The ageless melodies and lyrics of my collection's legendary songs are the sole reason they have endured for such a long time. Understanding arrangements is also necessary for a song in order to make a melody stand out. The fact that a well-known vocalist or renowned musician "sells" the song means that a lot of amazing musicians and arrangers go unappreciated, and in many cases that is true.

However, I have heard some absolutely amazing arrangements that the "well known" vocalist has absolutely killed, especially in live settings like concerts or TV shows. There are also quite a few cases in which the vocalist is overshadowed by the arrangement, no matter how good it is - Nelson Riddle's rendition of Sinatra's "I've Got You Under My Skin" is a prime example of this!

I have been a professional musician since the age of 14, and throughout that time, I have learned to adore amazing songs with amazing lyrics that are rarely heard these days. I've never played in a "major league" or performed with a really well-known person, but I know what I do and I do it extremely well. Nowadays, when it comes to performing live, versatility is crucial. My excellent musical senses require me to play a wide range of songs, which not only keeps me entertained but also challenges me and keeps me improving. I play all of my gigs live, which makes me a real dinosaur!

Even though there were only three stations available back then, I can recall my dad watching TV at night and changing the channels like he always did. He switched to BBC2, which was usually thought of as the "culture" channel in the UK. i.e., a small audience...) and Oscar Peterson, who I had never heard of before, was performing. I was just about eleven years old at the time, and I was particularly interested in playing music. I was never the same after hearing what I did that night because I wanted to play like that guy! I was finding it hard to trust what I was hearing.

Dad was about to turn it over but I asked him to keep it on and I sat there

After that, I became obsessed with jazz and began purchasing LPs and cassettes. I listened to the music like a sponge, switching between instruments such as the organ played by Jimmy Smith, the saxophone played by Stan Getz, the trumpet played by Clark Terry, the drums by Buddy Rich, etc. I also tried to pick up tips from the albums, such as how to play ballads naturally, the necessity of having space when comping, and how to play them well. The amazing feel and groove of great music when it's performed so effortlessly is something I will always cherish, even if I could never possibly match these guys' remarkable talents.

You either naturally have the ability to play jazz and swing or you don't. In this genre, feel is everything, and effortless is even better! It doesn't matter how fast you pick up all the theory in the world and learn the exact same licks and solo as a world-class performer; what matters is that you have to have the feel and spontaneity to create on your own. Listening is the only way to learn... and to keep listening.

Every track on the website, whether it's recorded live directly to audio drive or via midi in my home studio, has been arranged, performed, recorded, and mixed by me.

I thought I'd add this section just so you know the kind of guy that sits for hours, days on end, putting these tracks together.

I think I have great taste in music - my kind of music that is! Don't we all I hear you say! Ok, good point and point taken!

To say that my "hero" in pianistic terms is Oscar Peterson is an understatement. He is the complete pianist - gifted, incredible, a giant in true terms and the perfect role model for so many young players to look up to. I also love Gene Harris, latter day George Shearing, younger guys like Benny Green & Jacky Terrasson, Monty Alexander and Kenny Barron to name a few. Check out Ben Paterson - great piano player and organ player!

I'm a sucker for a Hammond B3 and the best exponent for me is Jimmy McGriff - not because of what he plays, but what he doesn't play and the way he doesn't play it. Also love early Jack McDuff. I like Joey DeFrancesco, but really who can be original on a B3 now?You also have to check out Tony Monaco. Really pretty awesome playing with a few wee gimmicks thrown in but he can play! Tony Monaco website

