Symphonic Instruments versus EWQLSO

[loff56]

So, here's the BIG question for those of you that might have both SI and EWQLSO. Which is better?

I currently use EWQLSO Silver edition, which is somewhat limited because it's the Silver edition. The price of SI is very comparable for what it would cost me to upgrade to the Gold version. And rediculously cheaper than what it would cost to upgrade to Platinum. (Granted, I just don't have the resources finacially or hardware to go Platinum anyway). So any thoughts on a comparison between SI and EWQLSO (particularly the Gold edition)?

[MrVideo]

I just posted a topic on the MachFive forum asking about using EWSQL with MachFive.

I would like to purchase Symphonic Instrument and while at Guitar Center, I noticed that they have EWSQL Gold on sale at HALF OFF this month.

I just would like to know IF EWSQL can be used with MachFive sucessfully.

[MrVideo]

I just checked out the East/West site at www.soundsonline.com and they are having a big kick ass 1/2 off sale on many of their sample packages including the Platinum.

[RMD Music]

The Answer is No concerning using EW stuff with Mach V. The only sampler it will play in is Kontakt. The libraries are coded a certain way only to be played with NI sample players and Kontakt. I haven't used the new SI plug, I will get it this week, but it looks sweet and I'm almost certain it will be better and have instruments more than the Silver edition, which I have. I'd spend my money on the SI before the SilverGold ESQLO stuff.

RD

[barton1899]

1. EWQL Symphonic is vastly superior to MSI, in my opinion. I've been using Silver, and I'm about to upgrade to Gold.

2. EWQL Symphonic is on sale at half-price because they are about to release the "Pro" versions (Silver, Gold, Platinum), which will feature a major expansion in articulations, etc. I'm waiting to buy Gold Pro in one transaction. The Pro versions are scheduled for roughly September 1. Their website is a mess, but if you dig around, you can get a list of the Pro improvements.

[westla]

In my opinion there is no comparision between SI and EWQLSO. I have the EWQLSO Gold as well as the Plat. Strings.

I picked up SI, but honestly probably will never use it.

[SeikoT123]

Sorry for a slightly off-topic question, but are the EWQLSO Gold and Platinum samples mutually exclusive? Doesn't Platinum incorporate everything Gold has but adds more? Or are all the EWQLSO libraries made up of distinct (i.e., non-overlapping) samples?

[westla]

EWQLSO Plat. incompasses all the Gold samples, but also adds all three mic positions, and is 24bit.

[qo]

16-bit

westla, this is the one thing that nudges me to look into SI. I have EWQLSO Gold and, as you say, its samples are 16 bit. Are SI's samples 24 or 16?

Thanks!

[westla]

Originally posted by qo:
16-bit

westla, this is the one thing that nudges me to look into SI. I have EWQLSO Gold and, as you say, its samples are 16 bit. Are SI's samples 24 or 16?

Thanks!

qo,

It uses the 32 bit UVi engine.

But I gotta say, and to each his own, but to me, and all the other film composers I've talked with here in LA (and no, I haven't talked with all the film composers) no one thinks this is a professional product that you could use in a film or broadcast. Compared to EWQLSO ond VSL it's in he minor leagues.

Now that said, as a temp sound library, for a laptop or away from your main room, it might be useful.

[mhschmieder]

Is EWQLSO what ships with Sibelius? That was my impression. I was so horrified at the quality of both the basic and the enhanced editions of the sound sets for Sibelius that I got steered away from EastWest stuff. The historic instruments helped put SI over the top for me. GPO is pretty good for the money, but SI sounds more realistic to these ears (for that boxy sound, I'll go to my Kurzweil PC2r instead). VSL isn't a fair comparison as its cheapest version is way beyond the price of these other products. That said, I prefer SI to VSL's entry-level product as well. And I do soundtrack work (though so far, only for local productions -- and now some of you are going to tell me I'll never "make it" unless I put myself in debt for the rest of my life by buying VSL -- forgetting that physical controllers make a bigger difference anyway, and I have plenty of those, from Kurzweil ribbon controller to Yamaha WX5 wind synth to Roland HandSonic, etc.).

<small>[ August 15, 2005, 01:08 PM: Message edited by: Mark Schmieder ]</small>

[westla]

Not sure what ships with Sibelius ... but I'm sure it's not the real library.

As far as comparision VSL Opus 1 is listed at $1100, and EWQLSO Gold is listed at $995, so they're comparible (I know that you can buy the Gol Edition on sale for $500 now)

All I know, and I'm just talking from my experience, most compsers here in LA is using either VSL or EWQLSO for there libraries.

Again, this is just my opinion, but MSI isn't even close to these libraries in terms of quality. It is a fine tool for mocking things up while composing (maybe while your away from your main rig), but I wouln't up it on the air.

[mhschmieder]

I was mistaken; Sibelius uses Sonic Implants, as that is what Kontakt Player generally ships with for its orchestral sounds. I got confused by the "Gold" name.

I would never want a sample library to be my final recording; just good enough to get me attention so that hopefully a real orchestra would play my works at some point.

As Gary Garritan himself says, he doesn't want to put symphonies out of business -- quite the opposite.

By allowing non-professional composers to better realise their works, there is more chance that they will be heard and performed by a live orchestra, thus keeping live symphonic music alive at a time when orchestras are dangerously close to extinction in most of the world outside Asia and Latin America.

I am more interested in physical modeling than sampling; especially as I am very proficient at woodwinds and certain stringed instruments and keyboards.

No matter how good the samples, unless there is some modeling involved, I find it extremely difficult to get an organic result.

Just my skill set (or lack thereof), I suppose. I'm more of a player, writer and arranger, than a deep MIDI programmer.

So hopefully MSI, especially with its set of historic instruments and wide variety of bowing styles, will prove helpful, even if it won't get me taken seriously by Hollywood (not where my interests lie anyway).

<small>[ August 15, 2005, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: Mark Schmieder ]</small>

[Kurt Cowling]

SIbelius ships with some stock Kontakt sounds. I don't believe they have anything to do with East West sounds. They are (and here's where the confusion sets in) called Kontakt Player Silver and Kontakt Player Gold. I agree with you that they are NOT good.

[dynamix]

Sitting tight for GPO ADVANCED here.

Erik

<small>[ August 16, 2005, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: dynamix ]</small>