EastWest EWQLSO Silver Kontakt

Been composing for 20 years. I began writing for piano, then branched into any live ensmebles that would play stuff I've written ( brass, percussion and strings). I've been in sample world for around 2 years, starting with Edirol Orchestral, and purchased EWQLSO Silver around 6 months ago.

Pentium 4, Windows, Cubase SX, Presonus Firebox. Mainly listen on headphones.

www.cinemusic.com.au

Very good value, considering it supercedes the Edirol and is placed on around the same 'level' yet is only about a third of the price of the obsolete Orchestral sample.

Strings are more realistic, than the Edirol, with limited articulations. There is a 'gold' library violin included which sounds markedly fuller than the other string sounds included here. It is claimed that these sounds are the same as the higher grade packages, with less articulations and also without multiple mike placements. I'd be interested to play around with the same sounds and articulations in Platinum, for example. Included piano (steinway sample) is very good, with quite realistic harmonics built in (apparent when you play with the sustain pedal on).

A few of the included choir sounds are a jump ahead of the norm, and youre probably only going to do better with a dedicated set of choir samples , again, costing at least three times as much.

Woodwinds and brass are less convincing in this well budgeted set - pu it this way - in a full orchestral piece I will prefer to use the Edirol full brass sounds over the East West Silver!

Percussion and harps are great. Organ sounds are ok - if youre into a more 19th centurty sound. I know what they say about Mozart played on this sampled organ etc, - it sounds better for Widor rather than Mozart! (and Bach for that matter).

But - be choosy and you'll find some really excellent very usable sounds in this well priced set.