I don't want to buy VST Soft synths...

... but I have to.  I'm a stringed instrument kind of guy and I wish that keyboardists would show up with a keyboard, push some buttons and play the flippin' track.  However, they don't do that.  They show up and see my Fatar 88 key controller and want to play that.  So... I have some of the standard keyboard instruments covered for the level of clients I have, Rhodes, Clavinet, Grand Piano, Upright, Wurlitzer Piano covered by EZkeys and Session Instruments.  Strings are covered more or less by Dim Pro.
 
I haven't had anyone looking for the types of synths that you tweak a lot for dance music.  Those guys are doing their own things in their own home studios.  I'm getting people who want to scroll presets and get a recognizable sound and lay an accompaniment track and move on down the road.  I want to stay with 64 bit products so I don't have to deal with bridging apps.
 
I need a classic organ library.  I'm thinking the Kontakt Organ product or the Linplug product.  I think they come with a player but as far as Kontakt Free that I downloaded, I don't get a 64 bit installed - just the 32 bit.  I've tried installing it a couple of times but with the same result.
 
I'm also thinking something along the lines of a Korg synth, a Roland synth and maybe a Yamaha synth so if they are looking for sounds from classic recordings, I can get them there in a hurry.

Looking for the cheapest way to get to my goal.  Me, I'll spend a grand on a piece of hardware without blinking an eye but software.... not so much.

 

Rapture has organs - lots of 'em.  And be sure and pick up Mus3um at http://patcharena.com/  Lots of old analog synths/key samples and patches in that one, which is free.
 
@

This thread has what may be the last remaining bit of documentation on the DimPro virtual B3.

+1 on the Korg Legacy bundle.

Dave
I think Jim's idea is a good one - and it should be on sale soon I would image.
Also try this - its free - this will give you a Mellotron for nothing plus it has organs etc - and its great to fiddle with!
http://www.uvi.net/en/vintage-corner/mello.html
 

A good ol' rompler to have in your rack that can be had for as little as $200.00 these days is a Roland JV-1080. It'll take 4 expansion cards as well. Some of the cards are very good. I still use mine. Another good option like Bitflipper mentioned is a Yamaha Motif ES rack. (Don't go with just the original Motif rack - the midi timing would bog down if you were using several patches at once.) I have an ES rack and between that and the JV, my rompler needs are more than covered.

Bajan Blue
Dave
I think Jim's idea is a good one - and it should be on sale soon I would image.
Also try this - its free - this will give you a Mellotron for nothing plus it has organs etc - and its great to fiddle with!
http://www.uvi.net/en/vintage-corner/mello.html
 

Mello... I read their website and saw nothing that indicated whether it had a 64 bit version available.

scook
This thread has what may be the last remaining bit of documentation on the DimPro virtual B3.

Thanks.  This will get me down the road a ways.  

Dave, you don't happen to have an older NI collection called Complete Klassics tucked away somewhere, do you?
 
It came with Akoustik Piano, Electrik Piano, Pro 53, and of course the ever versatile B4II, which has so many great organ choices, I doubt one would ever get through listening to them all, let alone ever use them all.
They even have the authentic draw bars & foot pedals in the GUI.
 
They play in stand alone, and I believe in Kontakt - at least the 1st 2 do - that I know.
 
I think many over look this now outdated but still much usable set of fab 4!
 
They play in x64 systems & hosts just fine.

jimusic
Dave, you don't happen to have an older NI collection called Complete Klassics tucked away somewhere, do you?
 
It came with Akoustik Piano, Electrik Piano, Pro 53, and of course the ever versatile B4II, which has so many great organ choices, I doubt one would ever get through listening to them all, let alone ever use them all.
They even have the authentic draw bars & foot pedals in the GUI.
 
They play in stand alone, and I believe in Kontakt - at least the 1st 2 do - that I know.
 
I think many over look this now outdated but still much usable set of fab 4!
 
They play in x64 systems & hosts just fine.

No, I don't own much in the way of synths.  I either have synths included in SONAR, Samplitude, Studio One, Toontrack products or something that I found for free.

I'm not against VST synths, I just hated buying them because I'm not a keyboardist.  But I need to rethink that.

Mod Bod
Sweetwater has an offer for a Korg 61 key mini keyboard and you get the Korg Legacy collection for free.  $180.00, free delivery.

Good deal?

Man, it is easier to find an illegal download site than it is to find someone (legit) to sell you a soft synth product.

Considering all 6 synths at the Korg site are going for $199, the deal at sweetwater looks much better (+ a mini keyboard). The good part is Korg has 64 bit support and you'll have more quality sounds than you could shake a stick at. ;)
 
http://www.korguser.net/shop/software/
Good luck Dave!!

I think for the long road, Kontakt is nearly a "must have" to get the highest quality and coolest libraries.  It comes with an almost bewildering amount of content right out of the box, and the libraries you can add to it are the best around.  Warning,,, buying cool sound sets is addictive, though,,,, lol
 
If you went with Komplete, you also get Guitar Rig, which you may find useful.  You also get some really top quality synths and a ton of drum stuff and sample crunching stuff.  Overall, it's a power package. 
 
I'm new to it and I've spent a ton of money on stuff I probably won't use much, now that I have Kontakt. 
 
It's not cheap, but it's sweet.  You can get whatever you want now,,, but I can almost guarantee that you will eventually want to have Kontakt. 
 
ETA,,, I just got Komplete and I'm blown away,,,
 

hope you enjoy it Mod Bod.  Seriously, there are so many good options. 
 
 
ETA,,,  with your Fatar Controller you would love Addictive Keys
 
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/xln-audio-addictive-keys-studio-collection-promo-pak
 
It's a gem and only $29 
 

I've already got ALL the EZkeys libraries and sometimes too many options slow me down more than not having any.   



Ain't that the truth. I suffer from that on a regular basis. Less is more sometimes.

bapu
Hey, I used EZKeys for the piano on THIS SONG

Shamelessly going where no man has gone before.
Well Done!!