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daryl1968
....but are the sounds any good? What say you Baps?

I think asking trusted friends who own a library is a wise course of action.......

Hehehehehe.......you said trusted friend.......

Haha, okay, I'll share the reason why I wrote "trusted" before the word "friends." I'll limit this to a one-off  rant.

So, I always disclose when I advise a dev and I'm completely fine with someone discounting my opinion on that dev's libraries due to my affiliation (even when I've just given a dev whose libraries I've fully paid for a couple of hours of free advice; and I've given more than 2 dozen devs advice over the yrs, most of it free; my day gig has been managing/leading digital marketing at big brands and more recently, running my own biz; 99% of the libraries I own were fully paid for), it even makes sense to me.  But here's what I've learned over those years, many devs (not KHS or Orange Tree Samples, ftr; the main 2 devs I advise these days) provide influential forum members with NFRs to talk up their libraries. It's been discussed with me from a number of devs over the years and I've gotten to know the names of several members of a popular digital music making related forum who push libraries in exchange for undisclosed NFRs and even post misinformation about competitors (a few years ago, I called out a guy at KVR for posting completely false info on a library in his efforts to promote a library of competitor who I knew had given him an NFR because the dev asked me about the guy specifically and whether or not he thought he should give the guy and NFR; I told him NOT to give the guy and NFR, but if he did, to require the poster to disclose he received an NFR copy when posting about the library; of course, the poster never disclosed the NFR even when I confronted him; he told me doing so would "hurt his credibility"). So, you have folks who move in forums like that and you also have whole forums, like one that starts with a V whose practices are quite similar to those of another forum now deserted known by the initials NS, where honest members are largely unaware of not just the folks with undisclosed NFRs hawking libraries but also an undisclosed practice where developers have to pay a fee to create and post in threads and to get moderation. The result? Someone researching libraries in that environment is unaware of all of these biases and regularly doesn't get an honest and complete view of the various marketplace choices. Even more, in that particular forum me and other devs I have know (including those who pay to play in that environment) regularly see things like people who work with a dev without disclosing their affiliation giving negative reviews of competitor libraries. People unaware of these affiliations and pay to play environment visit that community and without an awareness of the true situation and believe they're getting honest advice from the community (and yes, sometimes you will get honest advice, of course, but years of the forum practices and strong peer pressure from influential members, some with undisclosed biases, often skews the presentation/advice, even from honest members that become influenced by those they perceive have more expertise). While I've worked with devs and even negotiated with the forum owner, I've tried to persuade him to crack down on these practices and stop his own pay to play practices, or at least fully disclose them (as required by the US FTC, btw) so visitors know the reality and bias inherent in the environment.


I actually don't know of any of this stuff happening at Cakewalk Forums and my guess is that it is not as prevalent here because most devs focus on the higher traffic forums like, KVR and VI Control (and in the past at NorthernSounds before it became a ghost town). And I think it's one of the reasons Cakewalk Forums has such a friendly, helpful, even altruistic vibe and I think devs who practice the whole NFRs to talk up libraries, even though some of them are devs I know and like, help ruin forums. So, all of this has led me to the belief that the most honest thing a dev can do is NOT only avoid giving NFRs to people (AKA shills) who hawk their libraries undisclosed in forums but to create sample library trials/demos (not audio demos, but limited/trial versions of the full library). After all, sample devs aren't in it to sell people a single library. Successful ones need to make libraries their customers love and honestly recommend them to others. The last thing they should want is a disappointed customer who finds the library a disappointment. If more sample users tried out a library before buying, I believe there'd be a lot more satisfied sample library customers in the world. It's the fairest system I can imagine.
 
Okay, my public service announcement/rant related to the importance of "trusted friends" (as opposed to kinda sorta forum friends) is over! Back on topic.

Daryl 1968 -

Take a listen at:

https://soundcloud.com/cl...an/another-waltz-final

I hope more people get in on the group buy. I might even pickup another library if it gets to 50%. For those wondering how Spotlight strings sound here are 2 pieces I wrote using it.
 
https://soundcloud.com/chandlerhimself/lemon-honey
https://soundcloud.com/chandlerhimself/the-sellsword
 
 

rtucker55
Chandler, Very Nice!  Now I really want Spotlight strings. Hope it gets to 50% soon. So is it easy enough (expressive) to play in real time or is there a lot of keyswitching and articulation editing required?

Thank you. I don't play keyboards, so I'm not really the best person to ask, but I'll try. You can set it up to either respond to your playing or to be edited afterwords. For example the vibrato can either be set to turn on at a set rate after a certain amount of time for every note, or have the vibrato rate/start time/intensity controlled by velocity/mod-wheel. If you don't like that you can have those parameters controled by another midi CC. Volume is controlled by velocity or the mod wheel or a combo of both. There is also a "slur on overlap" command that should help with playing legato in real time, but like I said I'm not good enough at keyboard to comment on that function.
 
I'd say there is a lot you can do just by playing it, but I feel one of it's strong points is its ability to be molded into what you want. One of the best things in my opinion is the ability to control the vibrato. IMO there isn't a lot of keyswitching/editing involved to make it sound decent, but editing improves it. Try the demo and see what you think.

Chandler - for not playing the keyboard, even for being a keyboard player, those are two nice pieces. Well done!

The New Sample examples sound much fuller, more body than the original samples. Personally I feel there is a night and day difference between the two with the New samples being a clear winner. I was using an RME interface and a pair of AKG K701 reference headphones to listen with though.
 
I just have set the Spotlight Demo up and can hear the instruments but for some reason the Graphics are not showing up in the Kontakt 5.3.0.6464 UI, everything is greyed out. I have sent a note to Kirk and await his reply.
 
