ST3

The most detail is here http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/sampletank3/index.php?pp=sampletank-3-info
 
I would like the improved Miroslav and a better, 64 bit engine to use some of my existing content, but at the upgrade price of $99 the jury is still out. It looks like a good application for the first time user, but I am not sure its aimed at me.
 
If I was using ST3 I would probably bypass the inbuilt T-Racks / Amplitube based effects and use effects in Sonar's FX bin or FX chains, which may or may not include T-Racks and Amplitube, so that part of the package does not sell it to me. Like instruments that use built in effects in Kontakt inbuilt effects can actually slow down the work flow when you have to go in an bypass them.
 
I am not sure about the MIDI engine or indeed the concept of running MIDI patterns within ST3. In my drum samplers I only use the built in MIDI player for auditioning even when there is a facility to chain patterns into songs or song sections. It does not seem like a convienent workflow from my perspective when the DAWs track view and MIDI editing is so powerful.
 
I am not in the market for new "bread and butter" content but I don't think the question was ever answered about how much of the 33GB is actually new, if you read carefully  IK do not imply that it is 33GB of new content, but some people have read it that way. We know that a lot of the orchestral instruments are re-packaged and re-scripted Miroslav samples. I wonder how much ST2.5 stuff is also repackage.

For your convenience — and to avoid the hassle of converting your previous SampleTank 2 XL sounds — all of those prior sound libraries are included in SampleTank 3. Already imported, properly categorized and easy to access, previous users will immediately find sounds they are familiar with. And new users will have an additional arsenal of bread-and-butter sounds that have made history.

 
Then there are a lot of loops, that must take up quite a few GB. I would not use them, will the installing them be optional.
 
To me it seems closer to Dimension Pro than Kontakt.
 
 
 
 

pass

I don't think it's making any attempt to compete or be compared to Kontakt. It's simply not a sampler.  In fact, what it looks like they attempted to do was create a better multimbral workstation synth more along the lines of All-in-one workstations like the Yamaha Motiff or Roland Fantom.  There are not many options for such things using one synth.  I know I'm still wondering how much of the new content is actually new.  I think for the person who likes to crank out songs using one main plugin it's a decent option.  Also not bad fort arrangers who want a beefier option than gm plugins.

dubdisciple
I don't think it's making any attempt to compete or be compared to Kontakt. It's simply not a sampler.  In fact, what it looks like they attempted to do was create a better multimbral workstation synth more along the lines of All-in-one workstations like the Yamaha Motiff or Roland Fantom.  There are not many options for such things using one synth.  I know I'm still wondering how much of the new content is actually new.  I think for the person who likes to crank out songs using one main plugin it's a decent option.  Also not bad fort arrangers who want a beefier option than gm plugins.

I think that is a fair assesment and I think Peter from IK has said as much.
 
I know a lot of people were hoping for some serious competition for Kontakt but they have gone in a different direction, one that is not pulling too hard on my purse strings at the moment.
 
But I am sure there is a market for it.

So where is it? It is July.

Do you know about disk streaming in Sampletank 3?
Can it stream samples from disk or is it only RAM ??

My Sweetwater invoice states release is set for 7-15.
We could start a pool.
Just sayin'....
 
T

Oooooooooooooooo....

I LOVE THIS PART...

Over 10 years in the making, SampleTank 3 sets a new standard for software sound workstations. It builds upon the popularity and legacy of the SampleTank line, with over 33 GB of sounds, over 4,000 instruments, over 2,000 MIDI files and 2,500 loops — all of which sound great and are easy to manipulate right out of the box.

You're welcome.  Glad to have a specific date to share now.

Damn,
I was goin' with the 15th, figured that Sweet had the "weight" to know!
Guess the pool's off then, huh?

T

Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT unhappy.
All the "synths" quit working when I installed X2, ampegSVX too.
Anything that had NOT been ported to 64 bit (this was on my 32bit machine and X2 32 and 64 on the 64 biter).
It'll be nice to have access once again, I marked the $99 upgrade "cheap"!
As far as the "pool" goes; well, we are "downstairs", right?
T

I think I will wait as well.

Think I might give it a crack. I got the first one early too.