I just installed the TW16s that was mentioned on the forum. While it doesn't have near the features that Kontakt has it is a pretty powerful little piece of software. No libraries that I know of for it. If you are into or want to learn how to build your own instruments from samples it is very easy to use. If you are used to Kontakt, Battery or VSampler. The workflow is very similar. This is just the free versions, 32 and 64. It just might be worth throwing some money for. The Pro version is way cheaper than the others we mentioned.

Sorry, that's the TX16. MY BAD!

Glyn Barnes

dcumpian


. However, if you already have samples, you'll want Kontakt. IIRC, it can load most any sample, including old Giga samples (that I regret throwing out now).

Kontakt (the full paid version) will, but not Kontakt player (the free version) will only work in "demo" mode with the other formats 

Of course the full version of Kontakt is far more than a player, it's a fully featured sampler. If you want you can map your own samples, create scripted instruments etc., etc.
 
Here is a another free one that's worth a look http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2753892
 

Yes, I should have said that. Frankly, I bought Komplete and Kontakt was included with that. That is a great bundle.
 
Regards,
Dan
 

As a player Sampletank is dated and very hard to read if you do not have 20-20 vision.

I use SampleTank's GUI as a benchmark for judging the quality of a screen image.  For me, only a Matrox graphics card together with a decent Dell monitor make it acceptable.  With any other graphics hardware, I find myself squinting a lot.

I had Sampletank but the sound of it was less than stellar and they haven't improved on the library in years.

I like the SampleTank sounds, but unfortunately most of them seem to be single-layered.  I have tended to use them for background instruments rather than ones that will be upfront in the mix.

I'm using it a lot less now since upgrading my o/s to W7 from XP.  Initially I had problems with the installation and registration.  That's all fixed now, but it is still very slow to launch and Sonar projects containing ST are slow to launch too.  Also, when re-scanning VST plugins, the process seems to stall for a minute or so when it reaches the stage of scanning particular VST.  I've got SampleTron, Miroslav, SonicSynth and SampleMoog, but none of these have any problems.

I've used all three, as well as other sample players such as Alchemy, Omnisphere, Dim Pro and YellowTools. Kontakt is easily the best of the bunch as a sample player, even though the bundled factory content is weak. The great thing about Kontakt is all the third-party content that's available, much of which is very reasonably priced.

Sampletank's aged, lacks modern features, and has a UI designed for 15" VGA displays. But I still use it on a regular basis. I predict that the upcoming Sampletank 3 will be a huge hit. If they're wise enough to offer a can't-say-no introductory price for it, I think it'll quickly become a standard - and IKM will be forgiven for taking so long.

I have a feeling we will see ST3 during NAMM...

Just a hunch....could be miles out...

Just got Komplete 8, the main reason to get Kontakt 5. What sold me, the availability of third party libraries. Will be looking at getting Session Horns and Session Strings.

I really need to learn how to process Session Strings because I just can't seem to get them to sound good in a mix. Having said that I have never really used strings before. 

cclarry


I have a feeling we will see ST3 during NAMM...

Just a hunch....could be miles out...

Didn't Obi mention something like late 2013?