PavlovsCat

Yeah, I remember when the dev made KONTAKT libraries too. He told me in detail why he switched to UVI, and it's primarily due to piracy issues. You're right, Vernon. Anyhow, I hope that he trusts me enough to not be afraid of the charlatan trying to extort him. In the end, he did confirm that they were trying to get money out of him. A legit trademark owner would have almost certainly sent a C&D letter. When I looked at the trademark registration it was for sports and entertainment use, it didn't even pertain to musical instruments or even jukeboxes. Along the way I also noticed a YouTuber, sample developer named Adam Monroe registered a trademark for Wulitzer, which I find just plain sleazy and completely ignorant of trademark law. The fact is, Gibson, which bought Baldwin, who bought Wurltizer, owns the registered trademark for Wurlitzer but let the registration for Wurly expire in 2014. Monroe registering the name Wurlitzer was a complete waste of his money and clearly he has no legitimate claim to the name. EDIT: I can see that he uses Gibson's trademark on his website as if he owns it, which is a clear violation of Gibson's intellectual property rights and a slam dunk in the courts. Gibson could easily sue him, but his sales are so small, they are unlikely to have noticed him. But still, having watched the guys videos and once considered his Wurli library, I lost respect for him after seeing what he was trying to pull. Legitimate, ethical people don't use and try registering trademarks that they know are owned by other parties; that's the realm of scam artists. But legally, it makes no sense. He clearly didn't consult a trademark attorney and registered that on his own. But a registration only means evidence that you have made a claim to a trademark on a certain date, it doesn't necessarily mean that you actually possess the right to use that trademark, which in the case of Monroe in this situation. Adam Monroe registered and is using a trademark -- Wurlitzer -- any competent trademark attorney would tell you is clearly owned by Gibson and consider Adam's actions less than ethical and he Gibson would easily win a lawsuit against him, he is clearly violating their intellectual property rights in violation of US (and other countries) law.

UPDATE, for anyone who is paying attention to my excursion on Wurlis. The AcousticSamples developer told me that he pulled the Wurlie library after he received a cease and desist (C&D) notice from someone claiming to be a descendant of the Wurltizer founder who owns the trademark. Now, I'm from a marketing and business strategy background prior to starting my own business (which actually developed from my writing and speaking on marketing strategy), but I know trademark law globally well enough that the legal teams at companies I worked at would turn to me for advice and Interpol actually quotes me in their documents on International trademark laws. I actually drafted the legal and privacy policies and the HR social media policies of some of the very large companies I've worked at where I've managed/led digital marketing for the legal departments at those companies. So, he shared their info. I dived into the USPTO, as I actually know a bit about the Wurlitzer Company. My mother worked for them as a music teacher. Beyond making pianos, organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes, they had retail music stores where they sold their instruments as well as Yamaha and Steinway pianos and various organ brands. So the person who claimed to have filed this trademark, as it turned out, looks like they were trying to extorting the developer. The "Wurly" -- yep, that's the way Wurlitzer actually spelled it, so that is the way I used to spell it until finding almost no one else spelled it that way -- trademark was abandoned in 2014, by Gibson. Gibson owns the Wurlitzer brand and trademark today. The person trying to scam AcousticSamples doesn't have a defendable trademark (yes, people can get trademarks that are worthless registered) and their trademark registration doesn't even apply to musical instruments, plugins or sample libraries and I seriously doubt the registrant is any kind of heir to the Wurlitzer family company, which would be legally meaningless when the company was sold to Gibson long ago, including the trademark rights. Consequently, the AcousticSamples dev had pulled his Wurlie library because of this scam artist's threats and will be putting it back up. He does plan on doing a Black Friday sale. I don't want to say what the discount amount is, because he shared it with me. However, e-instruments Wurli is a lot cheaper. But unquestionably, IMO, based on demos, I've never heard a better sounding Wurlie sample library than AcousticSamples. I'll absolutely share the link once it's up, but as much as I love it his library, I suppose because of the price and that it uses my greatly preferred KONTAKT, I think I'm going to buy e-instrument's Wurli this weekend. But I may end of buying AcousticSamples library in the future. BTW, I did try to persuade the dev to release his libraries in KONTAKT format, but wasn't successful!

Does anyone who has this want to share their thoughts? I'm considering buying it.

