After messing with Kontakt for a couple of hrs, I am considering a dif setup for my studio.
How about ditch my XP30, get a cheap, hopefully somewhat nice weighted-key midi controller, and some nice sample CDs?
The music I am doing right now are mostly rock, a little electronic&hip hop (very little) ,and I really wana get into Orchestra, and that's why I am considering changing my setup.
Does anyone has any opinion on my move? good/bad? what are some nice weighted-key MIDI controller? Orchestra sample CDs (within $100)
The XP30 is a very valuable piece of gear for what it is, but it really boils down to what you're feeling.
A good 88 key midi controller - lots of them out there, the MP9500, Yamaha P80-120-200-250, and then of course the controllers with more balls like the RD700, S90, and on and on.
Sample cd's - east west distributes some sample cd's but you're not going to find cream of the crop for under $100.
You know what, you are right. Getting a weighted midi controller will probably cost me just as much as the XP30, plus I wont need the weighted keys to do orchestra anyway.
Ok, so I will limit my question to, what are some good sample orchestra CDs that don't cost an arm? I have checked out soundonline.com, but their demo mp3s really don't tell me what's on what CD, and they are mad expensive, too....
Sonic Implants just issued a scaled down version of their supreme string library in Soundfont form. I think it's the bulk of the giga-only library for around 450....
If that's too much, the regular cheap symphonic strings soundfont (around 25 I believe) is passable, but not very expressive...
Definately not better than the strings on the orchestral card in the XP-30, I wouldn't guess
Most people will tell you its all in the arrangement- which is true to a point, but eventually if you wanna do it right without a real orchestra- I fear gigasampler with the huge libraries will be the only way to go for a long time
