Another good find: Simple Sam Samples' upright piano. Thanks, skitch_84, for the link. I'd heard the violin before, but was unaware of the Vintage Upright. 30 bucks. Just far enough out of tune to sound like grandma's front room piano, but not so far that it wouldn't fit well into a mix. More pedal and key noise in the audio demos than I like, but hopefully that's adjustable.

this is a great thread Bit - thanks.
I've discovered a few vendors I'd never heard of...

lawajava
Do any of you folks know of any Kontakt libraries in this category (under $50) that have environmental sounds?
Like ocean waves, seagulls, birds chirping in the forest, streams, wind, storms, etc?

I have a small collection for Dimension Pro (Hollywood Effects) that increased my hope to find a library or two of this nature.

Here's a freebie with exactly those types of samples:  http://0on3.wordpress.com/category/kontakt-builds/
Scroll way down the list until you find "Atmosphere". (Works fine. I tried it yesterday.)
 
 

No one has mentioned Cinematique Instruments so far... http://www.cinematique-in.ruments.com/inst_all.php
Especially their stringed instruments are fantastic. Lute and Ronroco being my favorites. From other stuff Banda Brass in it's sheer awfulness... :D

Ah yes, Cinematique Instruments. I even have a couple of them, shakers and kantele. Added to the list! 

Bonzos Ghost

lawajava
Do any of you folks know of any Kontakt libraries in this category (under $50) that have environmental sounds?
Like ocean waves, seagulls, birds chirping in the forest, streams, wind, storms, etc?

I have a small collection for Dimension Pro (Hollywood Effects) that increased my hope to find a library or two of this nature.

Awesome! I will be checking that out! Free? Sounds promising!

Here's a freebie with exactly those types of samples:  http://0on3.wordpress.com/category/kontakt-builds/
Scroll way down the list until you find "Atmosphere". (Works fine. I tried it yesterday.)
 
 

lawajava

Bonzos Ghost

lawajava
Do any of you folks know of any Kontakt libraries in this category (under $50) that have environmental sounds?
Like ocean waves, seagulls, birds chirping in the forest, streams, wind, storms, etc?

I have a small collection for Dimension Pro (Hollywood Effects) that increased my hope to find a library or two of this nature.

Awesome! I will be checking that out! Free? Sounds promising!

Here's a freebie with exactly those types of samples:  http://0on3.wordpress.com/category/kontakt-builds/
Scroll way down the list until you find "Atmosphere". (Works fine. I tried it yesterday.)
 
 

I just noticed today that the Finnish Braodcasting Company YLE has published some of their sound fx recordings on Freesound under Creative Commons license. There might be some environmental sounds there as well. https://www.freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/

bitflipper
Another good find: Simple Sam Samples' upright piano. Thanks, skitch_84, for the link. I'd heard the violin before, but was unaware of the Vintage Upright. 30 bucks. Just far enough out of tune to sound like grandma's front room piano, but not so far that it wouldn't fit well into a mix. More pedal and key noise in the audio demos than I like, but hopefully that's adjustable.

Key and pedal noise is full variable for the close mic. setting but not the room setting. 
 
They are throwing in the toy piano for free at the the moment along with the $29.99 promo price.

Deleted....  Already posted.

I'll toss this one into the ring since it hasn't been mentioned:
 
Maybe some haven't heard of it but Aria Sounds has some good stuff for reasonable prices.
Might be under or over the $50 mark if you buy the bundles, since it's in Euros but still good stuff.
 
For instance:

Aria Sounds Superbundle 1

Violin, Cello, French Horn, Celtic Harp and Nylon Guitar

- all for 60€ - that's 12€ each - [about $14.97 USD each].
 
http://www.ariasounds.com/index.html
 
Currently the Ethnic Flutes Bundle is on for 37.50€ [$46.79 USD], instead of the listed 45€, but not for much longer.
 
So again, each instrument is only 12.50€ - [about $15.60 USD].