Is East West Goliath the best variety sample library?

[ray dsr]

My 30-day trial of Goliath just ran out and I'm wondering if I should buy the license.

Any opinions on how Goliath compares to the NI libraries? I'm using Digi Structure so I'm not sure how many options I have.

I was moderately impressed with Goliath, but found some of the sounds to be cheesy. The basses are noticeably bad IMO. I wasn't able to settle on one even for a quick demo to send to a client.

I did like some of the drum kits and the pianos are useable. The pop brass also came in handy on a demo.

[ray dsr]

any opinions?

[lord toranaga]

I like this one
UltimateSoundBank - Select your region

not compatible with exs. but will load directly into machfive

[ray dsr]

that's a pretty complete list.

what sounds do you like from this set the most?

i guess i would need a translator to use these sounds with structure.

[DevonB]

Originally Posted by Digital Send

I have the Miroslav Vitous libraries. Link: click me

They are expensive but very good.

My only problem with this library is that there is so many options which takes me ages to find the exact stlye of violin/oboe etc.. that i am after.

I literally mean hundreds upon hundreds!!


cheers
DS

Why would one buy that when you can get the whole library Miroslav Philharmonik from IK Multimedia, plus extras for the price of one of those discs? The samples are good, but talk about dated in this day and age. It ROCKED in 1999. It's 2009 now, and much has changed.

Devon

[ray dsr]

Originally Posted by DevonB

Why would one buy that when you can get the whole library Miroslav Philharmonik from IK Multimedia, plus extras for the price of one of those discs? The samples are good, but talk about dated in this day and age. It ROCKED in 1999. It's 2009 now, and much has changed.

Devon

So- you're saying that the Miroslav Philharmonik from IK Multimedia is a good library? Sorry - I don't follow your point.

[DevonB]

Originally Posted by ray dsr

So- you're saying that the Miroslav Philharmonik from IK Multimedia is a good library? Sorry - I don't follow your point.

Sorry, that could have been stated more clearly, huh?

My point is -

If you want the library, save several hundred dollars and get the IK version with extra content for $399, instead of $395 per disc, of which there are 5 of them, and get extra content on top of that.

Miroslav lacks the featuresets that make the newer libraries even better these days; multi-velocity mapping, mod wheel cross fading, the fact that I have access to more than 64 megabytes of memory on my old sampler, easier articulation switching, round robin samples to prevent the 'machine gun' effect on repeated notes, etc.

The samples THEMSELVES are great. I'ts still limited compared to what you could buy now though, like the Kirk Hunter libraries for the same price.

Devon

[ray dsr]

Thanks for the clarification Devon.

I'm new to soft sampling (I'm coming from an old-school analog background). Can you tell me what you think is best to get me started?

I purchased PT LE 8 and the full version of Digidesign's Structure. I guess I'm hoping to add sounds to that sampler since I already learned how to use it (for the most part).

[DevonB]

How much are you willing to spend to get started? That'll help me direct you to a solution.

Devon

[ray dsr]

Goliath is $400. I'd be up for spending that much to get rolling with the notion of adding more sounds gradually.

I jumped into this thread because I was wondering whether to buy Goliath since I already have it installed and just need a license key to keep using it. But I'm interested in alternatives before I get in too deep.

[DevonB]

I have and reviewed Colossus, the 'original' Goliath. I have owned, currently own or have played with I beleive about every major ROMpler in hardware out there. For *NATURAL* instruments, nothing touches Colossus in hardware. Hands down one of the best libraries for a VARIETY of natural sounds all in one basket. For software, if you want focused libraries, then yes, there are tons of stuff that beats it, but you ain't spending $400 to get all of them. You'd be spending thousands upon thousands to meet or beat all the instrument variety in that library.

Here's the deal - Do you like what you got? In my opinion, it doens't get better IN ONE COLLECTION. If you don't, you need to pick a sampler, like Kontakt, or HALion or something that you like and you like the workflow. Next, you need to start picking libraries on focused things you want covered. Need strings? Pick a string library. Need bass guitars, pick a bass guitar library. Kontakt, honestly, will probably be your best bet as it's the most popular one around, next to the dead and gone Giga and of course the old reliable Akai format. Now, you can get plenty of libraries with their own built in player, like Goliath, but keep in mind, I have AKAI discs I bought in 1997 that I can still use today if I want. A RTAS/VST built in library will probably be defunct 10 years from now. This is why I prefer open ended, non-copy protected sample libraries in a popular format.

Of course opinions differ. I know plenty of people who like libraries I've scratched my head and wondered how they liked it at all because I've heard so much better. I've done 'piano shootouts' between hardware, small sample libraries and LARGE multi-gigabyte libraries. People picked every one of them as their 'favorite', so tastes vary. You've got the demo of it. If you like it, keep it. All of my friends who I recommended Colossus to bought it and love it.

