You think $200 is expensive? You really need to look at more sound libraries. I've got one that I bought that cost over $3,000.

If you think about the time and effort that went in to making VDL 2, factor in the editing time, the time spent recording the samples, the rehearsal time SCV was giving up to record, the amount of programming time, etc, you wouldn't think that $200 is expensive.

I was there when Jim first realized how many samples were used in VDL 2. I don't remember the exact number, but it is over 17,000. This is not some dinky library, this is a big library (not huge, there are many that are far larger).

Remember also, that Tapspace has to pay Native Instruments a portion of each copy that they sell for the rights to use the Kontakt Player.

Wow a library that was over 3,000? what was it called?

Still, Finale costs 3 times as much as VDL, and they have a 30 day demo.

However, someone who wants to make a 30-day trial of Finale last forever has to know a fairly good deal. Someone who wants to rip off a fully-functional set of samples during a 30-day trial only needs some basic, free programs and enough time to deal with all the samples.

true, very true

I think VDL is one of the best deals around to be quite honest. I have owned all the versions of VDL at some point. A truly great program with wonderful support. Best money I ever spent for sure.

If you want a VDL "lite" version, purchase the new Finale or Sibelius. I'm pretty sure a "Basic" version of the sounds are included in there, right Bill?

That is correct. Finale 2009 will include some VDL 2 samples and the Sibelius Sound Essentials that comes with Sibelius 5 has some VDL 2 samples.

that is awesome. that would have been perfect a couple of years ago for me, but i have the whole library now, so it does me no good now. However for some upcoming talent, this is very awesome. Are they still keeping the rowloff soundfont?

Yep, Rowl-off will be the default included in the softsynth sounds, unless I'm just horridly wrong, while VDL will be like the Garritan Sounds currently in use (i.e. accessed through Kontakt or a similar plug-in).