wizard71
Something else to consider is whether or not you would find Divisi handy or not. Not all libraries offer that option and depending on the complexity of your arrangements it can really make the difference between realistic and not.

Divisi what is that?

Zo
Spitfire Albion

I see there is four of them is one the base and the rest additions or each version has it's own set of sounds?

Kuusniemi
Choosing a path with orchestral libraries is probably the hardest thing. Most of the top libraries do the same things (in a little different ways though) so you might want to check out screencasts and tutorials on how each of them work. I know I have my favorites, my palette consist mainly of Spitfire Albions, 8Dio strings for details, Strezov Sampling and Vienna Symphonic Library for brass, Sonokinetic Da Capo for woodwind ensembles and again Strezov Sampling for Percussion. But those are the ones that suit my taste of workflow.
 
Soundwise the top libraries each stand up to each other and fall short of a real orchestra.

Which version of Albion do you have I am trying to determine if 4 is better than 1 or just different? 8Dio sounds good but pricey

BMOGI am overwhelmed with information, so much research but I think what is important to me is being able to chord with my keyboard and have the software play and be recorded in Sonar. Every Demo sounds great I will look into GPO. I like Hollywood Strings and a Cintematic Strings 2 both sounded nice. I don't want to waste my investment so researching I go

Hollywood Orchestra user here. What I will say is that Hollywood is one of the most powerful libraries you will find, especially for the price, but they come with an extremely steep learning curve because the library is so versatile. It takes some time to learn how to use it before you can use it on any projects where as many of the out-of-the-box libraries wst3 mentioned are ready to throw into a project as soon as you start playing. The problem with those is they carry limitations on sound and feel so it really comes down to what will work for you and the music you make.

TerraSin

BMOGI am overwhelmed with information, so much research but I think what is important to me is being able to chord with my keyboard and have the software play and be recorded in Sonar. Every Demo sounds great I will look into GPO. I like Hollywood Strings and a Cintematic Strings 2 both sounded nice. I don't want to waste my investment so researching I go

Hollywood Orchestra user here. What I will say is that Hollywood is one of the most powerful libraries you will find, especially for the price, but they come with an extremely steep learning curve because the library is so versatile. It takes some time to learn how to use it before you can use it on any projects where as many of the out-of-the-box libraries wst3 mentioned are ready to throw into a project as soon as you start playing. The problem with those is they carry limitations on sound and feel so it really comes down to what will work for you and the music you make.

I have been listening to Albino 1 and 2 demos, Agiato sounds nice but so far my favorite has been ProjetSam Ochestra Essentials 2. Like the addition of the choir voices in the patches it is appealing to my creativity but I can't figure out if it uses the free Kontact 5 or not.
KONTAKT PLAYER REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum Kontakt version: 5.4.2
• Mac: OS X 10.8 or higher
• Windows: Windows 7 or 8
• Supported plug-in interfaces: Stand-alone, VST, Audio Units, AAX (Pro Tools 10 or higher), ASIO, Core Audio, WASAPI
• Comes with Kontakt Player license
• Also works with full version of Kontakt

BMOG

Kuusniemi
Choosing a path with orchestral libraries is probably the hardest thing. Most of the top libraries do the same things (in a little different ways though) so you might want to check out screencasts and tutorials on how each of them work. I know I have my favorites, my palette consist mainly of Spitfire Albions, 8Dio strings for details, Strezov Sampling and Vienna Symphonic Library for brass, Sonokinetic Da Capo for woodwind ensembles and again Strezov Sampling for Percussion. But those are the ones that suit my taste of workflow.
 
Soundwise the top libraries each stand up to each other and fall short of a real orchestra.

Which version of Albion do you have I am trying to determine if 4 is better than 1 or just different? 8Dio sounds good but pricey

I have volumes 1-3. Albion is Spitfire Audio's general label. They contain ensemble collections and each of the Albion has different content. Albion is the basic set, Albion II Loegria contain smaller ensemble, Albion III Iceni contains only low instruments. They compliment each other. Each of the Albions also have a lot of sound design / synth kind of stuff.
 
The Albion libraries are not really that detailed. They're the kind of libraries you use to give mass and the feel of a large orchestra. I use the 8Dio Agitato strings and Adagietto for more detailed stuff. Especially the Agitato's on top of Albion is good... If I'd gone fully Spitfire then I'd be putting their Mural and Sable libraries on top of Albion (for strings that is). Personally I chose 8Dio Agitato because of the dynamic bowings they have, they're simply fantastic.
 
This is a thing to consider as well. You mention Orchestral Essential as well and it's another "stripped" package. It's a starter which has only the basics. Albion is basically the same thing, it contains rudimentary elements to writing orchestral music but nothing too detailed.
 
I'd look carefully at the content of what you're thinking of buying an considering how far can you get with that and what do you want ot write. If it's backing stuff for pop music then a less detailed library will do, as with hydrib scoring a less detailed library carries a long way. But for pure orchestral writing you need articulations, details, velocity layers and round robins. For purely orchestral writing it's still hard to beat Vienna Symphonic Library. They also have their stripped down versions called Special Editions. They're also a great place to start.

