fret_man

Had me going there for a bit. I wish Wave Arts was one word. I got confused there.

Maybe turn the "Air" buttons off? Those goose up the treble a bit.

Bolder Sounds has a collection of free sounds. Some of them are surprisingly good!

I've been on a search for good bluesy harmonica VIs to see if I can work one to get a realistic sound. It'll be hard, but I figure I'll need an outstanding tool to start with. So, I've been collecting some and wanted to provide some guidance that might help others. Unless otherwise stated, these are all Kontakt instruments. I report the articulation options right out of the box, ignoring the potential CC-learn capabilities of Kontakt (several of these could make use of setting the MW to adjust Kontakt volume, for example). These are ALL chromatic harmonicas, so I'll have to work them to achieve the diatonic blues notes. Chris Hein Chromatic Harmonica: Internet wisdom says this is "The One" to get for the most realism and flexibility, and I'd have to agree. It's expensive but Best Service has a lite version to try (I got it as a freebie when I purchased my Melodyne5 Studio upgrade 2 years ago) and allows you to upgrade to the full version (on my to-buy list if it ever goes on sale) . This has a 4 octave range . It uses keyswitched articulations (the lite version has a subset of the most used articulations). The MW controls expression and the pitch bend sounds good. The full version (which I don't have yet) appears to have lots and lots of options which would give you the best chance of getting a convincing sound. Pretty amazing really. This might best when used with a MIDI breath controller, which I don't have yet. Note: the Lite version runs on Best Service's Engine platform, which I find very difficult to read. The upgrade and full versions run on Kontakt. Cinematic Double Bass Harmonica: It may not be fair to include this because it's a rather unique harmonica, incomparable to the rest. Think The Boxer. There are a few different nki instruments to choose from. This has a range of C1 to G3 with 2 keyswitches for long/short blows. Pitch bend changes only 1/2 step while the MW creates a funky fluttering sound that models, um, I don't know what. Interesting but not for my dirty blues harmonica. But this a keeper for it's unique sound. Bolder Sounds along with the accompanying Riff Collection: This is FREE (!) and sounds very good, which is surprising for a free instrument. This has a range of A2-C5 (+3 octaves), but the 49 riffs/loops are only in the key of A, which happens to be OK for me. The pitch bend changes +/- 1 whole step and sounds very natural to me. This product utilizes the MW the best of any of these harmonicas, in my opinion, by smoothly adjusting the vibrato depth. While playing the riffs/loops, the MW changes the tempo. I usually don't like working within the confines of loops, but I like this harmonica. And the price can't be beat. Big Fish Audio Celtic Instruments: Very basic harmonica. Range is G3-A4, slightly over 1 octave. No volume adjustments. Pitch bend is only +/-1/2 step but sounds good. MW does nothing. Why bother with this one when a better free one is available above? 8DIO Misfit: I want to like this because it has an interesting feature that randomizes blowing accuracy (accidently partially hitting adjacent notes), which makes it sound human. It has a 4 octave range with many keyswitches to modify blowing attack, long/short notes, and key bends/trills. MW changes volume and pitch bend changes vibrato (not sync'd, none, sync'd). In the end, though, the bends are too long for my use and I can't fin a way to get the bends I want. So - pass. TD Samples Toy Harmonica: This is a very basic instrument with a 2+ octave range (E3 to G5) and 7 blowing noises. But there are no volume or pitch adjustments. No bends at all. You don't get what you don't pay for. I'm sure there are many others in various collections, but I'm guessing those are mostly minimal implementations with severe limitations. But I hope someone can show me I'm wrong.

Thanks, it was the content I was hoping to delete (but I'm keeping a copy of the downloads) in order to reclaim space for samples I think I'd actually use.

As long as I can run faster than you, then I may be OK.

Left to right, I'm seeing a can pop, a can of beer, some Cajun spices, and some iced tea. I think she she's telling them to turn it down, although the LP doesn't seem to be plugged in.

Tell me again, why do I need to keep Sampletank 3 around? I don't need it for legacy projects.

I'm on the lookout for National-style resonator guitar VI's tri-cone or biscuit bridge) and finding myself a little disappointed by the offerings out there. I'm looking for something suitable for dirty, bluesy, roots music. Here's what I've come across so far: In-Session Audio Resonator: only loops, not a true VI Wavelore Instruments Glide: an oldie but maybe one of the best. However, am I reading this right? Slides are only available in a single octave range (G2 - G3, page 8 of the manual - not sure if this only relates to that one string)? That seems awfully restrictive! Orange Tree Slide Acoustic: nope. That's a standard acoustic guitar. (I own this) Amplesound Instruments: ALL of their acoustic instruments (except, sigh, their 12string) have slide options (keyswitch F#0), but none of their instruments are National-style. (I own these) Indiginus The Resonator: a fantastic VI, but it's a dobro (spider bridge), not a national-style. But I may end up using this due to the failings of all the others. But it's a little too clean for what I'm looking for. No fret noise at all that I can find. (I own this) Indiginus Delta Blues Acoustic Slide: I don't *think* this is a National-style, but it's dirty enough that I can make it work. But the slides aren't very flexible and the slide landing notes seem too disjointed from the rest of the slide. This uses a very early style GUI that also seem restrictive. In the end, it'll be VERY difficult to make this sound real. The 12-string sure does sound cool, tho! (I own this) ... and that's about it! Everything else I've found have been very old loops, not virtual instruments. But maybe I'm missing something? Has anyone else tried Wavelore Instruments Glide? Thx!

