bitflipper
 
Greg, is it really necessary to go to K5 to implement a step sequencer? Please keep supporting K4 - at least until I've got all the OTS products!

I sincerely empathize with bitflipper about continuing to support K4. Not too long ago I felt forced to shell out more money for the K5 upgrade because another devs library received some improvements that were a must have for me to get the full benefits from it. I really hated having to spend the extra money for K5 but I felt no choice.
 
This other library update did come with a choice that incorporated some of the improvements that would run in K4 while the full featured update, which was what I needed, required K5. This strategy may be an option but not necessarily a choice...
 
The ability to drag MIDI sequences out of Evolution into your DAW would be a very convenient and powerful feature.
 

Hi all, I just wanted to share this review Orange Tree Samples' Lap Steel Guitar (currently at $63.20 USD and about to go even lower). The reviewer included audio files of him playing the Lap Steel Guitar and CoreBass Pear acoustic bass libraries in a song. 
http://shannonpenner.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/lap-steel-by-orange-tree-samples/

cecelius2
Question about the Group Buy.  Can I/someone signup for the purchase of one item, but before the end of the group buy also sign up for additional items?
 
I want Acoustic Steel, but might also get Strawberry Electric if it goes to 50%.  So can we add to our selection closer to the end of the Group Buy period?

I can answer that one (I consult to Orange Tree Samples & help out with Group Buys). Yes, you can modify your order at any point prior to making your purchase. I've seen several posts from people at various forums and on Facebook who have shared that they'll pick up more libraries if it reaches the 40% or 50% discount level. I think that's pretty reasonable. Btw, we're now up to 99 people in the GB, one person away from the 30% discount level. I've helped out and participated in a lot of independent devs group buys over the years and all of Orange Tree Samples, I think two, prior group buys (the last one was 3 yrs ago, so these things are pretty rare for them) and people are joining this one at a very fast rate. I have no doubt it will reach 250 people long before the deadline in 20 days. 

If I decide to move to Kontakt 5, would licensing the Kontakt Player make it work out for you? (and the other users who use Kontakt 4)

NO! We'd still be handing more money to Native Instruments, just with you as an intermediary. I've given them all I want to give.

Hey, the Group Buy just reached 100 people and the 30% discount level!!!

Now on to the next challenge, reaching the 40% tier when we hit 175 people. Spread the word. 

Seriously tempted by that lap steel...

Thanks Bit - Yeah, the demos were very impressive and the bends/overtones even caught my wife's attention (who usually doesn't give a you-know-what when I have her listen to demos)

Saturday morning bump...
 
Halfway to the 40% discount tier. Given that group buys usually start slow and pick up steam as the deadline approaches, and that we're only two days into it, it would seem that reaching the maximum discount is a sure thing.
 
That means you'll be able to pick up the world's best faux-electric guitar for under a hundred bucks, the unique lap steel for a mere 40 dollars (30 euros), and the object of my desire - the Rickenbacker - for $50. And just in time for my birthday, too. Life is good today.

The Flintstones bought their place from me.

We're at 141 people this morning--just 34 away from reaching the 40% OFF discount tier!

Hey everyone, today is Greg Schlaepfer's birthday. Greg, of course, is the principal of Orange Tree Samples and one of the most talented sample developers on the planet. Why not take a moment and wish him a happy birthday??? 

I've known Greg for around 5 years. We got to know each other a short time after I stumbled upon his newly created business, Orange Tree Samples. I want to share a little of the story, as I'm sure some people wonder how we're connected. 

I'd been using guitar and bass sample libraries in software samplers and VSTs since the 90s and hardware samples before that. I've been through practically everything you could think of, Steinberg's VirtualGuitar, RealGuitar, sample libraries, always trying to find something that sounded more authentic. So when I came across the demos for Strawberry Electric Guitar, I was blown away and even persuaded a long time guitarist friend who was always hypercritical and consistently negative about every guitar sample library and VST he ever heard to give the demos a listen. His first reaction was to tell me that he believed the guy was trying to pass off real guitar performance as sample library demos and he explained to me in very great detail why. I shared that with Greg. When I ended up getting the library, my friend Keith, a longtime working guitarist, said to me, "Wow. I can't believe the detail this guy thought about. It's amazing how he went after the smallest details and, in the end, that's why it fooled me to believe it was a real guitar performance. Now I think I understand how you felt when drum machines came out!" 

So, I contacted Greg again and shared the story and told him that I'm a marketing professional who has managed and led digital marketing for some major brands and that I've helped out a lot of independent devs in my spare time to come up with new products, plan out promotions for new products, name and price products, advise on their website, digital marketing, publicity, advertising and SEO and that if he could ever use my help, I'm a huge and long time user of sample libraries, especially guitar libraries and VSTs, that knows the marketplace well. Greg took me up on my offer and we soon became friends too. He'd contact me to bounce ideas off of and sometimes, I'd randomly shoot him an email with an idea I had and we go off on brainstorm on things together, live the Evolution guitar line, which really was my dream guitar library. 

I can honestly say that I find him to be not only a brilliant, innovative sample developer, but a wonderful and kind person with a great deal of integrity. And trust me, I'm not the type to shower false praise on anyone. I stay pretty subjective about my own abilities as well as others, even dear friends. When I say (or rather, write) that Greg is a brilliant sample developer, I truly mean it. And I've heard the same opinion from A LOT of sample developers I've gotten to know over the years. And when I say that Greg is a wonderful person, I mean that as well too. I love seeing someone with that amazing combination of talent, innovation, drive, attention to detail, customer focus, integrity and ideals succeed. Consequently, my five years of watching his business succeed and grow is very satisfying to me as is using the great libraries he creates. 

Happy Birthday, Greg! I hope it's your best yet.

Yes, Happy birthday Greg, your products have given me a lot of pleasure.

Gotta give kudos to craigb for the base photo (even tough I've been saying that "phrase" long before I ever saw his photo).

@Greg I agree completely on the Sonar Forum. It always has a really friendly and helpful vibe. I wish all DAW/music making related forums were more like it!