digimidi
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How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
I have been hearing about the Garritan Pocket Orchestra in Dimension LE. This could be a major feature that would knock me off the fence and push me to buy Sonar 7 PE. It just seems like I just bought Sonar 6 PE not too long ago. But, if the Pocket Orchestra has killer sounds, I could really use them. How do they compare, for example, to the Roland TTS-1 sounds? I mostly want sounds or libraries that are not electronic or dance sounding. Do any of the new plugins, Dimension, Rapture, Z, have these sounds?
I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left... http://daveowenmusic.com/http://fabulous52s.com/https://soundcloud.com/daveowenmusic Sonar Platinum Edition/Cakewalk by BandLab: Dell 8700 XPS i7 16GB RAM, Cyberpower laptop w/8GB RAM/i7/2GB NVidia card/Tascam US1641/Focusrite 18i6/Melodyne Studio 4/Waves Plugs (a lot)/Garritan/EWQL Symphony Silver & Fab 4 and a bunch of other stuff. Studio One 3/Magix Samplitude Pro X3 Suite/Mixcraft 8 Pro/Reaper/Acid Pro 8
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av1611
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 12:00:33
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ORIGINAL: digimidi
I have been hearing about the Garritan Pocket Orchestra in Dimension LE. This could be a major feature that would knock me off the fence and push me to buy Sonar 7 PE. It just seems like I just bought Sonar 6 PE not too long ago. But, if the Pocket Orchestra has killer sounds, I have GPO - excellent sounds - just go to the website http://www.garritan.com/ and go to their demos and sit aback and enjoy - But the demos there are done by pretty savy folks who know orchestras and composing but still....the engine and sounds are GPO -I think it is amazing. In case you haven't yet...http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/DimensionLE/sounds.asp God bless
post edited by av1611 - 2007/09/27 12:02:22
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
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Jim Roseberry
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 12:08:48
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Garritan Pocket Orchestra The pocket version is certainly better than the TTS1... But it is the 'pocket' version (not the GPO version or the full Garriton Strings). IOW, It'll have some really good sounds, but it won't have literally every articulation that an advanced orchestral composer would want/need.
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digimidi
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 12:21:29
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Thanks for the information. I don't know what limitations or the extent the module has compared to the full GPO. Every little bit or information is helpful.
I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left... http://daveowenmusic.com/http://fabulous52s.com/https://soundcloud.com/daveowenmusic Sonar Platinum Edition/Cakewalk by BandLab: Dell 8700 XPS i7 16GB RAM, Cyberpower laptop w/8GB RAM/i7/2GB NVidia card/Tascam US1641/Focusrite 18i6/Melodyne Studio 4/Waves Plugs (a lot)/Garritan/EWQL Symphony Silver & Fab 4 and a bunch of other stuff. Studio One 3/Magix Samplitude Pro X3 Suite/Mixcraft 8 Pro/Reaper/Acid Pro 8
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rkl122
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 15:19:43
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Every little bit or information is helpful.
This thread might help. Also others in that forum. -Ron
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stickman393
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 15:32:01
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ORIGINAL: digimidi
I have been hearing about the Garritan Pocket Orchestra in Dimension LE. This could be a major feature that would knock me off the fence and push me to buy Sonar 7 PE. It just seems like I just bought Sonar 6 PE not too long ago. But, if the Pocket Orchestra has killer sounds, I could really use them. How do they compare, for example, to the Roland TTS-1 sounds? I mostly want sounds or libraries that are not electronic or dance sounding. Do any of the new plugins, Dimension, Rapture, Z, have these sounds?
I think they blow TTS out of the water. They are not perfect - they tend to have noticeable loop points, at least in the Solo Cello patch which is what I'm currently working with. They are good though.
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LPMusic
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 16:17:02
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i find it virtually unusable......bad clicky loops....grainy sounds...real low end stuff.
IMHO.
LP
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av1611
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 17:50:44
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ORIGINAL: LPMusic
i find it virtually unusable......bad clicky loops....grainy sounds...real low end stuff.
IMHO.
LP
Do you mean the Pocket or the full blown? If you mean the full blown have you heard what the folks over on the Garritan site do with it - I find their work stunning. Demos and full blown projects - http://www.garritan.com/audio/index.html God bless
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
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bitflipper
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 18:11:19
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I was pretty jazzed about getting a new synth with S7 so Dim LE was one of the first features I played with when I got it.
I am sorry to report that it's not that great.
Better than the TTS-1, to be sure. Much better, in fact. I may use it as a temporary placeholder during composition. But if you're serious about realistic instrument sounds, you'll be disappointed. I wouldn't have bought S7 if Dimension LE had been the only addition.
