by Alex » Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:44 pm
kmiya, i've had my sonic implants libs since they first came out, and at that time i was using them on windows. i extracted them to a hard drive then moved the gigs to where i wanted.
There's no smaller edition of sonic implants, the sections are laid out in 4 parts, related to groups in the orchestra. I did the same thing with my akai miroslav viteous libs, and converted them to gig, before i got to linux.
Probably most importantly of all, the sonic implant strings lend themselves to layering. Recorded as fairly small sections, they're ideal to use twice, for example, as a full sounding section. So although there are inherent limitations with using only section strings, (i've been a long time advocate of recording strings as desks, hence making it easier to build up sections in a more realistic sounding profile, and enabling the user to more accurately position the desks in a soundscape across a stage) the modest size of each section in SI expands their useability into chamber group composing etc, at least to a partially realistic sound.
I've written several emails to sample lib manufacturers asking them to consider not only recording desks, but provide a means for linux users to participate, without having to use a win box, just to get at the samples. There were no replies at all, and since then, most sample lib manufacturers have locked their libs up into proprietary players, adding a further barrier to linux use, by offering only win or mac versions.
No easy decisions here, i'm sorry. I'm immune to marketing hype, and my samples continue to do their job very well indeed. i might have to do a little more work, but then i shape them to a more individual sound, instead of the inevitable generic one size fits all option that comes with closed players. so i'm still using libs, some of which i bought well over 15 years ago, and they're still doing the job, however big or small that may be.
Sonic Implants are an excellent lib set, particularly the strings and woodwinds, so instead of thinking of purchasing the entire set, i respectfully suggest you think about this from the perspective of one section at a time. This is not a recommendation, but if i were faced with buying for the first time, i'd go with the strings as a start point.
The expressive string gigs, imho, are worth the price of the entire strings lib set, however simple they maybe. But that's just me, others might differ.
Alex.