Hollow Sun new product the Shell - for your own samples

THE SHELL...
For all those creative individuals who make their own samples and yearn for a professionally scripted GUI with tip-top graphics but maybe lack the skills (or the time) for either, we have what I think might be the ideal solution for you.
Let me present 'The Shell' ...
As you can see from the panel. it's an exceptionally functional synth engine - an 'oscillator' (i.e. your sample(s)) with its own LFO and pitch envelope, a comprehensive multimode filter with six different filter types and, again, its own envelope and LFO, an output stage with amplitude and pan modulation from its dedicated LFO which all pass to a chain of effects featuring distortion, various modulation effects (comprising chorus or flanging or phaser), echo and a convolution reverb with custom spring, plate and hall impulses. It's a chunky synth with massive capabilities for treating and processing your own samples.
But the work's been done for you - you simply assign your samples and map them out in Kontakt's MAPPING EDITOR as normal then leave Kontakt's EDIT pages and tweak to your heart's content from the scripted panel. No assigning of filters or envelopes or LFOs or effects, etc. - just assign and map your samples and then have some fun with the panel.
Furthermore, we've included groups so that you can layer samples and what's more, you can create your own groups to stack up colossal layers of sound.
To get you started, we've included a few basic waveforms (sawtooth, square, 'iSaw', PWM and noise) and a handful of presets. With the power of The Shell's synth engine, it is surprising what's possible with just those waveforms alone.
The Shell comes with a comprehensive user guide to help you create your own sounds. For the more advanced user, there is more functionality.
The Shell is a unique Kontakt instrument designed for you to take YOUR samples to a new level of convenient tweak ability ... a bit like having your own scripter and graphic designer on tap for your own creations.
The Shell is available now for just £8

http://www.hollowsun.com/...ts/gui_shell/index.htm

How is it different from loading a sample into Dimension Pro?

mike_mccue


How is it different from loading a sample into Dimension Pro?

You can use Kontakt's graphical mapping editor to assign your samples rather than text edit an SFZ file. A big plus IMHO particularly if you are using multi samples and velocity layers. Of course once you have mapped your samples Dim Pro does already provide some filter and envelope controls on its interface.
 
If you have Kontakt this one is worth 8 quid in my book. As Steve says "you can tweak your sounds without having to delve into Kontakt’s sometimes arcane edit pages." Those with a lot of experience a building Kontakt instruments may find it superfluous but for me its just the job.

You know I wasn't going to bother with this  - I never seem to have the time for extensive "sound creation" experiments, so have become very much Mr. pre-set man with tweaks!
But for only 8 pounds I think I may just as well get this and start to learn to "twiddle" more effectively - and if I don't have the time (as I expect I won't) I'll have only spent 8 pounds anyway!!

I was trying to explain to another sample library producer recently that their products were too expensive, that's why they were not selling enough. I used the pricing model of Hollow Sun / Hideaway as my examples in trying to get them to understand - lower prices / sell more / make more money
They couldn't seem to grasp the point, that, like here, this is so cheap you don't really think twice regarding purchase - if this was say 20 pounds, I most certainly would think twice and in the end, probably would not buy - anymore than 20 and I simply wouldn't even consider it.
Perhaps I should send them this post 
Nigel

Thanks for the explanations everyone.

Honestly, all I see is a filter bank.

Where does the scripting part come in to play with this "front end"?



best regards,
mike

Where does the scripting part come in to play with this "front end"?

Every knob, button and slider you see in a custom Kontakt UI is defined by a script. You have to tell it what type of control to display, where to display it, what its parameters are and what it controls.

  I wouldn't call it a filter bank. It's really just a "ready to go" GUI for your samples. Normally, if you just map samples via Kontakt, you don't have any knobs like that available to easily change basic synth-type parameters. It's really for convenience sake.

mike_mccue


I guess I'm thinking/asking about the scripting stuff that chooses which sample is loaded when.

I always assumed that was where Kontakt was very powerful... being able to call up certain specific samples out of a stack of choices for more complex reasons than mere velocity relationships.

Do you get to fool with that stuff or is this just a filter bank?

Its not even a filter bank, just a scripted GIU that gives you direct access to some of Kontakts envelopes LFO, filters and effects. Just a nice little tool for very little money.
 
All the things you mention can be done in Kontakt but this GIU wont help you with that. Kontakt its very powerful, of course with power comes complexity. I know all that stuff is there but I have never got past mapping multi samples to notes and setting up velocity layers.

It may even prompt me to get the old Korg Poly 800 out the roof and sample it to provide some material.

Do it Glyn - you know it makes sense! 




Stephen

What distinguishes Kontakt from other sample players is its extensive scripting language. But that's also what turns off a lot of would-be sample creators, who find scripting obtuse.  

All true.


