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I’m about ten years late to the party of using software MIDI synths because I have a top-of-the-line hardware MIDI unit, a Roland Integra-7. This is the forth such Roland as I worked my way up. I mostly use it for horns (trumpets, trombones, saxes).
Last year, with time during the pandemic, I upgraded many of my music tools. My new notation program came with software sounds that were better than the Integra. That alerted me to a whole new opportunity to improve the sound of my composer demos.
The really good VSTi libraries cost hundreds, even into the thousands. So did the Integra, but how do you try them to decide what’s best? Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s a bottomless expense to find the right one. The vendor demos online seem highly tweaked, and it’s dreadful how companies use drums and other rhythm instruments to mask your ability to hear just the horns. In addition, to install one and try it, you have to register it and then the software is not returnable.
So, I did a quick experiment. I sent one of my big band scores to two friends. Each used their libraries to send back a demo. No tweaking of any kind, just the quick and dirty raw sounds. The winners and losers quickly became clear. I won’t name products because what is right for me might not be for you.
One of the two friends was our own MarioD, well known on this forum for his use and advocacy for the MIDI side. Thank you, Mario!! Your generous help is greatly appreciated.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I am glad and honored that I was able to help you my friend.
Forbidden fruit causes many jams!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Matt, virtual instruments (VI) and sound libraries can indeed be a black hole of time and expense. But we go there because the sounds can be fullfilling and provide us with options for our music which don't exist in any other format for us. I can't play the cello like Tina Guo or the violin like Taylor Davis but through the marvel of Kontakt and a midi-Keyboard controller I can bring their sounds into my music. So how can I not use these products. Let me recommend, if you have not yet discovered, https://vi-control.net/community/. This is a wonderful community of folks focused this very topic. Lots of good tips and advise on the many products in this market to help with finding the best. Be sure to say Hi, if you bump into me over there. Dan
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Thank you both!
Dan, I’ll check that out.
“Black hole of time and expense” is a great name for an album.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I’m about ten years late to the party of using software MIDI synths because I have a top-of-the-line hardware MIDI unit, a Roland Integra-7. .......
The really good VSTi libraries cost hundreds, even into the thousands. ....... The vendor demos online seem highly tweaked, and it’s dreadful how companies use drums and other rhythm instruments to mask your ability to hear just the horns. ......
So, I did a quick experiment. I sent one of my big band scores to two friends. Each used their libraries to send back a demo. No tweaking of any kind, just the quick and dirty raw sounds. The winners and losers quickly became clear. I won’t name products because what is right for me might not be for you.
Oh come on now..... you can name names. I'd trust the recommendation of a horn player for telling me the name of a seriously good horn synth sampler. Besides.... I don't often use horns.... in a very long time. What is right for you might very well be right for someone else looking for a good horn sample recommendation. Personally, I use Kontakt when I need a moderately good orchestral kind of sound. Yep... there's better out there. And yep... you can dump thousands into the really good ones. Do tell!
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Herb, I bought Swam products. And it does not require Kontakt (though I have that). https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=swam
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Thanks for sharing Matt, I was curious too.
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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The Swam saxes and trumpets are my go-to VSTis for those sounds.
Forbidden fruit causes many jams!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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“Black hole of time and expense” is a great name for an album.
And a perfect metaphor for all 3 of my marriages.
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You're killing me Eddie! Stop!!! 
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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