Bargains - not CDs!

[kernelbogey]

[Dave2002]

This is giving me something else to think about!

Not sure that we really need one, since we have other ways of playing music, but could work well for visitors in the spare bedroom, or in other rooms - such as this one - where I usually listen via the computer and on headphones.

I've almost talked myself into doing it!

[Dave2002]

There's also this Cello system, which is cheaper - https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis...alnut/p3356211
than the Tenor box - https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis...alnut/p5518280

I have no idea which is better - they both seem similar in some ways - so appearance may be the deciding factor.

[Dave2002]

I bought one of the JL Cello systems for someone else - it is very good and the recipient seems very happy with it. Sadly the Tenor systems now seem out of stock, and maybe they won't return.

I'm on the fence about whether to buy one of the remaining Cello boxes for our spare bedroom - maybe it would be good enough.

[Rolmill]

The Cello box is a little smaller and less powerful than the Tenor. I just bought one in the sale and am impressed - easy to set up, simple to operate, pretty good sound. Should be fine for a spare bedroom (unless you live in a mansion...).

[kernelbogey]

Very happy wth the sound from my 'Cello'. I'm not very demanding about music sound quality in general and for a bedroom/office it's 'beyond adequate' as we now must say. I haven't yet set up the internet facility; must do shortly.

[Dave2002]

Very happy wth the sound from my 'Cello'. I'm not very demanding about music sound quality in general and for a bedroom/office it's 'beyond adequate' as we now must say. I haven't yet set up the internet facility; must do shortly.

I guess it really was a bargain - the price has now gone back up to over £200. I'll just have to wait for the next sale - I did mention it wasn't a necessary thing to have, but if these come round again I'll probably take the bait for either the Cello or the Tenor.

[Dave2002]

Probably a very niche thing, but I'll mention it anyway. Steinberg are having a sale right now, which finishes in early September. One VST library on offer is the HALion Symphonic Orchestra, which is priced at £43. I have compared it for audio quality using a demo file done also with Spitfire Audio's free BBC SO Discover library package and there's very little difference. Indeed, it is possible that the free library is slightly better.

However some users may want to have an extra library for layering purposes, or they may find that the articulations in the Steinberg pack are helpful.

I can't really comment other than mention this. This library is included with Dorico, so some users may already have it. My limited experience of trying to download and install Steinberg's software has in the past been disappointing, seemingly needlessly complicated.

There are one of two other possible interesting VST libraries also on offer in the Steinberg sale.

There are also a few other free or low priced orchestral VST libraries - one for example from Versiliian, so depending on what users needs are there may be little motivation for many to investigate the sale offers here.

All I'm pointing out here is that if anyone is interested, the Steinberg prices are now lower than they have been previously.

https://www.steinberg.net/promotion/

[Dave2002]

For anyone who might be interested - and there probably aren't many - in the use of VST virtual instruments, Orchestral Tools are offering a saxophone VST for about 22 Euros today.
I can confirm that it works - but it is a bit specialist. Not too many hours left either - I think it finishes midnight CET - which is probably earlier than midnight in the UK.

[Probably 11pm UK time]

https://www.orchestraltools.com/promotion/sinesingles

[Dave2002]

I've mentioned a couple of orchestral/instrumental library VSTs fairly recently. I ought to say that neither is particularly good - OKish perhaps, but not knockout bargains for various reasons. Anyone wanting orchestral VSTs should go straight to the Spitfire Discover library, which I believe is now completely free.

However the Orchestral Tools organ freebie is fairly decent and worth having

[Dave2002]

Has anyone any experience of IK Multimedia?

This company appears to be based in the USA, and "maybe" has some good offers, but its website and ordering pages seem a complete mess.
Is it worth persevering, or is it just whole bundle of trouble?

One or two reviews suggest it is OK - but they may be put up by "users" with a connection to the firm.

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/

I was particularly interested in a package sold by this firm - which seems to be based in the USA. However the package of interest was the Miroslav Philharmonik 2 library, which it seems comes from Italy, and was on offer for a while until the end of last month. I may be able to come back with some kind of review of that package later on.

