Mac only sample setups: What do you use?

[JT3_Jon]

I'm new to the world of samples, and looking for some advice in regards to sample players. I'm was planning on buying the OPUS 1 sample lib, to which I planed on using in Logic w/ ESX. However, I've been hearing some good things about the Kontakt player and its ability to get more RAM use, and if I were to ever expand my lib to include EWQL, I would need to invest in this player anyway. Though one of the main reasons for buying OPUS 1 was it was native to ESX. As you can see, I've created quite the conundrum, and thus this post looking for clarity.

What sample players are you using for your "Mac only" sample setup and why? Are you able to use the VSL Performance Tool in this setup? How many instruments can you generally use for a piece (related to an orchestra: e.g. 50 piece, etc)? Any stories, demos, etc of music created on your system would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help,
Jon

[PaulR]

@JT3_Jon said:

I'm new to the world of samples, and looking for some advice in regards to sample players. I'm was planning on buying the OPUS 1 sample lib, to which I planed on using in Logic w/ ESX. However, I've been hearing some good things about the Kontakt player and its ability to get more RAM use, and if I were to ever expand my lib to include EWQL, I would need to invest in this player anyway.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Jon

You could listen to Craig Sharmat's Vaughn Williams piece, for example. I think that was done using a Mac with Logic. A lot of people here use Macs and PC's at the same time for different reasons. I don't think you will go wrong with a Mac system, like say a G5 loaded with 3 or more gigs of ram when using the excellent Opus 1 library. You would be able to use the Performance Tool easily with this setup.
Regarding EWQL. That library comes with Kompact built in, a slightly lighter version of Kontakt, I think I'm right in saying.

PR

[JT3_Jon]

@PaulR said:

You could listen to Craig Sharmat's Vaughn Williams piece, for example. I think that was done using a Mac with Logic.
PR

Where would I find this piece? Is Mr. Sharmat a member of these boards? (nevermind, found him right above my post [[:)]] )



Thanks for the reply PR. I do have a duel 2.5 G5 on order and await its arrival, to which I plan on up'n the ram to 3-4GB. This should be enough to run either Opus 1 or EWQL Silver (maybe both) right? The problem with EWQL is that it forces you to use Kontakt (I only have the ESX right now), and their Kompact player has limits on the amount of instruments you can load (8 instead of 16). Thus I'm looking for some advice from "real people" to see which route is the best to go. If I can get the most out of these libs using Kompact instead of ESX, it might influence my purchase.

The funny thing is, people who's setups are running great are probably too busy composing to respond to this thread! LOL. I can only hope that they are in between projects and will check these boards [[:)]]

[PaulR]

@JT3_Jon said:

[quote=PaulR] Thus I'm looking for some advice from "real people" to see which route is the best to go. If I can get the most out of these libs using Kompact instead of ESX, it might influence my purchase.

The funny thing is, people who's setups are running great are probably too busy composing to respond to this thread! LOL. I can only hope that they are in between projects and will check these boards [:)]

[*-)] I'm not real?? That explains everything. [[[:|]]]

[*-)] I'm not composing?? How am I going to live? [[[:|]]]

[*-)] I'm not busy?? Does that mean I can watch the golf on TV? [:D]

Thanks Jon!!! I'm free.... I'm free at last!! [I]


[6]

[JT3_Jon]

@JT3_Jon said:

[quote=PaulR] Thus I'm looking for some advice from "real people" to see which route is the best to go. If I can get the most out of these libs using Kompact instead of ESX, it might influence my purchase.

The funny thing is, people who's setups are running great are probably too busy composing to respond to this thread! LOL. I can only hope that they are in between projects and will check these boards [:)]

[*-)] I'm not real?? That explains everything. [[[:|]]]

[*-)] I'm not composing?? How am I going to live? [[[:|]]]

[*-)] I'm not busy?? Does that mean I can watch the golf on TV? [:D]

Thanks Jon!!! I'm free.... I'm free at last!! [I]


[6]

That post came out all wrong!! Heres what I meant:

I've been doing allot of static research (e.g. company news reports, articles in Electronic musician, Keyboard, etc) and have not heard many reports, ideas, comments, etc from actual users. Thus my quotes around "real people" referred to people like yourself, rather then "paid reviewers," etc. Obviously this was not a response directly to your post, rather a general statement on my experience thus far. I GREATLY APPRECIATE your information, for it has even MORE weight coming from an actual user (though you did not specify what you indeed use). I did not mean any disrespect at all and value your comments more then you know.

The last paragraph was meant more as a joke then anything else. I just thought it was funny how I was asking questions on forum used mainly for trouble shooting to ask information on systems that work. Maybe next time I should leave my pathetic attempts to point out the irony of my own posts out in the future.

Once again, I'm truly sorry if I offended you in any way. I do care and appreciate all information the people at these forums provide. (if you dont believe me, do a search for my other posts)

Thanks again,
Jon

[PaulR]

Hahhaa! Is it true that Americans don't do irony? Jon, you can't possibly offend me. I was having a laugh.

When you ask if a Mac G5 2.5 can run the Performance Tool/Opus 1 and maybe another library too, you should realise that a Mac G5 2.5 could probably run a small country. We're talking about a fairly substantial amount of computing power here. The Perf Tool is accessed through the EXS24 edit window.
The only thing you will need to address, as mentioned, is ram and enough hard drive space, depending on how large the libraries you wish to employ will be (in terms of gigs). The Performance patches use a lot of ram, and then on top of that, you will probably be using Space Designer or maybe Altiverb...whatever. I too am awaiting delivery of a Mac G5 2.5 so I understand your research.
You may wish to listen to an Opus 1 demo by Anton called Paranoids in the demo section.

One of my favourites. [:D]

PR

[DG]

@PaulR said:

I too am awaiting delivery of a Mac G5 2.5...
One of my favourites. [:D]

PR

So am I... 7 weeks and counting [:(] I'm not even convinced that they exist as I have been given 4 different shipping dates, none of which have been adhered to. Maybe even Giga 3 will arrive first [:O]

DG

[PaulR]

@DG said:

So am I... 7 weeks and counting [:(] I'm not even convinced that they exist as I have been given 4 different shipping dates, none of which have been adhered to. Maybe even Giga 3 will arrive first [:O]

DG

I've been given a date of July 24th, but I can't see that at the moment!

[DG]

@DG said:

So am I... 7 weeks and counting [:(] I'm not even convinced that they exist as I have been given 4 different shipping dates, none of which have been adhered to. Maybe even Giga 3 will arrive first [:O]

DG

I've been given a date of July 24th, but I can't see that at the moment!

Yeah, mine were June 4th, June 11th, last week in June, early July, and the latest is "on or before 2nd August". I'm even starting to believe in the Tooth Fairy [8-)]

DG