Prosamples from East/West worth the money?

[flugel45]

Audiomidi.com has a number of these titles covering just about every genre and instrument family. There's currently a buy two, get one free sale, and I was just wondering if they're worth getting. (Normally they're $40 each, but with the sale, it's about $26 each).

Most of these are "excerpts" from some well-regarded sample libraries (Seidlaczek's Orchestra and Choirs, East West-Quantum Brass, etc), but how much are we getting for our money? (Incidentally, they're in Akai format. I plan to use them with VSampler3).

Anyone here using these samples?

TIA,
JD

[brecon]

I bought a CD with NI Kompakt Showcase and a small sample library (giveaway of German music magazine "keys") a couple of days ago. This disk also contains some teasers from Eastwest (e.g. "Quantum Leap Hardcore Bass") of good overall quality.

Hope this helps!

Brecon

[flugel45]

Hi Brecon,

Actually, I'm somewhat familiar with East-West's stuff, and know they have a reputation for good quality samples. I was really curious about their Prosamples line, since I'd never heard of them, and was just wondering about the amount of content (since each disk is only $40).

I'll probably go ahead, take a chance and get the bundle. Appreciate your comments.

Thanks also for your review of OXE FM synth. I can't currently afford FM7 so I downloaded OXE and FMHeaven, and have been playing around with both. I'm too lazy to get into sound synthesis, so mostly rely on presets for synths. Like you said , not a whole lot variation going on there with the OXE presets, but hey, I'm not Vangelis either, and the synth does sound good.

(EDIT) For some reason I thought FMHeaven was free (it's $70). Still, I might have to scrape up the bucks for this one, given its ability to import DX7 and TX81Z sounds (of which, there seem to be thousands available on the web).

I just wish they would update the GUI, which is rather low-tech, compared to even some free synths currently out there.

JD

[DevonB]

I have not heard good things about the ProSample sets. They are stripped down versions of the original library. I'm leary myself, and have totally held off buying any of them personally. Granted, $40 ain't bad to take a chance, but I haven't been feeling 'lucky' on those.

Devon

[Chas]

I bought a couple and was diasappointed. They are too limited to be of much use.

Chas

[flugel45]

Devon and Chas, thanks for the input. Sounds like what I suspected is true (they're just rebadged snippets of well-known libraries, ultimately of limited use).

I'll forego this bundle and put the $$ toward a quality sample library.

Tks,
JD

[lex_strooder]

I got 13 of them (one sale) about a year ago. I wanted to get some basic samples to start making music and they really help me get going.

The downside is the limitation of the amount of samples but you still get complete parts of the original and they are top quality and are much better then other low budget "full" sample cds I have.

cheers
Strooder

[Rabid]

I have bought a couple and Guitar Center occasionally has them very cheap. They are subsets of larger collections, but sometimes you are getting 1/3 of the samples for 1/5 of the price so it can be a good deal. I bought items to fit specific needs and it worked out well. Multiple format CD's work well for me because I can use Akai, Acid and Rex formats. The quality is also good, it is just the number of samples that is limited.

Rober

[XanaX]

I bought a couple and was diasappointed. They are too limited to be of much use.

Chas

The only thing that can truly limit you is your own (lack of) imagination.