[Dave2002]

Here is another VST offer of virtual instruments.

Orchestral Tools is another company which has some decent VSTs, and also some freebies - working with their SINE player. Right now they have a one day Halloween offer of the following instruments - Cello (Salu), String Quartet (Time micro), Flute (Soloists 1) and Brass Ensemble (Berlin Brass). Altogether they're still not ultra cheap, but I have wanted a decent cello sound for some while, and I sampled the flute demo too, and can confirm that it's good - though maybe not eveyone will appreciate that. The player has a very good low end modern concert sound - powerful. Some people may prefer a lighter more liquid flute sound - a different style of playing - but of its type this is very good.

This is not worth following by anyone who isn't already playing around with DAWs or notation software, but there may be some people here who would appreciate the approx 50% reduction on those particular virtual instrument libraries. The ones above if all bought are likely to cost about £100, but tomorrow they will be more.

See https://www.orchestraltools.com/promotion/sinesingles

That link also has some "freebie" VSTs - and some of those are good - and should still be free tomorrow and onwards. The organ in particular is good. The free flute is somewhat less good - though does have some unusual articulation styles.

[Dave2002]

Native Instruments are offering their Kontakt 7 Sampler today at 50% off. It's still quite pricey, but since NI have had some of the virtual instrument library markets sewn up for a while, this makes it possible to buy and install other Kontakt compatible virtual instruments - some quite cheap ones from other suppliers.

Otherwise there is a danger that customers may buy cheap VIs, then discover they don't work because they only work with the full versions of Kontakt.

Over time I'd expect most VIs to be either free standing, or compatible with Kontakt Player - but that hasn't happened yet. There are still some quite reasonable cheap sample libraries from other vendors which only work with the full versions of Kontakt.

Today - https://www.native-instruments.com/e...ing/kontakt-7/ £134.50

There are a few other good sample libraries from NI on sale today, including the Cremona Quartet https://www.native-instruments.com/e...emona-quartet/ £179.50 and a good cello and violin library.

There is also a keyboard controller for £109.

Seemingly the Cyber Season at NI lasts a bit longer - with some things going to the end of November, and maybe even some through to the beginning of next year, but I wouldn't rely on that at all.

If anyone else is mad enough [perhaps like me] to actually want any of this stuff, it's probably best to decide whether it's worth it for you, and strike while the prices are lower.

Obviously this is a very niche area of possible expenditure.

I'd say the chances of prices going lower "naturally" right now is very low, though in a few years time there'll be coupons with breakfast cereals giving some of these away as freebies or low priced "gifts".

[Dave2002]

Now here's one - Richer sounds are offering a streamer which sounds quite a good deal for £399.

My questions are - "what would I do with a streamer?", "why would I want one?"

I guess the one being offered is good - see https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/cambridge-audio-cxn-v2 [it is this one, I think, but a few £00s cheaper]

However, do I really want to hook myself into all these "ecosystems"?

Can the audio quality be better than a good CD, or even Blu Ray or other hi end audio sources?

Can these devices usefully stream from a machine I used to use as a server with ripped CDs for use with Logitech's earlier devices - I think I can still get those working if I want to.

OK - I suppose if we had visitors who brought along iPhones they could stream to our kit. Not sure if it would work for android or other phones.

If I could think of a real use for these I'd try, but otherwise probably not.

[Dave2002]

Here is another very niche one - useless and unwanted by 99.99% of readers here I guess.

Arturia is giving away an effects plugin - Free!

It works with DAWs such as Logic Pro, Reaper and Cubase etc.

So if you want it it's a bargain. If you don't then you've wasted your time reading this.
-
It's only free until early in January - Jan 4 to be exact.

After that the price will go up to something not particularly cheap.

Here are the details - https://www.arturia.com/products/sof...fract/overview

I have tried this - and after an initial "so what" I discovered some interesting features and the sounds which result.
So anyone who is playing with sounds in this way may actually find this helpful.

Anyone else - why have you read this far?