DZComposer

That has dependencies on the tempo of the players, so you'd need to MIDI record things like that with the players (or to a recording of them).

If you can stretch that to another $50, there is a pretty nice deal at Musician's Friend right now: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Delta-1010-LT-PCI-Digital-Audio-System?sku=701376 M-Audio Delta 1010LT with 2 MXL 990 condenser mics for ~$200. But you still need 2 XLR cables and 2 phantom power boxes, or a preamp with phantom power support (MXL 990s need Phantom Power) and 2 stands. If you can't borrow those, it could add a bit to the price.

How small is "small?"

One of the reasons Kontakt tends to use more CPU is it's "Direct-from-Disk" feature. You can change the DFD settings, but from what I tell, you can't turn it off as a whole (but you can tell individual instruments not to use it). One thing, though: The less DFD you use, the more RAM you need in your system to load large amounts of samples. I am a satisfied Kontakt user. The first sampler I ever bought was the 32 voice version of Gigastudio 3.5. It was severely limited and felt like a $150 demo (which was a bank-breaker for me at that time). So that turned me off of Giga. Libraries themselves can add to CPU overhead. For instance, I use the bass drum from the Kontakt 2 library in my work instead of GPO's bass drum because GPO's uses a lot more CPU. One beautiful thing about Kontakt, though I'm sure other samplers can do this too, is that it'll open anything. WAV, HALion, Giga, Soundfonts (though I would advice telling SF2 instruments to not use DFD), Akai, etc. You may want to start off by buying a Kontakt Player or Kompakt library first and see if you like it. (I started into Kontakt with GPO alone, and bought two other KP libraries since before crossgrading). If you keep your eyes open, you can find a good deal. I grabbed my copy of Kontakt when Audiomidi did a sale. Picked up the crossgrade for $200. Pick up the demo and eveluate it for yourself. http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=kontakt_us1 It's really up to you. If you want to go Kontakt, Awesome. If you want to use another sampler, that's great too. I've heard great stuff made on all the major sampler formats.

The names that praised Symphony of Voices impress me (as do the demos). But it seems bloated for what I would use it for. I could do without disc four and many of the cluster and 12 tone programs on the other discs. I'll probably wait for a price drop before that one. I think I'll go with VOTA. It's at a good price right now anyways.

Do you mean pitch bend? There is a MIDI CC for that. Not sure of the specifics in fruity loops, but it is probably on the piano roll like in most sequencers. Also, most MIDI keyboards have a bend wheel. And don't type in all caps.

I wish I could afford this library, but it is twice the amout I would spend on a single library. Anyone have expiriance getting Voices of the Apocalypse working in Kontakt 2? I imagine K2 would load the samples, but I don't know how the word builder works. Also, I've looked at the Siedlaczek collection, which is a Kontakt libray now (a definate plus), but it comes with excess baggage that I don't need such as the Piano, a good chunk of Advanced Orchestra, and Orchestral Colors. I am looking in the market for full Chiors, so if anyone has suggestions... (Yes, I posted this in the Sample Request thread too)

I want a full Chior <= $500 US. I don't want soundfonts (sf2), I want higher quality sample sets. Kontakt format prefered, but not required as Kontakt 2 will open anything to some degree. The EWQL Choir library sounds awesome, but it costs $1000. I have my eye on Voices of the Apocalypse, but I use Kontakt and that is a Giga library. While I'm sure Kontakt will load the samples, I'm not so sure how the word-building utility would work with Kontakt. If anyone has expiriance, please tell. I also have my eye on Peter Siedlaczek´s Classic Complete Collection, but I am not sure if I want the excess baggange of Advanced Orchestra and Orchestral Colors (though I do like the Smart Violins...) Yeah, all EastWest libraries. I guess I can't call myself a Garritan fanboy anymore. Thanks. P.S. I'm still looking for that Euphonium....

