I await to hear the results of some of these VSTi's in a style with great interest.

I guess, that although there ARE some bargains, the thought of putting less than the best in such an expensive arranger strikes me as a strange economy. I thought the idea of the 'open' arranger was so you COULD use the 'best' sounds available?

Jamstix is quite good, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't hold a candle to BFD, or even EZ Drummer, IMO (and many others'). Broomstick Bass is another good one, but even the venerable Trilogy has better and more bass sounds. I guess you have a budget B3, or did you spring for B4mkII?

I'm sorry, but most engineers I know are always looking to do things cheaper, as long as they are as good. But it HAS to have that last part, not 'almost' as good...

The thought of just loading 'adequate' VSTi's hits me wrong. In the studio, on the computer, we use BFD, Ivory, B4, Atmosphere (soon to be Omnisphere) StylusRMX, Trilogy, Groove Agent, and many others. If we COULD find adequate substitutes, trust me, we'd already be using them.

I guess we will just have to be branded 'snobs'

At least that is better than branding those who use less expensive VSTi's as 'cheap bastards', because that would be simply inflammatory, wouldn't it?!

Why don't you try telling everybody that bought T3's that less expensive Casio alternatives exist? Then cover your arse! If there weren't a difference, no-one at all would buy the good stuff...

You bought an MS... (the good stuff, according to you)

Are YOU a 'snob'?