Group Buy Time at IK

IK Multimedia is having another Group Buy on the T-Racks 3 Deluxe for the month of Feb.
 
Price is $199
If 2000 registered sales are made, as the bonus you get either the Black 76 or the White 2A.
 
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/Main.html?deluxepromo/index.php
 
I already got the Fairchild 670 (which is included in this T-Racks 3 Deluxe) and also have the Black 76 (which is really fantastic).....
Although I'd like to get the White 2A, I can't see myself spending $199 "semolians" on the GB....unless IK can give an alternate offer.
 
OBI, work your charm for those us who have already invested in some of these!!

I already have T-Racks standard, plus the Fairchild, the Pultec, The Black 76 and the White 2A. It's like T-Racks Deluxe Custom Edition, but I guess I inadvertently locked myself out of any possible deal. :s  I don't really see myself putting 3 x $99 on the 3 other plug-ins.

Nevertheless, maybe someday, when the iDust settles and they iGo back from being iK to being IK, they can iCome up w/ a few new non-i plug-ins and take some of my non-i money again. 

Glad that they're enjoying success on that platform, but, after a certain time of nothing but iNews, you sort of let them go off the watch list. 

But we still like you Obi - at least until you turn iObi on us. ;)

Rain or should it be iRain - very good and very accurate - WHEN is the new Sampletank going to be ready for instance?? iObi, I think you need to remind your Masters not to forget us NON iPeople before we forget  iK!!! 
Nigel

I have them in my newsfeed on FB, which I guess probably contributes to my slight iRritation.

From what I've read over there, developing for conventional platforms takes more time (I can understand, different platforms and configurations). However, I feel like they sort of built up our expectations during the 15 years promo w/ all the talk about exciting new products coming down the pipes. Which is why it feels a bit like a let down.

Rain, I know this is a bit OT, but have you heard anything (reviews etc..) about the new Amplitube Metal?

Nah, I've sort of been out of the loop guitar toys-wise for the last few months. Sorry. 

Black 76 is the best vst compressor I have ever used. Works so musically on just about everything.

I already have T Racks Deluxe and the Black 76 compressor......I wish IK would offer a sale on the White compressor for people like me who already have the Deluxe

@Mesh Thanks for helping spread the word about the Group Buy! The more people that know the easier it'll be for everyone to hit 2,000 and get a free compressor out of it too! Thats less than $20/plugin! @Rain trust me when I say we have some stuff in store for you this year. BIG stuff planned for our professional studio customers, and our guitar and bass players too. We haven't forgotten our roots and won't anytime soon. 2012 is the year of Gear at IK and I'm positive you'll start to see that in the next few months. @Jamesyoyo It really is. I LOVE it on sooo many things I can't imagine not using it on vocals or guitars or any mix really.

Don't forget about me Obi! That's a John Oram Trident sittin' behind me

Thanks Obi. :) 

Personally, I'd be happy to see a few new singles. You guys already have a head start over NI in that we don't have to load a big shell to use your plug-ins - but we do have the option. Best of both world. That and maybe CSR singles. ;)

@Gaffpro No worries! We aren't forgetting our customers! We have some BIG plans for 2012! You'll see! @Rain Hmmm thats not a bad suggestion.

Ok Obi, THANKS!

IK Obi


@Gaffpro No worries! We aren't forgetting our customers! We have some BIG plans for 2012! You'll see! @Rain Hmmm thats not a bad suggestion.

I gave up waiting for SampleTank 3.  What has it been 5 years?  The Facebook page stuff on ST3 is from 2010!  Since I'm weeding out 32bit plugs I don't use it anymore and just keep upgrading Kontakt.  I know a lot of companies need to get on the ios train but several of them have left desktop customers to wither and move on.  I'm selling my Notion 3  because they stopped all development to do ios stuff.  Maybe they needed to because of the economy but the cost was momentum with their flagship app.  I've pretty much already spent as much as I'm going to for quite a while on sample libraries and most of it went for Kontakt stuff since it's 64bit and is activly developed.   SampleTank, unfortunatly, is history for me.  It's a shame.

