I'll second the Noisefirm recommendation above. That library does sound pretty good. Another nice one (larger but also more expensive at $200) is the Flying Hand Percussion library.

Let me know when you find some decent handclap samples. I have perhaps a dozen, and none of them sound right to me. 

As for tambourine, I've come to realize that there are a LOT of variations for playing such a simple instrument, and no sample library I've found so far covers them all. I've just given up looking and decided a real tambourine (or two or three) is the way to go.


BTW, when I need a quick 'n dirty tambourine that's not going to be too prominent in the mix, I just use the TTS-1 with some reverb.

Thanks again for the advice.

By the way, I was deceived on Kontakt.  NI told me there was a melodica sample.  There is not: they were thinking of the melodeum, which is quite different.  There is also no banjo (that I can find).

Kontakt was still a great value, however, as it came with a lot of content; they sent me a link for a free set of retro instruments; I can now use a lot of inexpensive libraries that don't work with the free player; and I only paid $279 (I believe) since there was a cross-grade offer.  So far, I haven't found anything in the library that is necessarily better than what I have, but, that said, I really don't want the same samples on every song.

I just bought and installed the Noisefirm tambourine and shaker collection.  Will report back.

Looking at Boldersounds right now for banjo.

Bitflipper, Flying Hand looked cool, but seemed to be mostly world stuff—which is cool: just no tambourines; or at least there doesn't seem to be.  Could be cool, though.

Hey Konrad
 
Of all the basses i have the Scarbee Pre Bass is a killer-imho. Hooking it up with Guitar Pro 4 (or even the le version) you get some great different basses. Also, I have found that layering he Dim Pro exp 3 basses with any bass really rounds it out.
 
I think the 4 or 5 basses that come with Kontakt aren't very good-just my opinion.
 
Also mention here was Orangetree. I have the Cherry bass collction-very nice indeed.

There are so many really great libraries, and developers, it's hard to figure where to start!

For general symphonic stuff, and especially cinematic orchestral stuff, I think Cinesamples is the best. Not yet perfect, but really great sounding, and very playable brass, winds, and percussion. (caveat - I'm not a fan of EastWest's Play engine, so I don't use their Hollywood Strings, Brass, or Winds, but they are great sounding!)

Strings are tough - my favorite is LA Scoring Strings, but Cinematic Strings is a different approach and also sounds lovely.

Concert Strings 2 and Concert Brass 2 from Kirk Hunter are worth a listen - I still turn to them often.

For a wide array of everything from conventional to bizarre check out SoundIron and 8Dio - they used to be Tonehammer. Unbelievable value, and they both run the gamut! I especially love their percussion libraries, and their more experimental stuff.

OrangeTree is, for me, the best guitars and basses. I am a guitarist, and I still use them a little!

Indiginus Torch s another amazing guitar library, and you might want to check out Impact Soundworks as well.

For more sound design type stuff check out Heavyosity Evolve, or the newcomer Project Alpha from Hybrid Two.

There are a lot of choir libraries, if you need that sort of thing check out Cinesamples, 8Dio, SoundIron, and another newcomer, Stresov Sampling.

Wavelore is likely the company that sold you a pedal steel library. I'm kinda bummed, but their steel sounds better than my real steel. They also have a couple of resophonic libraries that are cool, but be forewarned, they'be been difficult to reach lately.

Bolder Sounds has some great stuff, including a really useful banjo.

HollowSun has amazing synths, and synth-like stuff.

SampleTekk is still my favorite for pianos - acoustic and electric - and they have the original 10CC choir from I'm Not In Love, which is a lot of fun to play with, even it if does suggest a particular song<G>!

I probably have, or lust after, some other stuff, but that's what comes to mind!

Good stuff, thanks.

Note that I have another thread explaining that I am having trouble getting libraries/samples into Kontakt.  I may put an hold on buying until this is resolved.

Unfortunately, almost every library I listed is not available as a player enabled library. Very few libraries, other than the stuff published by NI, are enabled anymore. Some developers, SoundIron for one, provide some of the more popular titles as enabled for a small additional fee. I always buy the non-player-enabled versions because I've given up on the library tab. Quick-load is so much easier because it lets me organize the instruments in a manner that makes sense to me.

Please see the other thread about adding libraries.  I have the full, padi-for version of Kontakt, not the free player.  I bought the full version so I could use Wavelore and other libraries that did not pay the Kontakt license fee.  Wavelore worked in demo mode with the free player.  Now I have the full player.

I just bought Noisefirm and I can't get it into Kontakt.  I have the full version of Kontakt and the Noisefirm sample set is in the right location.  When I browse to it, Kontakt says, No Library found.

To be clear, I have the full version of Kontakt.

I do not know what quick load is.

Thanks.

wst3


There are a lot of choir libraries, if you need that sort of thing check out Cinesamples, 8Dio, SoundIron, and another newcomer, Stresov Sampling.

I love my Soundiron Mars and Venus choirs.

If only sample libraries in Kontakt are discussed:

Basses - apart from the obvious Scarbee wonders, have you looked at Prominy? They also have a few guitars that are phenomenal. But if a true el.gtr is needed then VIR2's Electri6ity is the way to go. They are also releasing an acoustic version (Acou6stics) this summer, as announced at NAMM -13.

EastWests "Ra" for everything ethnic - including banjo. Tambourines ought to be in VIR2's World Impact - Global Percussion though.

As for Choirs - Cinesamples' VOXOS.

Pads? I believe Samplelogic should have some great alternatives. Mophestra or Synergy X?