AIR Complete Bundle 3 vs NI Komplete

Most of them are quite satisfactory.  Different "Palette" so to speak...

Yep, stupid. You'd miss Massive, FM8, Reaktor and all derivatives like Molekular.
Hybrid 3 (and Vacuum Pro or even Loom) are nice indeed, but in another league.
And you'd be without Kontakt. Let me repeat that. You'll be without Kontakt.
Also, you can find thousands of Massive presets all over the net. No work.
Conclusion, hang on to Komplete and get Omnisphere2. Done deal.

And if I recall correctly Hybrid 3 is only half a gig or so. Shouldn't add too much to your disk.

Maybe add SynthMaster. Cheap and able.
And I would keep z3ta+2 as it's small and handy, while Rapture Pro is 10 gig large.

Just to throw my hat in the ring here, I came from the same place as Kenny.  I have had Kontakt/Komplete on my shopping list for years, but never pulled the trigger due to cost.  Same for Omnisphere, too expensive.
 
I upgraded to Platinum this year, and wished to close some gaps in sound making plugins, without breaking the bank.
 
The deal for the AIR instrument collection is awesome.  I don't think it's a replacement for Komplete, but it includes 10 great instruments, with a decent preset collection for each of them.  If you are into sound design, you will have fun with them!  I was only originally really interested in Hybrid, but when the package deal came around, it blew my mind!
 
I would keep the Komplete, and pick up AIR for cheap, then install and audition them all, then pick and choose what VSTs you want to install for keeps from both worlds ...
 
I just have to say, for the included keyboard VSTs, Mini-Grand is good grand piano, Velvet is a good digital piano (Rhodes and Wurli), and DB-33 is a good B-3 organ with a great Leslie cab sim, that comes with a separate FX only cab sim version.
 
The included synths, Hybrid, Vacuum Pro, and Loom, provide a good coverage of hybrid, virtual analog, and additive synthesis, with complete control over sound design parameters.  The preset libraries by professional sound designers give excellent starting points to begin exploring.
 
The Strike virtual drummer is excellent with a 19GB library, as well as the Structure sampler.   Even with the included large library, you can import your own samples into Structure. Wave editing and slicing, keyboard mapping, all included.  Structure is multi-timbral and can add as many parts as your PC can hold. The downside is there is little to no 3rd party support for external libraries such as you find with Kontakt.  But what you get with Structure is 37 GB of great samples to work with.
 
Then even the lowly $1 Xpand!2 synth is a rompler workstation with 2500 sounds, and is 4-part multi-timbral.  This is a layering, or keyboard splitting monster with every sound known to mankind included.
 
Just saying...
 
And if that's not enough, just go pick up Synthmaster while it's still on sale.   I did! 
 
And since I already have the free Kontakt Player, if there is another sound that I need before I can spring for the full NI deal, I can just pick up a Kontakt Player friendly sound library.  There seem to be many of those available now ...

I got most of the AIR stuff with my Akai Advance keyboard and I like everyone of them. I haven't really given Transfuser a good look but I just don't need something like that. Velvet and Loom are real keepers. The AIR pack gives you a lot of good tools. If you don't write  or record a great song it won't be the AIR instruments fault.

rlared
Thanks all for the feedback!  Good to know that people are pleased with the AIR Complete bundle as well.  For now, since I already spent the money, I'll just stick with and learn Komplete as best I can.

That sounds like a good plan too me
 
Kenny
 

kennywtelejazz
 
+1 to all of the above
 
Over here I'm still working on playing catch up when it comes to learning some of the more feature rich synths ...
In the mean time some of the lighter learning curve AIR content is this bundle has impressed me very much ....
 
 
Kenny
 

Yup, 3-4 months in, and I'm still learning.  Probably take me years to get it all down.  Komplete will just have to wait, LOL!
 