Well, I suppose the choice just got easier (the dev eliminated the "Wurlie" library). I just never heard demos of a Wurlie sample library that sounded that good. I didn't mention it here before, but I did find this new developer, Skybox -- whose demos of everything sound really, really nice -- has a Wurli library too that sounds good, but it's part of a package that's priced beyond my range (it's $129 USD). So if AcousticSamples have taken their Wurlie library out of rotation (there's a Leslie joke in their somewhere), I suppose I'm going to pick up the e-instruments Wurli. Only several weeks ago I picked up SoundPaint's Wurli -- and I know Troels' and he came to me for some branding/marketing advice years ago and I really like him -- but in all candor, that Wurli library is lifeless and I think it even has an issue that I reported and promised to send an audio file of to demonstrate (when I was doing my comparison of my Wurli libraries, SoundPaint's Wurli has this weird spike of sound when I played a chord that occurs every time I play it back and it's the same MIDI file of me playing the riff for "Where It's At" and no other library -- of several other Wurli libraries I used for the clip, has problems). I think of the libraries I currently have, the Scarbee one that comes with KOMPLETE is my favorite and that's also pretty lifeless, but not as lifeless as SoundPaiint's Wurli. I did like the SP Wurli for a short while after I bought it for one specific patch, I think it's called "aggressive," but that's it, it's a one trick pony. To me, the dynamics of a Wurli are an essential part of its magic and Scarbee's library does a meh job of capturing those dynamics while SoundPaint's miss them altogether. It's just lifeless when you get away from the aggressive patch -- which really just relies on effects to get a very one dimensional tone that sounds cool. But a real Wurli comes alive when you play quietly and when you pound it. Its like a piano but it has another dimension that's like, in certain respects how a B3 can growl (even though a Wurli can't growl). It's tone has an edge to it. I love Rhodes too, but they don't have the same emotional connection for me. I do realize that I may truly be obsessed with Wurlis. Okay, if I don't hear back from the AcousticSamples' dev by tomorrow -- at latest by this weekend, I'm buying the e-instruments Wurli. Just imagine, after 21 years since an injury stopped me from playing, I played and sang this live with a Wurli sample library (the one in KONTAKT's factory library). I never played the song before (but I'm a huge Beatles fan). I just googled the chords and started playing and singing -- before I learned to comp vocals. (As you can tell, I was never a singer, but for a non-singer, I think I did okay). So even the NI KONTAKT factory with distortion and a Leslie simulator doesn't sound half bad. But I'm sure that e-instrument's Wurli would blow that away. I may go back and redo the song with the Wurli I pick up and Orange Tree Samples' Evolution Vintage Violin Bass (a Hofner) and maybe redo some of the sloppy playing.

The search function of the forum is pretty poor, so a lot of us long time forum members tend to scan the first page to see if a recent deal was posted. But hey, that's your 12th post in this forum, don't let me stop your mean-spirited trolling contribution as your introduction here. Way to endear yourself to the community. Just a heads up. That kind of mean-spirited trolling isn't how people roll in this forum. It's a friendly group overall.

I have checked out Adam Monroe's shootout videos and demos. I did see the Keyscapes demo a long time ago, but it's out of my budget range, even though I realize a lot of people who know there stuff have said great things about it. Of course, Greg is a legend. Much respect to him. As my mom was a musician and music teacher, I had access to our baby grand, then an upright piano, an organ and Leslie speaker, a Wurli, my brother's Les Paul, a Martin acoustic, a mandolin, an accordion, numerous percussion instruments, my drum kit, my harmonicas, and numerous instruments. Music was a regular part of my childhood and I played professionally until around 20 years ago when I had an accident and lifelong tendinitis that stopped me from playing. I can only play for a short period of time before I am in pain. But last year, during the pandemic, I decided to try to play again. Of course, I'm no longer even worthy of being called a musician with 20+ years without practice and only being able to play for very short periods of time, but I still enjoy playing and sometimes I just need to sit in front an instrument as a release. Music therapy, maybe? But I've discovered that I am sentimental about certain sounds, like pianos that remind me of pianos we had when I was a kid, organs, Wurlis, etc. But pianos and Wurli's more than anything. Although with my terrible playing and inability to practice, half of me questions if I should spend anything at all on music stuff for me. So I am severely limiting my spending. Some people here have aspirations for their music to be heard by the masses. I'm happy if three friends like a song I wrote when I was in my 20s/30s when I was playing professionally.

