Hello to everybody,
Just curious to hear more about the "quality" and playability of the new "spotlight Strings", I got a look at the VI forum and this library was very negatively criticized. No offense at all concerning all the work Kirk invested for making this library very useful for having all the tools and fundamental functions accessible in a main page, but for those who have tried or purchased it, can you get what you want from it ?

peter434
Hello to everybody,
Just curious to hear more about the "quality" and playability of the new "spotlight Strings", I got a look at the VI forum and this library was very negatively criticized. No offense at all concerning all the work Kirk invested for making this library very useful for having all the tools and fundamental functions accessible in a main page, but for those who have tried or purchased it, can you get what you want from it ?

Download the demo if you seriously want to know. Everyone likes different things.
 
Regards,
Dan

peter434Just curious to hear more about the "quality" and playability of the new "spotlight Strings", I got a look at the VI forum and this library was very negatively criticized. No offense at all concerning all the work Kirk invested for making this library very useful for having all the tools and fundamental functions accessible in a main page,

 
That's a conversation I'd rather not see start here... the short version is that for reasons I've never understood, KHS gets very little respect at VI-Control. If you even mention that you use any of his libraries you will be flamed. It's odd, and it is always the same minority... and if you read the thread you'll discover that these folks not only criticize the library, but also Kirk. It gets really nasty, and really personal after just a couple of posts. 
 

peter434but for those who have tried or purchased it, can you get what you want from it ?

 
I am getting close... it is a complex library, and it certainly has a sound of its own. But then that is part of the reason I like it. It isn't for everyone, anymore than Cinesamples or Spitfire or East West are. And it won't work in every setting... I still haven't found a way to use it in the typical "epic" setting, but then solo anything doesn't really find a place in epic<G>!
 
Here's the thing... KHS provides a demo version, all the samples, all the articulations, just time limited. If you are genuinely curious about Spotlight Strings you just download the demo and find out for yourself if it works for you.

I like it... I like the sound, and I like the control. Make no mistake, this is not an "Out of the box" library, it took me a bit to really get my head around it, and in fact I am still learning.
 
Yes, I can get what I want from it.

@peter434 If you're interested in the VI Control story, PM me. Over the years, I've witnessed Bruce Miller and other well respected and award winning composers get bashed at VI Control for any positive thing they post about Kirk Hunter Studios libraries at VI Control. You'll find things like negative reviews of sample libraries, including video reviews, by people who have worked on competitor libraries and don't disclose that fact when they negative review or comment on competitor libraries  -- but as the developers they work with  pay VI Control (undisclosed to members), it's all perfectly okay there. At VI Control, I think there was some honest, critical feedback mixed in with some mean-spirited venom that, in truth, has little to do with sample libraries and a lot more to do with some very strange vendettas. Some of the criticism that I observed there on Spotlight Strings that seemed pretty honest to me was from some members who didn't like the mic selection used to record the library. As a result of that feedback (and similar feedback at KVR), Kirk is in the process of re-recording some of the sampled instruments for Spotlight Strings using different mics and will be providing all Spotlight Strings customers with the new sampled instruments at NO COST when they are ready (check earlier in this thread, around page two, to hear some of the patches using different mics and different placement that Kirk has provided in order to solicit feedback from the community).
 
You'll find Kirk Hunter Studios libraries have been used in pop songs, tv shows like American Idol, games and movies. But the best judge of what you think of it, imo, should be you. Download the trial/demo library version of Spotlight Strings and get it on your machine to see what you think. There's also been a fair amount of discussion about the library on KVR (http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=400140). Here's a review of Spotlight Strings, done by Jay Asher. Jay has written songs for tv, movies and artists such as Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Julio Iglesias and others. I know Jay and he's a long time fan of Kirk's libraries. Jay also works for EastWest, which, of course, makes Hollywood Strings and is one of Kirk's competitors. But Jay tells it like he sees it and discloses his affiliations.
http://www.askaudiomag.co...dios-spotlight-strings

edrummist
Yeah, I'm with you. I hate copy protection and especially stuff like iLOK where legitimate customers are forced to pay for something that not only has no real value/benefit or utility for them (okay, it might for a small percentage of users, but not for most customers),

The only legitimate benefit I can see in iLok and the Waves or PluginAlliance USB stick (and yes I have one of each) is that I can take them and an Install CD and use my plugs ANYWHERE in the known universe. Not that I have done it nor do I expect to..... but I can.