Devon

[ray dsr]

Wow. Thanks so much for your advice and experience.

Are the Native Instruments sample libraries open ended and non-copy protected? If so, then I think I'll pick up a copy of Kontakt 3. Though I've spent quite a few hours building patches and learning Structure and would love to stick with it if possible.

The version of Goliath I was demo-ing was the "Structure Edition" and I'm assuming the encrypted and un-usable outside of Structure so it probably isn't the best long-term investment.

[DevonB]

Some libraries are copy protected, some are not. You will have to do research.

Now I'm going to lay the responsibility on you here to do some research. Answer the main question - Out of Goliath, what do you NOT like? Now, take that list, and do a google search on "instrument" kontakt library and start looking. Listen to demos, download free examples, read reviews, see how much you're going to get yourself in for. Of course, make sure it's something you really want. A duduk library, even if it's the BEST in the world, is useless if you'll never use it.

Just remember, there is not a single "one to rule them all" library out there, period. Colossus, I thought the synthetic instruments were a bit bland, for example.

Also remember, there is no perfect program or perfect format. If you want everything, you have to have deep pockets. Fortunately, since we're talking software, get out there, download and demo demo demo! Make sure it works in your setup. Make sure you like the workflow. Not everything you want will be in Kontakt format.

Lastly, if you get a translator to import one library format to another, you'll likely lose something in the translation. The more advanced the format (Kontakt, Gigastudio, etc.) and the more advanced features it has, the more you'll lose converting it.

If you want good orchestral on cheap, check out Kirk Hunter Studios. It's in Kontakt format.

Kirk Hunter Studios

Devon

[ray dsr]

Thanks so much for your time Devon. It's truly appreciated. I'm off to do some homework. I'll report back here when I've come to some conclusions.

[ray dsr]

Well - it seems that Kontakt is incredibly frustrating to PT users on Mac 10.5.

Apparently it isn't stable.

Structure is starting to sound better now.

[Digital Send]

Originally Posted by DevonB

Why would one buy that when you can get the whole library Miroslav Philharmonik from IK Multimedia, plus extras for the price of one of those discs?

Because until now i did not know about it!!!

Thanks for sharing........time for my second purchase of May.

Link is here: Miroslav Philharmonik if anyone else is interested.

cheers
DS

[joey tunez]

To the original poster,

Goliath has some really good sounds but its playability is real (for the lack of a more technical word) sucky.

for no reason random notes will just simply cut short or not play at all. the result will be a really choppy style of playing that will drive you insane, the update that was supposed to fix this problem has done nothing. this is probably because goliath (unlike colossus) runs on ewql's new "play" engine. your best move would be to get colossus (less expensive anyway) and save yourself some money and trouble.
i am seriously considering just buying kontakt 3.

[Beermaster]

Originally Posted by joey tunez

To the original poster,

Goliath has some really good sounds but its playability is real (for the lack of a more technical word) sucky.

for no reason random notes will just simply cut short or not play at all. the result will be a really choppy style of playing that will drive you insane, the update that was supposed to fix this problem has done nothing. this is probably because goliath (unlike colossus) runs on ewql's new "play" engine. your best move would be to get colossus (less expensive anyway) and save yourself some money and trouble.
i am seriously considering just buying kontakt 3.

I've just bought a whole new set of East West PLAY products for my new system including Goliath. I don't have any of the problems your talking about.

I think Goliath is a SUPERB product. A lot of the sounds are taken from other East West products but a load more are individual to Goliath. The amount of Guitars on this product alone makes it a good buy ( and I already Have the dedicated Ministry of Rock Play product )

So much great material - It will take you days just to audition the content alone! !

Nothing like it out there.

Beer

[mlfworkman]

I just installed Goliath and have just auditioned the majority of the sounds.
Some great ones in there, especially the Bosendorfer 290 piano. And I love some of the ethnic content.

The one thing I am really disappointed by is the strings - orchestral strings, ensembles, and individual violins. IMHO none of them are better than the strings bundled with Logic Pro. I wrongly thought that since East West is famous for its higher end dedicated string libraries, at least some of this would translate down into the lower end Goliath library. Maybe it's too much to expect anything more in this price rage.

[HomeProducer]

what I find about EastWest is that they are incredibly overpriced.
You simply can only buy their products when there is a promotion.
It seems that the buy one get one free promo just expired.

[pakov]

If you're concerned about the price, right now there is a sale on composer collections - 7 East West sample libraries for $800-$1000 depending how you customize it. Choose your own libraries (only through their site I believe, not sure if you can through sweetwater) Box arrived in 3 days with a hard drive filled with my selection. The price normally would have been $3500+