RatFink, I see you mention Native Instruments Komplete several times. You're right, very pricey! But I do think that samplers are the way for you to go taking into the account that you want the best most realistic sounds you can get. Synths can only get you so far unless you really get into synth programming and get into something like physical modeling synthesis. That in itself is a deep dive, just stick with samplers.

I think that you might be able to save quite a bit of money and get closer to what you want if you just get Native Instruments Kontakt. This is just their sampler without all the other synths, effects, etc. Komplete, in its base from, runs $600 whereas Kontakt runs $200 on sale right now.

I do find Kontakt a bit more involved to work with as compared to another well known sampler: IK Multimedia Sampletank 3 also on sale now for $200.

Note that both are 64 bit apps, so you will need a computer capable of that or will need to use a 32 bit to 64 bit bridge like J-Bridge.

Both Kontakt and Sampletank have free trial versions available. So download both and give them a try.

Jeff

Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2025, 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