Hey, Paul... don't know if you're researching options:

JABB, as recommended
First Call Horns (Big fish Audio)
Chris Hein Horns vol. 1 (vol 2 supposed to be out later this year)

All of the above are NI player products.

In terms of all 'round "completeness", JABB has everything. In terms of overall "quality", IMO Chris Hein Horns has the most detail and depth, though maybe doesn't have all the horns you're looking for (vol 2 will fill those in). FCH is also more on the "complete" side, but IMO has more variation on the "qualty/consistency side" (e.g., velocity layers or articulations for certain instruments). What it basically comes down to is: when searching for a sample lib/VI lib to fulfill a certain need, you often have to purchase more than just one to get everything you need.

If you have money to burn, check out Broadway Big Band from Sonivox: http://www.sonivoxmi.com/ProductDetail.asp?Item=CDBigBand&Fr=Demos

I've heard some incredible sax solos out of that, which is not something easily done even for dedicated sax libraries/instruments... I guess that's why the product is $2500US.

Another thing you should DEFINATELY check out is WIVI Brass from http://www.wallanderinstruments.com/ (seems to be down right now)

I bought the whole brass package when it first came out and was on sale, though currently he only sells instruments individually... It's sample-based, but uses synthesis techniques to model the instruments. Can't remember if he does any physical modeling there or if it's just resynthesis techniques. Very low overhead and footprint compared to brute-force sample-based VIs. He just released orchestral woodwinds, and is supposed to release saxophones any time now, which I'm excited to see. There are some jazz/pop demos on his public forum that demonstrate the flexibility of the engine.

ORIGINAL: muonsoftware

My name is David Waugh, and I'm the Managing Director of Muon Software Ltd. AMG's Kick Ass Brass is based on our Tachyon virtual sampler engine, and I'm the main programmer behind it.

I have to say that I'm really quite dismayed and upset to by these threads surfacing on various audio forums today, and although I'm not able to speak for Matt personally there are a few things I'd like to clear up.

With regards to the copy protection, I'd like to make to clear that the system is designed to withstand typical computer upgrade scenarios. The machine ID fingerprint is generated in such a way that you can change your CPU, motherboard, RAM, network card, soundcard without triggering a reauthorisation scenario. Furthermore, the machine ID fingerprint is tolerant to OS installs, upgrades and reinstalls - in most cases a reauthorisation wouldn't be necessary. I don't know the full story of Paul's upgrade path so I can't really comment further, except to say in the vast majority of upgrade scenarios reauthorisation is not necessary.

I should also mention that I personally handle all of the authorisation requests that come in via AMG's website in realtime. I don't recall seeing a request from Paul recently, but since I'm not in front of my usual computer I don't have access to the full database so I will refrain from commenting further. Paul, if you want another authorisation simply register via the link in KAB and I will issue a license for you as Matt has indicated he has no problem with giving you another authorisation.

The situation with Windows Vista is as follows: at the moment, the KAB installer is compatible with Windows XP only and is not compatible with any flavour of Windows Vista. As far as I can tell, without resorting to manually copying the plugin DLL file from one partition or disk to another, installation under Windows Vista is simply not possible. We do believe however that the actual plugin will work correctly in any edition of Windows Vista, even the 64-bit edition (but *providing* that the host is capable of loading a 32-bit plugin as we do not ship a 64-bit compatible version right now).

With regards to stability at low latencies. I haven't received any second-line support requests on this issue, but we are in the process of finishing off the next version of KAB - if there is any particular host/OS/latency scenarios that cause instability I would very much appreciate to know as soon as possible. Feel free to PM me for contact details.

Finally, I would just like to say that I believe that this situation has arisen due to a breakdown in communication. In my own work I'm often frustrated by problems with emails not getting through and with the scale of the spam problem these days there really is nothing better than to pick up the phone when you want to be sure of getting things sorted out. I can't condone "forum flaming" as a way to get things done, but you can be assured you have my full attention, I'm happy to help and I hope you will withdraw your negative comments in due course.

Kind regards
Dave Waugh
Muon Software Ltd

Well heck, the voice of reason rears it's ugly head. Hey Dave, thanks for chiming in on this one. But now I'm a bit confused. If the software is so tolerant of mobo/chip/etc... changes I'd like to know just why Paul "had" to get new authorizations at all. That being said I'm glad to see someone stepping up and trying to sort this out in a user-friendly, professional manner.