INTIMATE STUDIO STRINGS - $45 USD NORMALLY $295 USD I can give a mini review of Intimate Studio Strings. I bought them a couple of years ago for, I think, maybe around $120 USD on sale. They sound good and they have a lot of detail and for $45 USD, there's really nothing comparable in that range. On the downside, the loading time could be better optimized. The KONTAKT scripting could be more intuitive -- it is a bus load of articulations and you can set them to switch articulations using velocities (as well as, I believe, keyswitches) -- so if you're into that, it's probably fine, if not, it's not as fun to use as a string library with great KONTAKT scripting. However, libraries that do that cost several times this price. 8Dio gives current customers referral links/codes, you can PM cclarry for an additional $15 USD off if this would be your first purchase from 8DIo (no one is more deservinhg of a tip in this forum, IMO). "Comprising of over 500 hours of sessions at Scotland’s Premiere Recording Studio, Gorbals Sound, the Intimate Studio Strings series marks 8Dio’s commitment to push the boundaries of advanced techniques and achieve a modern, playable, and fully customizable studio sound. Utilizing new and unique isolation technologies, we were able to capture multiple section sizes and ensure all instruments blend seamlessly, allowing you the ability to mix and match. Including soloists and all the various ensemble sizes, there are 256 possible combinations! Each instrument also has its own fully capable mixer with functions such as Solo, Mute, Output Routing, Volume, and Panning, all featured alongside our more advanced offerings. In addition to customizing the number of players (either from true recordings or mixed/overdubs), we also offer the new Distance Control, which seamlessly blends between an upfront, dry signal and a wider, more spacious signal. 8Dio Intimate Studio Strings gives you direct access to dozens of advanced and unique playing styles and articulations, full host tempo sync (relevant articulations only), and customizable section sizes, all in one streamlined and refined package. Studio Intimate Strings is the start of a new journey and one we hope you all join us on. " SPECIFICATIONS: 113GB compressed to 45GB of content True Deep-Sampled Studio Strings Advanced Section Control Up to 256 String Size Combinations Deep-Sampled Violin(s) (1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4 and 5) Deep-Sampled Viola(s) & Cello(s) (1, 2, or 3) Deep-Sampled Bass(es) (1a, 1b, or 2) Full Mixer for each instrument and section Advanced Layered Legatos w/ dynamics Ostinato Measured Portato, Tremolo, & Legato Fluent Mic Control (near-field to entire studio) Delivered by Download Kontakt 5.8.1 Full Retail (or later) Required https://8dio.com/products/intimate-studio-strings

So you're a fellow Wurli junkie, like me? My musician/music teacher mother had one of these in our house when I was growing up and one of my sisters sometimes played it with our family band. I was the youngest kid, and while piano student, my siblings told me I would be the drummer! That started me on my future playing drums professionally, but still being in love with Wurlis, pianos and organs (the other instrument I took lessons on as a kid and my mom owned a Leslie speaker, so I'm in love with those too).

Wow, e-instruments Wurli is going for only $33.43 while the developer AcousticSamples "Wurlie" even PMed me on VI Control after seeing me praise his Wurli library as the best sounding Wurli demos I've heard for any Wurli library, but even with his upcoming Black Friday sale, it won't be discounted to anything close to this and he uses the UVI platform and I greatly prefer KONTAKT, which is what e-instruments uses. Oh, the dilemma. I even made a Cakewalk project featuring every Wurli library I own with me playing the main riff from Beck's" Where It's At" -- which I'll share, if anyone wants, after I make my next purchase. In fact. the AcousticSamples's developer PMed me that he'll give me the Black Friday discount now if I'm willing to do a shootout with his VReeds plugin that uses samples and modeling against other Wurli libraries/plugins, but his discounted price was still a lot higher than e-Instruments, but I was actually checking out his "Wurlie" library, not VReeds, and i thought the "Wurlie" demos sounded better than VReeds. So just minutes ago I just checked AcousticSamples site and found that they pulled their Wurli library. Sad. It sounded amazing. I sent the AcousticSamples' dev a PM asking if he retired the Wurlie library or if he's selling through a reseller like Audio Plugin Deals. I'll update this post when I hear back in case there any other Wurli fans interested. https://www.bestservice.com/session_keys_electric_w.html

