After some research, it seems the only two professional full orchestra libraries (in my price range of about $1000) are the Vienna Opus 1 and the EWQL Gold edition, and I need help choosing which one to buy! Here is some quick background info on my system and needs.

I’m currently a student composer at CSUN who is about to graduate into the “professional world.” Thus I need a semiprofessional setup to shine my compositions in the best light. (To listen to what I have already produced with my limited system and to give you a better idea on how I need to advance my quality of audio, please visit my Demo Site: http://www.avartists.com )

This summer, I’m probably going to use my student loans to invest in a G5 desktop with Logic Pro 6 (comes with the EXS24mkII software sampler) and a killer set of samples. Since I am a film score major, I’m looking for that “hollywood sound,” thus my interest in EWQL. Though the Vienna samples are designed specifically for my sampler (EXS24) and the “Performance Tool” looks amazing!

I’ve read allot of reviews on the EWQL series and heard the Silver version live many times (people in class use them) and I must admit, they sound great! I have read very little on the Vienna Opus 1 (when did it come out) and am looking to learn more. Anyone use both and can comment on their specific strengths and weaknesses?

Once again, thanks in advance for your advice and help. Its people helping people that makes this world a better place to live, and I truly appreciate your time!

Jon

Hey mate

I'm doing composition and production in Australia at QUT Uni, and the majority of people in my course are using the Edirol Symphonic Orchestra. HOWEVER I (as i tend to do) went against the trend and went with the Eastwest system. I don't know much about the Vienna, however you must note with the EWQL that the silver and gold editions are cutdown versions of the platinum beast (thus why you can upgrade using what you have already paid as a starting point). Gold does have quite a lot of useful instruments in it - and the G5 *might* be able to cope with it, but i doubt you'd be able to run logic, multiple instances of Gold and the included reverb (which might i add sounds gorgeous) on the single G5. A G4 using it as RTAS (but then RTAS has problems of its own i spose) has problems running the silver version with reverb under ProTools! But then you're not using ProTools, which is a very good thing...

In my personal opinion, go the EWQL - it has an upgrade path, and you can always introduce a GigaStudio companion to your setup.

Nice site design btw

Hope that helped a bit

This post has been edited by MrDee: Thu 3 Jun 2004, 14:23

Have you auditioned the Garritan Personal Orchestra set yet?
Its sooooo much cheaper than the Vienna one! Sure its aimed at the budget end of sampled orchestral library but dont dismiss it out of hand, its very impressive for around £170.00 (sorry dont know price in dollars)Check out the demos on the Garritan site, I bought it on the strength of those.....and I've yet to buy a new computer with enough grunt to use it, (G5 in a few months I hope)I believe you need a Gig of RAM minimum, check it out!
As you're still studying I'm sure you qualify for good discounts for 'academic' versions of stuff like Finale or Sibelius. regards, JC

Check this out

350GB Orchestral Library for $995

Thanks for the new link formatj. Upon further research, I found out that particular library will be released by section a couple months apart, so it will take over a 6 months to get the complete lib. Though it sounds tempting to wait for what sounds like an amazing deal, I simply cant.

As for the Garritan Personal Orchestra, though great for the price, is not THAT much better then my current MIDI hardware setup, and thus not worth the hassle trying to learn. I want to simply jump into the deep end and be forced to learn how to swim, rather then spending next year in the kiddy pool

MrDee makes a good point about the upgrade path, but upon further research, I have found that the Opus 1 ALSO can be applied to upgrading to the pro level, so theres no help in deciding there! LOL

One thing that would make me decide in a heart be is if one of these orchestras are already optimized for alternate MIDI controllers. I own a Yamaha WX5 Wind controller, and would love to be able to input and control my samples using this device. Is it possible?

On a important side note, I'm curious as to the best way to set-up a new computer system to handle Logic and an orchestral lib. If you had the money to buy a new system today, what would you make sure it had? e.g. RAM, Hard Disk Space, etc. It would stink if I screwed up and bought a system that could not handle the Opus 1 or ESQL Gold libraries.

Thanks again for your help. I will make sure to report back here when my search is indeed over. Until then, please continue to post away!

Jon

Regarding your wind controller - as long as its midi that its outputting... it'll work with anything. Midi is midi.

You will want lots and lots of ram and possibly two hard drives (one just for samples). I haven't tried the ewql on a G5, but it should be capable. Or if you wanted to be way over-the-top, you could get a computer just to run the AU plugins, and another computer for your sequencer. Lol money... who the hell invented that concept!?

Hi,
I am a totally new member here, my name is Swanyce (i am a girl ). I just read your post. I had a problem finding a very good sampled orchestra and I have looked very hard to find the best of the best (at a more or less affordable price). I have listened to several samples before making my choice (the garritan personal orchestra was the first). I also listened and made searches on the Symphonic Implants samples and everything that comes in a gigastudio format for I really think Giga from Tascam is the greatest sampler I ever tried. Well, to make it short, as soon as I heard the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra samples I was totally astonished! I listened to the horizon series (that are the cheapest) but the best one at a mid-affordable price is definitely the Opus 1. :DBelieve me it is worth the effort. Plus a lot of well renowed composers use the Vienna Symphonic libraries because sounds are incredibly realistic. Plus more and more music libraries ask specifically for the Vienna quality (unless you can afford to hire a live orchestra ). There is no comparison with the Garritan Personal Orchestra!!! I don't know the ESQL gold libraries but I can surely tell I am happy with my Opus 1 from Vienna. I purchased it from Sweetwater.com, they have good prices and the customer care is really good.

About the computer... if you are going to use all those samples I strongly suggest a lot of free hard disk space and split it (if you have more than a hard disk is better). And get lotssss of RAM (up to 1 giga).

Swanyce

This post has been edited by Swanyce: Fri 11 Jun 2004, 04:19