The main thing I notice, so far, about Spotlight Strings is that the vibrato is amazing.

I have the demo version, I've spent enough time with it to know that I want to learn to use it better. I am not getting the results I'm hoping for, yet, but I think I will soon.

This is a very deep library! There are tons of controls, tons of options, and it will take some (most?) folks a little bit of time to master it. I think it's absolutely brilliant that KH offers the demo so you can figure out if it works for you. Demos from users often fail to show a library at it's best... demos from the developer tend to lead you to think this is the best library ever... so having the actual library to work with is brilliant.

I would STRONGLY recommend that anyone looking for a flexible solo/small ensemble string library spend the time to download the demo version.
I hope to be able to post something demonstrative soon...

rtucker55, you're right. I was just chatting with Kirk about the new recordings and he posted on KVR about his plans to give everyone who purchases Spotlight Strings the new recordings with different mics (that it seems unanimously at every board are being assessed as even better than the current samples). Here's Kirk's full post from KVR on the topic: 

"For those of you who were still wondering, I am planning a big recording session for Spotlight Strings this week using some new mics. These recordings, should they be superior to the existing ones, will replace the current ones in Spotlight Strings. However, so that you all can be part of the process, I will post very truncated demos of these patches so that you can try them for yourself, and report back to me as to which recordings you prefer. If the decision is affirmative that the new recordings are indeed superior to the existing ones, then of course they will all be FREE to anyone who purchased Spotlight Strings prior to the implementation of the new recordings. "

We just reached the 35% discount level of the Group Buy.
 
Now let me clarify something. It's clear from posts at various forums that people don't realize that while the GB states 35% off, it's actually MUCH BIGGER THAN 35% OFF. How is that so? Well, during the GB, KHS lowered their list prices by as much as 50%.

So, for example, on Concert Strings 2, it's now more than 67% off the original list price of $799 USD (where we began this GB) at its current price of $259.35 and that's before past KHS subtract an additional 5% off. The discounts are piling up and it's getting difficult to keep track of them, but it all boils down to some huge discounts.
http://www.kirkhunterstud...potlight_group_buy.php

We're going into the home stretch. There's now 204 people in the Group Buy with 7 days to go. Also the opportunity to win up to $500 USD in store credit at Kirk Hunter Studios in the song contest ends February 20, 2014.

rtucker55
I had the opportunity to listen to the first round of new samples for Spotlight Strings. It should be very interesting to see what the end results will be. Regardless, Kirk has a real winner library in Spotlight.

Kirk's really looking for people to share their candid input/opinions on the original samples for Spotlight Strings verses the new patches he's shared (you don't need to own the library, you can download the free trial version and free patches and give your opinion). If anyone posts their opinion here, I'll make sure Kirk sees it, but otherwise, if you want to connect directly with him, you can post at KVR. It's a great chance to have serious input into the Spotlight Strings library.

This is a repost of something from another forum. These are samples of some of the new samples. Please give feedback, so Kirk will have a better idea of what sounds people like.
 
https://app.box.com/s/iy69h227m9mdsekmfyke SSS original samples

https://app.box.com/s/knouldl7jiasm8se7qa0 bertha master xy3

https://app.box.com/s/7bhvtfilpsi9xeaoy3t3 bertha master xy8

https://app.box.com/s/wm3vdkbebbuwnsgwte60 bertha master xy15

https://app.box.com/s/m6dw0i0ububww4cy1lu7 bertha piano close

https://app.box.com/s/zqdp2wvs0goolo3563nr bertha piano fat

https://app.box.com/s/1r6gyei7yyeyyo249odq bertha piano far close

https://app.box.com/s/mdm4owvj9z2xfpkocpas bertha piano fat far

https://app.box.com/s/4wh7a6ce2hrma005g2u3 bertha sm st

https://app.box.com/s/1zf1ddilrs4ui2h1t7gm bertha tri at close

https://app.box.com/s/lyqpgns7cuuwjia7q9e3 bertha tri at far

https://app.box.com/s/86oaum0ocyswtysvtysn bertha tri fat close

https://app.box.com/s/mzsvmoacik2c24ux9w1x bertha tri at fat far

https://app.box.com/s/8lgdw5t6pzlou6cg0v15 bertha xy st

https://app.box.com/s/88l3r855enw8tk7edtaz mags mono nv
 
My favorites out of these were mags_mono_nv, bertha_xy_st, bertha_piano_fat_close and bertha_master_xy3. Kirk just sent me a new one which is now my new favorite https://app.box.com/s/eqdxtnnbkpd4c484v7jp

I'll second that the last one posted, the newest, is also my favorite.

Sycraft
So here's a question for you: I'm already in for Concert Strings 2 and Concert Brass 2, I bought those around when it was originally going to end. However my will is weakening and I may get Spotlight and maybe Diamond too. Do I need to order them prior to the end date, or will I be given an opportunity to purchase them even though I've already made a purchase?

It's no problem for you to make multiple purchases any time during the Group Buy. In fact, I'm quite certain it makes KHS very happy!

Three more days left until the Group Buy ends (February 20, 2014). You can sign up now and you have until the last day of February to complete your purchase (basically, when you sign up, you're promising to buy something). 
 
For those unfamiliar with Kirk Hunter Studios orchestral libraries, they are sample libraries formatted for KONTAKT, exs24 and one library, Pop/Rock Strings includes the KONTAKT Player, that doesn't require you to own a sampler and qualifies you for special upgrade pricing if you decide you want to purchase the full version of KONTAKT.