Dave Maffris

Still I may bite on this for $179--although I'm using Abby Road and BBC orchestras by Spitfire, this is an impressive product, plus I'd get the Ostinato Strings for free. Any thoughts on whether this orchestra would supplement/complement or duplicate my BBC Core and Abbey Road One collection, before I plunk down my hard-earned $$$? Thanks.

Hmm, been eyeing an external, was gonna go with SSD to match my computer's drives, but really, for storage? That's a good deal. But reading reviews of it on BB site, a lot of folks were able to score this drive for $190 during Black Friday, so I might just hold off and see what is offered then--

I contacted Izotope today, and while they had no immediate answer for me, they said they would see about it on Monday--apparently they use an algorithm to send out the offers, and there could be a glitch and users who should have been targeted for this offer were not. We'll see. Too bad for them, I am a loyal customer, and now I wouldn't purchase this at $149 under any circumstances, so frankly they may have lost a sale and future full-price subscription. I'm surprised they didn't just go ahead and make the offer to me--it's bad customer relations to put me off with a "maybe Monday" answer. This company is based in my former home State, too! Geez. Anyway..maybe it's time I switched to Fabfilter plug ins, which everyone raves about. Just for spite.

I get plenty of emails from them, but not this one, which ironically is one of the few I would actually jump on. I'll try the chat, thanks!

Very interested in this one...GAS strikes again?

and I own most of their products, have upgraded frequently....wonder why I don't have that offer....got an email from izotope today, the only "deal" was to purchase the Music Production Suite 4 for $149.00. Not.

I didn't get this offer...yet,...but if I do, I'm going there. Yes, subscriptions are a difficult pill to swallow when one has always "purchased" software, but on the other hand, we do upgrade regularly, and that costs $$$$, too. I used to feel the same about "owning" digital music, now I subscribe to Apple Music, for example. Convenience has its cost, I guess. The world is changing fast, and this is the model that is catching on everywhere with businesses and the music business is not immune to it. So philosophically and psychologically it's a shift, but I'm gradually being converted to a subscription person. So be it, if you can't beat em...

98 or greater than 98, the website says more than 98, and they have a few interesting ones priced exactly at 98...just wondering. I may go for another one, anyway that I've been looking at. Lucky for you, though!

How did you get the freebie only spending 34 bucks?

Agreed, it's a clear winner and I have several good ones, too. This will replace them in most, if not all use cases. And I have owned a Fender Rhodes (forget which model) and played many a suitcase model one during my younger playing days in Chicago.

THe Harp is excellent, use it a lot! As are all of OTS' products, of which I own every one.

I have NI action strings, but don't really like it, therefore I was hoping this one would be an upgrade. Still haven't pulled the trigger, however.

Was looking at this one the other day after getting an email from KHS, and I almost got it then...I think that means I'm gonna get it...

Wow. Just wow. Trying to keep from jumping...I finally got Noire, then I found and acquired Ascend, I have a couple of felt pianos, as well as yada yada others...and still...I want this...GAS strikes again...beautiful walkthrough...

My computer appararently also won't run Windows 11, and I'm shocked, since it's only a couple of year's old and a monster built by Jim Roseberry--maybe you could weigh in on this subject, Jim, if you are still watching this forum? I am reluctant to mess with BIOS settings, etc., because frankly I don't know what I'm doing on that level and if my machine goes out, I'm in big trouble...

Interesting topic. As a lifelong pianist, and former owner of a Fender Rhodes and a Wurlitzer, I would agree there are many emulations that are just fine, especially sitting in a mix. I, too, was initially skeptical when OTS released the E piano. However, I own all their products, and they do such a sensational job on them that I assumed it would be great. The real question for me was, "do I need another Rhodes emulation," I use NI's Rhodes 88, scarbee, and a personal favorite, Lounge Lizard. So, fast forward to the Summer Group buy, and I find between the group buy 60% off and my Orange Slices, I can complete my OTS library, adding the new Banjo and the E Piano for a grand total of $86 bucks! This is a steal. Now I am listening to the demos of the Famous E, and it's jaw-droppingly good. But the final test is playing it, and within an instant, I am in love with this one. As a pianist, some instruments inspire you, others are ok, and others are meh or yuck. Playing a Steinway concert grand piano is different than playing anything else I have played. Playing this E piano may not fall into that category, but I felt instantly creative and inspired. The response, timbre, nuances of even a handful of the presets I sampled were energizing. An instrument that makes you want to play it, and makes it hard to stop playing it--that's what tells me they have something really great. I am positive that from this point forward, the Famous E will be my virtual Rhodes of choice in future compositions. Heck, I may even go back and replace my other emulations in some finished productions, just for fun, if I have the time. And for the record, I agree wholeheartedly that if you don't really specialize in a particular instrument, you probably won't be able to tell the difference between them, and that is true for me, to a degree, for drums, saxophone, bass guitar and electric. I know quality, but the differences between the brands, emulations, etc., is largely beyond my experience--you need to be proficient and experienced with an instrument to truly understand the diffs between models. Or to care that much.

I'm inclined to agree with that....I love the Behringer price and the master fader, too. But not if the quality isn't there--price for what you get with FP seems a better value, anyway.

Yeah, I saw it afterwards...but I probably won't get it anyway....looking at maybe Presonus Faderport 16 I although I own Studio One 5 I use Cakewalk--I own a Presonus Quantum audio interface. So that may be the best choice for the money. Or go cheaper with Behringer XTouch. Any thoughts?

cannot add this to a card on softube's site no matter how hard I try....so what gives here?

Being tempted now to do the Subscription--offering it now (their best package) for $125.00/year. Sure you don't own the product and have to pay again in a year, but at least you are up to date with everything automatically, which might very well cover the cost of an individual upgrade. In the case of MPS upgrade from 3-4 $125 price is attractive, but I already have Ozone 9 and Tonal Balance 2, etc., so either way it's a lot of paying for something I already own, anyway. Not sure but I must be wearing down on my anti-subscription stance. Seems most companies update major releases each year, maybe it's just the reality of the times we are in.

Gonna check out the upgrade price...maybe I will. I watched the videos, and yes, Pro is eons better, but $$$ made me wait. For today, anyway....haha.

I went ahead and splurged on BBC Core (upgrade from DIscover)--I like it...much more stuff than DIscover, and also has solo instruments, unlike Abbey Road, which I also have and like--eventually they will add modules for Abbey Road, the sound of the studios are different. I'd love some more of Spitfire's specialty libraries for film scores, etc., but this will have to wait, as I've splurged on a bunch of stuff from 8DIO, as well as today updating Komplete Ultimate to 13. So for now I may be done, other than lower priced items. Sigh--GAS strikes again...

nothing on NI's site for me after I log in, but it ain't June 1st yet, so tomorrow I'm gonna check. Been waiting for this one...

I could, but there are so many interesting tools they are offering at discount, and of course the Abby Road One I bought (on a great tip from you, Larry) at discount has been extremely useful immediately and since I bought it a few months ago. So thinking about more variety--maybe the composer toolkit, or some more esoteric library--always looking for cinematic sounds and not just straight orchestral. Food for thought, though...

So many choices. I have Abby Road One and BBC DIscover (and some Labs stuff that curiously does'nt seem to work anymore, dang it..) and now I'm tempted to take advantage of this sale and stock up on some more Spitfire stuff, as I am now writing more orchestral/cinematic stuff. I don't know how I'm gonna decide what to get, since I cannot get them all--anyone out there who has many or most of these that can comment on which libraries are good or better than others for what type of music, and then if you had to pick one or two libraries, which one (or collection) would you go for? THanks.