However, the Fazioli Grand is an entirely different matter – that one keeps ticking off megabytes until it finally fills its tank at a whopping 2.14 GB. With Kontakt configured to use disk streaming at its default pre-load buffer setting of 60 kB, all of the vintage electric keyboards use negligible amounts of RAM – 40 MB or less. On my 1 TB SSD m.2 drive, the complete bundle gobbles up 35.8 gigabytes of disk space. Once activated on any given MAC OS or Windows system, no further activation checks are necessary, barring an OS upgrade or a system HDD/SDD ( harddisk/solidstate drive) replacement. Since this is a Kontakt 5.5 library, it might be possible to activate the product via Native Instrument’s older authorization program: “Service Center”. Insofar as these are Kontakt sample libraries, the serial number(s) must be activated and managed through Native Instrument’s “Native Access”. Immediately following a successful transaction, you’ll receive a serial number by way of email. Purchasing California Keys is a straight-forward, painless process. Fortunately for us, Q Up Arts has indeed carefully captured the sonic charms of the original instruments used for this caboodle. By and large, today’s consumer base has become much more discriminating when shopping for Rhodes, Wurly, Hammond, Vox, Farfisa and Clav VIs. The original instruments ought to be very well maintained and/or reconditioned, and the sampling process * should be meticulously undertaken. The same holds true regarding electric pianos and organs. After all, there’s a chasm of difference between accurately capturing multiple velocity layers of acoustic piano, and recording a synthesizer’s line-level outputs. I wasn’t sure what to expect from “California Keys”. I haven’t spent nearly enough time with the EII libraries to write much about them here and now, but suffice it to say that my first impressions are very favorable indeed. And yes, there will be a forthcoming review of that luscious, ol’ skool synth giant. More specifically, it is owed entirely to their “Emulation II OMI” collection. I was first introduced to Q Up Arts through Mondo & the Rhythmic Robot clan. Q Up Arts claims that it is one of the most expressive piano libraries available – specifically for soft emotive playing and ambient textures. The lion’s share of said 40 gigabytes is owned by the pride’s leader – a punctiliously-sampled 10 ft’ Fazioli grand piano. And it’s a large surprise – close to 40 Gigabytes’ worth, as a matter of fact. As such, the release of “California Keys” came as somewhat of a surprise to me. It could be said that Q Up Arts has been known more for producing top notch loop libraries, than for compiling VI ( Virtual Instrument) sample libraries. For example, Rhythmic Robot’s celebrated “Emulator II OMI” sample library(s) is the result of a close collaboration between Rhythmic Robot and Q Up Arts. Morton’s work might be familiar to you without your even realizing it. However, Douglas Morton and his small Q Up team have been active in the field for the better part of two decades now. Q Up Arts is not one of the most renowned companies within the sphere of digital sampling – well, not in comparison to prolific names like OrangeTreeSamples, Cinesamples, SonicCouture and their ilk.
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