Halion Sonic vs. Kontakt ??

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Googly Smythe wrote:If all you're after is sample libraries, HALion/Sonic is a waste of time. 3rd party libraries are all but non-existent. The "real" sounds in HALion are barely ok. Eg, the only choir (that sounds anywhere near human) is the mellotron one.
I love HALion and use it on every project but when I want "real" instruments I go elsewhere.
Not so true...

Multisampled wahwah trombone in HALion.
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

Multisampled flute phrases in HALion
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... r-halion-5

bass-flute
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... r-halion-5

Multisampled sousaphone in HALion
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

e-bowed acoustic guitar in HALion
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

Multisampled french horn swells in HALion
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

and some Angkelungs
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... r-halion-5

...and I could go on for pages.

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Sampleconstruct wrote:
Googly Smythe wrote:If all you're after is sample libraries, HALion/Sonic is a waste of time. 3rd party libraries are all but non-existent. The "real" sounds in HALion are barely ok. Eg, the only choir (that sounds anywhere near human) is the mellotron one.
I love HALion and use it on every project but when I want "real" instruments I go elsewhere.
Not so true...

Multisampled wahwah trombone in HALion.
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

Multisampled flute phrases in HALion
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... r-halion-5

bass-flute
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... r-halion-5

Multisampled sousaphone in HALion
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

e-bowed acoustic guitar in HALion
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

Multisampled french horn swells in HALion
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments

and some Angkelungs
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... r-halion-5

...and I could go on for pages.
Other than yourself and Steinberg, I don't know of any other 3rd party libraries. That was my point.
I did buy one of your expansions for Padshop - good stuff! :tu:

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Googly Smythe wrote: Other than yourself and Steinberg, I don't know of any other 3rd party libraries. That was my point.
I did buy one of your expansions for Padshop - good stuff! :tu:
Thanks, well the term “non-existent“ was just a bit too absolute then :)

Since the release of HALion 6 there is hope that at least some other sound designers apart from the Steinberg team and myself are going to produce soundware for this hybrid monster.

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I think I said "all but non-existent". I was thinking of you when I wrote it! :tu:

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Googly Smythe wrote:I think I said "all but non-existent". I was thinking of you when I wrote it! :tu:
Oh, I missed that little but important detail then.

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Thanks Simon... good to know; and Googly Smythe for your feedback.

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And just to toss another wrench into the thought process, have you considered SampleTank 3 yet? I have the full version and think that some of the samples are very good.

The SampleTank 3 Free version (called SampleTank Custom Shop) comes with a small factory library, and can be expanded with additional collections. The included sounds are very good quality. This is a good one to have in any case.
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/sampletankcs/

Overall, I am very happy with SampleTank 3, out of the box. The breadth of the library is very good at over 33GB and 4000+ instruments. The same issue exists as HALion as far as 3rd party expansions goes, but what you do get is very usable. I really like the acoustic and electric guitars, basses, strings, brass, and woodwinds. :tu:

The brass and woodwinds are divided up into several categories like this:

Brass>
..Classical Brass>
....Solo Brass>
....Ensemble Brass>
..Jazz-Pop Brass>
....Jazz-Pop Brass Ensemble>
....Jazz-Pop Brass Solo>

Woodwinds>
..Classical Woodwinds>
....Solo Woodwinds>
....Ensemble Woodwinds>
..Jazz-Pop Woodwinds> [various Sax, solo and section, plus Clarinet]
Windows 10 and too many plugins

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Hi zzz00M... Thanks for suggestion. DLed the ST3 thing a while back. Couldn't even find the free instruments! Was so put off by the intrusive nature of the "Shop" in your face, besides no clear info on where to see/find these "free instruments" -- just deleted the whole thing within hours.

So you figure I missed out, hey? Haha. Well, how much was it with the bump up to full magical instruments anyway?

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BillyBoyKVR wrote:Hi zzz00M... Thanks for suggestion. DLed the ST3 thing a while back. Couldn't even find the free instruments! Was so put off by the intrusive nature of the "Shop" in your face, besides no clear info on where to see/find these "free instruments" -- just deleted the whole thing within hours.

So you figure I missed out, hey? Haha. Well, how much was it with the bump up to full magical instruments anyway?
Yeah, to use ST you have to deal with IK. I feel you. That said, there are really quite a few free and low priced products out there. I'm trying to get a sense of what it is that you really want given that you seem to have rejected a number of very interesting synth suggestions, e.g., the rest of the Air bundle.

What kind of music do you produce?

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zzz00m: I see from their website it's currently regular $349 for SampleTank3. Looks good with good instrument selection, etc., but ya know... they really turned me off with their, like, hey, don't mind us while we take over your computer and turn it into an in-your-face advertising platform for our products. If they'd even had the consideration to explain where/how to find the free samples they were touting to start with... but no. And I searched. All I got was blasted with girating offers. Oh well. No matter (but thanks for your help)... see below.