I need you to translate my posts! You got both right! I am a sucker for Wurlis and that dev's Wurli demos sound amazing to me. He PMed me at VI Control to tell me it will be on sale for Black Friday. The only challenge is that e-Instruments has a Wurli that sounds really good (but not quite as good -- okay, I mean amazing, AcousticSamples Wurlie sounds demos amazing to me, I mean, I am in love with that sound) but they're in KONTAKT, which I greatly prefer to UVI and probably be on sale for less (the AcousticSamples dev told me the discount amount he's putting the library on sale for and e-Instruments usually has a 50% off sale for Black Friday) . What to do. What to do.

SynthMaster for iOS is FREE till November 30! I'm an Android user, but I own SynthMaster One for Windows and love it. I wish this was available for Android. SynthMaster One iOS is KV331 Audio's first full blown universal synth app on iOS platform. It's a powerful wavetable synth with an intuitive workflow. With its simple layout, rich wavetable/waveform content and inspiring factory presets library, designing new sounds with SynthMaster One iOS is a joy. SynthMaster One iOS is feature wise identical to the desktop version except the following: * 16 voice polyphony (32 for the desktop version) * Comes with 650 presets (1250 for the desktop version) FEATURES * Universal App: SynthMaster One is now a universal standalone/AUv3 synth app running on iPhone 7 and above. * 650 Factory Presets: SynthMaster One iOS comes with inspiring factory presets from a world class team of sound designers: Arksun, Aiyn Zahev, BigTone Studios, Brian Transeau, Bluffmunkey, Bulent Biyikoglu, Gercek Dorman, Dejavu Sound, Fragment Audio, Kurt Ader, Mirko Ruta, Nori Ubukata, Rob Lee, Ufuk Kevser, Selcuk Ergen, The Machine, Vandalism Sound, Venus Theory, Vorpalsound and Xenos Soundworks * AUv3: SynthMaster One iOS supports AudioUnits V3, allowing multiple instances to run under supporting DAW apps like GarageBand, Cubasis or Beat Maker. * Files App Integration: Easily import/export presets, waveforms or scales using the common file browser UI (requires iOS 11+). * Real-time Modulation Feedback: See in real-time how modulation sources and targets change. This is a very helpful feature when designing sounds! * Cross Platform Cloud Synchronization: Easily synchronize your SynthMaster One related data across multiple platforms (Windows, MacOS, iPad, iPhone) * Semi-Modular Architecture: For each SynthMaster One instance, there are 2 oscillators with 2 sub oscillators, 2 Filters, 4 ADSR Envelopes, 3 LFOs, a powerful 16 step arpeggiator/sequencer and also 11 different effects that can be inserted on to 6 FX insert slots. The sub oscillators can be connected to the oscillators in 5 different modes which let you use it as a regular sub oscillator or do complex modulations such as ring modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation or frequency modulation. * 32 Step Arpeggiator/Sequencer: The arpeggiator in SynthMaster One features classic arpeggiator modes such as Up, Down, UpDown, DownUp, UpDown2, DownUp2, AsPlayed as well as Sequence, Chord and Arpeggiate modes. * Wavetable Synthesis: SynthMaster One implements true wavetable synthesis which opens up new possibilities for sound design. It comes with a rich content library with hundreds of waveforms and wavetables. * Stereo Oscillators with up to 16 voices Unison: Each of the 2 oscillators in SynthMaster One have stereo output, and can have up to 16 voices "unison". Using the "voices", "voices mix", "detune curve", "detune spread", "pan stread", "tone spread" and "phase spread" parameters, each oscillator can generate a rich "supersaw" type sound. * Zero Delay Feedback Filters: All of the 4 filter categories in SynthMaster One are developed using the zero delay feedback filter technology. With advanced filter parameters like input gain, drive, acid, filter nonlinearities and up to 4 times oversampling you can get that "analog" sound from the filters! * Rich Set of Effects: SynthMaster One features 11 different effect types: Distortion, LoFi, Ensemble, Phaser, 6 Band EQ, Compressor, Vocoder, Delay, Chorus, Tremolo, Reverb. * Microtuning: SynthMaster One supports Scala tuning, so tuning can be set either for each preset or globally by loading from a Scala tuning file. SynthMaster One comes with 300+ scales ranging from 5 note equal tempered scales to 12 note alternate tuning scales. * Preset Browser: SynthMaster One features a comprehensive preset browser with separate search criterias for instrument type, preset attributes, music style or preset author. SUPPORTS * All 64-bit iPad devices * AUv3 Audio Unit Extensions * Note-per-channel MIDI controllers (MPE) * Ableton Link * Interapp Audio and AudioBus * Bluetooth LE MIDI Controllers * AirDrop https://apps.apple.com/us/app/synthmaster-one/id1254353266

