Craig Fowler

Don't care about a new version of Kontakt...I just want a Native Access that works!

Doesn't seem right not to tack this on 🙂

I say this every time Indiginus is mentioned, but I'm not sure there's another developer that I'd rate as highly on the 'fun' factor. The way these instruments are programmed makes it possible just to load up the banjo, or fiddle, or mandolin, or lap steel (etc) and simply enjoy noodling. And they sound fantastic! A bit off-topic, but I saw over at VI:Control that Tracy commented recently that Sampletekk is the reason he never bothered to sample a piano - it's always nice when one developer has such positive things to say about another developer!

Fair enough. The nice thing about BBO is being able to build it up as you need/can afford. I have less than half of it and the strings were what I went for first - they're about $80 a pack, I think. I think I also got sidetracked by the 'gobs of strings' phrase so I kinda missed the idea of it being an all-in-one orchestral package! No dongle needed now, though, for VSL. Ilok cloud is an option (separate can of worms I know, but I've not encountered any problems).

Sounds a bit like the Big Bang Orchestra stuff from VSL could suit - especially the Lyra and Musca (think I've got the names right) packs that are low/high string sections.

Sounds good PC - can't beat Neil Finn (if you're interested, this was prob my fave concert - Finn family at Auckland zoo!) I like your mixing, too. The vocals sound pretty good - only thing I'd say is that sometimes the double tracked vx sounds a bit phasey

You mentioned the instruments; if you don't have the Electra88 and Waterfall, they're my favourite Rhodes & Hammond, respectively, although I don't care for Ravel. If you already have those, I think it's the reverbs that are standouts. Capitol Chambers for sure, and like Grem, the Lex 224 is pretty great.

The Chroma grand looked really interesting and the demos sounded great. I want this upright. But I can't have it.

I was just able to get an educational license for Studio One Artist 6 for $49 at Sweetwater. I don't think I need what's in Pro, and it seemed a good way of readying myself if the current free version of Cakewalk goes away.

Well, that's a boatload of great sounding plugins for the money!

No need! Now that VSL are letting you re-download their piano libraries in a smaller-footprint format, you can indulge your multi-manufacturer madness!

Lol...there was I, thinking the nz at the end meant I had company here!

The Soniccouture Wurli and Rhodes really are wonderful. I don't have the Famous E (which I know gets lots of love), but the SC instruments just ooze vibe. For the noodly sort of way I play, UA's Electra88 suits me better, but if I hadn't come across that VI I'd still be wondering how a virtual instrument (i.e., Canterbury Suitcase) could be so good. The ability to tweak the harmonics opens up a whole range of sounds that are way beyond what I thought a Rhodes could make. As to the Wurli and @PavlovsCat's temptation, I'd say go for it. The Skybox Audio instruments are brilliant at what they do, which is to provide a really contemporary take on what you can get out of acoustic and electric pianos when you pair them with effects/synth engines etc. But the SC versions are grimy, old-school delights. And if memory serves, they're not particularly new libraries, which makes it all the more amazing how much they're capable of! So...listen to @jngnz! (btw - username indicates you're a Kiwi?)

Very clean and natural sounding IIRC. If you're already well-stocked, you probably don't need it - I have so many that I forget I have it sometimes! But when I pull it up, I always like how it sounds.

I don't know if it's 'better,' but it sounds great! I have a *lot* of great verbs (all the UADs and Relabs, IK etc) and this one is still pretty special.