Ocarinas United

I want to buy one of these Ocarinas (yeah yeah, I know that Ocarinas from STL are from TNG and other brands) :

Horn or Infinity (better for bigger hands than Horn ?) => I think the sound is very similar, isn't it ? I think it will be my first Ocarina. After listening docjazz4 review of the Horn, read the many buyers guides and listen on youtube, I think it's a good choice. What do you think about it even if I know many people do not like STL.

Enigma => yeah, it's from TNG and foundable on Ebay (for just 40$ usd, instead of 56.50$ usd on STL). I think I will buy it at the same time as Horn or Infinity.

Spearhead (which looks like a sea shell) => what do you think about his sound ? They said it's very confortable to play with it.

Sorry, I have not good knowledge on solfege and music (i just played flute 10 years ago), I think I will learn theory at the same time I will learn to play.

But, I'm also very open to listening your other brands choices (Focalink/Songbirdocarina) for similar price.

ps : If we can know where is from Enigma (TNG), do you know where are really from Horn/Infinity/Spearhead ocarinas ? (I did not see them on TNG website)

Thanks !

Welcome Ketsueki!

Either of those ocarinas would be a fine choice, but I would personally recommend a Focalink ocarina instead!

I have both a WPN(Stl) Alto C(Stl names it tenor), and a Focalink Alto C, and I find that the Focalink is easier to play well!

If you are interested in Focalink ocarinas, they can be purchased from

www.focalink.com.tw
or
www.songbirdocarina.com (songbird is a US distributor of Focalink and a maker!)

If you would like to hear a Focalink Alto C, you can watch this video...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhK22pDidI0[/youtube]

As for your question about Horn/Infinity/Spearhead ocarinas, I believe they are all made by TNG, but Stl owns the distributing rights, so they only appear on the Stl website!

My honest recommendation is with Focalink Ocarinas, this is because I believe they are a better value! here Kissing88 (fairly popular on youtube), gives his recommendations for first ocarinas! You should check it out! I'm also a member of that forum(ForestsRequiem (I never got it changed here since this forum isn't very active any more)) so if you have any more questions, feel free to ask me here or there!

Forests Requiem

You are right !

Well, after a long time to reading and listening of reviews from here, youtube and "the ocarina network", I think I will buy an Focalink AC from songbird or an AC-A/B from focalink (why is there an hole in a different place between AC focalink from songbird and from focalink ?).

Also, fingering chart of 12 holes are similar for every brands ? (because I wouldlike to buy books from stl, unless I can easly found a lot of tab/sheet from OoT here or on ToN ?).

edit : If you said that stl tenor = other brands alto, their fingering chart would be similar/same ?

Thanks.

Sorry that my reply has taken so long...

I believe the sub-hole placement is different on Songbird's website to match the style of the ocarinas that he makes, but you may be able to email him to arrange the purchase of an ocarina with the other subhole patten.

The fingering for all well-made 12 hole ocarinas are the same, but I will warn you that Stl uses a numerical tab system, I would recommend that you skip tabs and learn sheet music as sheet music is much more universal!

There is lots of sheet music available on TON, and if you purchase Finale Notepad(about $10 I think) you can download midi files from the internet and make them into sheet music that you can then play on ocarina!