Yes, that's what I do, buy NOTHING except for the next TS Max upgrade. No group buys. No impulse buys, even if you "need" the thing NOW. Just wait. The first MX buy is a little painful because you already have MOST of what's in there, but it doesn't take many of the new things to make it worthwhile.

I don't think I could find enough of interest to spend it on. I already have $200 in my rewards wallet I can't seem to spend.

These Amplesound freebies all use their own player: Ample Percussion Cloudrum: https://www.amplesound.net/en/pro-pd.asp?id=27 Ample Guitar M Lite: https://www.amplesound.net/en/pro-pd.asp?id=7 Ample Bass P Lite: https://www.amplesound.net/en/pro-pd.asp?id=19

My personalized deal was $34 for Multiphonics CV-1 + Currents! I couldn't resist. https://www.applied-acoustics.com/portal/offers/

The other reason baritone guitars are used is to play in "lower" keys without changing the higher key chord shapes that work well for the song. For example, suppose you play a song with G, C, and D chords. But then, for some reason, you need to play that in a lower key, like E. With a baritone (and a capo), you can keep the same left hand chord fingering patterns but the sound coming out is in a lower key. The chord "sound/inversion" still sounds right.

I'll be using it when I need that low growl.

Hmmm, this is an instant buy for me since I have everything else. But I can't tell what my bundle-upgrade price will be cuz I'm on my "other" computer right now and don't remember my password. OK, I'm on my music computer now and it's $75 to complete MY guitar bundle with Orange slices.

Hmmm, no sale price for first time buyers. I can wait.

You'll have to wait for their Christmas sale.

Turn out it DO have this. I had to look for Magma BB Tubes, not BB Tubes.

I can't remember where I got this summary, but here it is: Here's a quick rundown of the many versions of three of their main pianos (I've marked the ones I consider to be the ultimate versions in bold): Yamaha C7 TBO (The Big One) = Close mic 7CG (Seven Seas Grand) = Room mic TSO (The Small One) = Close mic lite 7CG Jr (Seven Seas Grand Junior) = Room mic lite TBO MkII = The close mic with version 2 upgrades 7CG MkII = The room mic with version 2 upgrades TVBO (The Very Big One) = Both close mic version 2 and room mic version 2 (i.e., this is the most complete version) Steinway D Black Grand = original version, all 3 mic perspectives Black Grand Close = original version, close mic only Black Grand Medium = original version, medium mic only Black Grand Ambient = original version, room mic only Steiny D - Close! = A lite version of Black Grand Close Steiny D - Classic Grand = A lite version Black Grand Ambient (or medium?) Steiny D Close sfzed and Steiny D Classic Sfzed = as above but for Sforzando rather than Kontakt. SampleTekk Black - Powered by Kontakt = a version that came out after the original version but before the MKII version. So far as I can see it has just one mic perspective, 'refined samples' (I'm not sure what that means exactly), and runs in the free Kontakt Player (most of their other libraries don't). Black Grand MkII = all 3 mics, plus version 2 upgrades (i.e., this is the most complete version) Malmsjö White Grand = original version, close mic White Sister = original version, stereo mics Blue Grand = Close and Room mics for a more ambient sound plus some slight changes to the tuning (I think from the description this may be pre-mixed, you don't have control of the different mics, but I'm not sure, and I don't know what they mean by "changes to the tuning"). WG Jr = original version, lite version of White Grand WG2 = original version, both close and stereo mics White Grand Mk II = close mic with version 2 upgrades Blue Grand MkII = Blue Grand with version 2 upgrades WG2 MKII = Both mics with version 2 upgrades

Oh, man. Now I have to pull my head out of the sand to see what I got. Looking thru my receipts (and ignoring the free stuff) I see: Marc Jovani's Cinematic Composing deal: free for 30 days, impulse buy VI Lab's Modern U: $110 BFD Jazz & Funk, Jazz Noir, Sabian Cymbal Digital Vault, Maple Custom Absolute, Jex Drums: $160 for all 5 Westwood Instruments ALT Piano: $35 Riot Audio Putty Piano: $15, impulse buy Soniccouture's Ondes & Ondioline: $93 for the pair Mastering the Mix eBooks: $32 for two, impulse buy Skybox Audio, completed my collection: $149 Ample Sound Rickenbacher: $80 Loops de la creme's Cymbal Rolls, East Theremin, Magic Jaw Harps, Melodic Jaw Harps, Chimes Deluxe: all for $73 Groove3 five videos: $70 Sonuscore's Medieval Phrases Lute & Theorbo: $50 Cinesamples' Taylor Davis Violin & Dulcimer/Zither: $117 Redroom Audio's Traveler Series Bodhrans & Bones: $25 impulse buy Wavesfactory's Boomwhackers & Suspended Cymbals: $55 VSTbuzz Cymba Rolls: $9 impulse buy Soundyan's Intersteller Waterphone: $34 Gforce's Oddity 3 upgrade: $30 OMG, that's over $1000! I should have kept a running total. I knew I should have kept my head in the sand.

Thank you, sir!

Not seeing it. I'm fully WUP'd. I went on waves.com and installed the latest Waves Central (13.4.1). I look at Mercury and I think it's the latest at 14.0.1 - I see no updates for this (nor for anything else). When I load up a project and search thru the Waves content, I don't see it. So, I don't have it but can't find a way to get it. Help, please!

Oh, sorry. I lose the sarcasm online sometimes...

Wait, I thought Aria was developer to stay away from for some reason. I remember reading that here and, at the time, it seemed to be consensus among several respected members. Did I get that wrong? I've always dismissed Aria.