Now, this is the part that will probably cause many an argument by email - I'm not a big Sinatra fan! I do like him singing, but I LOVE the arrangements and the various bands and this is undoubtedly what made Sinatra the phenomenon that he was and still is. The arrangements were soooo good that really any good singer would sound awesome!
Sinatra was an excellent singer, no doubt about that - superb phrasing, great feel, sense of time and a quality voice to match. BUT I get bored listening to him. He doesn't "move" me and never has.
A singer who always moves me is JACK JONES. I just love his voice, his feel, everything seems just perfect to me, and I love what he does with a song. He takes chances, gets inside the lyrics, twists & turns. My favourite male vocal album has got to be his - A Portrait Of Tony Bennett. Singing the songs made famous by Bennett, he makes them seem fresh and HIS! This is what a singer should be to me. A huge favourite is Nat King Cole although some of the material he had to do was pretty duff and musically poor but the voice and feel always shines through. I also love 'technical" guys like Mel Torme (a great favourite) Mark Murphy, Kurt Elling (who is incredible!).
Matt Monro was easily the best male Brit singer - checkout his Hoagy Carmichael album - awesome singing and fantastic arrangements to boot.
You have to check out Kenny Rankin - I absolutely love his voice and his choice of material and he knows what he's doing. A wonderful wonderful singer!
Favourite vocal harmony groups are The Hi-los, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Take 6 (awesome Gospel), The Singers Unlimited for their studio harmonies. Pentatonix are seriously a force to be reckoned with - your kids will have heard of them before you have but they are pretty incredible. My daughter and I went to see them in Glasgow and I was blown away by their talent - 3 frontline vocals and beatbox and vocal bass (but they all can sing great!)

There are so many good female singers that it's really hard to narrow my list down!

Is Ella Fitzgerald top of my list?
I love Ella but she's never convinced me that she really means what she's singing. I loved her live performances and early 70's Pablo stuff because she was a lot more interesting, vocally although the quality was certainly starting to go by then.
I love Carmen McRae. I love the way she gets inside the lyrics, and really understands how to phrase a song. 
Nobody does it better than Shirley Horn and she's now my favourite. To listen to her singing ballads is a joy and she swings great. She just knows exactly what to do and because she plays great piano and accompanies herself she knows where she's going and how to comp for her style. Any album is a total joy and a work of art for any singer to aspire to. She definitely didn't get the recognition she deserved but any of her peers held her in the highest esteem.
Later day Sarah Vaughan - I reckon from the late 60's right up to the 80's - is also a favourite of mine.
I'm not a huge fan of Diana Krall, but she plays great piano and accompanies herself wonderfully.
I'm also a fan of Natalie Cole, Irene Krall, Ernestine Anderson. You really need to check out Liane Carroll, the BEST jazz singer the UK has at this moment. She is incredible, plays GREAT piano and sings and scats so effortlessly.

You should also check out Barbara Morrison - awesome blues tinged "young"voice for such an old pro! - really wonderful!

I love a really good, tight, swinging big band and nobody did it so effortlessly as the Basie band. Even though the personnel would change the band still seemed to "breathe" as one! The Neal Heftie stuff is a favourite and the Atomic period is sublime.

Check out the Terry Gibbs Dream band recordings for incredible playing as well as great arrangements of standards. The recording quality is great for a live gig in '59!!

The Maynard Ferguson BIG BOP NOUVEAU recordings are current gems for any Big Band fan to have. Great young players with the fire and drive of an early Maynard!

Any Kenton standards recording is also a lesson in great section and solo playing, with so many great players coming and going through the years. So many great bands and so little space!

I'm a huge Stan Getz fan. I saw him in concert, a year or two before he died, with the Kenny Barron trio and was totally in awe of the musicianship on the stage that night.

Charlie Parker is still untouchable. I have an old Verve Jam Session '52 LP ( and CD as well) with a huge array of talent on offer and Bird blows away any competition with his incredibly modern sound, feel and inventiveness.

I'm not a clarinet fan but to listen to Eddie Daniels is an eye opener. A particular favourite is the tribute to Charlie Parker CD on GRP recordings.

Other favourite musicians include the incredible James Morrison (Australia), all the great West coast guys - Bob Cooper, Bill Perkins, Russ Freeman, Shelly Manne, etc.