One thing I've noticed is that most of this stuff is light on resources and loads up sounds quick.  The Mini-Grand, Velvet, and DB-33 make a very good start for a project with piano, electric piano, and organ.
 
For everything else except drums, just load up a couple instances of Xpand! 2500 sounds in that thing!
 
For drums, AIR Strike is excellent, or you always have Session Drummer and Addictive Drums to audition as well.
 
For Bass, you should check out the freebie P-Bass at Ample Sound - Ample Bass P Lite II. Never used their stuff before, but I think it sounds better than Cakewalk SI Bass.  In fact I think it sounds authentic, almost like my Fender, fret noise and all
http://www.amplesound.net/en/pro-pd.asp?id=19
 
Rounds out the collection nicely. 
 
Oh yeah, Ample also have a free strummed acoustic.  Since I don't play guitar, I grabbed this one too ... Ample Guitar M Lite II
http://www.amplesound.net/en/pro-pd.asp?id=7

kitekrazy1

rlared
Would it be a ridiculous move to purchase the AIR bundle and sell Komplete? 
 
I know I can just install both but I'm going for simplicity so I don't want to do that.
 
The reason I'm thinking about it is I love Hybrid 3. . . that's the first synth I reach for when I am looking for a synth sound.  I think it has a phenomenal sound.  I'm not sure about the rest of AIR's offerings though.
 
Some of the NI stuff I find a little bit too in-depth.  Like too many menus and options. . . I get stuck messing around and tweaking and it breaks my creative flow.
 

 I never take the one or the other approach with software unless it's a choice for purchasing.  The AIR bundle is highly underrated.

I agree with both points. I would only add that Komplete is actually underrated too. Not in the same way. The AIR bundle is still a secret.

+1 on that service, particularly a guy called Simon Bangs. 

Damn you guys are tempting me.  But let me ask this, is it worth paying the $75 to get the Complete bundle if I already have Hybrid 3 and Xpand!2?  I don't see myself using Strike or Structure because I have AD2, Battery 4 and Kontact already.  So is it worth it for Velvet and Loom basically?  

rlared
Damn you guys are tempting me.  But let me ask this, is it worth paying the $75 to get the Complete bundle if I already have Hybrid 3 and Xpand!2?  I don't see myself using Strike or Structure because I have AD2, Battery 4 and Kontact already.  So is it worth it for Velvet and Loom basically?  

OK , I'm back here on a more serious note ....
 
Even considering what you do have Hybrid 3 , Xpand2! , Strike , and Structure ,
I'm of the opinion that at least for myself the deal would be more than worth it ...
Is it right for you ? only you can answer that ...
 
Let's exclude those you have for a moment ...
BTW , for me that is easy to do because the few you have mentioned appear to have what I consider a significant learning curve ....
I have not be able to get deep enough with learning them yet to have any consistency in their proper use   ....
When I have used them , my chops using them have pretty much equaled the subtlety and finesse of A Gangster from the Prohibition era holding a Thomson Tommy Gun doing a little spray and pray even what I had in the staff view ducked and ran for cover
 
Starting with the two you mentioned
Velvet has turned out to be a G..send for me for a few reasons ...the synth sounds very good , it is packed w a lot of usable presets as a starting point and it fills the gap of me having not updating from the Lounge Lizard that came w SPlat to the full version ...
Loom I'm still learning , it has been a joy to experiment around with the sounds I have found so far ..in my case I feel it is a keeper ...
 
a few you didn't mention ...
Trasnfuser blew my head and I'm still shaking in my cowboy boots after messing w it the times I did ...
this one I'm a long way off from having cracked the learning curve ...yet , I would have bought the AIR just for this one ....
 
These may be covered in your NI ..(who knows maybe even better )
 
The DB- 33 and the Mini Grand are both very full featured and they both bring sounds to the table that I prefer in many cases to what I had before ...
 
