This is gonna be a long one, so I apologize up front.
I'm looking to upgrade my brass and would welcome any opinions you good folks have. Feel free to correct any misunderstandings I have. Here's what I'm looking at:
Chris Hein Orchestral Brass Extended
Cinematic Studio Brass
CineSamples CineBrass Core
Sample Modeling Brass Bundle
All are about the same price, but I'm starting my research now so I can take advantage of any Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Christmas/holiday sales. If anyone knows odd sales dates for any of these, like after the New Year, I'd appreciate that.
It'd probably help to know what I'd be using this for. I compose for fun, no job in music, no pay involved. I like to write in classical styles, and some imitations of film score styles. I don't tend to write what I think of as "big epic" styles. I'd tend to favor orchestral realism over bombastic stuff, but it would be nice to have the option of big and bombastic if I choose to use it.
I like the sounds of all four of these libraries. It seems to me that the Chris Hein and Sample Modeling don't do epic as well as Cinematic and Cinesamples, especially in the French Horns. It also seems to me that Cinematic and Cinesamples aren't as good at quiet and subtle as Chris Hein and Sample Modeling. All of this is based on listening to demos, of course. I haven't actually used any of these.
I like the deep options on Chris Hein and Sample Modeling...On the other hand, Cinematic and Cinesamples are much more straightforward...Sometimes too many options can paralyze.
I don't mind libraries recorded dry, which seems to be the case with Chris Hein and Sample Modeling. Cinematic and Cinesamples have ambient mics that can be mixed in or out, correct?
My biggest concerns are about Sample Modeling, because it is sooooo different. It's my understanding that there are no keyswitches for articulations and it is down to your playing. (I've also seen that a breath controller would make things easier with Sample Modeling...I'm considering buying one with whatever library I choose, so no problem) I've read that modeling instruments are heavier on CPU usage whereas sampled instruments drain RAM. Anyone have issues with this using Sample Modeling? How much does it drain your CPU? Last thing: From demos, it looks like Sample Modeling is easier to use for solo instruments rather than sections. Am I mistaken? If it is an effort to build sections, how difficult is it, does it drain more CPU using multiple instruments, etc?
So, which library would you buy if you could only buy one? Is there another library you'd recommend in this price range? I don't own the retail version of Kontakt, only the free Kontakt Player.
Thanks in advance for any help!
I'm looking to upgrade my brass and would welcome any opinions you good folks have. Feel free to correct any misunderstandings I have. Here's what I'm looking at:
Chris Hein Orchestral Brass Extended
Cinematic Studio Brass
CineSamples CineBrass Core
Sample Modeling Brass Bundle
All are about the same price, but I'm starting my research now so I can take advantage of any Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Christmas/holiday sales. If anyone knows odd sales dates for any of these, like after the New Year, I'd appreciate that.
It'd probably help to know what I'd be using this for. I compose for fun, no job in music, no pay involved. I like to write in classical styles, and some imitations of film score styles. I don't tend to write what I think of as "big epic" styles. I'd tend to favor orchestral realism over bombastic stuff, but it would be nice to have the option of big and bombastic if I choose to use it.
I like the sounds of all four of these libraries. It seems to me that the Chris Hein and Sample Modeling don't do epic as well as Cinematic and Cinesamples, especially in the French Horns. It also seems to me that Cinematic and Cinesamples aren't as good at quiet and subtle as Chris Hein and Sample Modeling. All of this is based on listening to demos, of course. I haven't actually used any of these.
I like the deep options on Chris Hein and Sample Modeling...On the other hand, Cinematic and Cinesamples are much more straightforward...Sometimes too many options can paralyze.
I don't mind libraries recorded dry, which seems to be the case with Chris Hein and Sample Modeling. Cinematic and Cinesamples have ambient mics that can be mixed in or out, correct?
My biggest concerns are about Sample Modeling, because it is sooooo different. It's my understanding that there are no keyswitches for articulations and it is down to your playing. (I've also seen that a breath controller would make things easier with Sample Modeling...I'm considering buying one with whatever library I choose, so no problem) I've read that modeling instruments are heavier on CPU usage whereas sampled instruments drain RAM. Anyone have issues with this using Sample Modeling? How much does it drain your CPU? Last thing: From demos, it looks like Sample Modeling is easier to use for solo instruments rather than sections. Am I mistaken? If it is an effort to build sections, how difficult is it, does it drain more CPU using multiple instruments, etc?
So, which library would you buy if you could only buy one? Is there another library you'd recommend in this price range? I don't own the retail version of Kontakt, only the free Kontakt Player.
Thanks in advance for any help!