Vienna Vs Eastwest: Which Orchestra Should I Hire? Options

[JT3_Jon]

After some research, it seems the only two professional full orchestra libraries (in my price range of about $1000) are the Vienna Opus 1 and the EWQL Gold edition, and I need help choosing which one to buy! Here is some quick background info on my system and needs.

I’m currently a student composer at CSUN who is about to graduate into the “professional world.” Thus I need a semiprofessional setup to shine my compositions in the best light. (To listen to what I have already produced with my limited system and to give you a better idea on how I need to advance my quality of audio, please visit my Demo Site: http://www.avartists.com )

This summer, I’m probably going to use my student loans to invest in a G5 desktop with Logic Pro 6 (comes with the EXS24mkII software sampler) and a killer set of samples. Since I am a film score major, I’m looking for that “hollywood sound,” thus my interest in EWQL. Though the Vienna samples are designed specifically for my sampler (EXS24) and the “Performance Tool” looks amazing!

I’ve read allot of reviews on the EWQL series and heard the Silver version live many times (people in class use them) and I must admit, they sound great! I have read very little on the Vienna Opus 1 (when did it come out) and am looking to learn more. Anyone use both and can comment on their specific strengths and weaknesses?

Once again, thanks in advance for your advice and help. Its people helping people that makes this world a better place to live, and I truly appreciate your time!

Jon

[JT3_Jon]

Thanks for the new link formatj. Upon further research, I found out that particular library will be released by section a couple months apart, so it will take over a 6 months to get the complete lib. Though it sounds tempting to wait for what sounds like an amazing deal, I simply cant.

As for the Garritan Personal Orchestra, though great for the price, is not THAT much better then my current MIDI hardware setup, and thus not worth the hassle trying to learn. I want to simply jump into the deep end and be forced to learn how to swim, rather then spending next year in the kiddy pool

MrDee makes a good point about the upgrade path, but upon further research, I have found that the Opus 1 ALSO can be applied to upgrading to the pro level, so theres no help in deciding there! LOL

One thing that would make me decide in a heart be is if one of these orchestras are already optimized for alternate MIDI controllers. I own a Yamaha WX5 Wind controller, and would love to be able to input and control my samples using this device. Is it possible?

On a important side note, I'm curious as to the best way to set-up a new computer system to handle Logic and an orchestral lib. If you had the money to buy a new system today, what would you make sure it had? e.g. RAM, Hard Disk Space, etc. It would stink if I screwed up and bought a system that could not handle the Opus 1 or ESQL Gold libraries.

Thanks again for your help. I will make sure to report back here when my search is indeed over. Until then, please continue to post away!

Jon