Impressions on the X1 DSF sound packs

I thought the DSF expansions were a good value.

Thanks for the comments so far.

The packs that I am looking at are apparently new (correct me if I am wrong), and are bundled into X1 or available as separate downloads.

They are known as "Instrument Expansions" and can be found here:

http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/category.aspx?categoryID=59 
 
Scroll down a bit.

Nobody? Are they that new - maybe they just came out with X1c?

The link you included was for packs you can purchase. Is one or more of them being bundled with new purchases of X1 now? You might not be getting answers 'cause few people around here have bought X1 recently enough to get them for free or have shelled out to purchase them.

IIRC, there was a Digital Sound Factory expansion pack download for Soundcenter that was free to X1 buyers from the get-go, but I'm not sure what was in it because I installed it before ever looking to see what the baseline SoundCenter library included. But there's nothing in there now showing it's from DSF, so maybe I don't have it loaded right.

My general impression of Sound Center is that it's a fairly unsophisticated sample playback synth, and the sample sets that come with it are pretty basic - many having only one or two velocity layers, which is the kiss of death for expressiveness.

brundlefly

My general impression of Sound Center is that it's a fairly unsophisticated sample playback synth, and the sample sets that come with it are pretty basic - many having only one or two velocity layers, which is the kiss of death for expressiveness.

Ah, now we are getting somewhere. So, the packs are bundled, and some may sound okay, but it's not the "next best thing" etc. in terms of sampled sounds?
 
I am looking to move up to "the next level" in terms of virtual instrument sonic quality. What do you recommend instead?

 

The included sounds are nice, but I have been looking for a really HQ Bosendorfer sample for about 15 years since i heard the last good one.  I found this one by accident, cost prohibitive to most, but includes the Bodendorfer 290 Imperial Grand, Steinway D9, and Yamaha C7 with a massive library and a solo play soft package 64 bit.  It's called Ivory 2 Grand Pianos.  The only thing I don't like about it is the Ilok Key system.  Other than that, i close my eyes and feel like I'm back on the stage.

Zepheron


The included sounds are nice, but I have been looking for a really HQ Bosendorfer sample for about 15 years since i heard the last good one.  I found this one by accident, cost prohibitive to most, but includes the Bodendorfer 290 Imperial Grand, Steinway D9, and Yamaha C7 with a massive library and a solo play soft package 64 bit.  It's called Ivory 2 Grand Pianos.  The only thing I don't like about it is the Ilok Key system.  Other than that, i close my eyes and feel like I'm back on the stage.

Have you checked out Sampletekk's piano's? They have the Bosendorfer 290, C7, and a whole lot more....

Yes I did, thank you for the link.  What I like about Ivory 2 is that within each launch you have complete control over real samples in real time, as well as the ability to add layers to it.  It is simple to use for  a beginner and has a multitude of adaptive touches for a more demanding user.  To me it's about the best response for what I demand from a VSTi.  Not many VSTi's I can truly say that about.