soens
Some of this could be OE (operator error) but I've noticed a few notes do not respond to pitch bend and some fail the hammer on/pull off effect. Don't know why but I may contact them soon.
 
Those notes seem to be the standard open cord notes. Most if not all others do respond. Very odd.
 
Also, as with most Ample and Kontakt Player instruments, you need a controller with 76 - 88 keys to operate the full range of key switches when playing live or recording. 61 doesn't really cut it.

Is it possible to remap keyswitches on a smaller keyboard? Or, even if you can, do smaller keyboards just make things too limited when using a full-featured acoustic plugin like Amplesound or Orange Tree Sample product?

I've got 25-, 76- and 88-key MIDI controllers, but most convenient (space wise) would be a smaller keyboard. Just getting into the keyboard-as-controller world, and just picked up the OTS product. Am I wasting my time trying to use the 25-key controller?

Matter of opinion, My 1st keyboard had 49 keys as did the 2nd & 3rd. Just from a playing point of view it only frustrated me. They're OK for MIDI sequencing & programing but not for most playing. Why impose that limit unless you have no choice?! My 1st real synth had 76 keys. Currently using 61 and don't like that either. 3 big advantages to 49 or less is cheaper buying & shipping, portability, and footprint.
 
In some cases you can remap the keys but some virtual instruments use 5 to 7 octaves for operation so there's no room left to do that if you want the advantage of using all of them - a must if you're playing live or recording.
 
Others say "why not just learn to play the guitar?" The same could be asked of any other instrument for which a plethora of virtual examples exist:
 
1. It takes years to learn.
2. It takes even more years to play good enough to be heard or recorded.
3. I'm not in show business so it doesn't matter if it doesn't sound real or professional.
4. Real guitars & stomp boxes cost too much.
5. Real guitars & stomp boxes take up too much room.
6. The neighbors will complain about the noise and the landlord will evict me.
&
7 It's my choice how I do this, right?
 

soens
Matter of opinion, My 1st keyboard had 49 keys as did the 2nd & 3rd. Just from a playing point of view it only frustrated me. They're OK for MIDI sequencing & programing but not for playing. Others may enjoy 49 keys or less but not me. Why impose that limit unless you have no choice?! My 1st real synth had 76 keys. Currently using 61 and don't like that either. The 3 big advantages with 49 or less is cheaper buying & shipping, portability, and footprint.
 
In some cases you can remap the keys but some virtual instruments use 5 to 7 octaves for operation so there's no room left to do that if you want the advantage of using all of them - a must if you're playing live or recording a performance.
 
Others have said "why not just learn to play the guitar?" See if any of these answers make sense to you:
 
1. Why do you have 4 or 5 virtual drum sets in your DAW? Why not buy a real drum set and learn to play it?!
 
2. It takes years to learn.
2. It takes even more years to play good enough to be heard!
4. I'm not in show business so it doesn't matter if it doesn't sound real or professional.
5. Real guitars & stomp boxes cost too much.
6. Real guitars & stomp boxes take up too much room.
7. The neighbors will complain about the noise and the landlord will evict you.
&
8. It's my business how I do this.
 

I hear ya. Just picked up the OTS steel strings acoustic VST. A sweet piece of gear. Guess if I want unencumbered access to everything without a lot of mapping headaches , the more keys the better.

soens
Matter of opinion, My 1st keyboard had 49 keys as did the 2nd & 3rd. Just from a playing point of view it only frustrated me. They're OK for MIDI sequencing & programing but not for playing. Others may enjoy 49 keys or less but not me. Why impose that limit unless you have no choice?! My 1st real synth had 76 keys. Currently using 61 and don't like that either. The 3 big advantages with 49 or less is cheaper buying & shipping, portability, and footprint.
 
In some cases you can remap the keys but some virtual instruments use 5 to 7 octaves for operation so there's no room left to do that if you want the advantage of using all of them - a must if you're playing live or recording a performance.
 
