Benefits to Rapture Pro over DimPro + Rapture?

Hi-
 
I have DimPro and Rapture and one more day to take advantage of the $79 upgrade (this time around, at least.) I've watched the videos and read, I think, what there is to read about it, but I'm wondering if those who upgraded could comment on the benefits of RapPro over DimPro & Rapture.
 
I'm primarily but not exclusively interested in acoustic instrument simulations rather than pads, soundscapes, etc. I couldn't find a complete listing of the preset names, but that probably wouldn't tell me much anyway. I listened to the demos and they seemed geared more towards "electronic" music, to put it broadly.
 
I guess what I'm asking is for those of you who already owned Dim Pro and Rapture and still purchased Rapture Pro, do you feel like it was worth it, after you've used it a while (and why or why not!).
 
TVMIA-
 
-Susan

Jury still out imho. Bakers still improving it. At least it is usable now.

if you feel comfortable with the interfaces of the older programs, the upgrade may not be so worthwhile....hard to say.  But the Rapture Pro interface is much easier to use.  I personally didn't get REALLY deep into the older interfaces, and so I'm sure just scratched the surface.  Rapture Pro has allowed me to do more, without having to read the instruction manual.

If you're interested, I just put up a review you can find here (yes, I know the URL got garbled, but it is what it is  ):
 
http://soundbytesmag.net/ratprueprobycakewalk/
 
Edit: the URL has been corrected.  It is now:
 
http://soundbytesmag.net/raptureprobycakewalk/

Jeff, I don't know the policies at Soundbytes but most magazines (and not just music tech) have deadlines, length and other aspects that have to be met.  That can play all kinds of havoc w/ going in depth into versions, qualities etc.  I could easily write a long pp about the trials of getting a stable version and burn up 20% of my review length. So what?  What is most important is how does the latest version of whatever you are reviewing work when you come to the deadline.  And the latest Rap Pro works great.  I wouldn't review a Volkswagen bug and be upset that it no longer floats like the 1960s version (there is a great Ted Kennedy joke in there if you remember National Lampoon).
 
I didn't put in any requests to review Rapture Pro because of the problems w/ the early versions.  It was a mess and just exactly could I write that anyone would want to read or publish?  It doesn't work right so don't buy it until it does.  Then do I get another review to say they fixed these problems? 
 
I like Cakewalk and their products and I trusted them to get it right, but up until a few weeks ago I wouldn't want to go to press saying trust me, this will be a good synth once they get basic stuff like finding libraries worked out.  Knowing Cake and their people I could see each version getting better, but that ain't reviewing, that is hope based on experience.  And I could tell it would be a great synth for programming and I would like to add my two cents worth about what would make it better for performance, like relational pads, like the joysticks on the old Synthi (on it you could make the X axis of filter Cutoff more and less pitch depth for Y axis).  But I didn't really want to spend a couple of weeks trying to make RapPro work consistently while exploring all the working aspects of it while having to bump back the deadline (pissing off editors and Cake and taking up more of my valuable time).  maybe if I wasn't moving the studio, but I simply didn't have the time or inclination. 
 
There is no real money in writing reviews - people do it because they want to and are interested in the products. Do you like to spend a month working over a POS you don't want to actually use later?  And nobody writes reviews to trick you consumers into buying the product, but (hopefully) to use as a useful comparison tool. 
 
But as it stands, Rap Pro is a nice synth, combining the best features and sounds of both Dim Pro and Rapt.  New libraries too (look at Kontakt and tell me how important content is).  Some nice performance enhancements too.  Hardly groundbreaking, but a good synth for the price if you don't have one (and the SFZ sound does have a nice bite in comparison to many VAs and sample synths) and a cheap addition/replacement if you do have the other Cake synths if you buy it on sale (for > $100 it is worth it just for the convenience).
 
There are bad reviewers out there, dmbaer ain't one of them.
 
@

Thanks to all for the excellent feedback, and esp. to David for his very informative review! I've decided to hold off buying it for now, but I'm sure I'll consider it again at a later date.
 
Thanks again-
 
-Susan

AT
There are bad reviewers out there, dmbaer ain't one of them.

Thanks for the kind words, AT. 

Susan G
Hi-
 
I have DimPro and Rapture and one more day to take advantage of the $79 upgrade (this time around, at least.) I've watched the videos and read, I think, what there is to read about it, but I'm wondering if those who upgraded could comment on the benefits of RapPro over DimPro & Rapture.

 
Hi Susan,
 
Between the new sample content and the RPro Browser Page it is well worth the upgrade in my opinion.  The Search function can't be underestimated for handiness.  In the future I hope they also roll out a rating system or way to tag favorites within the Browser.  But for now being able to search Organs, Stings, or whatever is needed for a project helps save time tremendously. 
 

Susan G
I'm primarily but not exclusively interested in acoustic instrument simulations rather than pads, soundscapes, etc. I couldn't find a complete listing of the preset names, but that probably wouldn't tell me much anyway. I listened to the demos and they seemed geared more towards "electronic" music, to put it broadly.

 
There are many new acoustic additions that are not highlighted within the demos very well.  Just off the top of my head:
 
- A wonderful new Grand Piano from Chocolate Audio
- New Orchestral Instruments, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, and Percussion
- Concert Grand Harp
- Organs
- Percussion Sets
 
The factory programs have fully taken advantage of all of the new content either, lots of room for program tweaking, combining, and customization.  Also hidden gems including new Multisample mappings that take advantage of Dimension Pro's factory library if anyone has looked inside the 'Dimension Combo Textures' folder (hint, hint).  You'll find hundreds of new .sfz mappings that combine and stack orchestral content from the original Dimension Pro factory library. 
 
I contributed to the RPro factory content so I may be slightly biased, but I do believe there is some great content in the Rapture Pro factory.  The current website demos only scratch the surface. 
 
Cheers,
Chad

 

AT
 
There are bad reviewers out there, dmbaer ain't one of them.
 

I will have to agree with this!!