I love the Miles Davis/John Coltrane 50's sessions on Prestige . Wonderfully lyrical and inventive playing from Coltrane. It's hard to believe when you listen to his Impulse recordings that it's the same guy! Progress? I don't think so!

There are so many great jazz influenced soul singers to choose from and right at the very top must be George Benson. Incredible guitar playing and intuitive scat singing in unison with the guitar lines really made this guy a huge star in the 70's and 80's and during this period he had hit after hit with great songs like This Masquerade ; Turn Your Love Around and Never Give Up On A Good Thing just to name a few. Another "monster" talent is Al Jarreau although he certainly lacked the hit songs to take him to super-stardom. His biggest hit to date was the great theme from "Moonlighting" but check out the incredible singing on "Mornin'" as well.

I really love Luther Vandross - in small doses though. He was a fabulous singer but I do get a bit bored listening ; but what a great voice!

Current favourite male soul vocalist is Eric Benet. He was married to Halle Berry and is totally awesome - please check him out on YOU TUBE. I really love his voice and feel.

The honey-smooth voice of the incredible Will Downing is also certain to melt any women's heart . He really has a voice to die for although some of the material lacks any real substance.
Jamie Foxx - the actor - is an incredible talent! Plays great piano, sings like a god and does incredible impressions of all his peers! Check him out on youtube.

I really have a hard time picking my favourite Female soul artists but I have managed to narrow it down a bit!. Nobody sings better than Gladys Knight or Aretha Franklin - two incredible icons for any aspiring soul artist to focus on. The emphasis is on "soul" because this is what really matters - singing from the heart. There are many many great technical singers out there who can perform pyro-technical feats with their vocal cords but this means nothing without the "heart" that makes you want to listen to every word they sing. Oleta Adams is a great singer who writes great songs as well. I love the sound of Angie Stone's voice but I'm not to taken by the very typical R'n'B material on offer.

The daddy of them all is undoubtedly the genius that is Stevie Wonder. Incredible singer-songwriter who totally inspires me every time I listen to any of his albums. A true superstar! Talent like Stevie Wonder are god-blessed with an individuality. Another icon must surely be Ray Charles. He certainly changed the way in which black music was perceived and no one will come close to singing from the heart like he did.

I'm really glad there has been a big revival in "swing" music - I hate when quality music has to be put into a category ,but if it helps to revive these great songs then who am I to disagree.

I must confess that Michael Buble has a GREAT voice although some of the material is digging the bottom of the pile to sell CD's. If you're not a jazz fan you'll love him; but long may it continue if it brings standards and great songs back!

Jamie Cullum is a great fresh talent who's not scared to stretch out and put his own stamp on old and new songs.

I've seen Curtis Stigers live three times and he blows all the new crop away! Here's a guy who's first love was jazz and has always written classy pop songs - remember "I Wonder Why" and "YOU'RE ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME"? Made a lot of money and returned to what he loves best and he does it soo well! His voice might not be everyone's cup of tea but he can sing - fabulous pitching and wonderful FEEL - he swings! Try and get a hold of any of his CD's on the Concord label. He played in my home town - AYR - in our small theatre; 2 years running. The last time the concert was half full! Crazy world!

A dark horse to look out for is definitely Peter Cincotti. I have a few of his Concord albums and he plays great and sings well but it's his last album - East Of Angel Town - that really made me listen. GREAT adult original pop songs and he sings better on this than on the jazz stuff. Very impressed! Peter Cincotti website

I'm also a huge fan of Harry Connick Jr, he is a superb musician and singer - his bands and arrangements are always incredibly tasteful and inventive. I LOVE his "Come By Me" CD. Great original songs but my favourite track has to be the arrangement of "Charade" - awesome! Check out the "Songs I Heard" album as well. The "ONLY YOU" and "YOUR SONGS" albums have some great songs and lovely inventive arrangements.

Here's a variety of MP3s to download and showcase just exactly what I do. (Click the BACK button on your browser after listening.)