Others have said "why not just learn to play the guitar?" See if any of these answers make sense to you:
 
1. Why do you have 4 or 5 virtual drum sets in your DAW? Why not buy a real drum set and learn to play it?!
 
2. It takes years to learn.
2. It takes even more years to play good enough to be heard!
4. I'm not in show business so it doesn't matter if it doesn't sound real or professional.
5. Real guitars & stomp boxes cost too much.
6. Real guitars & stomp boxes take up too much room.
7. The neighbors will complain about the noise and the landlord will evict you.
&
8. It's my business how I do this.
 

 
As the only one in this thread (AFAIK) who suggested spending the money on fingerpicking lessons, I thought I should respond.
 
I only suggested it because the OP said he could play the guitar (strumming), but not fingerpick.  I thought it was worth a try.  If his fretting hand is already okay, then it may not take a great amount of effort to improve his right hand.
 
In fact, over several decades of teaching, I have seen some  students take to fingerpicking really well, even if it had never occurred to them before.  They even found it easier than flatpicking (strumming). 
 
As to your eight points above, I may reply individually when I get a chance, but  5, 6 and 7 don't seem to relate to the majority of fingerpicking, and 4 seems to contradict 2 & 2 (sic).
 
 

I use RealGuitar for simpler things, but if you want something more complex, like a classical music, I recommend the ILYA EFIMOV NYLON GUITAR and also the ILYA EFIMOV ACOUSTIC GUITAR.
 
You can check some of my works for acoustic guitar, using this VST, in this link.
 

+1 for RealGuitar,
 
I've been using it for years since version 1.0 and I love Real Guitar. The playing is so realistic sounding and the strumming, fingering sound bank is incredible.  I can use a midi guitar or use my midi keyboard to create midi notes in Real Guitar.

Kamikaze
Have you tried Ample's free lite version
http://www.amplesound.net/en/pro-pd.asp?id=7

Hey, thanks for the tip!  In addition to the free Ample Guitar M Lite II, I grabbed the free P Bass Lite II while I was at it.  Great freebies!!! 

jb101
As the only one in this thread (AFAIK) who suggested spending the money on fingerpicking lessons, I thought I should respond.
 
I only suggested it because the OP said he could play the guitar (strumming), but not fingerpick.  I thought it was worth a try.  If his fretting hand is already okay, then it may not take a great amount of effort to improve his right hand.
 
In fact, over several decades of teaching, I have seen some  students take to fingerpicking really well, even if it had never occurred to them before.  They even found it easier than flatpicking (strumming). 
 
As to your eight points above, I may reply individually when I get a chance, but  5, 6 and 7 don't seem to relate to the majority of fingerpicking, and 4 seems to contradict 2 & 2 (sic).

Hey jb, you may reply if you'd like but it wasn't a direct response to your comment. Nothing wrong with lessons but others have made similar comments whenever soft synths are asked about. We're all here to have fun which is measured differently by everyone.
 
Personally I use both real and virtual instruments. Combining the two can be fun.
 
S J

Billy86

soens
Some of this could be OE (operator error) but I've noticed a few notes do not respond to pitch bend and some fail the hammer on/pull off effect. Don't know why but I may contact them soon.
 
Those notes seem to be the standard open cord notes. Most if not all others do respond. Very odd.
 
Also, as with most Ample and Kontakt Player instruments, you need a controller with 76 - 88 keys to operate the full range of key switches when playing live or recording. 61 doesn't really cut it.

Is it possible to remap keyswitches on a smaller keyboard? Or, even if you can, do smaller keyboards just make things too limited when using a full-featured acoustic plugin like Amplesound or Orange Tree Sample product?

I've got 25-, 76- and 88-key MIDI controllers, but most convenient (space wise) would be a smaller keyboard. Just getting into the keyboard-as-controller world, and just picked up the OTS product. Am I wasting my time trying to use the 25-key controller?

You could always map a small controller to the keyswitches, such as a 25 key unit.  Then use another controller, say a 49 key version for playing the instrument.  That gives you six octaves to play around with.  Nothing says you must do it all from just one keyboard