural playing.

Best realistic saxophone? (sampled)