• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New to midi. help me choose a VST instrument pack.

DanAdams

DanAdams

Supporting Member
Nov 3, 2013
2,378
5,004
Maine
#1
I'm running Reaper on an Mac M1 Pro MacBook.
I've always been an audio only guy. I've now got an 88 key midi controller configured and functional, but I'm getting overwhelmed when looking for instruments.
I don't need rock band sounds, as I record those old school. I don't need intense control of every aspect of all instruments, or samples of a million dollar piano from the greatest opera house, or confusing synths with thousands of sliders.
I want a quality collection of instruments that run that run the gamut without breaking the bank or leading me down a rabbit hole of infinite wasteful knob twiddling.
Something akin to how an expensive keyboard comes with 250 sounds from across all genres.
What should I get?
 
Last edited:
#3
If you can consider replacing Reaper with Logic Pro, you would get a good selection of virtual instruments and effects that come with Logic Pro.

Otherwise, I don't know of a low to mid priced instrument pack that would get you everything you might like in one fell swoop. I'd start with the free HammerSmith piano from Soniccouture which I think is really good. Regardless of anything else you do -- get the free Hammersmith. And look through Pianobook – a global collective of sound enthusiasts for more interesting instruments. I do get that you'd prefer not to be browsing a large catalog -- I'm kind of with you on that... But in the end, I enjoy more the instruments I've curated myself over, for example, the stock instruments in Logic Pro. Although some of the effects in Logic Pro are really good and there's bass amps as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DanAdams
#4
cousinelmer said:
If you can consider replacing Reaper with Logic Pro, you would get a good selection of virtual instruments and effects that come with Logic Pro.
Click to expand...

I switched from Ableton Live to Logic just for the instrument plugins. Logic costs $199 and there are no charges for updates….I’ve been using it for 8 years now and just download the new versions when they come out.

DirtDog said:
I like Arturia’s AnalogLab.
Click to expand...

This is a good choice, it gives you sounds from Arturia’s various instruments minus the deep programming control(which you said you'd like to avoid). Normally $199 right now it’s on sale for only $99. Not sure when the sale ends.

If you can afford $599, Native Instruments Komplete Standard is quite popular and the included Komplete Kontrol software allows selecting sounds by category rather than by instrument.

Both Analog Lab and Komplete offer free versions with only a small number of sounds you can download to see how you like the interfaces before you flash the cash.

DanAdams said:
Something akin to how an expensive keyboard comes with 250 sounds from across all genres.
What should I get?
Click to expand...

Where have you been? Nowadays it’s more like 2500 presets in high end keyboards.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris Fitzgerald, el jeffe bass, DirtDog and 1 other person
#5
DanAdams said:
I don't need rock band sounds, as I record those old school. I don't need intense control of every aspect of all instruments, or samples of a million dollar piano from the greatest opera house, or confusing synths with thousands of sliders.
I want a quality collection of instruments that run that run the gamut without breaking the bank or leading me down a rabbit hole of infinite wasteful knob twiddling.
Click to expand...
You've clarified what you don't need, but haven't really said much about what you do need in terms of instruments. Without knowing anything further I would say just buy Native Instruments Komplete as that covers practically anything you could think of. Having a more defined target would yield better recommendations.
 
#7
DanAdams said:
I like the look of Arturia’s AnalogLab. Thanks for the tips.
I would likely transition to Logic if I were an Island... but I'm working with others who are already Reaper users.
Click to expand...
My recollection was the there was a trial version of Analog Lab, but I couldn't find one on their site. I did run across a free version, limited to 100 presets, which looks like a great way to get a good taste of their instruments.

Analog Lab Play - Key sounds for creatives | Arturia

Analog Lab Play is a free software instrument with a library of 100 essential, hard-hitting, mix-ready synths, keys, basses, pads, and more that’ll make you fall in love with music all over again, for free.
www.arturia.com www.arturia.com
 
#8
cousinelmer said:
My recollection was the there was a trial version of Analog Lab, but I couldn't find one on their site. I did run across a free version, limited to 100 presets, which looks like a great way to get a good taste of their instruments.

Analog Lab Play - Key sounds for creatives | Arturia

Analog Lab Play is a free software instrument with a library of 100 essential, hard-hitting, mix-ready synths, keys, basses, pads, and more that’ll make you fall in love with music all over again, for free.
www.arturia.com www.arturia.com
Click to expand...

Analog Lab Play is what I was referring to in my post above.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cousinelmer
#9
DanAdams said:
I like the look of Arturia’s AnalogLab. Thanks for the tips.
I would likely transition to Logic if I were an Island... but I'm working with others who are already Reaper users.
Click to expand...
We were just discussing working between DAWs in another thread. As long as you export the tracks as WAVs, it doesn't matter which DAW you're using.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dbflats
#11
Far as plugins anything Native Instruments is a good start.
You want lots of good presets, and then simple quick ways to quickly going is synth called Massive
You want a even larger library of synths and even build your own Reaktor
If you want to more than electronic sounds then Kontact, technically a sampler very advanced sampler.
But the library of sounds it comes with is every instrument you can think of. Very well mapped multi samples for those instruments.
Being there is a hundred ways to pluck or bow a string, or blow a horn, woodwind, reed or hit a cymbal and hundreds of other instruments. There is a sample for them and mapped to velocity and pitch.

Lots of new DAW's over the last 15 years, some annoying some good. Reaper the new popular one which copies Cubase the best. So never wasted time with trendy new DAW's because Steinberg invented what they copied and invented the VST in the first place. So just stuck with Cubase
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: el jeffe bass
#13
getbent said:
I use Reaper as well and have had pretty good luck with PLUGINS4FREE for both instrument and effects VSTs
Click to expand...
Agreed there are so many free instruments and effects out there that are really great! My suggestion would be to use those and get an understanding on what you really need and then upscale those areas to paid products. Even with Native instruments you can setup their free offering which is quite capable. Plugin Alliance is another good place to shop for good deals. Sales during the holidays often allow you to get paid plugins at a big discount. Good luck!
 
  • Like
Reactions: DanAdams and cousinelmer
#14
In my experience, most midi controllers come with a VST pack; for example, the Akai MPK mini mk 4 I have came with literally thousands of instruments, ranging from bass to keys to percussion. I haven't even scratched the surface of what's available, TBH.
 
  • Like
Reactions: el jeffe bass

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back