How Good Are Logic's Virtual Instruments? Options

[Scottspain]

I've been told by many that they are better than Pro Tools, but are they good compared to Reason and such?

[ckb]

I've been told by many that they are better than Pro Tools, but are they good compared to Reason and such?

I don't use Reason so I can't give that comparison. I can tell you that:

• the orchestral instruments are pretty good and set up well for articulation changes and such -- for example, changing a string voice from sustain to marcato to pizzicato is programmed out-of-the-box for the mod wheel, which I found quite handy (compared to key-switching) when cramming in some composing time with my laptop and Oxygen8 on my lunch break at work, since of course the Oxy8 is a little 25-key deal -- keyswitching isn't very handy on it.
• the orch sounds themselves just squeaked by for me on a recent TAXI submission -- the piece was forwarded but with a comment that the woodwinds were a bit synthy. At the very least, fantastic for sketching, then sub in preferred instruments later.
• the synth/dance/electronica instruments are a LOT of fun. Sculpture and the other synths are definitely worth exploring.
• Some of the guitar sounds are surprisingly good
• another surprisingly good sound is the harpsichord. The key release-sounds and all... pretty nice.
• when I said "guitar sounds" above, I was referring to complete, MIDI-playable guitar sounds. But the amp simulations for applying to a real guitar track have been impressive as well.

I've had Logic for almost a year and it paid for itself with with a single theater composing gig, using a combination of onboard and live instruments (this is an effective way to "stretch" the virtual instruments, always). So I'm pretty happy with them.

ck
ckb