Maarkr
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Kontakt favorites?
After years of putting off getting the full version of Kontakt, I finally got it after they offered their recent discount. Now while the numerous instruments are on sale for the holidays (or at least this week), I was curious what peoples favorites may be. I have Alicia Keys, Strum Acoustic ( that I see that they updated but don't offer an upgrade -- I read the post) and Rickenbacker Bass, all of which I love. I'll be spending a lot of time exploring all of the items that come with the full Kontakt, but also wondering what is out there that people really like.
Maarkr Studio: SPALT Lifetime/BL Cakewalk, Studio One 3.5, UAD, Z3ta+2, IKM, NI, Waves, iZotope, Melda, Reaper i7 3770/Giga Z77 mobo, Win10 Pro-64 w16Gb, MOTU Ultralite MK4, Yamaha HS80M wSub, Live: PX-5S, FA-06, Roland Lucina, Epi Les Paul, Ibanez Bass, Amps, e-drums, Zoom R-16... Latest album release, NEW! Counry Classic at http://genemaarkr.bandcamp.com/
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bapu
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/25 22:12:33
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It might be easier to answer what is NOT liked for Kontakt. For me nothing. I have 10 Ultimate and a gazillion 3rd party libs. Love them all. 
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Amicus717
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/25 23:06:45
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What bapu said...10 Ultimate is an amazing toolkit.
As for 3rd party libraries: I'm a serious Albion One advocate. Easily my favorite library among all that I own (Kontakt or otherwise). Its the first one I load up with every session.
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/26 06:37:07
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Just for starters check out.
Orange Tree Samples Evolution guitars.
Hollow Sun for vintage keyboards and off the wall synths and sound design.
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Magic Russ
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/26 10:49:15
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Also
Hideaway Studio for vintage synth and sound design.
Sonic Couture
Sampletekk for pianos.
Rhythmic Robot, Sample Magic, and Tronsonic for some lesser known vintage synths.
I have also been having fun with Session Horns.
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bitflipper
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/26 10:57:45
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☄ Helpfulby Maarkr 2016/11/27 12:33:37
Since you listed Strum Acoustic and the Rick Bass, I'll assume you're not a guitar player. If you're a keyboard player who wants to add guitars to your creations, let me suggest some guitars... First, check out the Indiginus catalog. They hit the sweet spot at the intersection of inexpensive and useful. I like and use them all, but my favorites are Renegade and Delta Blues for leads and AGC for rhythm. Also, Solid State Symphony is particularly fun and satisfying for on-the-fly orchestration. Orange Tree Samples offers similar products at the higher end of the spectrum, more full-featured and versatile but at a higher price. Top of that list is my go-to bass, the Rickenbacker, but you've already got one of those so that would be redundant. Second-favorite OTS product is Evolution Strawberry, my go-to for more aggressive lead guitars. But I've not been disappointed by any of my OTS purchases. Falling in between Indiginus and OTS would be Ilyia Efimov. More expensive than Indiginus but less than OTS, more feature-rich than Indiginus but not as versatile as OTS. His nylon and steel-string acoustic guitars are quite good, and currently on sale for $63 each.
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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bapu
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/26 11:58:03
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bitflipper
Orange Tree Samples offers similar products at the higher end of the spectrum, more full-featured and versatile but at a higher price. Top of that list is my go-to bass, the Rickenbacker, but you've already got one of those so that would be redundant.
Gotta disagree Dave. I own both and they are very different IMO. Warmer (fingered) and vs. clackier (picked).
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bitflipper
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/26 12:53:25
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No doubt, the OTS Rick is the best I've heard. Granted, I may be foolish to argue with a bass player about sampled basses, but I still think nobody (except perhaps compulsive collectors) needs two of 'em. Ricks, that is, not basses.
All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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Maarkr
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/27 12:33:29
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thanks bitflipper... very good advice. Altho I play some guitar on my recordings if I can, you can't beat the tight, clean output of a decent midi backing guitar. I usually run it thru an amp prog like Amplitube anyway to give it improved sound. I bought the Delta Blues inst for a country song I'm working on and it sounds nice. Now I'm on the fence about the AGC or StrumMaker IV for a rhythm/acoustic. I've had good luck also with the AAS Strum GS-2 for smoe simple country backing strumming.
Appreciate the advice from the other posters also!