"i second minihost. it is made of win and god." I just tried minihost. It is most definately not made of "Win and God." First, it gives me a popup and won't let me use the program for a minute. Then, it only let me load one VST and when I tried to open another instance, they both tried to use my soundcard at the same time, making Windows BSOD. Yeah, it's free, but you get what you "pay" for. A piece of begware. I think I'll stay with Bidule. I really like how Bidule shows you how everythings connected as well. "If you want some of the "big ones", don't even try Cubase, it sucks. Go for Cakewalk Sonar, it cheaper and better than Cubase." And both make you give up a USB port for a DRM dongle. Damn pirates ruin everything.

A VST Host is any program capible of loading VST plugins. Of course there are the big ones like Cubase. But, if you're on a budget then that may not be an option. I personally use Bidule to host my VSTs. http://www.plogue.com Bidule is in beta right now, so you can get a demo with a pretty good length of time to use. To register it only costs $70. Bidule, however, is mainly designed to be used as a slave program to another program. You'll also likely need a virtual MIDI cable to use it. MIDI Yoke is one. http://www.midiox.com It's free. There is also Maple. http://www.marblesound.com/ also free. Just set your MIDI device to the VMC and set it up in Bidule and you can use your favorite MIDI sequencer or player. If you want an all-in-one package, there is Tracktion. Tracktion is a full-fledged audio and MIDI sequencer with VST capability. http://www.mackie.com/products/tracktion2/splash.html If you don't want to spend any money, there are some free VST hosts, but they aren't very useful in my expiriance. I can't think of any specific ones off the top of my head.

Interesting sound indeed. Now I have to play around with percussion sounds myself in Kontakt...

I believe it's time to ask for this one again: Any Euphoniums that aren't bundled up in other libraries?

Then you lose the ability to mix the multiple things on that channel individually. For example, If you have a guitar and a bass hooked up on the same channel and you want, say, less guitar, you'll have to do the mixing elsewhere than your mixer, which makes the mixer moot. Bad Analogy: http://www.porsche.com/usa/models/cayenne/cayenne/

Definately Jupiter. It is at either Rehersal VI or Rehersal XVI for those that have a score. Sorry, but there are no Sforzandos in these sections.

Are you using Kontakt as a plugin or stand alone? Now my Soundcard is ASIO compliant, so I don't have much expiriance with ASIO4ALL, but have you played with it's settings? Look there too.

I'll put a good word in for NoteWorthy. I love it's note entry system. In fact, I made most of my remixes with it. I then have to pop it into a sequencer to add fine MIDI CCs if needed, though (I can't stand sequencer note entry.). I wish NoteWorthy had better MIDI CC support...

There are many higher-quality formats out there. SoundFont's weakness is that it is not very programmable and doesn't offer develoeprs much. Also, it isn't very efficient either. Higher-end sampelrs, such as Kontakt, Gigastudio, Akai, or HALion offer more programmability and most of them have the ability to stream large samples from your hard drive to ease the RAM load. Most of those samplers have to be purchased seperately from samples, though most come with some (Kontakt 2 comes with a full orchestra from VSL, somewhat featured). A good thing about the Kontakt format, though, is that Native Instruments is licensing the technology to sample developers in the form of the Kontakt Player which allows developers to ship to people who don't have a sampler. The nice thing is, owning such a library will get you a discount on the full Kontakt. Examples: Garritan Persnal Orchestra, EastWest Quantum Leap Symphony Orchestra (all Versions), Virtual Drumline 2, Garritan Jazz and Big Band, the list continues... Look for "Kontakt Player" or "Kompakt Instrument." I should also note that I use Kontakt, GPO, VDL2, and GJABB. I'll tell you right now, it is hard to find good free samples for those formats. But look around. Project Sam had a few free GIGs for a while that were decent sounding, but not very featured. You may want to browse here for something. Listen to demos and see what peaks your interest: http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/search.phtml?sampler_type=&type=sample_cds_and_cd_roms&sound_category=pianos_keyboards I'll note that GPO, EWQLSO, and GJABB come with piano sounds. Also, EastWest has a damn-fine stand-alone piano that runs as a Kompakt instrument. ( http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=EW-157 ) EDIT: Important Hardware Note: These higher-end samplers are resource-hungry. Don't expect to be able to use them on a Pentium 2 with 256 megs of RAM. Won't work. You should have at least a gig or RAM (preferably more), a CPU that can handle the polyphony load of your musical style, and a soundcard that supports necesary formats (Like GSIF for Gigastudio or ASIO or HALion. In fact, ASIO is a good idea and most VST hosts can benefit greatly form it.)