I'm a bit of a dinosaur now in that I play everything live when gigging! With so many gadget filled keyboards and gimmicks (aimed at non players),and new keyboards filled with millions of sounds you simply won't use on a gig I've stuck to my old tried and tested setup for so many years and get a fantastic live sound.

I play piano and keyboards - 1 weighted Yamaha KX-88 mother board (old but built like a tank and the action is awesome) and two synths with Emu samplers and various expanders plus bass pedals and two drum units - all live - no extra help required!
The videos are there to simply showcase what I do and how I play.

Have a look:

• All my videos are now on YouTube. click on the song links below and the Youtube page will open in a new window for you.
• You can also go to www.YouTube.com and search for Alan McPike.
• This section will include solo videos and with various vocalists and musicians.

I hope your computer is connected to a hi-fi or quality speakers!

I'm always buying new software and here's a brief rundown on what I use for my tracks and track production for clients:

My main computers are Mac Pro, Mac Mini 2018 and my DAW is Cubase, which I've used since I started using computers to make music and the product works great for me.
Software Includes....

Synthogy Ivory 2 Piano - my old trusted "go to" piano.... although it's starting showing its age...still a joy to play. Added Studio Grands and updated the engine.

8DIO - Agitato Grandiose Legato Bundle, Agitato Grandiose Sordino Strings, Adagietto, Hybrid Tools 3, 1969 Legacy Piano, Adagios Violins,Violas Cellos and Basses - a joy, even if they are old now!, Studio Sopranos, Majestica, Polyphon, Free Angels, 1990 Studio Grand, Solo Violin Designer 2, 8DM Flow House Synth, 8DM Flow House vol 2, 8DM Deep House Synth, 8DM Deep House vol 1, 8DM Deep House vol 2, 8DM Flow House vol 1, 8DM Electro House vol 2, Adagio Anthology Strings, Acoustic Grand Ensembles, 8DiOboe, Claire Clarinet, Alien Drum v2, Free Radicals, CAGE vol2 Brass, Blendstrument Paranormal Guitars, Blendstrument Hybrid Pulses, Basstard, Jenifer, Blendstrument  Hybrid Pulses, Studio Upright, Alien Drum, Lyre, Century Strings 2 Bundle,
1985 Passionate Piano - my older Mac Pro's CPU goes through the roof with this piano, a shame because it sounds lovely, New 1969 Legacy Piano, Liberis Choir, New Rhythmic Aura 2, New Hybrid Tools 2, Aura Guitars, New Forgotten Voices Francesca, Laurie, Hybrid Tools - Synphony, Symphonic Shadows, Steel Guitar, Wrenchenspiel, Epic Taiko Ensemble, Epic Toms Ensemble, New Hybrid Tools 1, Claire Alto Flute, New Forgotten Voices Barbary, Aura Studio Percussion, Epic Frame Drum Ensemble, Lacrimosa, Liberis, Requiem, Studio Vintage Organ, Claire Piccolo, Electric Guitar Solo and Strummer, Mandolin, Guitarele, Hybrid Drums 8D8, The new Adagio Collection updates, Artisan Brass Bundle, Century Brass Bundle, Studio Saxophones, new 1928 Steinway Piano, Clocks, Orchestral Shepherds, Shepherd Tones, Mini, 66 Cellos, fire Trumpet, Fire Sax, Fire Trombone, Dobro, 1971 Estonia Piano, Insolidus Choir - stunning!, C entury Brass 2 Bundle, Silka Choir - again, stunning, 8W Black Edition 2 and add ons, 33 Drummers Batucuda, Emotional Guitars.  