However, there is serious competition from Mach V ( http://www.motu.com/products/software/machfive ), something we are considering supporting because it's very good (better even than Kontakt!!) but there's a problem there with Mach V's market penetration.

It's a bit of a chicken/ edge situation - is that because there's very little library for it or is because developers aren't supporting it because (compared with Kontakt) the market is small (errmmm... perhaps because there's very little library for it)? Or is it (like Moog and their MemoryMoog) that MOTU were too late. Or all of the above?

There's also the little issue of it requiring an iLok. I understand why MOTU would want to protect their product that way but a lot of users seem to have a pathological hatred for iLok! A bit odd really but I can (sort of) understand their arguments (well... the rational ones, anyway!).

Also, of course, a lot (like a LOT) of people have invested in Kontakt and are loathe to move to something else.

But Mach V is a damned fine sampler with excellent scripting.


Stephen

A couple of years ago after NI had just "ripped" me off with the Kore Fiasco, I purchased Mach 5.
I had a load of old Plugsound pro stuff, which Uvi swapped for me to the new format at a small charge.
I have purchased a number of very nice libraries since then, probably my favorite being the Vintage Synths bundle, which again Uvi were very accomodating price wise.
I have to say dealing with Uvi / Motu has been a breath of fresh air after dealing with NI - I have found them to be
a) Real people who answer your email requests personally and quickly
b) very nice and very fair people to deal with

I still have my Kontakt, which I have found I have had to keep for stuff like Hollow Sun / hideaway releases - wish I didn't but there we go.
Some people now release in Mach 5 format (Acoustic Samples) - I wish more would do this as I do prefer Mach 5 to Kontakt - only criticism I would make that very large patches can take longer to load in Mach 5 as opposed to similar sized patches in Kontakt - however this is no deal breaker for me.
Nigel

I don't have much more to say because although I have it here (sent to me by MOTU to mess around with), I've not yet installed it <blush!!> but Mario, my scriptmeister, is very enamoured of it. Seems the scripting language is less obtuse and more capable.

I gather there's a synth in there (there's a synth in Kontakt but you need to supply the oscillators ... hence The Shell) but M5 has oscillators, ring mod, better modulation, etc.. I could build my own synth with it ... which is attractive.

I'd have to install it and look into it more closely before giving any definitive comments.

We would really like to develop for it but it's a gamble. We could spend a lot of time (a precious resource), not sell many and also get a whole load of gip from users moaning about the iLok. And, of course, we'd have to develop for both Kontakt AND M5 which would be a hefty overhead.

Frankly, our time might be better (i.e. more profitably) spent developing mad little iPad apps along the lines of the MLMs, whatever - that could be good fun!

Cheers,


Stephen

Bajan Blue


Stephen

I don't think mentioning that you may go the IK Multimedia route and forsake all us guys here in favor of the quick buck iMoney market will go down very well - in fact it could well alienate many people considering what a shambles IK Multimedia has become. Many many people here have invested quite a bit of money in that company to only find out they don't really give a s*** now they love iCrap so much.
Nigel

IK Multimedia? Eh? Where did I mention that?


No - I was talking about doing a few fun apps, independently, for iPad. I didn't even know about IK Multimedia until you mentioned it!


And I wouldn't be forsaking anyone - business as usual but with some daft little, fun iPad instruments on the side.




Stephen

Who said IK Multimedia? I didn't. Just do a few fun MLM style apps on the side for a bit of fun (for everyone). I don't even know what IK Multimedia is to be honest.

I have a programmer friend I worked with at Akai Japan and we're looking to put together an iApp for a bit of fun.

IK Multimedia? What?

I am not sure I am following the trend of this thread now.

I said that I might do an iPad app and suddenly I am in bed with IK Multimedia and dropping everything else? Eh? What?! 

As they say in Japan... 分からない


Stephen

Stephen
Sorry about this, I'll try and explain.

IK Multimedia were a popular software supplier and many many people, especially those who frequent these forums, purchased and used their products. I think it fair to say (and to crib a few words from Bitflipper) they did have good "street cred", a bit like Hollow Sun do now.

However in the past few years, IKMultimedia have almost foregone their existing clients, many who had paid hundreds if not thousands of dollars for their products, to concentrate on the iCrap market.
For instance, their Sampler, Sample Tank has not been updated for many years and now most people have issues and can no longer use it at all,  as it is still only 32bit and VERY VERY OLD.

So people now equate, wrongly or rightly, companies that concentrate on the iCrap marketplace with what has happened with IKMultimedia.

Believe me, they have NO "Street Cred" left and they will really struggle to get their reputation back.

I hope this explanation helps you understand why everyone is so touchy about this subject.

All I can say I hope Hollow Sun never changes (except perhaps going to Mach 5!!)

Cheers
Nigel