So I confirmed that the older Concert Strings 2 instruments are made with Kontakt 4.1.1 and thus should load in it. I can't confirm that, since I only own Kontakt 5, but it is my understanding that's how it works. So you should be able to get CS2 and use it with K4, just not the ESA instrument patches. The TEVC 4 patches should work fine.

SOLVED.  [Kirk just helped me find out that my windows extraction program was added an extra folder in each of the Spotlight Strings folders and this messed up the GUI.  So ignore my post, which I have now strikedthrough]
Anyone have trouble with Spotlight Strings GUI?  i just purchased, downloaded and installed it, but the GUI is not as described, and it is just a basic kontakt black, white and gray page.  All my other Kontakt insturments (K9Ultimate) work great, but this Spotlight Strings GUI is just wrong.

Looks like they have extended the 75% until the 12th.
 
I have picked up concert stings this time round just need to get through the download now!!

I bought Diamond the other day and I'm enjoying it. I still need more time to work with it, but for an all in one orchestral solution it works well and for less than $80 it was a steal. Here is a short track I wrote in 2 days using it.
I'm surprised there aren't more demos on youtube. This sale was unexpected, but at that price I couldn't pass it up.

Sycraft
So I confirmed that the older Concert Strings 2 instruments are made with Kontakt 4.1.1 and thus should load in it. I can't confirm that, since I only own Kontakt 5, but it is my understanding that's how it works. So you should be able to get CS2 and use it with K4, just not the ESA instrument patches. The TEVC 4 patches should work fine.

I have both K4 & K5 and Concert Strings 2 works well in K 4.2.4.

jimusic

cecelius2
SOLVED.  [Kirk just helped me find out that my windows extraction program was added an extra folder in each of the Spotlight Strings folders and this messed up the GUI.  So ignore my post, which I have now strikedthrough]
Anyone have trouble with Spotlight Strings GUI?  i just purchased, downloaded and installed it, but the GUI is not as described, and it is just a basic kontakt black, white and gray page.  All my other Kontakt insturments (K9Ultimate) work great, but this Spotlight Strings GUI is just wrong.

Cec - I'm having trouble with Spot Light Strings ever since I bought it in March and unfortunately Kirk never did reply to my 2 posts on KVR where he prefers to be contacted.
 
So it's basically sitting there unusable on my system.
 
Could you post or PM me an example of what these folders are so that I can have a look for them as well?
 
Thanks!

Just saw this.  Yes, I will, but it may be later tonight or Saturday.

Awesome! Thanks muchly!
......................................
Wow - I just checked the PM you sent.
 
Thanks for taking the time to type all that out for me.
 
You're the Man, Cec!

musichoo
...I have kontakt and a few different piano vst. Do you think l still need st3?...

Looking at the items in your signature list, I'd say no.
 
Particularly with Komplete 9 & Kontakt.

rtucker55
Yeah, what Jimusic said. Depending on your preferred genre or instrument requirements I don't see anything you could not do better with a 3rd party Kontakt library vs. what st3 would bring to the table.
 
If you just want to blow some money on new software st3 might be fun but it is still too early to tell since it still has not been released and had some real world testing.
 
I have made a personal decision to just hold off on st3 until after it has been in the hands of real life musicians for a while. Even then I may pass due to I just don't see anything special about it that I don't already have that is more capable and in-depth. It just reminds me of something I would buy if I was just starting out and wanted a variety of sounds in a single package.
 
Wishing you the best.
 
Kind regards,
Rick

Gotta agree with Rick here. If you or someone had very little to work with, then maybe, but my feeling is that for a lot of us, IK has taken so bloody long getting this thing [ST3] out, that even those who may still be interested, have probably filled up their apple carts with a whole bunch of other 'flavors' by now.
 
I know I have.
 
Myself, I won't be going for ST3.
 
But if I was just starting out, I might have a different viewpoint.
 
However with the way IK have handled themselves, I'd be inclined to look elsewhere first, and put ST3 at the bottom of the list - not the top.
 
I just have a funny feeling that it will be riddled with problems, bugs and hangups.
 
No other VST maker has taken so long & broken so many release date promises.
 
So one has to be sus.piciously cautious with a group & history like that - especially compared to so many others that simply make their VSTs - and then release them  - and then announce them. Period.
 
Like Rick says, you might enjoy getting other libraries for Kontakt instead.
Lot's of them go on sale for cheap now.
 
I'm happy enough with the ones I have that ST3 holds no temptation for me whatsoever.
And don't forget all the Factory Content that comes just with Kontakt alone.
 
HTH

musichoo
Thank You Rick and jimusic for your response. I appreciate your responses very much.

You're quite welcome.
Hope we helped out just a little bit.

I agree with the sentiments above. If you have kontakt already stick with that. I was planning on getting st3 last year, but after months of waiting I bought kontakt on sale. Now I can't think of anything I really need in st3.