Hi All--
I'm splurging for Christmas to get my first truly large sample set. I'd like to know the opinion of those of you with experience with these two sample sets.
Laurenskirk seems to almost be a HW must have. Large, versatile, chamades, great acoustic.... It has just about everything going for it. I love recordings I hear of it... but most of them are from far in the room. Do the front samples have that much clarity?
The Rosales excites me in theory although I found the demo a little frustrating since I couldn't test the dimensional POV of the positif and the swell sounded a tad distant. It is obviously a smaller instrument (although not small by any means). I do like the clarity of the direct samples. I enjoyed being able to play drier and then turn up the rear samples for fun.
A little about me: I love the Laurenskirk Transept organ (2 chan, wet) as the great principal is very direct and warm. The positiv is absolutely charming and the clarity is almost as if you're at the console. I just love that! I also love the Menesterol moist set. There isn't too much to take anyone's breath away, but I like it because of the feeling of almost being at the console in real life. With my 6 front speakers, you can hear the principal in the facade move back and forth... it is just thrilling and provides a lot of the subtle cues you hear in real life. That type of realism is what excites me. While many here love the luscious acoustics many sets provide, that's not really what I'm after (not that I don't enjoy them too! but my brain simply finds the disparity between what I'm hearing and the clarity I'm expecting to hear as if I was really playing at the console too great, and therefore frustrating for live playing). I primarily use HW to practice and for my own enjoyment. I would like to do some more recording, however, so a nice acoustic is a bonus, as long as I have clarity.
In light of my preferences above, do you all think the Laurenskirk would be too much? I love the sound of the organ in general and I think I would still like to acquire it as funds allow with time. The Rosales has a certain visceral thrill, but it also seems like it might wear quickly for practice... but the invitation with those 4 32's is pretty strong... (I'm blessed with an SVS PB-2000 which will have no trouble at all.) I did my masters recital on a Fisk that nearly knocked your socks off (David Briggs even commented about how powerful it was from the console when he came for a concert.) and I've learned to love that enveloping energy.
I'm also open to other suggestions. As far as rep is concerned, I play a bit of everything, although my tendency is baroque; but I love a rowdy french toccata as much as the next guy! Also, considering I make demos for liturgical works, suggestions must have a nice string with celest.
Thank you, in advance, for any insight you can provide.
I'm splurging for Christmas to get my first truly large sample set. I'd like to know the opinion of those of you with experience with these two sample sets.
Laurenskirk seems to almost be a HW must have. Large, versatile, chamades, great acoustic.... It has just about everything going for it. I love recordings I hear of it... but most of them are from far in the room. Do the front samples have that much clarity?
The Rosales excites me in theory although I found the demo a little frustrating since I couldn't test the dimensional POV of the positif and the swell sounded a tad distant. It is obviously a smaller instrument (although not small by any means). I do like the clarity of the direct samples. I enjoyed being able to play drier and then turn up the rear samples for fun.
A little about me: I love the Laurenskirk Transept organ (2 chan, wet) as the great principal is very direct and warm. The positiv is absolutely charming and the clarity is almost as if you're at the console. I just love that! I also love the Menesterol moist set. There isn't too much to take anyone's breath away, but I like it because of the feeling of almost being at the console in real life. With my 6 front speakers, you can hear the principal in the facade move back and forth... it is just thrilling and provides a lot of the subtle cues you hear in real life. That type of realism is what excites me. While many here love the luscious acoustics many sets provide, that's not really what I'm after (not that I don't enjoy them too! but my brain simply finds the disparity between what I'm hearing and the clarity I'm expecting to hear as if I was really playing at the console too great, and therefore frustrating for live playing). I primarily use HW to practice and for my own enjoyment. I would like to do some more recording, however, so a nice acoustic is a bonus, as long as I have clarity.
In light of my preferences above, do you all think the Laurenskirk would be too much? I love the sound of the organ in general and I think I would still like to acquire it as funds allow with time. The Rosales has a certain visceral thrill, but it also seems like it might wear quickly for practice... but the invitation with those 4 32's is pretty strong... (I'm blessed with an SVS PB-2000 which will have no trouble at all.) I did my masters recital on a Fisk that nearly knocked your socks off (David Briggs even commented about how powerful it was from the console when he came for a concert.) and I've learned to love that enveloping energy.
I'm also open to other suggestions. As far as rep is concerned, I play a bit of everything, although my tendency is baroque; but I love a rowdy french toccata as much as the next guy! Also, considering I make demos for liturgical works, suggestions must have a nice string with celest.
Thank you, in advance, for any insight you can provide.