By kevvvvv
On 26th May 2006
Version: 2.1
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Native Instruments (NI) Kontakt
Kontakt 2.1
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Huge improvements in usability with K2.1.
Unlike bduffy in his review, I loathed earlier Kontakt versions as it was too damn hard to learn, unless you had a week spare - which I don't.
But now life with v2.1 is easier
Please consider this a review from a non-samplist who needs authentic sounds on tap.
GUI
===
New colours! Skinnable racks!
These make racks so much easier to understand at a glance.
But it's still not possible to move instrument racks around (hard to believe but true).
Sound
=====
This was always Kontakt's strength. Great sound quality. Does it all. Can't say more.
Features
========
Can't comment on the myriad sampling features.
The FX section is supposedly good and, hey, there's a good convolving reverb thrown in. But I don't care for Kontakt's FX. The presets are mostly facile, and tweaking them doesn't do much better. My own FX collection is much better, especially CamelSpace. I think even Vanguard's FX are more useful. I suppose it's fair to say Kontakt's FX are okay in a general way.
The Import is cool, and this is one of K2.1's great features - but - it still doesn't import those great Wusik presets (NI prob think Wusik is beneath their dignity!)
The outs and the mixer are a zillion miles better in v2.1. I actually like it now. While the mixer and outs used to be Kontakt's worst feature prior to 2.1, it's now very good.
Oh - and the Browser is great. Very easy, and much better than Halion 3's browser (with its eternal "can't find samples" messages) And Halion's browser is very fiddly compared to Kontakt's.
DFD is a treat too. NI have this right.
It's possible to rack up 16 big instruments with the new DFD streaming feature, and still playback okay. Big plus.
Docs
====
NI have the gall to charge for a video tutorial.
Legalised theft! They deserve to be shot for this disloyal greedy act.
Presets
=======
Wonderful.
The main reason to buy Kontakt is the samples, especially now VSL is supplied (except for solo strings - major omission!)
But expect to buy more samples as you go. And don't think you don't need Colossus either. You do.
There are not enough samples in the world to feed a dedicated samplehead - but Kontakt's are definitely on the very nice side of nice.
Support
=======
Crap for me. I couldn't find how to register in the Forum. My user id got caught in some stupid self repeating loop (lord knows why). The point is that there isn't an email where I could ask "how do I get in the Forum please - help"
So NI support is fairly poor IMO.
VFM
===
What's value for money when all samplers except VSampler all cost a packet.
Kontakt can't be considered VFM as much as "if you need a sampler you have to pay big bucks - end of story"
But good keyswitching makes it all worthwhile.
Stability
=========
Can't say I've noticed it crashing SX3 - or at least any more than anything else causes a crash in an overstuffed plug environment.
Verdict
=======
Best of the bunch - but still has some way to go.
Needs better FX.
Needs better support
Needs better tutorials
Needs more GUI skinnable options
Needs a budget sample range (how about a $50 Red Rickenbacker bass set with keyswitching, huh?!)
Needs more flexible racks
I love K2.1 because it has such great sounds. |
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By kevvvvv
On 14th April 2003
Version: 1
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rgc:audio Triangle II
Possibly the best mono synth, whether free or otherwise.
Great for programming from scratch.
Great presets too.
Sound quality top notch.
Very versatile.
Ideal for beginner and pro alike. In fact it's a fabulous synth to learn on.
Because it's only mono and not poly, it's almost guaranteed you will want a Pentagon or Square just to get your hands on a poly Triangle II.
The only downside I can think of is that it's not poly. |
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By kevvvvv
On 14th April 2003
Version: 1
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Spectrasonics Atmosphere
Atmo ... in a word - quality
Many synths have lots of presets, but most of these seem thrown in there for good measure and only get in the way.
The result is lots of VSTIs with too many non-musical, awkward, jarring or odd sounds.
Not so with Atmo.
The presets are all musical, all carefully considered before they were included.
I haven't found a duff one yet.
So far, any preset I've picked at random and listened to has something in there that somebody's thought about in a musical way.
The detail is right.
V few synths can make that claim.
So that's what Atmo gives ... usable professional quality sounds ... ideal for pads. |
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By kevvvvv
On 3rd February 2003
Version: 1.02
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Cakewalk z3ta+
I wanted a new flagship uber-synth so I bought Zeta, after looking closely at all the latest top rank competitors.
This is a playing musician's synth.
Zeta begs to be played like a musical instrument.
This is what got me about the demo. I could just sit there and play expressively and enjoy it.
For me Zeta has a magical tonal quality that I easily relate to, something that separates lesser synths from genuine musical instruments.
Many of Zeta's tones have an evolving nature, from fast vibrant solos to long motion pads that you can hold down for ages.
But while many synths are starting to do this, Zeta avoids the synthetic and often harsh sound that comes with multi-envelope pads.
The presets offer masses of choice, but I'd like to also mention the free Lunasol bank, which is really good and full of alternative interesting sounds that you wouldn't have guessed came from a Zeta.
The spec is almost bewildering. No matter how simple the gui, there's still a lot in there.
But if you're eager to get past the basic synth programming stage, then I could recommend no finer machine to refine your skills on.
FWIW my friends who have a Zeta love it too.
Zeta is beautiful. |
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By kevvvvv
On 1st July 2002
Version: 1
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iZotope pHATmatik Pro
PPro is like having a little bit of Acid inside VST.
It's an essential loop tool to own.
Searching for loops at the correct tempo is always a distracting job. PPro eliminates this problem.
