Just got the new Garritan Marching band sound library in the mail today.  Has anyone used it before?  I will still be using VDL2 for all perc sounds.

How do you like it?

Hi Chris,

I pre-ordered the CMB library and received it a few days after they started shipping. However, I haven't had much time with it yet. From what I can tell though, it will be very nice indeed.

Something I plan on doing is making a special list of instruments, as well as customize the sound set to go along with it, to be used in Sibelius 5 (don't know if you are using this program or not). This is second or third on the list of my priorities at the moment, but I'll probably post a link to it when I am done.


Late
Hugh


Please put your computer statistics in your ";Signature"; so everyone on this forum can better answer any questions you may have. :)

I'm looking into purchasing the Garritan Marching Band sounds to use in combination with my VDL 2 sounds.
I currently write percussion parts for a local high school as well as create audio cd's and mp3 for the kids to practice with.

I'd like to hear any positive or negative feed back on this Garritan product before I purchase it.

What are the major upsides and downsides of it?

[quote author=flamdrag link=topic=1989.msg11702#msg11702 date=1200367917]
I'm looking into purchasing the Garritan Marching Band sounds to use in combination with my VDL 2 sounds.
I currently write percussion parts for a local high school as well as create audio cd's and mp3 for the kids to practice with.

I'd like to hear any positive or negative feed back on this Garritan product before I purchase it.

What are the major upsides and downsides of it?
[/quote]

Upside - all of the sounds you need for a standard marching/concert band piece.  low cost compared to other libraries out there.  As far as I know, this is the only library of its kind developed for band specifically.  Perfect for student/drill writer recordings. 

Downside - Samples are not created with the highest quality musicians and are mediocre at best.  Garritan will soon be moving to his own sample engine, Aria.  I don't think this will effect his libraries being compatible with other programs (just a thought).  Gary's engine will be a VST/AU plug-in.

Now that Sibelius and Finale both have Garritan sounds included, I don't think buying GMB is worth it.  Like Gabe said, it's also not the best sounding library anyways.  They list having things like sax and sousaphone, but after listening to the demos I really can't tell the difference between a lot of the sounds- some even sound like stock MIDI.  Upgrading to Sibelius 5 or Finale 2008 is probably good enough.