Hi everyone,
 
I usually use Kontakt, but a new UVI-only sample library, Orchestral Suite for $199, has caught my eye. I am just starting to learn about orchestral arrangement, and while I'm already set for strings, it could fill in the gaps for other instruments I lack.
 
(I realise this library is not top of the line by any stretch, but then again, neither am I: as an orchestration newb, splashing out for more expensive libraries from VSL, ProjectSam, LASS et. al seems like overkill right now. Actually I'd ask that this thread not be about the merits of different orchestral libraries).
 
Before I pull the trigger, I'd like to hear from anyone who has used the free UVI Workstation in Sonar X3 regarding
-- stability
-- learning curve / ease of use
-- handling multimbrality. This last is pretty important if I'll be dealing with ensembles. I find that setting up multiple outs in Sonar for Kontakt can be a bit of a pain, so I work around by setting up multiple Kontakt instances, one per Sonar mixer channel. With 16 MB RAM, my Win 7 64 PC (2.7 ghz) can handle this for the stuff I do. Can one do the same with UVI? Or is setting up multiple outs easier than with Kontakt?
 
I'd be very grateful to hear informed views on these and on anything else important for a Sonar X3 user which I might not have asked about.
 
(By the way, I am not too bothered about its built-in FX as I already have enough VSTfx; and I don't mind UVI's iLok requirement.)

Hi Lingyai:
I've had UVI workstation a while.  I haven't used it with X3, but it works fine with Platinum.  As for a leaving curve, it's very easy.  Just spend a few minutes with it and you'll have it.  Multi-timbral wise it's limited: only 4 voices per instance.
 
Hope this helps you!

Hi Lingyal,
I use it pretty often along with MOTU Mach 5, which uses the UVI engine. I have a fair number of their sound packs and I like them. Different flavors are good!

I've also had the free UVI player for a while, and have used it in both X3 and SPlat with no issues to speak of.  I find the UI fairly easy to grasp and even the free sounds are good.   I can't comment on its multi-timbral aspects though since I've never used it that way.
 

I have both Kontakt and, much more recently, UVI. I don't use either one in multi-timbral applications, so I'm not an expert. I've seen complaints about how complicated it is with Kontakt, but I've never tried it myself.
 
However, out of curiosity, I did play around with the multi-timbral functions in UVI just now, and was able to get everything working pretty quickly, with a little help from the UVI and Sonar manuals.
 
As far as Sonar is concerned, when inserting an instance of UVI where you want multiple audio outputs, make sure to check one of the "All Synth Audio Outputs" boxes.
 
As far as UVI is concerned, click the three horizontal bar icon to select the multi screen, then click the small gear icon towards the upper right to toggle to the expert mode, and you'll see a bunch of parameters for multi-timbral use, including the choice of output, key range, velocity range and  keyswitch.
 
Also, the reference to 4 voices per instance in a previous post is actually just the default setting. Using the + and - icons towards the upper left, you can add and subtract literally as many parts (voices) as you want per instance, and any part can be assigned to any midi channel, within the one midi device determined in the Sonar midi track input. I added over 100 parts to a single instance, and did not hit any limit programmed into UVI. Obviously, with this many parts and only 16 midi channels, there would be multiple parts assigned to the same channel, but that is where you would use the multi-timbral parameters to determine the separation and/or overlap you desire.
 
To use multiple midi devices, you'd have to insert at least one separate instance of UVI for each device, and in the corresponding Sonar midi track, select the appropriate midi device for the input and the appropriate instance of UVI for the output.
 
Again, I'm not an expert, but it looks to me like it can rather easily do just about everything a person might need.

Thanks all for the replies! Ptheisen, if I may ask a follow-up question ... so, if you had , say, 14 parts in an instance, you can easily assign the output for each to its own Sonar channel?

Yes. When an instance of UVI is inserted into the Sonar project with one of the "All Synth Audio Outputs" boxes checked, Sonar automatically creates 17 Sonar tracks, each one corresponding to one of the 17 UVI outputs that are selectable in the UVI expert mode of the multi screen for that UVI instance. Whether you have one part or 200 parts, you can individually assign each part to any one of the 17 outputs, each of which then flows to one of the 17 corresponding Sonar tracks.
 
Similarly to what I said about the number of parts in relation to midi channels, if there are more than 17 parts in the UVI instance, multiple parts would have to be assigned to at least some of the outputs, since there are only 17 outputs per instance.
 
Hope this helps.

I had one more question about UVI -- does it let you purge unused samples, as you can in Kontakt? With ensembles this is crucial, purging is often the only way I can proceed. And this is with 16 GB of RAM...it can add up fast!

I haven't seen anything related to purging unused samples, so it may not have that functionality, but don't take my word for it. You may want to contact UVI directly.

Good advice. I just have. Will report back what I learn.