Thank you very much to everybody. I didn't want to launch any controversy concerning the main opinions expressed in the VI forum, and actually, I found rather strange to read some vociferous reactions against Kirk's libraries (thanks edrummist for the explicitations) but in general, the critics concerned the "boxy" sounds and as wst3 mentioned : "this is not an "Out of the box" library, it took me a bit to really get my head around it..."
 
In parallel, I'm indeed rather lazy to download the demo and starting to work in detail with new banks, so I use to refer to the current user opinions and test !
 
Thanks again for your answers

As of now, Spotlight Strings and Spotlight Strings demo/trial version no longer require authorization. Consequently, NO Kirk Hunter Studios libraries utilize authorization/copy protection except for Pop/Rock Strings  which, as a Native Instruments KONTAKT Player library, utilizes NI's authorization process.

@peter434 If you go to page two of this thread or click this URL http://forum.cakewalk.com/Kirk-Hunter-Group-Buy-50-Off-REACHED-List-Prices-Reduced-as-Much-as-50-STILL-OPEN-m2978373-p2.aspx , you'll find Chandler posted some examples of the current Spotlight String samples and some of the samples Kirk was testing out as potential replacements for those (which will be provided free to those who purchase Spotlight Strings). So, I find it pretty exciting that Kirk is letting customers and prospective customers in on the decision of which mic and mic placement they like best to replace some of the existing sampled instruments. If you went back to the existing VI Control thread, you'll notice that most of the posters that didn't like the current samples in the existing Spotlight Strings reacted favorably to the new samples Kirk provided to them for input. But again, if you look through this thread and the KVR thread, you'll find a number of posters who love Spotlight Strings. And I've personally been on the phone with Jay Asher and he loves Spotlight Strings, as you can see for yourself in his review. I would suggest if you find any of those opinions peak your interest, that you then download the free trial version for yourself and make your own judgement; don't spend a penny yet -- get the free trial version on your machine. That's better than anyone else's opinion. Here's the link:
http://www.kirkhunterstud...nup_sss_free_trial.php

peter434
Thank you very much to everybody. I didn't want to launch any controversy concerning the main opinions expressed in the VI forum, and actually, I found rather strange to read some vociferous reactions against Kirk's libraries (thanks edrummist for the explicitations) but in general, the critics concerned the "boxy" sounds and as wst3 mentioned : "this is not an "Out of the box" library, it took me a bit to really get my head around it..."
 
In parallel, I'm indeed rather lazy to download the demo and starting to work in detail with new banks, so I use to refer to the current user opinions and test !
 
Thanks again for your answers

I bought SSS and I'm pretty happy with it. It's hard for me to say if you'd like it or not since I'm sure we have different tastes. I've posted 2 short pieces using SSS in this thread if you want to hear how it sounds. Also listen to the demos on Kirk's site.

As for the "boxy" sound, this is referring to an excess of frequency info between around 300hz and 900hz. Use your ears to decide if this is a problem for you or not. Of course listening to others is important, but this isn't Highschool, don't let other people tell you something you like isn't "cool". If you like it, get it, if you don't, don't buy it. Kirk is planning on replacing most of the samples anyway, so the sound might be a moot point.

The "out of the box" comment refers to the fact that this library can and should be tweaked to make it sound more realistic. SSS doesn't have reverb or vibrato on the samples. The bad part about this is you may not be "wow'ed" at first play. The good part is, you can shape it to your needs and it's a versatile tool that can be used in many situations as opposed to other samples which you might have to fight with.

From a value stand point I'd say it's great. It's 4 violins, violas, cellos, and 2 basses for $130. Embertone's violin is almost that much by itself and many other companies are much more expensive. If you hate the sound of SSS, skip it. If you think it sounds at least Ok, I'd pick it up while it's 50% off and wait and see if the new samples are more to you liking. Of course if you think it sounds great pick it up. I haven't seen a better value in orchestral libraries.

The install includes a loop where you email Kirk after paying and installing and then he sends a "here are your instruments" message with the final missing folder. After I received that Spotlight Strings works as advertised.

It's very cool. After just poking around and testing I definitely am satisfied. Put a little reverb on and wow!