East West Quantum Leap Goliath, East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Gold, East West Quantum Leap The Dark Side, East West Quantum Leap Hollywood Brass Gold, East West Quantum Leap Hollywood Strings Gold, East West Quantum Leap Hollywood Orchestral Woodwinds Gold, East West Quantum Leap Voices Of Passion, East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Choirs, East West Quantum Leap Ministry Of Rock 1 and 2, East West Quantum Leap Pianos Gold, East West Quantum Leap Solo Violin, East West Quantum Leap Fab Four, East West Quantum Leap Gypsy, East West Quantum Leap Stormdrum 2, Hollywood Choirs Diamond, Hollywood Pop Brass - great, easy to use, Voices of Soul - wonderful for soulful backing vocals, although the singer's vibrato can get a bit annoying, Voices of Opera, ProDrummer vols 1 and 2 - HUGE CPU hog and pretty bland, Bechstein D280 Platinum piano, Yamaha C7 Platinum, Bosendorfer 290 Platinum, Backup Singers - great! Opus Hollywood Orchestra Diamond - superb! East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Platinum - superb - if you play live then this is definitely the easiest to use with Live playing.

Project Sam Symphobia 1 and 2, Lumina, Colours Orchestrator, Colours Animator, Swing!, Swing More!, The Essentials pack, Symphobia 4 Pandora - wonderful products, Symphobia 1 and 2 are old now but still streets ahead of many of their competitors.

Spitfire Audio Albions 1 2 and 3, Albion One, BML Mural 1 and 2, Mural Ensembles, Orchestral Grand Piano (terrible piano, even at a sale price!), Orchestral Swarm - this one i love!, Euphone, Bernard Herrmann Composer toolkit, Tundra, Spitfire Solo Strings, Symphonic Strings, Symphonic Strings Evolutions, British Drama Toolkit, Studio Strings, Studio Woodwinds, Studio Brass, Studio Strings Professional , Studio Woodwinds Professional, Studio Brass Professional, new Solo Strings, Earth, Arnalds Chamber Evolutions, BBC Orchestra Core , Symphonic Brass, Symphonic Woodwinds, Albion Neo, Albion Solstice, Contemporary Drama Toolkit.

Orchestral Tools Metropolis Ark 1, String Runs, Majestic Horn, Berlin Inspire 1 and 2.

Cinematic Strings 2 - lovely strings.
Cinematic Studio Strings, Cinematic Studio Brass and Cinematic Studio Solo Strings.

Kirk Hunter Symphony Orchestra, Kirk Hunter Solo Strings 2, Kirk Hunter Concert Brass 2, Front Row Violins - eats the CPU, Virtuoso Ensembles - great, eay to use - live playing is so easy!

Native Instruments Komplete 13 Ultimate Collectors Edition, Komplete 11 Ultimate, Komplete 9 all modules plus Kontakt 5 and 6 - couldn't live without these.

Toontrack EZ Drummer + all modules - always my favourite drums plugin and incredibly easy to use. I try others and always end up back with my EZ.

IK Multimedia Sampletank 3, IK Multimedia Sampletank 2.5, IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik, IK Multimedia Sampletron, IK Multimedia Sonic Synth, IK Multimedia Samplemoog - always used Sampletank and love the products although Sampletank 3 isn't very good at all, Miroslav Philharmonik 2 - heavy on the CPU, such a shame because I loved the original Miro Phil! Modo Bass, Sampletank 4 MAX, Modo Drums.

UVI Synths Anthology, UVI Orchestral Suite, UVI Grand Piano D - a really lovely piano, UVI Energy, UVI World Traditions, UVI Digital Synsations, UVI Biosphere, UVI Plugsound Pro, UVI Retro Organs - great product, UVI Mello, UVI Gypsy Jazz, UVI The Beast, UVI Synths Anthology 2, UVI Tines Anthology, UVI Emulation 2, UVI Jazzistic, UVI Waveframe, UVI EGP, Retro Organ Suite, Emulation 1, Digital Sensations 2, Key Suite Digital, UltraMini, U1250, Urban, Vintage Vault 3 - UVI products are superb. 