Ghettosynth: This setup is for my own fun-but-somewhat-serious song and song idea creation. (Not necessarily even finished pieces always, but the multiple instruments in DAW inspiring and getting the ideas down, with some development.) My stuff is eclectic, but very beat-driven. Sometimes edgey and rockin', sometimes world or folk-rock; enjoying natural/acoustic instruments, rather than synthesizers.

So I've come to my decision. After getting a bit excited about HALion 6 there briefly, lol, I've come down to earth some, realizing that would be a lot more than I want or need at this stage. (The learning curve in DAW is steep enough.) I'm going to go with my earlier plan (though not popular with some of the audience, haha) to fill out my Kontakt with all they've got from the factory. I love their Choir instrument, plus MANY of the others. (Gamma-UT: yes even the cello is really rather good; natural like you say -- and nothing that some added attack and a little reverb can't make perfectly "tastey" to my ear). Komplete or not, you only lose $50 by buying the full Kontakt now, doing a Komplete upgrade later if you want.

I like the interface. I like the clear, concise tweaking and key-switching via the interface. I like some of the freebies out there for full version. I really like the overall sample quality and stability of the product. I also really like getting it for $249, which is a good price break from the rather hefty $399! The included instruments may be fewer than other choices, but the quality is there for sure. Makes no sense to me to move forward without filling it out with all they've got from the factory as a base. Like I said earlier, I've got about $250 a month to spend on this stuff, so... just the beginning.

Then there's the 3rd party instruments! -- Yeah Baby! -- starting right away with Strummed Acoustic 2. Session Horns and Session Strings to follow (OR the beautiful World Suite for UVI; whatever order; we'll see).

So there you have it. Thanks for all suggestions. I really appreciate it, believe me!

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Plus there's my AIR Xpand!2 rompler adding to the mix. I really do enjoy some of those instruments as well. Won't be wasted.

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Googly Smythe wrote: Other than yourself and Steinberg, I don't know of any other 3rd party libraries. That was my point.
To expand your horizons further, and not feel left out :D, here is mine. It's also available for Halion Sonic btw and even the free HSSE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5bsJDiUGi0
High Quality Soundsets for Lush-101 | Hive | Electra 2 | Diversion | Halion | Largo | Rapid | Dune II | Thorn | and more.

TTU Youtube

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BillyBoyKVR wrote: Komplete or not, you only lose $50 by buying the full Kontakt now, doing a Komplete upgrade later if you want.
It's a little more than that if you are leveraging the sales. The upgrades are half price when they go on sale. So, you'd have to spend $249 + $199 = $448 getting the crossgrade now and the upgrade later on sale. If you just buy Komplete when it's on sale it will typically be $299, so a difference of $149. If you had purchased Kontakt last month at $125 and then the komplete upgrade on a later sale it would be $324.
I like the interface. I like the clear, concise tweaking and key-switching via the interface. I like some of the freebies out there for full version. I really like the overall sample quality and stability of the product. I also really like getting it for $249, which is a good price break from the rather hefty $399! The included instruments may be fewer than other choices, but the quality is there for sure. Makes no sense to me to move forward without filling it out with all they've got from the factory as a base. Like I said earlier, I've got about $250 a month to spend on this stuff, so... just the beginning.

Then there's the 3rd party instruments! -- Yeah Baby! -- starting right away with Strummed Acoustic 2. Session Horns and Session Strings to follow (OR the beautiful World Suite for UVI; whatever order; we'll see).

So there you have it. Thanks for all suggestions. I really appreciate it, believe me!
So to be clear, I don't think that anyone here is suggesting that you shouldn't get Kontakt. It's a great product, but you are spending more for it than you could. That said, we've all been there. Sometimes you pay more for something to get it now and just not waste time.

There's so much free and low priced stuff for the full version of Kontakt as well, so you'll have plenty to explore.

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Great choice!

I suggest to start digging from this page for freebies. 70% of those are Kontakt.

http://bedroomproducersblog.com/categor ... -shootout/

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Sampleconstruct wrote:
Googly Smythe wrote:If all you're after is sample libraries, HALion/Sonic is a waste of time. 3rd party libraries are all but non-existent. The "real" sounds in HALion are barely ok. Eg, the only choir (that sounds anywhere near human) is the mellotron one.
I love HALion and use it on every project but when I want "real" instruments I go elsewhere.
Not so true...

Multisampled wahwah trombone in HALion.
https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... xperiments
that may sound like a real trombone, but that is one of the most Gad Awful noises
i've ever heard. I can't imagine using it in any song and expect anyone to like it. :o
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