Finale

So, that's it in a nutshell. I'll be taking pictures and adding more configuration information about the rig and posting those as well.

Here's the monetary break down :
PC : about $900
Focusrite : about $200
OS : I really wish these VSTs would simply run on Linux... that would bring the total cost down and performance up.  As this blog might suggest, I've spend umpteen hours trying to figure out how to make Windows more efficient for VST-only hosting.  The original reason I wanted a Muse Receptor was because it DID run Linux... a scaled back version that was built just to suit VSTs... a petal-to-the-metal setup.  Alas, that unfortunately doesn't work.  So, you'll need Windows at this stage in the game.  And, if you have to actually pay for Windows, then rack up another 160+ dollars to this total.

Of course this doesn't include VSTs (but then again, neither do the other hardware solutions).  To date, the pay-for VSTs I'm running are :

• Kontakt
• Vienna Grand (from Galaxy Pianos).  I like it very much.
• Vintage Organs (from Native Instruments).  Nothing better for B3 sounds
• Lounge Lizard Electric Pianos.  It's okay, but for Rhodes, I've never encountered any VST plugin that comes anywhere close EVP73 that was made by eMagic, bought out by Apple and thereby ruined.  Lounge Lizard ain't bad.
• Cakewalk
• SI-String Section - not  bad.  not bad at all.  Map the "attack" controller to one of your MIDI knobs on your keyboard and you'll be surprised at the available dynamic.
• Rapture - LOVE IT - really cool "sequence" sounds.  Map one of your MIDI knobs to Cantible's tempo.  
• Z3ta+ - lots of very cool sounds.  Still can't figure out how to map the modulation wheel to the chaos needed for 80s Saw Wave sounds.  Here too, make sure you've mapped a MIDI Controller to the tempo of Cantible... most of the sounds have tempo-delay/slap-back.
• Dimension Pro - Here too, lots of decent sounds.  Definitely worth keeping in the arsenal.
• Guitar Rig 4
• Some good amp sounds.  I've been routing my Rhodes sounds into this... lots of interesting sounds.
• I've been on the lookout for a good all-inclusive VST library.  Hard to find.  Aside from the sounds I have, I really need good Pop Brass Section sounds, good harmonica, good accordion, but can't seem to find the solution.  I've tried Colossus and I really liked the Brass sounds but was not impressed with much else.  I've tried Kontact, was impressed with some things, but certainly not the Brass.  :)  Crazy.... why can't someone just create a very playable and believable sound library?  UPDATE: Purchased Komplete 8 - it's a pretty good collection of sounds.  In particular, the Vintage Organs and Vintage Electric Pianos are very good.  The Rhodes and Clav sounds are very detailed and sound extremely authentic.  The MBass plugin is also very good and detailed.  Kontakt has a pretty good mix of sounds.  It's not as well rounded as most hardware synths on the market, but the sounds it does have are pretty good.  

Barring that, I'm very happy with the VST sounds that I have.  All so far, far exceed what I had previously with my hardware-based synthesizers.  

I do hope that if you have any questions or suggestions about my setup, you'll let me know.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Donnie Guedry