VI LABS True Keys Bundle, Ravenscroft 275

BEST SERVICE - Peter Siedlaczek Complete Orchestral Collection, The Orchestra

Acoustic Samples Sunbird, GD-6, E-Piano, A-Piano, Jazz Guitarysm, Telematic, B-5 organ, C7 piano, Strategy, V Horns, V Saxophones

YellowTools Independence Pro - light years ahead of its time when it was released. I use the effects all the time on everything I do.

Ilya Efimov Nylon Guitar, LP Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Retro Bass, TC Telecaster, Classic Bass, Rock Bass

Cinesamples Piano in Blue, CineOrchestra, Hollywoodwinds, CineHarp, 90s Retro Trumpets, CineStrings Core, CineBrass Core, Cinewinds Core, CineBrass Sonore, CineHarps Pro, CinePerc, Monster Low Winds, Cinebrass Pro, Cinewinds Pro.

SampleLogic Havoc, AIR expanded, Synergy X, The Elements, Rumble, Fanfare, Thunder Springs, Morphestra 2, Cinematic Keys, Symphonic AI

Big Fish Audio First Call Horns, Silver, Vintage Horns, Vintage Strings, Zodiac, Celestia, Project Alpha, Project Bravo, Earth Tone, Clash Cinematic Percussion, Grindhouse, Vintage Horns 2

VIR2 Mojo Horns - wonderful, VI One, Q, Bassis, Studio Kit Builder, Mojo Horns 2 - major let down!

AMG Kick Ass Brass.

Steven Slate Drums 4 - not impressed by the hype - used once, EZ Drummer wins hands down.

Chris Hein - Horns Compact, Winds Compact, Horns Pro, Guitars, Bass, Orchestral Brass Extended

Fable Broadway Horns Lite

AriaSounds London Symphonic Strings vol 1, Aurora Choir, LSS Solo Strings

Sampletekk Black Grand, Little Bastard, Tonewheel, Worras Prophet, Black Grand Mk2, BOB Brass, Rain Piano mk2, FM EP1, Marimba, Pianet,SmallStudioGrand, Tubed Wurlitzer, TVBO, White Sister, WG2 Mk2, Vertikal Mk2, Harpsichord, The Black

Imperfect Samples Fazioli Pro piano - too imperfect to use.

Pettinhouse Bundle - various excellent guitars collection, the acoustic guitar is incredible - a bargain buy! 

Orange Tree Jazzaholic Bundle - Pure Jazz Vibes, Evolution Rosewood Grand, CoreBass Pear upright, Cherry electric bass, Evolution Stratosphere, Slide Acoustic, Slide Lap Steel, Evolution Guitars full bundle, Meswinds, Passion Flute, Jaco Bass, Dracus, Flatpick 6, Hollowbody Blues, Infinity, jazz Archtop, Mandolin, Modern Nylon, Rick, Rick 12 Rock Standard, Sitardelic, Songwriter, Steel Strings, Strawberry, Jumbo 12, Texas Twang, Evolution Dry Relic, Evolution Vintage Gent, Evolution Bluegrass Banjo, The Famous E Electric Piano - superb products.

Soundiron Voice of Rapture - Alto, Voice of Rapture - the Tenor, The Kontakt Bundle, Voices of Gaia - Bryn, Drinking Piano, Venus Womens Choir, Cymbology Bowed, Steel Tones, Kontakt bundle 2 - Monclarion piano, Rust v2, The Beat Boxer (brilliant), Traveler Organ, Mars Mens Choir, Struck Grand, Hyperion Strings Micro (needs a lot of EQ taming but a bargain buy), Cacphony

Korg Legacy - M1, Wavestation, Triton & Triton Extreme - incredible plugins if you're an old gigger like me!