Vintagevibe - similar situation for me, although I do still have Sampletank installed on my old  32bit  Computer  which is linked by Vienna Ensemble to my new main 64bit Computer, so I can still use it - however I decided to go a different route and have invested in Mach 5, which I am really getting into - sounds good and more importantly it is nothing to do with Native Instruments!
But we need IK to get their act together - if they don't start to update their stuff VERY soon, it will be too late. Myself for instance, because of investing in other products, any SampleTank upgrade should it ever appear will have to be very reasonably priced, otherwise I'll just stick to the old version as it is very much now a secondary product for me.

I'm in a very similar situation with Kitcore / DrumCore.
Still have them installed on my old system, but they have been totally superceded by newer products, so any upgrades will have to be good and reasonably priced for me to consider upgrading.

I just hope for both these companies the iPad route is not just some passing phase - I have an iPad and find the thing basically useless other than as a toy (thankfully I was given it - I would be grievously upset if I had had to spend money on it!) - I'm amazed people are raving about using cut down programs on it - it seems like going backward to me, but I suppose we could say that about how we have to produce music these days - MP3 etc - where have the days of having the best QUALITY music system gone - and producing the best quality music you could to be heard on it 
Nigel

I still occasionally use SampleTank.

Yes, the interface is marginal at best. Maybe not the best samples out there but they do have usable sounds.

Given that I have the choice I usually opt for some component of Komplete 8 over SampleTank.

FWIW, nearly 50% of all my IK products were bought at considerable discounts or $0.00 during a two for one sale.

Bajan Blue




I'm in a very similar situation with Kitcore / DrumCore.  Still have them installed on my old system, but they have been totally superceded by newer products, so any upgrades will have to be good and reasonably priced for me to consider upgrading.

I still use DrumCore because I can't do without their percussion plus it works great with jBridge.   SampleTank (and SonikSynth, etc) that I have don't play nice with jBridge or BitBridge so they're useless to me.

vintagevibe

SampleTank (and SonikSynth, etc) that I have don't play nice with jBridge or BitBridge so they're useless to me. 

That's odd. SampleTank under BitBridge works fine here.

Looks like IKM have mis-judged this one. It looks doubtful that the 2000 mark will be reached by month's end. I hope enough people care about integrating their telephones into their studios to keep the company afloat until ST3.

I've got IK on speed dial. Not a chance of 2,000 people buying this. I would have gone for a 'round your collection off' promotion. People have many of these plug-ins but plenty don't have them all - some may not have the shell too. Give people a chance to buy a few at a discount.

TBH, it'd also surprise me - the 15 years Group Buy really isn't that far behind, T-Racks has already been out for a little while, and I would think that pretty much anyone interested would have bought it during that sale - or grabbed it as a freebie.

That's what I did - grabbed it as a freebie - hence my impression to have locked myself of any possible deal, until they come up w/ new plugs.

Rain

TBH, it'd also surprise me - the 15 years Group Buy really isn't that far behind, T-Racks has already been out for a little while, and I would think that pretty much anyone interested would have bought it during that sale - or grabbed it as a freebie.

Plus, think of all the folks that jumped on the Nomad Factory everything-for-99-bucks sale just six or so months ago.  Sheesh, how many compressors, limiterers, EQs of all varieties does the typical computer music hobbiest need?

dmbaer

Rain

TBH, it'd also surprise me - the 15 years Group Buy really isn't that far behind, T-Racks has already been out for a little while, and I would think that pretty much anyone interested would have bought it during that sale - or grabbed it as a freebie.

Plus, think of all the folks that jumped on the Nomad Factory everything-for-99-bucks sale just six or so months ago.  Sheesh, how many compressors, limiterers, EQs of all varieties does the typical computer music hobbiest bapu need?

Point taken.

