Some time ago (a very long time ago) I said I was closing in on my new updated arranger system namely the flr2007 with the following updates:

Kontakt 2.2
Bandstand
B4II
forte
Live - Styler

Also, a long time ago I said, "What is left to update or acquire includes Garritan's GM and some other sound libraries (GPOA, Virtual Instruments, etc.)".

Well, I am still waiting for the Garritan GM wavetable which should be out during the Fall of 2007....we'll see!!!

In the meantime I am working towards my flr2008 software based arranger system. There have been recent updates as follows:

Kontakt 2.3 and soon 3.0
Live-Styler 9.7
GPO & JABB Kontakt Players & Libraries
Bandstand - soon
forte Ensemble - soon (testing beta versions)

I am staying a while longer with Windows XP. Vista still seems to have the following issues:

* Drivers are still missing or weak for soundcards etc.

* Support for 64 bit operations in applications is still not available or weak.

* To many bugs in general.

So I plan on waiting for another 6 months to a year before I convert to Vista.

Kontakt 3 is out http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=kontakt3 and the demos sound like a big improvement over Kontakt 2.

Bill

Bill, thanks for drawing attention to the availability of Kontakt 3. I will be placing my order in next few days.

Hi Frank,
is there any news at all on Garritons GM.
They seem to have been promising it for quite a while now, but it hasn't surfaced as yet.

Are they actually making some sort of a major change to forte??

best wishes
Rikki

Hello Frank,

Just saw your topic. There's another topic about Vista in the General Arranger section where I just replied
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/016220.html

You're wright about the soundcard drivers.
I cannot find a pro card either with 64bit vista ready drivers..

But:
Sonar 7 is ready and so are some plugins.
Also reason is ready.

I think I take the plunge in a couple of weeks and probably install a creative card untill they have vista drivers for my delta 1010.

And I will go the software route completely on this new machine.
I probably add a Roland PCR800 for realtime control and playing...

Fred

Rikki, there is not a whole lot of information concerning the Garritan GM other than that they are currently coding the wavetable and it should be available .... shortly????

With respect to forte Brainspawn is making a number of enhancements. Given I am one of the Beta Testers I can't be anymore specific. It to should be out relatively soon .... I would think???

And Rikki, if only you would give up on your hardware based arranger keyboards .... I could rest my case!!!

Fred, I noticed you plan on using the Roland PCR800 as your controller keyboard. Why do you prefer it over others? I have been using the Roland A37 since it came out....many years. It still does the job and I like the 76 keys.

[This message has been edited by Frank L. Rosenthal (edited 09-19-2007).]

Rikki, I just saw today's Garritan GM update:

"General MIDI (GEM)

The GEM (General MIDI) library is just about there and we are in finale testing. It s being encoded and I'll provide more information soon. This library is a complete collection of General MIDI sounds integrated with the powerful Kontakt 2 Player sampling engine. It features the entire 128-instrument range of General MIDI sounds - punchy brass, funky basses, out of this world synth pads, wailing guitars, organs, gorgeous strings, striking pianos, ethnic instruments, sound effects, etc. This library will be of great benefit to those who work with general MIDI files."


[This message has been edited by Frank L. Rosenthal (edited 09-19-2007).]

Hello Frank,

I don't have a real controller keyboard. I used my Kurzweil K 2600 if I needed track's in real time.
As output I used hardware only (racks and keyboards)routed thru a midi patchbay (unitor amt 8)
Since the last 6 years I play in a 70ties pop/rock band and I did not compose any new piece, mainly because I tend to pull something out my home studio each time if needed in the band. So nothing attached anymore cables all over, iow a mess.

To get myselve composing again I decided to go the software route completely.
Allways ready to go and not much place needed.
Just a PC with two flatscreens (another issue as I want below 5ms response time)
and a controller board.

The kurzweil will stay as my inspiration for new ideas which devlope while playing.

The pcr800 has a usb connection as well, nice studio panels witin Sonar with lot's of assignable real knobs, and not expensive.

While I prefer 76 keys for real time playing, I don't think I need them for only
computer input. (If needed I can always hook my Kurzweil)

Also edirol seems to be Vista ready so hopefully one problem less to deal with.

