KVR Audio

Foxedge · Post by **Foxedge** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 11:55 pm

Hey guys! Guess that was asked often but everyone got own preferences.
I would like to have an Orchestra that cost not more than 300€ or not much more and provides me much freedom about the single instruments.

For example Albion One should be awesome, but as I saw it didn't even have a solo cello or something like that.
Are there even lib. that have solo instruments or do I for that have to buy these several hundred bucks packages like Cinematic Strings 2?

Orchestral Essentials 1 by Project Sam are pretty appealing to me but again I read about that, that it is more into the heavy trailer/filmscore way (what I actually want), but still not so good for.. classical or soft orchestration (which I also would love to).

Any advice is appreciated!

Fleer · Post by **Fleer** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 12:27 am

You can get Garritan Personal Orchestra 5 for half that price. Or Miroslav Philharmonik 2 when it's on sale. Or try EWQL Symphonic Orchestra, oldie but goodie.

bigcat1969 · Post by **bigcat1969** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 3:40 am

In addition to Fleer's great ideas, you might try to get Kontakt on sale if no other way than getting Drum'ica and cross grading for $250. (Right now you can get Komplete for 400 if you want Kontakt plus pianos and some nice sound effects and stuff).
Then get Kirk Hunter Diamond Orchestra on sale for about $150. Note not everyone thinks as highly of this orchestra as I do and woodwinds are weak.

DSmolken · Post by **DSmolken** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 7:05 am

Fleer wrote:You can get Garritan Personal Orchestra 5 for half that price. Or Miroslav Philharmonik 2 when it's on sale.

I reviewed both of those for Bedroom Producers Blog and they're pretty different because of the underlying engines. GPO is better at behaving like an orchestra with mod-wheel mapped dynamics on sustained sounds, the ability to build sections of a specific size etc. Miro is more like a huge and nicer-sounding version of a Nexus orchestra or a classic rompler.

EWQL, the basic VSL sets and Kirk Hunter are also worth looking at.

Foxedge · Post by **Foxedge** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 8:17 am

Miroslav is 600 bucks which is above my budget, and on EWQL I don't like these 100 different versions with limitations. Even "Gold" has only one mic position out of 3 they put only in the high expensive editions.

GOP I already checked out, I don't know if I dig the sound. Somehow it does sound a bit soft and artifical to me. Especially the strings here after 0:55 https://soundcloud.com/garritan/below-z ... tion-demos

And buying Komplete now + Kirk Hunter Diamond I would be at 600 bucks, again too far above what I'd like to spend..

anomandaris1 · Post by **anomandaris1** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:14 am

You can also get the free Sonatina library and use any free SFZ sampler/player.

Foxedge · Post by **Foxedge** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:28 am

I want something that sounds pretty great in quality / realistic, free libraries are the quite opposite.

DSmolken · Post by **DSmolken** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:45 am

Foxedge wrote:I want something that sounds pretty great in quality / realistic, free libraries are the quite opposite.

Haha. Maybe I should take this personally, having made some free samples myself, but...

295 euros will get you VSL Special Edition Vol 1. That's another option. Of course it's cut down from a much much larger library.

bigcat1969 · Post by **bigcat1969** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:23 am

Just checked Hunter Diamond is $125. Crossgrade from Drumica to Kontakt should be $250. $375 total. I think 330 Euros? So pretty close to your line.

Foxedge · Post by **Foxedge** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:26 am

I dont have Kontakt yet! Or how was that supposed to be meant?

bigcat1969 · Post by **bigcat1969** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:30 am

What should work is you download Drummica from Sennheiser, http://de-de.sennheiser.com/drummica and install it and register it with NI. This should qualify you for a crossgrade price to full Kontakt of $250.

I know it has worked for people in the past.

Vovique · Post by **Vovique** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 11:03 am

Foxedge wrote: GOP I already checked out, I don't know if I dig the sound. Somehow it does sound a bit soft and artifical to me. Especially the strings here after 0:55 https://soundcloud.com/garritan/below-z ... tion-demos

My God! Now that's a horrible tone. It's soooo synthetic, almost in a cheap 90s PSR style

Foxedge · Post by **Foxedge** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 11:10 am

bigcat1969 wrote:What should work is you download Drummica from Sennheiser, http://de-de.sennheiser.com/drummica and install it and register it with NI. This should qualify you for a crossgrade price to full Kontakt of $250.

I know it has worked for people in the past.

Hunter Diamond is 250$ as far as I can see (https://www.kirkhunterstudios.com/produ ... orchestra/), so with Kontakt 5 I would spend 500 bucks to get an orchestra that costs the half price..and it's too much beyond the budget I would like to spend. 300€ would be nice, maybe a bit more if way better content for it but 500 is too much.

Foxedge · Post by **Foxedge** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 11:15 am

Vovique wrote:My God! Now that's a horrible tone. It's soooo synthetic, almost in a cheap 90s PSR style

It just doesn't sound so good to me, compared with for example Projets Sams Orchestral Essentials.
Compare it with the strings here from 0:40 until the end.

https://soundcloud.com/projectsam/lust- ... essentials

bigcat1969 · Post by **bigcat1969** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 11:20 am

try typing 50OFF in the coupon box at checkout and it will cut the price in half. I don't know how long the sale lasts.

Note I'm really not trying to sell you on Kontakt / Hunter, I just happen to be aware of some tips to get them cheaper and personally think it is a good way to get a solid orchestra. VSL as mentioned by a fine musician earlier might well be a better route for you if the starter pack meets enough of your needs and then you can expand moving forward. It is a superb orchestra.

Best full orchestra as first library?