Best virtual guitar?

[eDrummist]

I think Prominy blows Realstrat clean out the water, but Realstrat is good I watched the Voodoo Chile??!! youtube video, but Prominy was too my ears a real Strat sound, so real it was unreal, if that makes sense!

I agree with you on the demos. I've always thought Prominy's demos sound amazing. The only reason I haven't bought it is that everyone I have ever spoken with who owns it -- and especially JeffN1, who, like me, has been on a similar journey for realistic sampled guitar for many years (we have had similar posts over several years at KVR and other online communities) - have told me that Prominy's samples are super difficult to use (Jeff used Prominy on his latest album). However, everyone I've spoken with agrees that Prominy's Strat and LPC libraries sound great.

[breakmixer]

I think Prominy blows Realstrat clean out the water, but Realstrat is good I watched the Voodoo Chile??!! youtube video, but Prominy was too my ears a real Strat sound, so real it was unreal, if that makes sense!

I agree with you on the demos. I've always thought Prominy's demos sound amazing. The only reason I haven't bought it is that everyone I have ever spoken with who owns it -- and especially JeffN1, who, like me, has been on a similar journey for realistic sampled guitar for many years (we have had similar posts over several years at KVR and other online communities) - have told me that Prominy's samples are super difficult to use. However, everyone agrees that they sound great.

That's the whole problem with virtual instruments, buying a 'that'll do' in a few years becomes, 'that don't do anymore' and you want something better(more realistic), like a false economy buying cheap! - I might save up for prominy and have it as my 'that'll do' for years to come, I just also worry in the future half these plugins may not be supported or out of date too....

Thanks for your answers though a great help...

[eDrummist]

Breakmixer,

Yes, to your point, obsolescence is guaranteed. Sample libraries and VSTs don't age as well as physical instruments. My Strat and Les Paul samples from ten years ago are pretty much worthless today.

BTW, it just hit me. Both Chris Hein guitars and RealStrat can be demoed online at http://www.try-sound.com/. Check it out when you have an opportunity.

Good luck!

HA! I just realized that Jeff had already posted in this thread! Well, you can ask him directly what he thinks about the usability of Prominy.

[breakmixer]

Breakmixer,

Yes, to your point, obsolescence is guaranteed. Sample libraries and VSTs don't age as well as physical instruments. My Strat and Les Paul samples from ten years ago are pretty much worthless today.

BTW, it just hit me. Both Chris Hein guitars and RealStrat can be demoed online at http://www.try-sound.com/. Check it out when you have an opportunity.

Good luck!

Thanks, I'll give it a look...bed time now!

[benjamind]

In all seriousness, I wouldn't even bother with a sample library. And there are...absolutely no...virtual guitars currently available that would be even worth looking at, let alone buying.

And I wouldn't hold you breath for a decent virtual guitar either. I know Mokafix Audio is developing something, but you don't know how long that is going to take. I'm guessing anywhere from 2 years, maybe even longer. You know, that is far too long. Seriously, just forget about it and buy a real guitar and learn to play.

By the time the decent virtual guitars are released, you could have learned how to play a real guitar and by which time there would be no point in using a virtual guitar

Take it from me, you are much better off buying a decent guitar and learning how to play one. It isn't terribly hard and within a couple of years you'll be able to play pretty well. It all depends on how much time and effort you put into it. Think of it this way, all that time and effort and wasted money on samples could have been better put to use in learning guitar and bass - and time invested in learning guitar would be time well spent. Compare that to time wasted trying to get realism from something that cannot offer realism - samples cannot really offer realism.

My friend took 4 years before he could master his Paul Reed Smith, but he would never ever use samples again. He actually owns Ministry Of Rock, and he only uses it to get a rough idea of what he wants, and then just plays effortlessly over it and does his takes. In fact, he only uses his computer to do drum tracks in Superior Drummer and record his takes. He can claim to have mastered the guitar neck and he surely has.

I wouldn't hold your breath for a virtual guitar. In fact it may not even happen. There's no telling what the future holds, and let's face it we are all going to die one day from something or another. There is no point in wasting time, these are the best years of your life. Why waste that time waiting for something that may not even happen at all. You are much better off learning guitar, and channel your energy into that. Much better than fooling around with sample libraries that you'll end up spending the same amount of time and just being disappointed by the results.

Sorry to tell you this, but it might turn out to be the truth. I've decided to stop waiting because I'm not even sure if what I am waiting for will ever happen. But one thing I can be sure of, I may be able to play guitar (even with my damaged hands). A virtual guitar? That's not for sure. Who knows what could happen to Mokafix or his string modelling technology? None of us know the answer to that, maybe except Mokafix himself. But what we do know is that it is entirely possible to just pick up a guitar and...simply begin.

Ben

[breakmixer]

Sorry to tell you this, but it might turn out to be the truth. I've decided to stop waiting because I'm not even sure if what I am waiting for will ever happen. But one thing I can be sure of, I may be able to play guitar (even with my damaged hands). A virtual guitar? That's not for sure. Who knows what could happen to Mokafix or his string modelling technology? None of us know the answer to that, maybe except Mokafix himself. But what we do know is that it is entirely possible to just pick up a guitar and...simply begin.

Ben

Cheers, but for the amount of guitar I would use in a track would be kind of minimal, so therefore would rather use samples, when my little boy is older I may buy a guitar - just so it gets use, I have a female friend who can play guitar - so if I really needed a guitarist I would probably ask her to play a part for me, and would use samples as a sketch, to the op - sorry for hijacking your thread - but I'm sure it's all interesting to you also....

