Miroslav vs Garritan

Well, I really enjoy using Miroslav, I've created track templates for all the major sections, so I can insert a track template for Miroslav strings for example: and it comes in with a track folder and 4 MIDI tracks corresponding to 4 articulations for each section, violins, violas, cellos and basses... 

I picked up GPO 4 as well but I haven't used it nearly as much. I think you use keyswitching to get different articulations, I might be more into it if I had gotten it first and it's only like $79 sometimes through Cakewalk, but I prefer the sound of Miroslav and am overall more famliar with it. If I were you I might look up youtube videos of songs made with each library and try not to judge arrangements as much as you do the sounds you're hearing

+1 for Miroslav
I like the sounds in Miroslav to be much better than GPO. There's about 8GB of sounds with lots of options to tweak the sounds. I first got the Miro CE and then jumped in on that group buy last month to get the full version for $89 (with disconts). AFAIR, when Miroslav first came out, it was some $4000 for the software so my price seems quite fair...lol.
I've used GPO (which came in D-Pro) and wasn't as impressed with the sounds as what Miro had to offer + there's a lot more content including vocals/choirs that are quite good/useful.
If you do get Miroslav, don't forget to get the free SampleTank +1GB library that comes with it and you can load the Miro library into. I have all my samples (Miroslav, SonikSynth, + others) running through SampleTank as it avoids multiple installations of the sample library and don't have to authorize the others. Check Esoundz.com for deals as they usually have better prices than the IK website and you can refer someone which gives bonus points to you as well as the person you're refering to (mine is Mesh....shameless shoutout). 
Good luck!!

[<font]+1 for Miroslav Philharmonik. Great sounds. I have Finale also and use both Miroslav and Garriton. Miroslav is better IMO. IK should be updating it to 64 bit soon also.

If you don't already have, maybe try this free .sfz orchestral pack

http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/

Miroslav has multiple violin sections, several variations of the same types of instruments and I have never ever heard anyone complain about Miroslav stretching samples too far. At all. Ever. Miroslav literally set the bar for any and every orchestral sample library since it was released.

haydn12


I used Miroslav before GPO came out.  Once GPO came out, I quit using Miroslav.

GPO is chromatically sampled.  Miroslav stretches the sample quite far.  This stretching causes instrument with vibrato to have vibratos that vary quite a bit in speed. 

GPO has separate 1st and 2nd violin sections, Miroslav only has one violin section which creates a problem when doing unison 1st & 2nd violin writing. 

GPO has multiple instruments of the same type such as oboes, bassoons and brass.  This comes in handy for parts that are in harmony and then go unison.  

Jim 

I agree with haydn12.  I've tried both.  To my ears, GPO sounds more detailed, better recorded, less "mushy" and distant than Miroslav.  On the other hand, the choruses that come with Miroslav are nice to have (something other libraries lack). 

The crazy thing about the Miroslav library is that it was recorded such a long time ago but still gets mentioned amongst the newbies. Its the definition of classic.