Paperstone - Vibraphone

XLN Audio - Addictive Keys Studio Grand - wonderful piano , Electric Grand, Modern Upright, Addictive Drums 2 - my 2nd favourite drum program, Mark 1 EP

Sonokinetic - Gediz, Ostinato Strings, Bells and Whistles, Steelpan, EMP, Da Capo, Ostinato Brass, Noir, Minimal, Percussao Do Brasil, Steelpan, Mallets, Tutti Vox, Capriccio, Espressivo, Maximo, Woodwinds Ensembles, Ostinato Noir, Largo, Modal Runs, Indie, Sotto, 

Wavesfactory - DrumCircle, Mercury Lite

Impact Soundworks - Juggernaut, Sonic Ocean, Sonic Forest, Furia Staccato strings, Forest Frame Drums, MegaBrass, Pearl Concert Grand - my  favourite piano.. a joy to play, simply wonderful! Archtop, Rhapsody Orchestral Colors, Django - great jazz guitar, Straight Ahead Jazz Horns - terrible! Bravura Scoring Brass, Shreddage 3 Archtop, Momentum

Amplesound - AGH

Auddict - Master Brass, Drums of the Deep, Master Solo Woodwinds, Angel Strings Vol 1, Vol2 Flurries, United Strings Of Europe (nice but lots of background noise)

Embertone - Solo Strings Bundle - highly rated, no idea why..., Sensual Sax, Chapman Trumpet, Walker 1955 Steinway D Lite, Herring Clarinet. Popelka Bassoon, Joshua Bell Violin Essential

Garritan - Personal Orchestra 4, Jazz and Big Band 3, CFX Concert Grand - wonderful piano!, Personal Orchestra 5, World Instruments.

Strezov Sampling - Cornucopia Strings (tuning issues), Brass Bundle, Woodwinds Bundle

Realivox - Ladies Bundle, Realidrums, Screaming Trumpet

Art Vista Back Beat Bass - boomy and pretty unusable..

Sonivox - EightyEight (very nice piano actually!), Tony Coleman Drums - lovely brush kits, Orchestral Companion Strings, Orchestral Companion Woodwinds, Orchestral Companion Brass - very good value for money, Anatomy

Air Music - Velvet 2 - great EP selection, Expand2, Mini Grand, Structure, Transfuser, Strike - a wonderful instant play drum program, it beats all the others for it's playability and sounds and I use it all the time.

Q UP Arts - California Keys and Producers Collection (used once, highly rated and don't know why!)

Waves - Grand Rhapsody HD - CPU hog!, Electric 88, Clavinet, Electric 200, Electric G80 - all CPU hogs

KeepForest - Evolution and Atlantica

OUTPUT - Analog Strings, Signal, Substance, Exhale, REV, Rev X Loops - HEAVY on the CPU but great products.

Gospel Muscians TGX-99 - wonderful EP's! Neo Soul Keys, Pure Synth Platinum 2, TGX-85, The BlueBeast, FM Tines

Production Voices - Concert Grand Compact, Estate Grand, Production Grand Compact, StudioGrand - great pianos

Versilian Studios VSCO Pro - I really like this for add-ons, to beef up a horn line ,etc, Bowed Psaltery, Strumstick - mmmmm, another waste of money..

Arturia V Collection 6, Pigments.

Steinberg Halion 6 - very bland, Groove Agent 3 (old but instantly usable), Groove Agent 4 - upgrade and instantly unusable!

Light and Sound Chamber Strings 2

Musical Sampling Trailer Strings - really gorgeous mellow sounds, perfect for a "cushion", Soaring Strings - lovely!

Profanity Instruments - Concert Grand - a bargain piano and very playable, Profanity organ - another bargain and low on the CPU.

RED ROOM Audio - Symphonic Sketchpad, Melodics, Cue Builders

FLUFFY AUDIO - Simple Jazz Bass, My Piano

Sonoma Wire Works - DrumCore 4 Prime - another duffer purchase.

Nova Vektor - surprise find and very good!

Ben Osterhouse Sospiro and Pattern strings

Karanyi Synths DX, Continuo, Polyscape, Vapor Keys - great products

Bolder Sounds Roots Upright Bass - superb, my new go to upright bass - sits in the mixes wonderfully.

Performance Samples - Vista

and lots of others........ and an ever evolving list of new plug ins and updates..