Maarkr Studio: SPALT Lifetime/BL Cakewalk, Studio One 3.5, UAD, Z3ta+2, IKM, NI, Waves, iZotope, Melda, Reaper i7 3770/Giga Z77 mobo, Win10 Pro-64 w16Gb, MOTU Ultralite MK4, Yamaha HS80M wSub, Live: PX-5S, FA-06, Roland Lucina, Epi Les Paul, Ibanez Bass, Amps, e-drums, Zoom R-16... Latest album release, NEW! Counry Classic at http://genemaarkr.bandcamp.com/
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Fleer
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/27 13:45:41
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The ones I like come from:
AIR, BigFish, Cinesamples, 8Dio, Embertone, GForce, GospelMusicians, Heavyocity, ISW, NI, OrangeTree, Output, Pettinhouse, ProductionVoices, Realivox, Sampletekk, Soniccouture, SoundIron, Spitfire, SugarBytes, Wavesfactory and Zero-G.
Best ones to my eyes and ears?
Embertone Intimate Strings bundle, GospelMusicians Neo-Soul, ImpactSoundworks Pearl Grand and Ventus Shakuhachi, OrangeTree acoustic guitars, Output Exhale, Realivox Ladies and Blue, Spitfire Albion One, Wavesfactory Mercury Grand.
"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl" (Wish You Were Here)
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bitflipper
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/27 15:03:20
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Maarkr
Now I'm on the fence about the AGC or StrumMaker IV for a rhythm/acoustic.
I have both, and although SM4 has more sophisticated options for strumming, AGC has more guitars. My preference for AGC may stem from my predilection for picking over strumming (never cared for anybody's strum engine, really), but AGC gets used a lot more than any other acoustic guitar library I have. If I need complex strumming that's difficult to program, then I'll go to the trouble of setting up a microphone and playing it the traditional way. BTW, don't overlook the version of AAS Strum that's bundled with Platinum, for your simpler strummed backing pads.
All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/28 04:23:57
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Nobody has mentioned Bolder Sounds yet. They have a nice range of stringed instruments. Banjo, Mandolin and the wonderful Guitarron Mexican acoustic bass.
There is a cyber Monday sale on now, sorry, no links as I am posting from my phone.
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Hatstand
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/28 15:28:12
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+1 for Albion ONE (plus I have some of the labs series)
I have drum director from Loop loft (both flavours) and hardly use them, 99 sounds have some great freebies
I have Cassetto which is still on group buy which is good value to say the least (especially if you have Izotope IRIS
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Slugbaby
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/28 15:52:06
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I've got Session Horns Pro, and think it's pretty fantastic.
I just bought Vintage Organs on the weekend and can't stop playing with it.
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jude77
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/28 17:48:21
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Glyn Barnes
Nobody has mentioned Bolder Sounds yet. They have a nice range of stringed instruments. Banjo, Mandolin and the wonderful Guitarron Mexican acoustic bass.
There is a cyber Monday sale on now, sorry, no links as I am posting from my phone.
I really like bolder Sounds. They cover some turf that nobody else does. http://boldersounds.com/
You haven't lived until you've taken the Rorschach. Windows 10 Home Edition 64-bit /6th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700 Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.0 GHz)/16GB (1x16GB) DDR4 2133MHz SDRAM Memory/ NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GT 730 with 2GB DDR3 Graphics Memory/ Dell KB216 Wired Multi-Media Keyboard English Black/ 802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.0/Integrated 7.1 with WAVE MAXXAudio Pro/Wireless 3165 driver
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Magic Russ
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/29 12:31:54
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Precision Sounds specializes in obscure ethnic instruments and some of the lesser known organs.
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Rain
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/29 14:20:46
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I'm using the free Kontakt player, mainly for Abbey Road 60's and 70's drums.
TCB - Tea, Cats, Books...
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Fleer
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/29 21:54:42
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Don't forget all of those BigCatt freebies.
"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl" (Wish You Were Here)
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BassDaddy
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Re: Kontakt favorites?
2016/11/30 09:59:53
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Rain
I'm using the free Kontakt player, mainly for Abbey Road 60's and 70's drums.
Rain, just wanted to say I love your avatar. May need a little love though for brother Henri, "The Pocket Rocket". (one of my favorite sports nicknames)
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