I own KOMPLETE 13, which has Guitar Rig, but I just wanted to say I appreciate your generously giving this away on the forum, Bapu. My hope is that someone who is low on cash will be the person who gets to enjoy this.

Have a great trip. As I'm sure you realize, everyone here will miss you!

The entire Abbey Road Drums collection for $99USD is a great deal, IMO.

It's really all about being positive and easily remembered at the big brand level. For small developers, it's not as sophisticated a process. I have helped name dozens of products in my life and few divisions of companies, but at mid and small companies, not large ones (for instance, I've consulted to Unilever, but had no input in developing brand names). The thing to avoid is very generic, descriptive names like AcousticSamples. It's related to why I often forget their name. So that's a big reason to avoid a generic, descriptive name. Another big reason is that -- and this isn't just a US issue, it's the norm -- descriptive, generic trademarks are not easily protected. If someone comes along and names their sample library Acoustic Samples: Guitar, the original developer who uses that name is going to basically have little or no recourse to protect that name. Look at one of the most brilliant and successful brands of all time, Apple. Jobs originally lifted the name from The Beatles, agreeing never to get into the music biz (of course, he later did). It's a very memorable name. Unless you're allergic or have had some traumatic childhood experience involving apples or apple trees, the name is generally positive. And it's memorable. It's not descriptive of the products the company makes. Simple, positive and easy to remember. It's what you shoot for with a good brand name.

Yeah, you're right. AcousticSamples. I got my generic named developers mixed up.

Harpsichord, check out Xperimenta's Harpsichord for KONTAKT. Only $9 USD. I like this dev a lot: https://audioplugin.deals/xperimenta-harpsichord/ Electric pianos, if you want a Rhodes, Orange Tree Samples Famous E is the best there is. If you're in love with Wurli's like me, the best I've heard so far is RealSamples Wurlie, with e-Instruments having the runner up. I heard some amazing B3 plugin people here were sharing that was over my budget. I think it was a plugin. Someone will be able to name it. I think @abacabposted in that thread. I remember being super impressed, but it went over my budget at that time. Edit: I think the developer for the B3 organ plugin that I thought sounded great was from GG Audio.

I think you may be buying so much that you've reached a level where companies marketing teams have special Bapu strategy meetings to make sure they keep you loyal!

I'm really glad to read you didn't buy that. I do feel bad for anyone who has bought this package. With regards to having more sounds than we can use, that's pretty much everyone in this forum! We can all relate.

Thanks for the feedback (also, thanks to TheSteven). If someone offers it for $29 USD or below for an upgrade, I might bite. Otherwise, it's been at $49 USD for an upgrade for years and from their forum and a couple of friends who own it telling me their bad experiences, I'm not ready to move at this moment.

This is the same price for upgrading from BFD Eco, which I own, but frankly, if you check the various forums, including and especially BFD's own forum, BFD3, which is more than 8 [edit: I looked that up] years since their last major version update (BFD2), has had nightmare problems and has been VERY neglected by the company that bought the product line from fxpansion many years ago. Consequently, I've been waiting to see if they ever get the problems worked out and are saling smooth for a bit before pressing the buy button. The people I know that own it have all recommended that I don’t spend the $49 USD on BFD3 for numerous reasons.