Browse and audition and load. It takes seconds to have your loop hard-synced to tempo.
The additional feature set is humungous ... pitch, sends, filter, fx, keyboard control etc.
The only thing it couldn't do for me was take a sublime guitar solo and change its tempo without losing the feel. But asking this much is being greedy.
Accurate pitch-tempo shifting VST is now easy with PPro.
If you work with loops you have to have this. |
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By kevvvvv
On 1st May 2002
Version: 1
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VAZ Synths VAZ 2010
Bought it on the strength of the sounds and the ability to sequence, but after 6 months I don't really like it.
VAZ 2001 creates quality sound, but the method of getting there is IMO unconventional.
Nothing is quite where I expect it. Sometimes I think this is being different for different's sake.
Be prepared to have to spend time getting to know VAZ 2001.
The forum is also clumsy to use. Again, it works, but like most of VAZ, it doesn't work like you expect. But the support is there if required, and willing and cheerful with it.
If I knew now what I knew when I bought it, I wouldn't have done it.
Sorry VAZ. Disappointment. |
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By kevvvvv
On 10th January 2002
Version: 1
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Sonic Reality Sonik Synth
Sonic Synth is a fairly comprehensive pro sample set that's almost half the price of SampleTank XL.
And it's open ended. Additional sample cds can be bought for a low price, increasing SS's scope with time.
The only small awkwardness is 4 midi channels per VST mixer channel. But bouncing tracks isn't necessary.
I had 13 tracks running simultaneously, grouped to feed 4 Sonic Synths into 4 VST mixer channels, and with loads of reverbs. No problem.
It sounded great. Hear it here http://www.rossiterandco.com/files/Sonique%20Reality.mp3
Realistic nylon and electric guitars playing over big string orchestras and choirs at the touch of a few buttons. No manual required. It's all obvious and immediate.
This is what VSTIs have needed for a long time. Play-and-go real sounds at sensible prices.
Update 2002: The e-rom cd packages have proved to be a real bonus, extending Sonic's (and my) scope. |
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Last edited : 10th April 2002
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By kevvvvv
On 24th November 2001
Version: 1.2
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rgc:audio Pentagon I
I haven't used Pro-52, Scorpion, Delta or Electron since I got P1. IMO Pentagon sounds all round better.
Beginners: You get 300+ ace quality presets. V few duds in the pack and many, many stars (Keith Days, Fingered Bass, Standard Bigness, Plain Melody etc). And you have the chance to learn to programme a proper synth like the pros do.
Medium Pro Users: You can find the sound you have in your head. Pentagon 1 rarely says no.
Experts: You can use your own pcm waveforms, or lfo waveforms for genuinely innovatory sounds.
While every softsynth has its strong points, Pentagon seems to have it all.
It's a genuine musical instrument. And its from Tierra del Fuego!
If it has a downside, then it doesn't have quite as many mod routings a Linplug's Delta.
edit feb 2002: New improved GUI 10/10. |
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Last edited : 26th February 2002
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By kevvvvv
On 11th September 2001
Version: 1.1.2
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Bismark bs-1
At first I thought Bismark was a really great way to play all my free soundfonts.
But I soon discovered I couldn't load more than 8 of them (VST limit), and that 8 Bismarks, or even 4, on the screen quickly became very cluttered and confusing. All these little blue boxes everywhere, and, the Sample Name Area difficult to spot, being in a tiny font in the bottom right corner.
However, if you only want to play one or two soundfonts simultaneously then Bismark works fine, and the sound quality is fine.
When I needed support I got it 3 days later and in hard-to-understand english.
The filters and envelopes are more like on-off buttons, and don't compare with a synth.
Yes, Bismark plays soundfonts, but in a way you'll quickly grow out of.
If you have ambitious plans, ie, 4 soundfont tracks or more, then pay a little more and get VSampler, with 16 tracks and a properly organised layout.
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By kevvvvv
On 30th August 2001
Version: latest
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Muon Software Electron
I've owned an Electron for what seems like ages, and though I can drop it for a while for the latest thing, and occasionally bitch about it, I always come back without fail.
Why?
The oscillators and filters (especially the filters) are very effective. Small changes give big effects.
Electron sounds and behaves like a real synth with all the variety that this means. It's a pro product.
It doesn't have multiwave oscillators (the main minus point), but the three oscillators it has offer a lot of scope.
Recently a whole new set of high quality (and free) presets came out and yet again breathed new life into it.
If you can't afford a Pro-52 (still the best) then Electron is a real synth at half the price. |
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By kevvvvv
On 30th August 2001
Version: latest
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FXpansion DR-008
I think very highly of this machine.
It combines sample playing extremely well with numerous types of drum synthesis, which can be mixed and matched and tweaked freely.
To date it has 13 different synths and 4 different samplers. This is a lot to explore, yet there are enough presets or LM4 kits to import so that you can get started immediately, without having to "get technical".
There are other goodies also inc auto flam, alternate, roll and sequence.
An attractive feature is the animated interface so that from one single screen you can see everything that it going on, no matter how complex the kit, an essential to my mind.
I don't own Battery or Attack, but DR-008 appears to combine the best of both for around the same money, another good point.
Angus Hewlett, the author, is committed to developing the product with promises of more features, synths etc. So far he has backed this up with the free Synare synth module, which is some proof of this committment.
17 months later: Still using it. Drum machine of choice!
20 months later: Now got low cost Slicy and Fill-In Drummer Plugs. Just keeps getting better. |
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Last edited : 14th April 2003
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| Latest 11 reviews from a total of 11 |