When I listen to the demos on the Garritan site, they sound OK. Does that mean the lite version is intentionally inferior to the full product?
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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LPMusic
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 19:47:07
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i'm talking about the lite, or Pocket Version.
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corrupted
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 19:51:43
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I just played with the GPO in Dimension... and maybe it's because I didn't set something up right, but it sounded on-par with TTS-1. Granted, TTS-1 is pretty good for a GM replacement... but GPO was very un-inspiring at first glance. I've never been completely impressed by what I heard of Garritan, but usually they were much better than what came with Sonar 7...
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Paul G
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 21:24:05
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GPO was designed to build up an orchestra part one instrument at a time. The individual instruments will therefore sound a little thin on their own. I've actually brought other sample sets in and mixed them with the GPO instruments to give it some extra depth. It takes some work though, no doubt about it. If you're looking for an instant string section (for example), the NI or Vienna samples might be more to your liking (much more expensive). HTH Paul 
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nick8004
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 22:15:11
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Day-um! You guys are a tough room. I just went to the Garritan site and clicked the "Demo" link in the section "Announcing: Cakewalk bundles Garritan Pocket Orchestra in SONAR Home Studio XL & Dimension Pro." Sounds pretty nice to me. That crescendo towards the middle almost had me reaching for the Kleenex. I'll go so far as to say that if you told me this was a soundtrack for a major film, and I didn't know better, I'd believe it. The only thing that made me go "hmm" was at the very end, the strings were a little naked and ever-so-slightly loop-ish.
post edited by nick8004 - 2007/09/27 22:24:39
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enharmonic
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/27 22:28:51
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In addition to being able to layer instruments, GPO uses the Mod Wheel for volume (for ww, brass. & strings). Real instruments constantly change their volume. You should 'ride' the Mod Wheel while playing to make them sound more expressive. Velocity on ww, brass, & strings controls the attack type (legato/staccato), NOT the volume. Velocity on all the other instruments (piano, harp, organ, percussion, string pizz, etc.) DOES control volume. For it's price category, GPO offers a lot.
post edited by enharmonic - 2007/09/27 22:44:40
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hellogoodbye
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 03:00:57
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It's a pity the full version and the lite version can both be abbreviated to GPO... That was NOT clever... I read through this topic but I am having a hard time understanding if someone talks about the full (Personal) edition or the lite (Pocket) edition. The guy who made up those names should be fired. Anway, I own the Personal edition, but I'm looking forward to the Pocket one, but mainly for background stuff (violins during the chorus and that kind of stuff). About the demo's on the site: you have to spend a lot of time editing a lot of MIDI and (more importantly) you have to know how a real orchestra plays (function of each instrument and also the technique for them) in order to get realistic results. I found getting nice results with Personal rather cumbersome/tiresome. I've only made one piece with it ( Longing) and that was it... I think I will use Pocket more often, as a replacement for the TTS-1.
Sonar 8.5 PE, Edirol FA-66, Behringer C-1. All instruments in my songs are VSTi's.
Check out Soundclick
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David_C
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 08:22:26
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I have a plethora of orchestral plug-ins and some of the sounds on the Pocket Orchestra are pretty nice. I like the long/short bows on the string section. the horns and winds are pretty bad though compared to my VSL and Quantum Leap libs but they cost $1000 each so there you go.
If you want really nice string sounds, might I suggest Dimension Pro? I was taken aback by the realism in the string samples (I wonder what developer they came from???). IN fact, all of the sounds on DImension Pro are solid. It's my go-to library for everything now (except for heavy orchestral stuff where I rely on VSL and EWQL).
Dave
Mac G5 2.0ghz, Logic 8, Dimension Pro, Z3TA, Rapture, EWQLSO Platinum Pro XP, EWQLSC, Vienna SE, HALion Symphonic Orchestra, etc
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Westside Steve
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 08:37:44
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When I listen to the demos on the Garritan site, they sound OK. Does that mean the lite version is intentionally inferior to the full product? Well geez, those examples are pretty highly produced pieces of work.
I thought the Pocket patches were pretty damn good but for sure you'd need to hear 'em in a mix, like most stuff.
I was bummed out at the absence of a piano.
I don't see a good piano in any of the softsynths.
WSS
post edited by Westside Steve - 2007/09/28 08:47:55
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dappa1
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 08:52:55
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I have Dim LE and GPO with the TTS-1 Synth and to be honest my favourite one is TTS -1. I only use Dim pro if I cannot get the bass sounds that I need and try to phase them in to what going on around the other synths. Unfortunatley I have not used GPO as I do not recall them standing out at all. I will try them agian and see but as it is not memorable to me.
