Customer Reviews

Garritan Personal Orchestra

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am surprised that this is the first review for GPO on Amazon, considering the growing following this collection has.
This is one impressive product - a comprehensive list of sounds, that work very well together. Obviously the samples in more expensive packages are more impressive in their basic sound, but if used with skill it is truly astonishing what can be achieved with this set - one has only to listen to the numerous user demos on their web site to see for yourself. The situation here is that the sum is in fact greater than its parts.
In this price range, there really isn't anything that can compare to it. The quality of the results achievable are good enough for professional use, and in fact it is getting considerable professional application in many different areas.

Anyone looking for orchestral sounds, but unwilling (or more likely unable) to the spend the thousands necessary for the big libraries should take a look at what is being offered here.

Really, bravo to the Garritan team for creating such an impressive library at a price point accessible to almost anyone.

Garritan Personal Orchestra is a great way to step into the world of giga-sampling. It has realistic samples with a relatively easy to learn interface (in Kompakt). However, the samples are better used in another sampler, such as Kontakt 2 (or 3).

Unlike most libraries, the samples are *completely* controlled by the mod wheel. This is both good and bad.

The good: You have complete control over the instrument sound at all times. Volume and timbre are handled very well.
The bad: Complete control must be maintained at all times. Again, this could be a definite up, were it not for the fact that one will inevitably need to go back and re-record particular instruments due to too much (or too little) strength. This can become monotonous and tiring after a while.

While the instruments definitely sound good (some sound superb), there is no automatic or default reverb. Instead, you are given a utility that controls reverb. Honestly, it's better off just to skip this little tool and use a reverb found in another sampler or plugin instead. The ambience it creates is generally unrealistic, and while great control can be maintained, you can never quite reach that sound you want.

All in all, Garritan Personal Orchestra is a wonderful way for beginners to start out. It's an excellent first library. But eventually, one will want to move on to greater things, such as East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra, or even the ambitious Vienna Soundfont Library.

I originally chose GPO years ago because I wanted to dabble in orchestral instrumentation. However, I was not a professional, so paying a high dollar for good samples was not a practical consideration. After using it, I was able to get professional results, so the price was a bit deceiving. It was far more than what I thought I was paying for
I work on a Macintosh using GarageBand, and GPO has far more articulation and nuance control over JamPack 4. it is absolutely a joy to have an entire orchestra as close as my own keyboard. I use it to help my kids hear what different instruments sound like and to listen for them in Classical music. Listen to the numerous examples and hear for yourself!

Seller was great and refunded my money; he was really nice.
Do not buy a used GPO tho; you will not be able to register it unless the original owner can unregister it first. Native instruments registration support is the worst. The person I talked to was a rare parrot teacher.