Virtual instruments

[g-dude]

Okay, so I’m starting to get into using Logic Pro, and I’m planning to do a mixture of short compositions (15-60 seconds) as well as some normal song length stuff.

Style wise, mixture of all the flavors of jazz, some bluesy stuff, and even some electronic compositions with a 70s sci fi vibe.

When it comes to virtual instruments, where am I going to get the biggest bang for the buck? I’d like to not have things sound like a video game.

 

[Krisfield]

Drum - Toontrack EZ Drummer or Superior Drummer, Logic Pro Drummer
Synth - Serum, Arturia Pigment 4, Logic Pro Alchemy, Native Instruments
Keys - Arturia Collection 9, Native Instruments
Orchestral - Spitfire Audio
Guitar/Bass - Neural DSP, AmpilTube

 

[g-dude]

Drum - Toontrack EZ Drummer or Superior Drummer, Logic Pro Drummer
Synth - Serum, Arturia Pigment 4, Logic Pro Alchemy, Native Instruments
Keys - Arturia Collection 9, Native Instruments
Orchestral - Spitfire Audio
Guitar/Bass - Neural DSP, AmpilTube

I'll have to look into those. Working with a limited budget, so...

 

[silky smoove]

Bang for buck: Native Instruments Komplete
Best sound and UI: How much money do you want to spend?

 

[g-dude]

Bang for buck: Native Instruments Komplete
Best sound and UI: How much money do you want to spend?

So on the Native Instruments Komplete are there any notable cons?

 

[Krisfield]

Just use what’s in Logic.

I'll have to look into those. Working with a limited budget, so...

 

[silky smoove]

So on the Native Instruments Komplete are there any notable cons?

Not really. It’s all serviceable. The tier will depend on your needs and the included tools.

Just use what’s in Logic.

Excellent advice

 

[Pings Bass]

I've used the stock logic Bosendorfer piano, it's great, better than miking up my studio upright. I've also used organ and electric piano sounds, and they're good enough for my purposes.

Nothing I'm doing justifies spending money on third-party instruments or plugins. The stock logic stuff is more than sufficient. I recommend playing around with the stock stuff before dropping any extra dough on add-ons that won't necessarily be better, just different, if you follow me.

 

[funkinbottom]

I'll second Toontrack for drums. I use EZ Drummer 3. Simple and great sounding. Also completely programmable. If that's not your thing, gobs of great grooves/fills played on real drums, by real drummers recorded in high quality. Even has a function called band mate that you can drop a sample of your song and it will suggest grooves for you. My son has Native Instruments Komplete. A ton of awesome stuff. Universal Audio now offers their virtual instruments separate from their interface. I bought the UAD Waterfall B3 Organ plug-in. It absolutely nails the Hammond B-3/Leslie thing.

 

[logdrum]

I'll have to look into those. Working with a limited budget, so...

Spitfire can run into the thousands easily. Just stick with what Logic gives you

 

[Rib 13]

I use Amplesound for Guitars,,,,I have the LP and the Hellrazer

amplesound.net

This below is a metal project Im doing (I should say "did", I havent worked on it since my YT started taking off lol) and the entirety is all programmed - I used the Amplesound instruments mentioned above for Guitars including the solo. The Bass I did with a Solemn Tones Kraken. Drums are EZ Drummer. Keyboards - strings I used Spitfire Audio.....the ambient synths are Serenity...the opening flying saucer sample loop I grabbed from the ending of "Kuiama" by Electric Light Orchestra from the 1973 ELO II album and transposed

 

[g-dude]

Just use what’s in Logic.

Is it possible to get the trumpets to sound better? (For example)

 

[Krisfield]

For me personally, I’ve had to look at third party software instruments. Roland Cloud is a subscription and pay to own service. Ultimate subscription is $20 per month. Some very good acoustic instrument sounds.

Is it possible to get the trumpets to sound better? (For example)

 

[RyanSaranich]

Surprised no one in here mentioned Trillian yet! For those of us who want upright bass sounds but don’t play/own the instrument.

 

[themickster]

Okay, so I’m starting to get into using Logic Pro, and I’m planning to do a mixture of short compositions (15-60 seconds) as well as some normal song length stuff.

Style wise, mixture of all the flavors of jazz, some bluesy stuff, and even some electronic compositions with a 70s sci fi vibe.

When it comes to virtual instruments, where am I going to get the biggest bang for the buck? I’d like to not have things sound like a video game.

MT Power Drum Kit. Groove Monkee do free grooves for it
IK Multimedia Modo Drums and Modo Bass. There's a freeware of both.

 

[Rib 13]

MT Power Drum Kit. Groove Monkee do free grooves for it
IK Multimedia Modo Drums and Modo Bass. There's a freeware of both.

MT Power Kit 2 is great.......except it's 32bit. Some of the newer DAWs do not like 32bit VSTi instruments. I had to stop using MT Powerkit 2 for this reason

 

[Rib 13]

Is it possible to get the trumpets to sound better? (For example)

For brass, I decided a long time ago that programming just doesnt add enough of the "real" menutia to make them sound like a brass section. So I decided to use real samples and loops for brass and just manipulate them to fit my project. I did the brass below with Big Fish Audios Funk Brass I spliced the samples to change pitch on some notes to make them do what I wanted

 

[g-dude]

Surprised no one in here mentioned Trillian yet! For those of us who want upright bass sounds but don’t play/own the instrument.

Thankfully I own and play the upright bass!

 

[themickster]

MT Power Kit 2 is great.......except it's 32bit. Some of the newer DAWs do not like 32bit VSTi instruments. I had to stop using MT Powerkit 2 for this reason

Fair shout. It works in Studio One, but I haven't worked with it since I got ezdrummer.

 

[themickster]

For brass, I decided a long time ago that programming just doesnt add enough of the "real" menutia to make them sound like a brass section. So I decided to use real samples and loops for brass and just manipulate them to fit my project. I did the brass below with Big Fish Audios Funk Brass I spliced the samples to change pitch on some notes to make them do what I wanted

Developers that make virtual instruments by programming only seem to take about sampling as something bad. I'd rather have the true-life sound of samples. I don't see sampling as any different from recording a track.