gustabo

cclarry


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150301378600147.536841.337617160146&type=1

This album dates back to 2010.
Ahh, memories!

Presses the "Like" button..

The Facebook montage shows just how big a deal it is to make a multi-instrument sample library! And of course after you've captured each note at different velocities with multiple microphones, then you get to spend many mind-numbing weeks editing the thousands of files.

BTW, comparisons to Kontakt's release history are bogus. First, each Kontakt version only introduced a handful of new instruments - many of them are the same files that came with Kontakt 2. From K4 to K5 no libraries were updated at all. The plethora of Kontakt content is due to the efforts of third parties.

Second, NI doesn't give a sh*t about backward compatibility. Libraries created under 4.2 could not be played under version 4.1! Users were sometimes stuck with bugs they couldn't get fixes for, or worse, inadvertently overwrote working libraries with incompatible ones. Many libraries that require Kontakt 5 don't actually use any features unique to K5 - the developer simply used K5 when he created them, guaranteeing they cannot be played in any previous version of Kontakt.

I use Kontakt a lot, but I am not a fan of NI's policies of planned obsolescence and forced upgrades. Now if IKM is just smart enough to implement an open standard that encourages third-party add-ons, ST3 could actually give Kontakt a run for its money.

We have been updating that Facebook album since 2010 and do have more to share, but don't like ruining surprises for the release. The editing process is very tedious and has been going on for years now. We do hope to bring a lot to the table you guys have been mentioning, plus we have a few of our own unique ideas for it as well.

I agree with Bit here...IK does have a real opportunity to leap frog NI.  Whether they are able to do it or not is highly problematic and questionable and should be approached with a high degree of skepticism. Plus, so far the only unique idea that IK has had regarding their existing SampleTank users is "here's a tack, why not try sitting on it".

bitflipper


ST3 will still have a role, at least for me. Yes, I have a lot invested in Kontakt libraries, and most of them are superior to what's in ST2. But I will probably never buy a Kontakt-based sitar, hurdy-gurdy, shaku, bagpipe, Mellotron or other once-in-a-while instrument. ST2 serves that role now, and if ST3 offers as broad a selection but with higher-quality samples, then I'm in.

Unless, of course, they totally screw the pooch and require iLok or charge $700 for it. 

I am not sure how the others are doing, but for me, Logic comes w/ pretty much everything need from the traditional stuff to instruments like Ouds and Erhus and Indian Percussions - all of which sound much better than any current ST instrument. As good as it gets unless you're ready to spend so serious money.


Cubase users have Halion Sonic - which I guess they can upgrade. 


Pro Tools users have Structure. 



Sonar users - I don't know... Doesn't Dimension and its expansions sound at least as good as ST?

bitflipper


The Facebook montage shows just how big a deal it is to make a multi-instrument sample library!
 
BTW, comparisons to Kontakt's release history are bogus. First, each Kontakt version only introduced a handful of new instruments - many of them are the same files that came with Kontakt 2. From K4 to K5 no libraries were updated at all. The plethora of Kontakt content is due to the efforts of third parties.

.

The montage shows pretty much the stock, core sounds, piano, organ, guitars, drums. These will no doubt appeal to people buying their first sampler but to tip the balance for some one like me who has these bases well covered they are going to need to be special (or the update needs to be cheap). For example, what they do with the guitars will be interesting. With out the type of scripting of the type included in Orange Tree, Indiginus or Iliya Efimov's offerings for Kontakt, no matter how carefully they are sampled, they are not going to be earth shattering.
 
 
 
However if I read it correctly, most of the people complaining here about the lack of updates would have been happy with a NI type approach with a new Sampletank engine being released much sooner with just a limited amount of new content. The main bone of contention seems to be the inability to use Sampletank in the 64 bit environment without crashes and other inconveniences and the difficult to read interface. I have not had issues with ST in 64 bit Sonar dut I do not use it extensivly. It seems many people do run into problems.
 
 

Rain

Sonar users - I don't know... Doesn't Dimension and its expansions sound at least as good as ST?

I would say yes. Much of the factory library and Digital Sound Factory stuff is similar in quality, but there is nothing in Dim Pro to match Miroslav. Sample Tank covers some gaps in Dim Pro and visa-versa. Some of Dim Pros gaps could be filled by buying more expansions, but if I an spending cash its more likley to go to Kontakt libraries. (Disclaimer - I can't comment on Sample Moog or Sample Tron on Sonic Synth  as I don't have them)
 
I tend to go to Dim Pro or Sample tank when I can't find what I want in Kontakt or Independence.

Yeah, Miroslav would be one heck of an exception.  Unless someone is ready to spend some serious money on orchestral libraries, there's nothing quite like Miroslav - it's the must have.

Same for SampleTron, though in this case, it's more a matter of variety than actual quality. If all you want is the classic Strings/Flute/Brass/Choir, no need to spend money on plug-ins. Though w/ the current prices on IK plug-ins, unless you're on a very tight budget, you should probably grab SampleTron, anyway.

Sonik Synth - it didn't age that well...

SampleMoog... At first I thought I liked it. But there's something "static" about it. It just doesn't breathe...

I still use Dimension Pro on my Mac - and to my own ears, a lot of the instruments in it sound remarkably better than SampleTank, though I don't think its potential has been reached. And sadly, now that René is gone, I'm afraid it'll just fall by the side of the road.

Sad, because some other folks understood the potential of SFZ (hello Alchemy), and Cakewalk, who had a couple of cool and unique cross-platform synths missed an opportunity...

 

For Moog and Mellotron I mostly use GForce M-Tron Pro and Minimonsta. GForce is another company that are late to the 64 bit party, but M-Tron pro has recently been updated to 64 bit and MiniMonsta is beta testing.

M-Tron pro covers almost every conceivable tron sound and if you add the expansion packs you get the wild and whakey too, however there is something very special about Hollow Sun's Neutron Bomb (for Kontakt) if you want organic, raw warts and all Mellotron.

Minimonsta, as a emulation, rather than a sample based instrument really breaths. Arturia has been the main competition, it will be intresting to see how how Native Instruments new Monark minimoog emulator fits in.

So I never felt the need for Sampletron or Sample Moog even when they were going cheap.

Ik Obi: We will not have iLok or charging a ridiculous amount to those already using SampleTank 2.5 or any of our IK VI's without providing a path for upgrade.


That's good to know :) 


I own various IK plugins (VI and Effects) and I'm curious to see how ST3 shapes up because I might consider upgrading to ST3. 

Good luck IK, wishing you all great success!