These days my eyes glaze over at compressor/reverb/equalizer/etc. sales. I don't need any more of that stuff! And (more than once) I have resolved not to buy any more of that stuff.

Of course, if IK's LA-2A or 1176 clones were going for twenty bucks each, my resolve would vaporize in a flash. Good thing that ain't gonna happen, at least not for a few years. By then my entire studio will be in my telephone anyway.

I had the same resolve. 

No matter which one I buy, I'm always use my bundled compressor at first. Then I sometimes make a conscious effort to replace it later w/ one of the fancy ones - but in the end, revert to my basic one 99% of the time.

I remember one time putting one the White 2A and thinking I'd stumbled onto some magic combination - instant gratification. But, a bit of time on my hands and some critical listening and sure enough, I was able to accomplish pretty much the same thing w/ my good old Logic comp in opto mode. 

So now, most of the time, that's how/why I use them - it's almost like browsing through presets: they help me quickly figure out what I'm looking for, w/o much tweaking because they all work in a specific way. But in themselves, they don't really let me do things I can't accomplish otherwise, sonically.
 
All that being said, it didn't prevent me from grabbing Focusrite's Midnight Bundle (EQ and Comp) for $49 just last week.  Pretty nice.

Still, I do allow myself to have a couple of different tools - just for the sake of not turning the whole thing into a systematic process. 

Rain


Still, I do allow myself to have a couple of different tools - just for the sake of not turning the whole thing into a systematic process. 

Finally a rationale that fits me to a tee!!

@VintageVibe/Bapu SampleTank 3 is on its way. It just takes a lot of time to make a library to the quality standard that IK holds itself to. When SampleTank 3 comes out you'll all be singing a very different tune. Err, playing a different tune! ;) @Bitflipper Not with that attitude we won't! We are pushing to hit 2,000 to give out some freebie comps!

IK Obi

@VintageVibe/Bapu SampleTank 3 is on its way. It just takes a lot of time to make a library to the quality standard that IK holds itself to. When SampleTank 3 comes out you'll all be singing a very different tune. Err, playing a different tune! ;) 

Hey IK OBI:  Thanks for this tidbit about SampleTank 3; I am saving up the $$ anticipating it's long awaited release.  I already own ALL of the IK synth libraries and in fact most of your product line.  Like others here, this group buy has nothing in it for me that I do not already own.  While I like the vast collection of IK sample libraries, unfortunately I do not use SampleTank 2 much because the GUI is just too small and difficult to read.  I have read elsewhere that the GUI has been addressed in v3, but will SampleTank 3 still be able to load SampleTank2 libraries (Moog, Tron, Miroslav)? It would make buying it a sure thing if it does.  

When ever ST3 comes out I hope it's UI isn't crappy like the current synth's UIs are. Dinky letters and like colors are crappy! I usually give up and go with a different synth. It would be easier if all the presets were divided up by the synths used (Sonik Synth or even Sampletron and moog). It would less time consuming to look for the sound you want.

@Bitflipper - I remember you giving directions on how to access all the different synth through Sampletank. Since Sampletank can be made easier to see, I would love to know how to do that please.

Yeh, I use the SampleTank UI for all the IK libraries (Miroslav, SonicSynth, SampleMoog, SampleTron and expansions). Doing so was easy; I installed all the files under a common folder for convenience and then clicked on the "Relist" button. It found all the libraries and listed them in the browser window.

I think we can assume that ST3 will have an entirely new UI, even if it wasn't the #1 gripe about ST2. Back in 2002, most people had a single 17" or 19" monitor and screen real estate was at a premium. Many plugins had excruciatingly compact interfaces out of necessity. Nowadays, we expect multiple UI size options, either as fully-resizable windows (e.g. meldaproductions' stuff) or a choice of 2 or 3 different fixed sizes (e.g. Kontakt).

In the past 10 years, the bar's been raised for samplers. With Kontakt leading the way, we've come to expect more and more control, more realism, more options. SampleTank has had a lot of catching up to do, so I'm not surprised it's taken so long. And I really want them to take their time so as to not screw it up!