I can't condone "forum flaming" as a way to get things done, but you can be assured you have my full attention, I'm happy to help and I hope you will withdraw your negative comments in due course.

Kind regards
Dave Waugh
Muon Software Ltd

Now why couldn't Matt have come across with the same decency and eagerness to get the issue resolved. Maybe the Negative comments will get withdrawn when Matt gets withdrawn from a position he obviously doesn't have the neccessary people skills to hold.

I'm not at liberty to discuss whatever inter-galactic affiliations I may or may not have.

David is doing the right thing here. I've PM'd him.

ORIGINAL: muonsoftware

I am in the camp that these issues should be handled off line.

As for twat, if you use it as a verb it can mean "to hit something very hard"

Getting Twatted can also refer to being very drunk (as well as twatting someone which is, as observed above, hitting them.)

Child

The fact that it took this kind of flare up to even get it addressed is what would make me think twice about buying into a product from these developers.

...and of course I'm very sorry that you feel that way. In vast majority of cases things go very smoothly with our customers and it is quite a first for me to have to break cover like this on a public forum.

I'd much rather be in the background working on my code than public speaking, so I'll do my best to see that this unusual situation does not arise again.

Kind regards
Dave

Actually, most fish don't get pregnant

Are you telling me that the old tee-shirt slogan "don't drink water - fish **** in it" is a lie, then ?

triggering a reauthorisation scenario

Eek! Sounds like G.W.Bush was responsible for that one!

ORIGINAL: corrupted

ORIGINAL: ChristopherM

Actually, most fish don't get pregnant

Are you telling me that the old tee-shirt slogan "don't drink water - fish **** in it" is a lie, then ?

Most female fish lay eggs before they are fertilized. There are some that are "live bearing", they "get pregnant". Goldfish aren't live bearing fish.

Guppy's, for example, are live bearing... Salmon, on the other hand, lay eggs which are then fertilized... hence the whole "swimming upstream to spawn" thing...

ORIGINAL: corrupted
So a goldfish can't be a twat by your definition. Although guppies can be twats.

Uh... ... I'm going to go join the Rubidium clock discussion...

Matt,

You should have privately emailed your customer and not publicly made yourself and your company look like an ass.

These boards are for users of Sonar to share information. Paul shared information.

As a vendor, you wanted to defend your company and that is fine. You could have done that without the attack on Paul.

Shame on you.

I will never buy a product from your company.

Regards,

Liam

p.s. Thank you Paul for the heads up. And thank you Matt for verifying Paul's complaint.

I'm glad Dave came up to make his statement. See, it's not so hard to defend yourself, to offer a solution and be gentle without having to attack a costumer.

My only question: OK, a authorization can tolerate a motherboard change, but who will try to keep the system running with the old mobo config? Most times I changed my mobo without formatting I was getting BSODs all the time and was forced to format it.

In my case, to re-authorize a product is a very common thing, since I'm a hardware and OC freak.

ORIGINAL: yorolpal

Well, even Sonar needs a (albiet easy) form of "authorization" there, eikelbijter (how do you pronounce that anyways?). If you NEVER buy ANYTHING that needs any kind of AUTHORIZATION yor shore gonna be missin out on some fine, smokin stuff. I ain't lyin junior. Where I come from that's what's called cuttin off yor own nose to spite yor face.

Sonar's authorization is not machine specific. I don't like it and if they ever make it machine specific I will stop buying Sonar after buying every version since Pro Audio 9.

Fact is, I can actually play instruments and as much as I love all the crazy cool software coming out, I already have more than enough to make music for the rest of my life.... Even if I never buy anything else again, my nose will be just fine!

Listen, it's a matter of principle guys. Just like the writer's strike, no pain no gain! It saddens me that these STUPID software developers still don't get it. You can get just about any piece of software cracked anyway. Like I said before: the only people bothered by copy protection are legitimate users! That's just plain wrong!

Rico

P.S. "Eikelbijter" is dutch, hard to explain how to pronounce it in english.... I guess it's something like uhy-kuhl-buy-ter

Iw ill avoid them for sure! Thanks for the heads up!