There have long been posts claiming this developer uses samples derived from other libraries in posts from regular forum members here, at VI Control and KVR. Some have claimed to have analyzed the individual samples to ascertain that they are the same. The developer has operated under multiple names and engaged in some less than great practices under past names, that I know myself to be true. However, I'll cut to the chase. I have downloaded three of the paid sample libraries this developer sells when they were given away as freebies and they shared in common that they were incredibly bloated file size for each library (8 GB or more) for what it was. Each library -- two were piano libraries, one was a vibraphone-- was only one layer, like a Soundfont library from decades ago. So after downloading, listening and checking out each library, I deleted all of them. I don't want huge file size one layer instruments that sound terrible dynamically. If all of their libraries no on sale were suddenly offered free, I wouldn't waste my time, bandwidth or hard drive space for them. This developer just doesn't produce good quality libraries. I would consider them dodgy at best. I strongly recommend people avoid wasting their money on them. If someone is looking for high quality KONTAKT piano libraries that are inexpensive when on sale, I would recommend SampleTekk.

Clearly, you didn't read the new forum rules. Every thread is required to now have a vigorous philosophical analysis and debate regarding controversial tweets by sample developers. [NOTE: TO MODS. I kid, I kid.] In all seriousness, daveiv and I PMed -- as we occasionally do -- and he shared he had no idea of what went down with Christian's post, so he had no idea about any of this. Back to our regularly scheduled programming. UP WITH WUP!!!! GO capitalism!!!

Again, I believe our opinions are exactly what define who we are. Most people believe it is what they believe is what defines them. People usually want that to be the case. I'll leave it at this. If you're in a group that's been targeted, what you're now defining as opinions are much more significance than you now give them. If you're in a hated group, you don't have the luxury of embracing people's strong hatred of you. I can tell you personally. I've been literally physically brutalized for my ethnicity as a child and I've witnessed it done to others. You don't always have the option to embrace people's hatred and I certainly wouldn't agree with that idea. Let's just agree to disagree and get back to deals. I think there are some things we agree on, like the hope that people will evolve and that dialogue is the best course.

I didn't put words in your mouth and I certainly would never want to do that. You started posting by disagreeing with me, countering what I wrote with, "And as opinions go, they don’t define a person. " That is your exact statement. But you and I have always been friendly and I don't see any reason not to continue the tradition. And yes, I agree with the hope of your sentiment that opinions evolve, but the reality is some evolve and some do not evolve. There are many people who agree with Christian's anti-trans views that have no interest in evolving. And I personally prefer to keep the dialogue open, as I previously stated. My Jewish grandfather not only served in WWII, he came back home to the incredibly antisemitic neighborhood where I grew up that remains incredibly antisemitic today. In my old neighborhood your family hides that it's Jewish. One of my neighbors is Jewish and his employees don't know and regularly say antisemitic slurs and remarks, so he doesn't share that he's Jewish with his own employees. So yes, I do have a hope people that hold strong prejudices will evolve, but we still have the reality that in the current day, their currently held views do great harm to the groups they hate. Christian shared a transphobic video by an individual that uses hateful tropes of trans people as mentally deranged pedophiles. It's not a whole lot different than racists in Blackface or tropes of Jews with outrageously large noses. One of my vendors came out as trans several years ago. Sadly, she became the target of hate online. She didn't have the option to have a civil dialogue with the person attacking her. But I empathize with groups that face attacked realizing that I'm not in their shoes and the onus should not be on them to have to dialogue with a hateful bigot. It's easy for those not in that situation. I don't think it's a realistic option for all targets of hate speech to just chill while people are attacking them, even though my desire is for everyone to be able to dialogue. I wish it was possible to have that dialogue, but that's certainly not reality. Adults who have strongly held bigoted views are commonly not interested in changing those views and don't want to be told they're wrong. So, my DESIRE is that society can listen to one another to dialogue and folks like Christian may come to a place of empathy, that doesn't change that there is hurt and damage that he's caused that further hatred, hateful trope and intolerance and I think that must be addressed and there should be consequences for his actions. So yes to dialogue no to what some people call cancel culture (although I completely support people saying I'm not going to buy from a brand because they just stated something bigoted against others), but it doesn't change that vicious acts have consequences and they should have consequences. My hope is that caring non transphobic people are in Christian's life that can show him the hurt he's caused people and that he can come to a place of empathy for the people he recently acted against. But there's no guarantee that he will ever change his views. He may continue to hold those views for the rest of his life, so opinions CAN sometimes change, but we don't know. All we can deal with is what people say and do.