Sorry about that my reply got placed in the wrong area
 
Great information and great food for thought, I am creating a unique style of music so I think any way which is a cross between meditation style music, with a cross of Neo soul.  At times if a client wants I will do some pop tunes and I have a desire to have the film type music added in a creative way. So I need the padding style strings out of the box, I like the extra's from Orchestra Essentials 2 with the choir voices and elements just to keep adding to my creative nitch. So you have given me a lot to consider and I appreciate the advice
 
 
 
 

Kuusniemi

BMOG

Kuusniemi
Choosing a path with orchestral libraries is probably the hardest thing. Most of the top libraries do the same things (in a little different ways though) so you might want to check out screencasts and tutorials on how each of them work. I know I have my favorites, my palette consist mainly of Spitfire Albions, 8Dio strings for details, Strezov Sampling and Vienna Symphonic Library for brass, Sonokinetic Da Capo for woodwind ensembles and again Strezov Sampling for Percussion. But those are the ones that suit my taste of workflow.
 
Soundwise the top libraries each stand up to each other and fall short of a real orchestra.

Which version of Albion do you have I am trying to determine if 4 is better than 1 or just different? 8Dio sounds good but pricey
Great information and great food for thought, I am creating a unique style of music so I think any way which is a cross between meditation style music, with a cross of Neo soul.  At times if a client wants I will do some pop tunes and I have a desire to have the film type music added in a creative way. So I need the padding style strings out of the box, I like the extra's from Orchestra Essentials 2 with the choir voices and elements just to keep adding to my creative nitch. So you have given me a lot to consider and I appreciate the advice

I have volumes 1-3. Albion is Spitfire Audio's general label. They contain ensemble collections and each of the Albion has different content. Albion is the basic set, Albion II Loegria contain smaller ensemble, Albion III Iceni contains only low instruments. They compliment each other. Each of the Albions also have a lot of sound design / synth kind of stuff.
 
The Albion libraries are not really that detailed. They're the kind of libraries you use to give mass and the feel of a large orchestra. I use the 8Dio Agitato strings and Adagietto for more detailed stuff. Especially the Agitato's on top of Albion is good... If I'd gone fully Spitfire then I'd be putting their Mural and Sable libraries on top of Albion (for strings that is). Personally I chose 8Dio Agitato because of the dynamic bowings they have, they're simply fantastic.
 
This is a thing to consider as well. You mention Orchestral Essential as well and it's another "stripped" package. It's a starter which has only the basics. Albion is basically the same thing, it contains rudimentary elements to writing orchestral music but nothing too detailed.
 
I'd look carefully at the content of what you're thinking of buying an considering how far can you get with that and what do you want ot write. If it's backing stuff for pop music then a less detailed library will do, as with hydrib scoring a less detailed library carries a long way. But for pure orchestral writing you need articulations, details, velocity layers and round robins. For purely orchestral writing it's still hard to beat Vienna Symphonic Library. They also have their stripped down versions called Special Editions. They're also a great place to start.

I agree with a lot of the above... have Kirk, Albion, OE 1/2 and the other stuff like all the NI stuff I don't appreciate anymore...
 
Just to muddy up the waters, "Capriccio" Check it out... very innovative, beautifully done, and at your budget price point... It will be my next purchase... the videos are great and will show you whether this might suit your needs.  A full on orchestral package like Albion is pretty mindboggling and this might be something to get you started which sounds fantastic...

So here is my story first I decided that what I wanted strings for was turned out to be more from a pad perspective and I can grow into the real orchestra oriented later. I listen to so many different strings demo's all of them sound amazing and I had a hard time deciding until my wife said, make a decision. If this is going to help you get what you need. My ear loved this demo so I went with this project http://8dio.com/instrument-category/orchestral/#instrument/adagietto/ To my understanding I already had the Kontakt 5 player so I thought I good to go. WRONG!!! Turns out you need the full version of Kontakt for this software so I was stuck.  I wanted to send it back but once it is downloaded you can't. So now researching the full version of Kontak5 it was $399 and included a version of Vienna String instruments in it. I was sooooo pissed because those Vienna libraries sounded great but to expensive. So I go to buy the Kontak 5 full version and they are out of stock. I was not happy about that so I was like how can get around this.  Only one way made since to me, the full version of Kontak5 cost $399 and the Komplete 10 cost $499 which included Kontak5 plus tons of other stuff. So i decided to buy Komplete 10 and now I have spent way more money than I planned and whatever I have at this point damn it I will find a way to make it work.  Thanks for all the advice to everyone here and all of you were right this is by far the toughest choice to make

Sorry to hear that BMOG. However, I think most of the 3rd party libraries do require to have the full version of Kontakt. In a way, you have opened up a door to a LOT of 3rd party instruments (very good instruments) which will really make a difference in your music creation.
 
You also have a wealth of synths with Komplete 10 and there's enough stuff in there to keep anyone buys for a life time (Reaktor alone will do that).
 
If you posted earlier that you were looking for Kontakt 5 only, you could've found some really good deals over at KVR_Marketplace.....prices are at least around 50% or less than the going market price. Anyway, that's not to be. Also, if you have software/hardware you're not using, you can sell it over there and try to make some cash back......but, rememeber most people are looking to get a good deal......so that 50% off price tag comes into play.
 
Enjoy your new toys!!