Fred

Thanks for your comments Fred .... makes sense.

Thanks Frank,
even though I had considered getting garriton BigBand, I think I'll wait and see what the gm version of garriton is like
( I gather that you may be getting it?? ), probably be of more use to me.

Good to hear that Brainspawn is making further enhancements & that you're not just reffering to an update to fix a problem or something. I realize as a tester you can't go into detail.

As for the keyboards, hubby keeps offering to buy them for me, & I just can't say NO. haa haa.
I thought I was cured of my keyboard addiction, but alas.

best wishes
Rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Frank L. Rosenthal:
[B]

Rikki, all of Garritans Libraries are good. They are not top of the line but they are a good compromise between very large samples and quality of sound. Garritan does fairly well with replicating real world accoustic instruments.

I plan on getting the GM Wavetable as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, I will continue to use NI's Bandstand. Keep in mind, I only use these type of libraries for the auto accompaniment. For lead instruments (samples of accoustic instruments) I tend to use top of the line libraries with kontakt. It sounds so good and I have been at this for many years and plan on staying with the software approach.

Hi Frank
Looking back at your first post I noticed you used LiveStyler.
I posted a link a few days ago of someone else that uses LiveStyler, but he uses it with his instrument in a way you may not have thought of. (It certainly solves the problem of having cables all over the place) here is the link again in case you missed it.
It’s amazing what can be done when you put your mind to it.
Enjoy Music, Enjoy Life

Bill
http://www.yourhobby.nl/forumorgel/index.php?topic=3348.0

BTW the instrument was released onto the market over 20 yrs ago

Hi Frank,
look forward to your review when you do finally get it.
No, I'm aware it's not what you'd call top of the line, in my case I don't think my laptop would cope with top of the line instruments.

Anyway, please let us know when you get it , & how it compares to Bandstand.

I've basically got 2 types of setups running at the moment, my 2 arranger keyboards ( psr1500 & SD1+) I play songs where I use lead instruments other than piano ( ie I play in regular arranger mode) , then I use my Clavinova with laptop & OMB to play piano based styles in pianist mode. Trying to play woodwind, brass, strings etc via piano weighted keys feels odd.


best wishes
rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Frank L. Rosenthal:
[

Hi Bill,
that's an interesting link.
Some people have great imaginations.

best wishes
rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by abacus:
[B]

Bill, that is as Rikki indicated an interesting application of Live - Styler and machinery for making music. A firm (or individual) in Germany used Live - Styler software as part of their keyboard. It is been some years ago and I have lost the link to their approach.

Rikki, I will let you know my assessment of the Garritan GM wavetable. I should make clear that Garritan's libraries are very good and should run on most ordinary PCs. I have their GPO and JABB and use some of the instruments as my lead instruments. Also, if you use Soundcards with ASIO, Hard Drives that run at 7200 rpm with 8mb Cache, etc. you should be able to run top of the line sampled instruments....if you wished to. I used to use top of the line sampled instruments for all of my lead instruments. I have backed away from that and use only top of the line instruments for my favorite lead instruments such as piano, strings, sax, etc.

Hi Frank,
I suppose an external harddrive may be an option for me. They seem to be coming down in price.

Just out of interest, why are you only now using top of the line, for your favourite lead instruments?

best wishes
Rikki

Rikki, very early on in my conversion to the software approach I used top of the line sampled acoustic instruments. Over time I backed away from that and used these kind of instruments only for my favorite instruments. I would use smaller sampled instruments for such things as electric guitars, electric pianos, etc. This was more from a cost consideration that I took this latter approach. From a computer capability perspective I could keep on using the higher end sampled lead instruments. You need to balance this however when using a software system for live performances. Smaller sampled instruments tend to load somewhat faster and you can load more of them.

As you know, it is not just the size of the sampled instrument that determines its quality but a whole lot of other things as well (mics used, venue, and so on). I tend to buy these instruments from reputable developers, e.g., Garritan, VSL, Bardstown, VRSound, East-West, etc.

[This message has been edited by Frank L. Rosenthal (edited 09-22-2007).]

Thanks Frank,

best wishes
rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Frank L. Rosenthal:
[B]