The strings do sound great (if you use ensemble libraries) and the horn/euphonium patch is surprisingly useful. The strings fit nicely between Albion One/1 and Tundra to give the softer side of the strings.I love Albion I, One, and V, which I have. I had my eye on Albion II but feel like the orchestral stuff is covered. Still...someone give me a nudge, heh.
I was at the same place you are. I don't know if this is a relevant analogy but I have 10 acoustic guitars (gas bubble) but I routinely only go to my Martin D-28 or my McPherson. However, I've got a CA carbon fiber guitar that has a slightly brighter sound that I simply can't get with my main two. I don't need it all the time but when I do, I'm glad I have it. It's a similar scenario in my mind because Albion II strings have a slightly different characteristic. It makes one pause because I think we're talking about subtle nuances.I love Albion I, One, and V, which I have. I had my eye on Albion II but feel like the orchestral stuff is covered. Still...someone give me a nudge, heh.
they can, they're just not coded to
And the Spitfire player also opens in KK with knobs mapped and labeled but not the keyboard guide-lights.
Not sure what you mean by this, what Spitfire player? Do you mean the LABS player?
All the NKS Spitfire libraries that I have, the light guides work.
Labs, HZ Strings, EW Choir, three of the EVOs now use the Spitfire player. As far as I know none of them use the light guides. They do map knobs however, at least the EW choir and Labs do.Not sure what you mean by this, what Spitfire player? Do you mean the LABS player?
All the NKS Spitfire libraries that I have, the light guides work.
Albion II was the second sample library I bought, and this was the first piece I wrote with it a few years back:
All strings from Loegria, except the cluster rise at the end, which is from the original Albion. There's a passage towards the end that it couldn't really pull off, or my programming chops at the time weren't up to the job, but apart from that, even now - years later - I'm still delighted with the realism I was able to get out of it. And from a broad brush library no less....
I don't mind the Albion One/1 strings, for what they are, but the Albion II strings are really very nice and much more versatile than those of Albion One/1. I haven't used them much since getting SCS a couple of years ago, but this close out sale has been good to go back to the Loegria strings and realize that they layer very well with SCS and offers somewhat more full bodied variants than layering SCS with itself (but a smaller, more delicate sound than layering SCS with SSS or even Berlin Strings).Based on this, I'd say Albion II sounds much, much better than Albion One, which I own and rarely use.
Are the legatos in octaves, like most of them are in AOne?I don't mind the Albion One/1 strings, for what they are, but the Albion II strings are really very nice and much more versatile than those of Albion One/1. I haven't used them much since getting SCS a couple of years ago, but this close out sale has been good to go back to the Loegria strings and realize that they layer very well with SCS and offers somewhat more full bodied variants than layering SCS with itself (but a smaller, more delicate sound than layering SCS with SSS or even Berlin Strings).
Albion II was the second sample library I bought, and this was the first piece I wrote with it a few years back:
All strings from Loegria, except the cluster rise at the end, which is from the original Albion. There's a passage towards the end that it couldn't really pull off, or my programming chops at the time weren't up to the job, but apart from that, even now - years later - I'm still delighted with the realism I was able to get out of it. And from a broad brush library no less....
No octaves. The low strings legato only two octaves and only goes up to middle C, though which is quite constraining. The high string legato, however, is more than three octaves (both full section and half section), and I find it quite lovely, especially on slower lyrical passages.Are the legatos in octaves, like most of them are in AOne?
From a cost basis, I'm not sure it makes sense to pay $224 for Loegria strings compared to what you'd get with CSS at $399 unless you prefer the ensemble libraries or want a softer string match to Albion One/1. If you like the other parts of Loegria as well or you prefer to work with a high/low division rather than the individual sections, then Loegria makes more financial sense. I mean, I like Loegria well enough and don't regret having it, but if I didn't have it and I was deciding between it on closeout and CSS, I'd definitely go with CSS on a pure cost basis.I keep telling myself I should save my money for the Cinematic Studio libs and not get Loegria but stuff like this keeps making it a really hard decision. That sounded so good!
Nope I agree with everything you said, CSS makes much more sense and I prefer the individual sections. It doesn't make sense which is why I need to stop listening to Loegria because overall it's not what I need at the momentFrom a cost basis, I'm not sure it makes sense to pay $224 for Loegria strings compared to what you'd get with CSS at $399 unless you prefer the ensemble libraries or want a softer string match to Albion One/1. If you like the other parts of Loegria as well or you prefer to work with a high/low division rather than the individual sections, then Loegria makes more financial sense. I mean, I like Loegria well enough and don't regret having it, but if I didn't have it and I was deciding between it on closeout and CSS, I'd definitely go with CSS on a pure cost basis.