If I go for this Deluxe deal, I'll end up with doubles of the Pultec, Fairchild and Opto which I purchased as singles and, essentially, would have wasted the money that I spent on them. It doesn't seem like a deal to me at all.

They've added a Crossgrade option!  $99 for T-racks Deluxe if you own ANY IK plugin (except for the free ones of course.

I've already got T-racks Deluxe, but if I didn't, I'd find a way to get in on this.

That's a great crossgrade offer!!!

Much better! :)

strikinglyhandsome1


That's a great crossgrade offer!!!

This does make it a hell of a lot harder to ignore (he said, reaching for the Tums as a major GAS attack was surely coming on).

Yup! Plus it goes for ANY IK product! (Free software/apps are excluded) So now you can get T-Racks 3 Deluxe for only $99.99 and WHEN we hit 2,000 registrations this month you can get your choice of the Black 76 OR White 2A http://www.ikmultimedia.com/deluxepromo

And don't forget this tutorial is only $10 http://www.groove3.com/st...ering-with-tracks.html It's madness I tell ye.

strikinglyhandsome1


And don't forget this tutorial is only $10 http://www.groove3.com/st...ering-with-tracks.html It's madness I tell ye.

As of a couple of days ago, you could use the code "mtsave50" at checkout to get 50% off your order.  It might still work and if so, you could get it for $5!

Thanks for the info Bitflipper!

The crossgrade off does make it a better deal.

I've never tried T-Racks mastering software. Does it snip the excess space off, fades and other things like that?

Is the xgrade price only offered at the IK site or can you get that anywhere? (EDIT: I see AudioMidi has the crossgrade price) ------------------------ Also, if it doesn't reach 2000, then there's no free Black or White and the White is really what I'm interested in. Im looking at the rest of Deluxe as a bonus, but that's counting the chickens before the hen lays eggs. 3 weeks left and over 1850 more to reach the freebie. That's a crap shoot, especially when you consider that the group buy is 6 days old and only at 138. Hate to seem negative about it, but if the freebie is the main interest, it's not looking too good ATM. Just sayin.

OTOH, the crossgrade should earn you Jampoints, which can then use to get a rebate (up to 50%) on the White 2A or the Black 76 in the event that the group buy doesn't reach 2000 participants.

Not a freebie, but I thought it was worth mentioning. 

If you use the code "Deal" at checkout at Audiomidi and buy the crossgrade T-racks, then you can get it for approx. $79 (plus shipping).

You can't beat that, folks!

http://www.audiomidi.com/Products/ikm_tracks3-cug/

Thanks Smokey, now this is much more enticing....

Any users of T-Racks3 Deluxe care to give a review of these plugs in actual usage? (How does this brickwall limiter compare to Sonar's PC etc...?)

Mesh

Any users of T-Racks3 Deluxe care to give a review of these plugs in actual usage? (How does this brickwall limiter compare to Sonar's PC etc...?) 

Unless thisng have changed I recall jamesyoyo uses it quite a bit.

I saw he mentioned about the Black76 (which I also have and I agree it IS DA Bomb!! :)), did he have comment on the rest of the Deluxe someplace else? 

No problem finishing off your work with this, like you can with Ozone. The tendency seems to be buying more expensive individual plug-ins and doing it that way but this will get you there and that video gives a guide as to how. And you can use the plug-ins as quality singles too. Bit of a no-brainer at that price unless you have some of more expensive plug-ins around.

By more expensive you mean better, roight?

I mean Fab Filter and Waves etc. I'm lucky, I won't ever get the chance to find out.

SH1 thanks. I'm planning on getting this (I really want the White) and I'm hoping it'll now reach the 2000 mark with this xgrade. I went ahead and got the tutorial + a couple of others from groove 3.....that coupon code is still good for another 50% off!! Very nice & Thank you!!

