MIDI Guitar 2.2.1 and the 3 best virtual saxophones

These are (in my personal opinion) the three best virtual saxophones to use with MIDI Guitar 2 right now. I shall give you the pros and cons here, and my rationale for even singling these out from the increasing number of available options.

1. First of all, I am looking for a playable instrument
2. I want it to be dynamically responsive and at least change some character traits as velocity changes.
3. I don’t want there to be KeySwitch articulations
4. I would prefer to have the instrument be ready to use with (guitar) pitch bend and a breath controller

Just these four considerations alone are actually enough to pick a winner among the three saxophones featured here already. The Audio Modeling SWAM saxophone is head and shoulders above any of the competition when it comes to detail, playability, degree to which it is customizable, and presets to use with different controllers, straight out of the box. But I am also weighing in the sound and my specific predilection for certain time periods here. So here goes:

Straight Ahead Samples: Tenor Colossus

So let’s start with the absolutely spanking new sample-based Straight Ahead Samples library ’Tenor Colossus’. If I were to choose an instrument today for a 50s or 60s jazz project, I would go no further than to this wonderful instrument.
But what about 1-4 above then? Well, If any instrument has a problem with 1., it probably won’t end up on this list right?

2. Dynamically responsive, absolutely. With the little caveat that I have yet only used the KeyVel option successfully, whereas the ModWheel option didn’t feel right for MIDI Guitar. It is also worth noting that this is the first instrument I’ve come across where I have resorted to relatively drastic dynamics setting on the MG2 software itself (Gain at one a clock, Tone almost full, and Curve at three a clock.)
4. This one is also not landing on the plus side, as there is no pitch bend enable option on the GUI itself, and definitely no breath controller alternative. Now, if you have worked a little under the hood of Kontakt, it isn’t hard at all to remedy this stuff, but it is never the same thing as with a product that actually has assigned some properties to the expression curve controlled by a breath controller

WIVI Orchestra Tenor sax

I am amazed at the quality of this Wallander Instruments WIVI orchestra tenor sax. In 2010 it was the first generation modeled instrument with minimal CPU demand that actually was playable in the sense of 1. above. The problem at the time was that for those features that actually made all the difference you had to purchase a professional player version. Wallander instruments have since discontinued their product line though, and they are no longer available for purchase.
With regards to 2-4;
2. It is absolutely dynamically responsive in the sense I am looking for, although this is primarily for classical purposes. So there is a little difference in what I would have liked the saxophone to sound like in the higher velocity range.
3. No KeySwitch articulation. The articulation follows your actual playing long or short, slurs and ties.
4. Pitch bend range Settings was awkward in the previous non-pro version since you couldn’t save them, but that too was remedied with the pro version. It also comes with the option to use a breath controller for expression purposes. In this sense, this could be viewed as a precursor to the SWAM instruments of today.

Audio Modeling SWAM tenor sax

These clips were taken from a context where I was sharing the SWAM settings for ”that Xtra everything (breathy, clicky overblown over the top expressional SWAM tenor sax, just follow these easy steps. Breath for expression (CC2) and bite for overblowing (CC3).” With regard to 1-4 I can’t say anything else than that Audio Modeling raised the bar for everyone else to a point where I don’t really see there is any competition. Instead, it can only be a matter of taste and preferences that puts others back in the running.

If I were to rank these instruments/libraries In conclusion, I’d go for a second-place for the WIVI from the fact that it is no longer available, and it is in fact similar to, but not as good as the SWAM saxophone that is coming in on a split first with the Tenor Colossus. They both represent goto instruments for me, but for different tastes and uses. And if you have any instruments for this list, any saxophone you think can live up to 1.-4., please let me know in the comments below.

[thebreathalyzer]

Nice "cheat" using the breath controller with the guitar. I think this is a really smart approach where you can get much more horn like expression.

[MrLaRcOrE]

Tracking seems to be spot on! Love this🤘

[Garflips]

Great job as always. You know you're going to have to do a detailed review of Tenor Colossus now.😛 I have the entire SWAM kit and utilize it similarly although with a Hornberg breath controller. I used to play a bit of tenor sax but could never afford the practice time. The Colossus does sound smooth - like a more of a Stan Getz smooth jazz sound - whereas the SWAM will get you to Charles Lloyd and beyond. Is the Colossus a tad bit zippier and less CPU taxing, being sample based? Also does smart delay work on a MIDI sequence after recording? Cheers.

[johnhowardnardine]

Beautiful as always! Your technique is extremely deft. I hope the SWAM sax comes to iOS soon!

[mctzr]

Hi, Great tones !

what is the breath controler part? model settings?


Thanks

[manolaya]

Nice playing! Thanks for the demo. I play a windcontroller and mostly use SWAM Saxophones, SWAM Trumpet and the absolutely astonishing SWAM Cello and also WiVI Band from Wallander Instruments. I didn't know about Tenor Colossus which sounds really beautiful, warm and rich to me. So thank you for that! I saw in the video that you used a breath controller but when I get it right from your post and from the SAS website Tenor Colossus seems not to bet designed for the realt time use of a breath or windcontroller? So no presets for breath and lip pressure, bending etc.? Is that right?

[UKRwebTV]

I was looking at getting SA or SWAM but then I saw 8dio studio sax and one from orchestral tool. Have you had a chance to try any of those?