The bassline is the second most important part in a piece of music. I don't like static basslines and I try not to use them (though I admit that Mercenarios de Lobo had it's share of them). I like basslines that have a semi-melodic charactaristic to them rather than just reinforcement of rhythms already being played by another instrument or as just a low long-note fill. Though there are times where doing so is desireable, sometimes for an entire song. It all depends on what is musically happening. I also like to use low voices in more than just basslines. Giving the low voice the melody for a phrase or two can add some depth. I generally start with my melody line and then go to the bassline. In most cases, the Bass should carry the root of the chord structure. Sometimes I'll put a countermelody in bafore a bassline, but that's only occasional.

I'm a notation software person. Of course I use Kontakt's huminization script when possible.

Be ready to drop some serious cash too. Most musicians won't work for free. And you need to provide your own percussion equipment (buy/rent/borrow) as most percussionists do not own enough things to make a complete percussion set.

That's an interesting idea with using the Trombone and Horn samples to make a euphonium. A guy on the GPO forums suggested octaving up the tuba, but it didn't sound to great. Maybe this will. I just bought Kontakt 2, so I might try that. I'm fairly certian that an upcoming library (GPO Advanced) will have the sounds I want, but as far as I know that library is a year away from releae (that's too much waiting...) I do know a sax player and a Euphonium player. Maybe I could get them to do some saples for me (though unlikely because I can't afford to pay anyone for anything. )

I would never share my commercial samples. No way I'd risk voiding my license for samples that I pay for. SAM Brass is available in Kontakt format as well. Kontakt can run as a VST plugin. I have the version 1.0 of the SAM Horns. It's nice, though I had Gigastudio32 which is freaking useless and nowhere near worth it's price tag (Felt like a $100 demo program.) which is why none of my stuff has used it. Then I discovered Kontakt Player. It has made me fall in love with Kontakt. I shall be getting my copy of the full version tomorrow. Now I just need to side-grade my SAM Horns to the curent version. Still no suggestions for Orchestral saxes or euphonium?

I've been wanting to do some concert and marching band stuff, but alas I am missing a measely 2 sounds. I have trumpets, horns, trombones, tubas, flutes, clarinets, oboes, english horns, basoons, bass clarinets, and a whopping percussion set (including marching battery). But I am missing Saxophones (CLASSICAL sound NOT Jazz sound.) and euphonium. I can wait for Garritan Jazz Band for my jazz saxes, but it has no classical sounding saxes. Garritan Orchestra Advanced will have the sounds I want, but as far as I know it may not come out until late next year (ideas are already backing up) I'd prefer VSTi's or Kontakt if possible, but I'd like the libraries to be less than $300. I'd prefer stand-alone VST, as I haven't gotten Full Kontakt yet (I use 2 Kontakt Player libraries). Though I can get it for $339 for being a register KP user. I probabaly will get it though, since the Garritan Violin will use it and I must have it. If you recomend something like another orchestral package, please make sure that you know that the sax and euphonium sounds are good. Thanks.

Good to see that you guys like it. I've got another Star Wolf work coming. It's the 64 Vers. theme. It will be in a different style, though. I also have the Sector X and the Warp BGM's in the works too. Not sure which will be out first. But anyways, Methinks it's time OCR had a Star Fox 64 section. "PS edit: [01:51:55] <Fox_E> Tell him I like it too. D= [01:52:20] <Fox_E> ...It's very ~blue~." Hmm... I haven't talked to him in a long time... "When i hear the original tune, i think "Starwolf! Scum!" but when i hear this remix i think "Starwolf! Good Guys?!"..." Don't feel bad. Star Wolf actually fought on the good side in Star Fox Asasult. Oh, and it is Spanish, not Portuguese. I didn't use a translator either. I used what little I remember from High School Spanish.