I have done a lot of messing around with the plugins that came w the AIR bundle on my guitar..
the quality of these plugs remind me of what comes w Samplitude mixed in with a little Blue Cat vibe and sound ..
Would I have spent the whole price of $75 bucks just for them ? I don't know but I definitely like them a lot .
Had i gotten only one synth ..lets say Velvet ,..Yeah I would have bit  for $ 75 just for that combo ...
Love the Leslie cab emulation that came w the bundle ...
 
As stated before ,I'm not in your shoes and I do not own Komplete ....rather than listen to me go on and on endlessly ....
 
I hope someone else may chime in and offer you a few better suggestions and impressions on the AIR bundle than I have
 
all the best,
 
Kenny
 

kennywtelejazz
 
I hope someone else may chime in and offer you a few better suggestions and impressions on the AIR bundle than I have
 
all the best,
 
Kenny
 

To add to what Kenny just said, my opinion is that some of these instruments are worth at least $75 EACH!!!
 
So when you add all 10 or so together for $75 total, well  ... SHAAAAAZAAAM!!! 
 
But seriously, check out a few free trial versions of them ... these downloads in particular are not huge, but the sounds are:
 
DB-33 Tonewheel Organ
 
DB-33 is a virtual organ that recreates the sounds and controllability of classic tonewheel organs such as the Hammond B3, and the rotary-speaker cabinets they are often played through. It includes 122 preset sounds plus an extra-realistic convolution rotary cabinet and tube overdrive emulation. The rotary-speaker cabinet can also be used as an effect in its own right on an audio track.
http://www.airmusictech.com/product/db-33

Five Legendary Electric Pianos

Velvet is a virtual electronic piano that combines five legendary electric pianos from the 60s and 70s into one versatile instrument. Based on the Fender Rhodes Suitcase, Fender Rhodes MK I and MK II Stage Pianos, Wurlitzer 200A and Hohner Pianet-T, Velvet accurately emulates the sound quality, response, and nuances of each original instrument to bring your piano tracks to life. Additionally, Velvet features a pallet of onboard effects and allows you to control every aspect of the sound for unparalleled realism: turn up the tube drive controls in the preamp section to warm up your tone; adjust the timbre, dynamic response, and velocity curve to customize the playing feel; and mix in the sound of pedal and other keyboard mechanical noises to recreate an authentic electric piano track.
http://www.airmusictech.com/product/velvet-2

Explore Additive Synthesis 

Loom is an award-winning modular additive synthesizer with a shape-shifting Morph Pad that makes it easy to create rich, swirling, and captivating sounds. Loom takes a unique modular approach to additive synthesis, a synthesis technique that involves combining simple waveforms together to create complex sounds, by allowing anyone to select from and combine 30 editable modules. Create anything from wobbles, ethereal pads, ambient soundscapes, and much more. The programmable Morph Pad brings your Loom patches to life by morphing between user-defined variations of your patch, adding motion and momentum that continues to evolve.
http://www.airmusictech.com/product/loom

Analog Just Got Warmer

Vacuum Pro is a polyphonic analog synthesizer with vacuum tube circuit modeling that perfectly captures the crunchy, warm sound of the analog era. With four analog oscillators, multiple filters and envelopes, and built-in audio effects, Vacuum Pro lets you dive deep into subtractive synthesis to recreate those sought-after analog sounds from the 70s and 80s. Tweak the switches, knobs, and dials to program anything from basses, leads, pads, or unique sound effects. For even more warmth, Vacuum Pro has six virtual vacuum tube circuits that add crunch and grit at every stage of the signal path. Analog just got a whole lot warmer.
http://www.airmusictech.com/product/vacuum-pro

The Complete collection comes with the plus bundle.  The Select collection is just the instruments only. 
 
The current $75 deal is on the Complete upgrade set here: http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/1-Instruments/58-Inst-Bundle/2294-AIR-Instrument-Expansion-Pack-3-COMPLETE-UPGRADE-