Anyone who does actually make 'Funk' I would be interested to know which library(if you do use a library) that you use.

BTW Benjamin(location-I ain't tellin ya), You are a Londoner or thereabout's? Am I right?

[Compyfox]

I think Prominy blows Realstrat clean out the water...

Personal opinions aside, but did you listen to my rundown demos for realLPC/realStrat?
http://www.musiclab.com/community/forum ... php?t=2860


With the right tools (before the amp sim) and right settings (attack/release within the VSTi), I got very good results in the end compared to my usual prefered sampleset by Pettinhouse. I use them both now, depending on the job of course.

[jeffn1]

I think Prominy blows Realstrat clean out the water, but Realstrat is good I watched the Voodoo Chile??!! youtube video, but Prominy was too my ears a real Strat sound, so real it was unreal, if that makes sense!

I agree with you on the demos. I've always thought Prominy's demos sound amazing. The only reason I haven't bought it is that everyone I have ever spoken with who owns it -- and especially JeffN1, who, like me, has been on a similar journey for realistic sampled guitar for many years (we have had similar posts over several years at KVR and other online communities) - have told me that Prominy's samples are super difficult to use (Jeff used Prominy on his latest album). However, everyone I've spoken with agrees that Prominy's Strat and LPC libraries sound great.

I haven't posted a while, so hello, everyone.

I guess I just want to modify (slightly) what edrummist was saying. I struggle on the technical side of things generally. But, Prominy's LPC was not too difficult for me if I mainly use the Superperformance multi. Then, from there, I could add articulations not found in that multi.

But, that multi is HUGE (in terms of the amount of ram used). So, my long-term plan is to get a 64 bit computer so I won't have to worry about how much ram I am using.

My understanding is the main multi on Prominy's Fender library is even more refined/better than the superperformance multi in LPC.

But, I am not sure how well LPC is suited for funk. Real Strat or one of Chris Hein's libraries might be more usable in the genre, or maybe Prominy's Fender.

By the way, I found VSL's Horizon Overdrive virtually impossible to use, but that is just me.

jeffn1

[benjamind]

The thing is, with Efflam's virtual guitar, you will be able to get a sound like the Prominy libraries, but without using tons of RAM.

And be able to change more things about the instrument. On top of that it would probably be more intuitive too.

Ben

[jeffn1]

The thing is, with Efflam's virtual guitar, you will be able to get a sound like the Prominy libraries, but without using tons of RAM.

And be able to change more things about the instrument. On top of that it would probably be more intuitive too.

Ben

Well, Prominy includes such a large number of chords and articulations, it will probably be able to do some things that other can't (on the other hand, I am sure there are also things that other libraries can do better than LPC).

jeffn1

[benjamind]

Well, Prominy includes such a large number of chords and articulations, it will probably be able to do some things that other can't (on the other hand, I am sure there are also things that other libraries can do better than LPC).

jeffn1

One aspect of the problem with most sample libraries is that there is almost always a compromise with one library vs another library.

Efflam's virtual guitar supposedly would resolve those problems, because it would be able to do pretty much everything - everything, that is, that a sample library just cannot do.

So, instead of having this library for that articulation and that library for another articulation, you have an instrument that does all articulations well.

That's the beauty of not being tied to samples and their inherent limitations, and that is why Efflam's virtual guitar will take the VI world by storm. If it is ever released that is.

When it comes to things like this being released, I usually never take anyone's word for it. It's like a protective mechanism to avoid disappointment. Sad to say, but deep down, as much as I'd like to believe this virtual guitar will be released, I take the assumption that it's just vaporware until proven otherwise.

I'd like to think it will be released in 2010. But my gut instincts tell me it'll be 2012 before this instrument is realised.

Ben

[NEK-X]

Hi zeruf

have a look at Many Guitar here at kvr

i like it alot !! and it's "very cheap" for his Features and Sound

...Have Fun...

[djanthonyw]

http://www.sporkfly.com/theflashguitar.html

[generalstargazer]

I tried the realstrat demo because you guys were giving it rave reviews but it kind of sounds weird to me. I don't think it emulates guitars very well...

[Compyfox]

It actually takes some getting used to, you're right. But it's versatile and the "brain" alone is unbeatable in my opinion.

What you think that it sounds weird (which is where I can agree on) is the core sound. It's thin, it's kind of artificial, it's moot in it's own. You're right. This comes from Musiclab's own technology to blend in pickup position sounds with different plectrum positions. Sounds strange, you have to get used to it, but it can definitely be altered not only within the VSTi, but also if you add the right tool directly after (like a transient designer to cut the attacks short on the Strat, and a bass exciter for all guitars if it's not enough "body" for you before it goes into an amp).

Hence the rundown I posted earlier.


With samples you're mostly limited to "that" particular sound, which is indeed instant gratification, but mostly lacks on versatility (IMO!). I was also high and mighty about Musiclab first, then hated it and went for other samples. But after I got used to it and know which plugins to throw in and/or settings I use before I go haywire with additional FX, it's mostly my main used weapon of choice now (quick loading, low on CPU, no crazy keyswitch learning, etc). Same with Rayzoon's Jamstix and it's factory sounds.

Well it (the Musiclab VSTi's) still is after all, since I'm lazy and mostly only use it's "brain" to trigger third party samples (thanks to the implemented MIDI out features, the chord modes, etc).