What's the difference between the Vienna Smart Orchestra and the Big Bang Orchestra? These budget friendly libraries utilize the sampling expertise of Vienna, in one of the best sounding scoring stages in the world, and feature a lower sample load compared to other VSL libraries. Which one is ideal for your compositions?

One of ILIO's own swapped out a hardware synth for a laptop rig running virtual instruments on his band's tour to SXSW. This is his first-hand experience playing live with a virtual instrument rig.

New to using virtual instruments? Wondering why on earth you would buy a software piano? This article on using Synthogy’s Ivory II pianos lays it out for you in black and white.

A world class programmer, technical director, writer and producer, Joe Wolfe has worked on tours with a Mount Rushmore of artists, including Whitney Houston, Prince, Madonna, Earth Wind & Fire, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Keys. Currently on the road with Pink for her Beautiful Trauma World Tour, we talked with the man himself about his live performance setup, love for ILIO products, and the freedoms along with challenges that come with running a live performance using 100% laptops.

Part 3 - Resources

It has never been easier to create a full song from start to finish using only your computer and interface. What once was only accessible in a million-dollar studio now sits waiting inside of your laptop. Virtual instruments, effects plug-ins, MIDI Instruments, and sample packs even the playing field for every level of musician to create their art. The main objective for music makers, both new and experienced, is to create the sonic vision that comes to us from inside. Here at ILIO, we have created a 3-part series, dedicated to translating that sound in your head into a real song or track.

Part 2 - Studying & Listening

It has never been easier to create a full song from start to finish using only your computer and interface. What once was only accessible in a million-dollar studio now sits waiting inside of your laptop. Virtual instruments, effects plug-ins, MIDI Instruments, and sample packs even the playing field for every level of musician to create their art. The main objective for music makers, both new and experienced, is to create the sonic vision that comes to us from inside. Here at ILIO, we have created a 3-part series, dedicated to translating that sound in your head into a real song or track.

Part 1 - Establishing Purpose

It has never been easier to create a full song from start to finish using only your computer and interface. What once was only accessible in a million-dollar studio now sits waiting inside of your laptop. Virtual instruments, effects plug-ins, MIDI Instruments, and sample packs even the playing field for every level of musician to create their art. The main objective for music makers, both new and experienced, is to create the sonic vision that comes to us from inside. Here at ILIO, we have created a 3-part series, dedicated to translating that sound in your head into a real song or track. 

Shortly after the turn of the current century, Greg Nelson started to experiment with Virtual Studio Technology, and was very impressed with various software emulations of organs and synthesizers, and sampled pianos.  He started to explore the possibility of replacing my hardware keyboard rig, with 2 controllers and a CPU built to run VST instruments.  This idea took him on a journey through hardware computer builds, and VST hosts, to being a long time Brainspawn Forte user.  The creator of Forte has recently announced that he is stopping all development and support of his products.  In the wake of this announcement, Greg decided to explore the newest VST host software applications available and landed on the latest version of Gig Performer.  He was instantly impressed and saw many advantages he could gain from transitioning my keyboard rig over to Gig Performer. Here is what Brainspawn Forte users should know about Gig Performer!

Scoring for television? Grammy-nominated Producer/mixer/engineer/composer, Rich Tozzoli, shares one of his secret weapons for tackling deadlines with efficiency and top tier quality in this great Askaudio.com review. Having worked on HD Television broadcasts for the likes of David Bowie, Hall & Oates and Blue Oyster Cult and music for shows on Discovery Channel, History Channel, HBO, Fox, NBC and more, Rich Tozzoli has seen it all. 

These are a few music resources you probably don't know about! Always good to spice things up once in a while, right?