I started to notice a correlation between how vocal some people are compared to what they share (which is often nothing.) It's really hard to navigate through this and form an opinion. It's the age old question of establishing trust. Again, this is not an attack of any kind, just a realization that I have.
I understand that people that are vocal, not knowing their backgrounds is hard in terms of weight their comment has on certain topics. Sure, i have that too at times. However......... (see below)
It's much easier to form an opinion when all these words are backed by examples. Sometimes, an example is provided to illustrate a negative point and you can clearly hear that the person doesn't have any clue on how to program MIDI as it was recently the case in the Appassionata thread. At least, you get a sense of how people use it, if the problem lies with the library or simply how it is handled. Some people, I try to emulate their sound as well because they are so very skilled.
I'm not particularly skilled in MIDI programming, that's why I provide examples so that people can figure out if they can relate to what I say or if what I'm showing sounds crap and newbish to them.
To me this is a bit oddly written, you make it appear that if someone is not posting examples, they have no worth in the conversation, which i disagree with. Secondly, you make it so, that a not so good midi programming example, means the poster is dismissed from forming an opinion of worhtyness. I disagree on that aswel.
Reason: How a library or patch is received is very personal, subjective. Not everyone feels the need to proof this to any person. It's an expression of feeling. Posting an example doesn't show anything really. As you said there can be very bad examples, yet still valid because of OPINION of THAT person. Opinions are in nature subjective, no matter how you turn it. You can agree with an opinion, but it remains subjective. Same for the Examples posted, person x might like it, person z might not. Again it's therefor subjective. Why can't words alone not be enough? Why must their in your view be "proof" for something to have some worhtyness in a discussion? I know in relation to the first paragraph, that it's hard to read through it and to understand someones opinion is from first hand experience (owning it) or from more distant/indirect experience (meaning: listening to demos or watching/reading reviews, not owning it). But i still value everybody the same, because i don't know their backgrounds that well. And a good example, says not much about knowlegde overall (e.g. if he/she posts in another thread, nobody knows if he/she owns it, or not, or has enough experiences with it). Also some "bad" examples, says nothing about the quality of the person posting it.. it might aswel be that he/she sees no point in crafting a precise demo piece.. might be a very sloppy example, just to illustrate something. All in all.. we don't know much about the poster, other than what we read here (which, advocate of the devil here, might not always be true
)
If I can be so bold as to use your example: 10 paragraphs of explanation on why VSL sound sterile, owning 5 (expensive) brass libraries and yet not a single finished track to share. What am I to make of this? What is anyone to make of this?
Correct, i am very hesitant to post music here.. thought about it, but then it feel uncomfortable to do so.
Not sure, why.. Might be that it can be seen as proof of my abilities (or lack of it).
Might be held against me even (like referencing it, reading my comments in threads):like you just mentioned: you noticed it, and well....you kind of hold it against me: cause you are not trusting my opinion (because of no examples).
Or so it feels
Again i understand the thoughts you have, and i in some degree am in agreement, in that it's hard to make an opinion from comments.
Is there really a problem with VSL in the first place? You seem to think so as you say that "maybe they will fix the lib." I find it unfair both the people reading and the developer working tirelessly to make a product the best they can (I know several of the people at VSL, they are fantastic human beings.)
Not only that: they strive to give the musician as much flexibility as possible. Often times, I find that the lack of "warmth", "emotion", or whatever we call it comes from the person programming the MIDI rather than from the library itself. Not saying this is the case here, nor that I can make the library sing (far from it.)
Look i hear it in every review on the product by END USERS: the same sonic issue (especially with horn1). It bugs me, considering it's supposed to be the new improved thing on the market. Yet listening to the older libraries (end user reviews) i do not hear that issue. How can that be? You might disagree, but my ears tell me: something is wrong here. it sounds plain wrong. And that is MY opinion on it. So for a sales pitch thing, the product reviews did the opposite thing: i didn't buy it.
And i don't see how this is unfair. Every developer is working tirelessly on it's products, vsl is not the exception here. But that doesn't guarentee a good product for everyone
And i am just as much entitled to form an opinion on the outcome (for me, it's through audio examples: even official ones, which vsl finds the best in class ones), as you can have one. If it's not good for someone, he/she is entitled to express that. Others may agree or disagree.. an opinion is an opinion = subjective.
That's another great point with VSL: instead of researching forever, you can simply download a fully functional demo and play with it to see if it suits your taste and workflow. They even accept refunds! I should have mentioned that in my video, I forgot.
Yes, that is an option to use to find out. But for me first looks, and then reviews (indepth), and demos tell me something about a library upfront. Demos are carefully selected by the developer, to let the product shine in it's best way. If there are issues discovered in it (by the listener), the interrest in it deminishes quickly. Then if reviews show the same issues, even more clearly... well.......the chances of investigating it for yourself via a trial is bare to none by that time.
again, no hard feelings, or attacking you, just venting an opinion on your thoughts.