Mesh


I saw he mentioned about the Black76 (which I also have and I agree it IS DA Bomb!! :)), did he have comment on the rest of the Deluxe someplace else? 

Not that I know of.

Mesh


Thanks Smokey, now this is much more enticing....

Any users of T-Racks3 Deluxe care to give a review of these plugs in actual usage? (How does this brickwall limiter compare to Sonar's PC etc...?)

Be forewarned about the AudioMidi deal.  It was one day only for yesterday...it might still work this morning (they're on the West Coast US).  

About the AudioMidi deal, I happened to have just called them and spoke to a rep to see if the they would still do yesterday's 20% off deal and he said they would b/c it's still up on their site, although it is only for in-stock items and, unfortunately, it isn't in stock.

After doing some reading, I've come to find out that the Opto-comp, although not technically modeled after any one "specific" optical compressor, it was "inspired by" some of the designer's favorite classic opticla comps. I can't help but assume that the LA2A was part, if not a lot of that inspiration. Does anybody have both (Opto and White) and care share their thoughts on that? ------------ While on the topic, can anyone who has the Black and X1's PC'76 share some experience with the two. I heard a comparison of a drum loop run through the PC'76, the Black and the UA version (here on this forum a "few" months ago) and to my ears there was no big difference at all between any of them. Certainly none that motivated me to want to drop a hundred bucks to replace the PC'76. Thanks

I've not bought the crossgrade just yet as I'm having issues login' into IK's web site w/ Safari, but at a glance, I'd expect the Opto to be much more versatile, since you have control over attack, release and such. 

If no one else does, I'll try and give an update once I have it installed and have had some time to play w/ it.

For the Black 76 vs PC76, I don't have X1, so I couldn't tell. The Black 76 is nice though.

@Mesh I wrote a review on T-Racks 3 Deluxe before I worked for IK. You can still read it on my site. http://obiaudio.com/?p=187 @M@ B The Opto comps is designed after a REAL hardware compressor our CTO made himself. He still gets calls to work on old hardware and consoles in Italy all the time. He created his own "perfect opto compressor" to his own liking and specs. He liked it so much he decided to make a T-Racks module after it.

Sorry, didn't mean to convey any misinformation, I was just paraphrasing what I read over at the gearlust forum. When asked what comp the Opto was modeled after, the IK Product Marketing Manager replied: "It is actually a creation of our own, a custom unit based on traits our favorite opto-units. There are units that it can be compared to, but nothing that it really clones. I would love to name drop what units we like exactly, but I would rather leave it a mystery than have someone think that "like" means "is" . It is less a color unit and more a top-shelf mastering opto-compressor."

OK, so I took the bait.
I went with the $79 AudioMIDI option that Smokey mentioned above.
(Free shipping too .)
I just ordered this about an hour ago (6PM EST US) and the promo code still worked.

Mike
 

Groove 3 has a $10 no brainer on mastering using ST3. I picked that up and I was amazed at how much I did not know about all the different VSTs capabilities. Especially the Opto compressor. Definitly worth the $10!

Although, one project needed to go back to the mixing stage IMO. Great, informative video.

SmokeyJ628

strikinglyhandsome1


And don't forget this tutorial is only $10 http://www.groove3.com/st...ering-with-tracks.html It's madness I tell ye.

As of a couple of days ago, you could use the code "mtsave50" at checkout to get 50% off your order.  It might still work and if so, you could get it for $5!

Sorry to mention this too late Guitarpima but I went with this too.
I know it's only $5 but hell, money is money.


Mike

chefmike8888

SmokeyJ628

strikinglyhandsome1


And don't forget this tutorial is only $10 http://www.groove3.com/str/mastering-with-tracks.html It's madness I tell ye.

As of a couple of days ago, you could use the code "mtsave50" at checkout to get 50% off your order.  It might still work and if so, you could get it for $5!

Sorry to mention this too late Guitarpima but I went with this too.
I know it's only $5 but hell, money is money.


Mike

Sorry I did not pay closer attention to this thread. :-(