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mwall
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 09:24:25
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The GPO samples on the Cakewalk Dimension Pro site sound pretty good to me, but maybe they've been massaged extensively to sound that way. Or maybe it's just me. http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/DimensionPro/ then click on "Listen to Sound Samples" on the left. In the popup window, drop down "Dimension Songs" and click on "Garritan Pocket Orchestra." Is this the same thing you all are listening to?
post edited by mwall - 2007/09/28 09:47:37
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dappa1
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 09:36:20
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I feel depressed anytime anyone asks me to listen to something over the net as I am on Dial up at home and broadband at work has no stereo input bit of a shame that!
Fortunately I will be joining you guys in the braodband league this weekend so. Fingers and toes crossed.
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corrupted
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 10:46:18
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Maybe I need to play with them more, but the brass, for example, sounded pretty un-natural. I was using the Dimension LE with the GPO patch loaded... but if I had breath control it might help. Is there something I need to enable to get that functionality? Or do I just tie my modwheel to the volume on Dimension?
Using WIVI, by comparison... it just sounded very GM.
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Westside Steve
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 11:10:00
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How are the pianos in Garritan Personal Orchestra?
WSS
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jsaras
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 11:17:37
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ORIGINAL: David_C
If you want really nice string sounds, might I suggest Dimension Pro? I was taken aback by the realism in the string samples (I wonder what developer they came from???).
I always thought that the other (non-GPO)strings in Dim Pro sounded better than the Garritan stuff. The Garritan strings sound too square-wavey for my taste.
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dappa1
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 11:18:01
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does GPO that comes with the LE edition of DIMPro have pianos. I think the full version has. most people go for true pianos. as I have heard that that one is pretty defacto!
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Silence Dogood
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 11:21:58
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ORIGINAL: nick8004
Day-um! You guys are a tough room.
I just went to the Garritan site and clicked the "Demo" link in the section "Announcing: Cakewalk bundles Garritan Pocket Orchestra in SONAR Home Studio XL & Dimension Pro." Sounds pretty nice to me. That crescendo towards the middle almost had me reaching for the Kleenex. I'll go so far as to say that if you told me this was a soundtrack for a major film, and I didn't know better, I'd believe it.
The only thing that made me go "hmm" was at the very end, the strings were a little naked and ever-so-slightly loop-ish.
I just listened to same (above). Sounds like ass to me. I have a 10 yr old synth from walmart that sounds as good or better... I don't mean to be bitter, but seriously, not impressive - in fact they should take that demo down, it's not helping them.
If at first you don't succeed, keep sucking 'till you do succeed! ("Curly" Howard)
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jsaras
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 12:01:59
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ORIGINAL: Silence Dogood
I just listened to same (above). Sounds like ass to me.
It's not THAT bad!
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corrupted
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 12:09:14
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ORIGINAL: jsaras
ORIGINAL: Silence Dogood
I just listened to same (above). Sounds like ass to me.
It's not THAT bad!
Agreed, it's not THAT bad. Sure it doesn't sound like EWQLSO, but listening to that demo I realize I have to do some more investigating... it's much more than I thought you could get out of GPO/Dimension. I wish there was a midi file available for that demo, or a sample project... just to see how it was done.
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mwall
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 12:26:17
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I just listened to same (above). Sounds like ass to me. Maybe it's your speakers. Or maybe it's just personal taste. I, personally, would be very happy to get that kind of sound. But, that said, I don't know how realistic it is to think I can get that sound out of Dim LE.
post edited by mwall - 2007/09/28 12:59:00
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Philip
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 12:42:21
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GPO faces serious competion from DimPro (IMHO) ... for my orchestra wants .. DimPro 'Grand Piano' (100 MB+/-) has replaced all my piano routines (replacing all those from my Roland SRX-06 "complete orchestra" a venerable ROMpler). Likewise: DimPro: 'Les Paul' guitars (100MB +/-) are my only guitars, 'Xmas Bells', and 'Strings' are more megabyte intensive  than DimLE/GPO. DimPro/GPO Saxes (only in DimPro) ... are extremely realistic (IMHO). AKA ... forget DimLE-GPO which is hardly better than TTS GM sounds (IMHO) for 90% +. DimPro orchestra is the reasonable standard for 80-90% of my orchestra needs (30GBytes worth).
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mwall
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RE: How good is Garritan Pocket Orchestra?
2007/09/28 12:49:20
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DimPro/GPO Saxes (only in DimPro) ... are extremely realistic (IMHO). AKA ... forget DimLE-GPO which is hardly better than TTS GM sounds (IMHO) for 90% +. Why is GPO in DimPro better than GPO in DimLE? GPO is GPO, is it not? Is it just that DimPro gives you more controls to breathe more life into the sounds? I'm just asking, I really don't know since I own neither, yet.
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