I don't particularly like Kontakt interface nor it's mixer section. In fact there's nothing I really do like about Kontakt. I still use a lot of Ni older libraries and stand alone instruments. I went with Independence Pro. I think it's a better interface. That being said - there are very cool things done with Kontakts scripting that can't be touched by most any other. But just over all - plug in an instrument and it give it minor teaks and it just sounds good - That's where Independence really shines. Very good quality Library. Sample tank and sonic synth have a lot of character in their samples - they're fun to play and I can get a lot out of them - but for some reason I can't figure out how to unhook the midi volume from resetting with in the instrument. It's a pain to set-up a layered patch and the mix volumes all reset.

Rbh


That's where Independence really shines. Very good quality Library. .

I agree about the factory library for Independence. IMHO its far better the Kontakt and factory library. The Kirk Hunter orchestral samples, The Candy saxes and the Majestic Basses in particular are all really excellent.

The trouble is, as far as content goes, that is where it ends, as far as I know Lyrical Distortion are about the only third party developer doing anything for Independence.
 
I found mapping your own samples in Independence to be very straightforward and intuitive.

I can't figure out how to unhook the midi volume from resetting with in the instrument.

Are you talking about ST going back to its initial volume when you play back, contradicting levels you'd set in ST? It's a bug in ST, I think. I've found that I have to let SONAR explicitly control ST's instrument volumes. IOW, if the value in the MIDI Volume slider is in parentheses, indicating that no CC7s are being sent, ST is free to do its weird thing. But if the slider is set to any value, then ST will obey SONAR's volume commands. I rarely see this issue because most of my MIDI tracks contain volume envelopes, which achieve the same end.

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A cool sampler which I really like and was free back in my PC days is DiscoDSP's Highlife. Might be worth checking out for anyone w/ simple needs.

http://www.discodsp.com/highlife/

One I have yet to test is the more retro Morgana, by 112db. 

http://www.112db.com/vintage/morgana/

These guys make awesome plug-ins, and offer generous 60 days demo for their products.