SampleModelling Brass Bundle with Windcontroller.

My main midi controller for over the last decade has been a a WX5 Windcontroller (Midi Sax). I've tried to get on with keyboards, and for a long time I've thought that they just weren't for me (But now I think it's more about a loack of application). I used to have, and started out with a Bassstaion Keyboard (2 octave), picked up the Basstation rack, and a FAB383 (TB303 analogue clone). My understanding these and from learning the flute and sax (I'm not great at them or anything), I long felt that a Wind controller is marries with a monosynth much better than a keyboard can.
 
Programing a monosynth with a Windcontroller in mind is different than with a keyboard. I think less about the envelopes, and more about the breath control modulating the filter and volume. But with the attacks, the rate more than attack amplitude. Running thought synth presets is a bit tedious as a result, as to get a nice feel out of playing a synth preset I have to go through this process a lot.
 
Years back Wallander WIVI band was on my radar and I'd read good things about the expressiveness with a WX5. Read concerns about it's realism, even though expressive and not very demanding on the system. But there was no demo, just demos for their larger Wallander Brass, and Winds. I don't want a massive library, and I've no interest on orchestral mock ups. As I became aware of Samplemodelling, it seemed to resolving my concerns with with WIVI, and also worked out the box (almost, just on setting in each instrument to change). Criticisms of sounding synthy, seamed to come from keyboard played parts. Watching youtube, windcontroller players didn't seam to suffer as much as keyboards, and composers applying post controller programming were producing amazing sounding mock ups (Star Wars for example). An Early reflections algorithm dealt with criticisms about mixing it, was added to the brass in revised additions.
 
In one thread I read a statement like 'Samplemodelling is a great program, but not so great for orchestral work. More for ensembles, or Miles/Gil Evans type Jazz set up'. That was probable the one comment that sold it. My brother is named Miles, and Evans is pretty much the soundtrack of Sunday morning in my house, as my dad lounged around (and I played Lego meats Star wars meant Action Man Unviverse).
 
Samplemodelling don't do sales. I've been putting off the purchase until I had a little more financial/job/residence in Vietnam,  security. 399 Euros is a big deal for my wages and cost of living. Dealing with a Vietnamese Back account, Paypal and a third party shopfront solution for their website was bound to, if it did go wrong, be difficult to resolve.  Eleven orders and 8 days later success.
 
I installed Kontact Player a bit a ago, but this is my first library for it. I had little idea about setting it up, but after that week of grief, and instructions from Samplemodelling, it was a breeze. First sounds were reasonably impressive, but a tiny sustain told me I had to set it up, as well as a big warning sign about CC11. I found the controll to set to Windcontroller and the sustain was fixed. I was pleased, the attacks sounded good, and it was responsive, ok, I liked the tone, and wandered through the instruments.
 
As you can see from all that above, this purchase is kind of a big deal for me, and for 399 I had high hopes and expectations. Then something happened, I relaxed into playing and started properly blowing the sustains, and sliding into the attacks of some notes and hitting others with spikes and I stopped. This thing sound great! With no edits (other than stting to Windcontroller), it's so responsive to the windcontroller and so melodic , straight out the box (as they say). wonderful tone, not synthy when you engage in your playing. 
 
I dropped Klanghelm SSDR (with the 50's studio preset) onto the track and rematrix (with Class Studio) and fumbled through Concierto de Aranjues, with flugal horn, french horn bass trombone, Tuba. Man it sounds so good, and feels so playable.
 
Well worth the wait.

Kongrats, K!

Do you prefer the EWI to the WX5? Do they play very similar?
 
Did you see the Violin is out before Christmas. I'm not so much a strings guy, and both the Viola and Cello appeal more than the Violin, but as a bundle and after enjoying brass so much, it would be very tempting.
 
The bass clarinet is another of theirs that I'd like, too.

Thanks Dave. Ants ate the ends of the plastic rods that are under the keys of my WX5, I've don a patch up and I may replace them if I see something light such as an aluminium rod of the same diameter. But it's sewn the seed that my aging WX5 may need replacing. I prefere the look of the Wx5. I don't tend to use the extra controller options such as the roller and the buttons. Only thing I think I'd change would be a little more resistance to the key springs, not much, just a touch. It seems the WX5 is still available, but a little more eon the pocket.
 
I'm loving that fact that SM stuff plays so well without having to resort to key switches and extra controllers. But the fact they are still there and there is further scope to the sound I've yet to play with is encouraging.
 
From reading about the other sample libraries, it felt like sample modelling is really geared to a wind controller, where as libraries such as Blakus, more for the keyboardist. Not wanting to buy one and have to pay extra on individual instruments, I took the gamble on getting all the brass, and I think it paid off.
 
 
 

Cool, thanks. that wasn't really a case of 'don't forget', but 'here some stuff you didn't know'. That's really cool the market is growing for these devices.