KVR Audio

Pete C · Post by **Pete C** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:41 am

Everyone seems to have covered the pros and cons here already, but I just want to set the record straight that Kontakt's original factory library is absolute trash. It is not even worth the space on your hard disk. I guess to each his own, but I didn't find anything worth using in there. It has these huge sample sets for like a DX7 Rhodes patch...just horrid. Just my $0.02

Pete

Lunatique · Post by **Lunatique** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:50 am

I don't know why people trash the included Kontakt library. They're really not that bad. What do you guys hate about them?

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:57 am

I think it basically boils down to how you like to make music.

The way I see it, if you want to import your own samples for creative mangling, or want to invest in multi-gigabyte dedicated libraries, then Kontakt's your go.

If you want a fast way to get high-quality sounds, without getting bogged down in edit hell (and just get on with making music), then go for SampleTank2.

Forever,

Kim.

Pete C · Post by **Pete C** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:47 am

I don't know why people trash the included Kontakt library. They're really not that bad. What do you guys hate about them?

Try Sampletank 2, Sonik Synth 2, Plugsound, etc, and the difference in sample quality is readily apparent for acoustic instruments. I was expecing much from the Yellow Tools library included in Kontakt. I wouldn't even put it above the original Reason soundbank. It just doesn't sound realistic. They sound like a cheap workstation synth.

Sascha Franck · Post by **Sascha Franck** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:09 am

From my personal point of view the library coming with Kontakt 1 is really not so good. There's few patches you'd call great.
This however will change more or less drastically with Kontakt 2, at least on the orchestral side of things as some really nice patches from the VSL library will be included.
From what I know, these should match quite some of the commercial libraries... (but what do I know

)

In addition, Kontakt 2 will import just about any format there is out there, which is surely making life easier as well.

Maybe it'd be clever to wait for Kontakt 2 before you decide. Release should happen somewhen soon.

Lunatique · Post by **Lunatique** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:27 am

Pete C wrote:
I don't know why people trash the included Kontakt library. They're really not that bad. What do you guys hate about them?
Try Sampletank 2, Sonik Synth 2, Plugsound, etc, and the difference in sample quality is readily apparent for acoustic instruments. I was expecing much from the Yellow Tools library included in Kontakt. I wouldn't even put it above the original Reason soundbank. It just doesn't sound realistic. They sound like a cheap workstation synth.

Wait, is the sample library included with Kontakt 1 the same as the library included in Komplete 2? If it's different, then that explains why. I have what came with Komplete 2.

porpoise · Post by **porpoise** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:40 am

HI

The Kontakt browser really pisses me off - one of my main reasons to up-date to the new V2 will be (from what I can make of the screen shots) the enhanced browser - I mean if you can't even get a decent view of your samples the fun it taken away before you even begin.

I think all samplers seem to lack a user focused library - perhaps there should be several from which you pick the one most suitable - we don't all want 4 gig's of acoustic instruments!

Porpoise.

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 10:05 am

Those two points are exactly what SampleTank2 excels at.

Forever,

Kim.

Pete C · Post by **Pete C** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:21 pm

Wait, is the sample library included with Kontakt 1 the same as the library included in Komplete 2? If it's different, then that explains why. I have what came with Komplete 2.

Apparently, they are different. I have only used Kontakt 1.

Pete

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:43 pm

Pete C wrote:[...] I just want to set the record straight that Kontakt's original factory library is absolute trash. It is not even worth the space on your hard disk.

Complete agreement here. I think the 12-string was the only instrument that was somewhat useful for me. Much of the others were merely poor advertisments for their synths, and a passable piano (uninspiring: YMMV) and drums. Fairly stock stuff, but not nearly as useful or playable as ST2 offerings.

Fortunately, I bought Kontakt specifically for the depth of manipulation, and don't need an EZ-Rompler like ST2.

But NI's touting of their Kontakt (1) library as a "feature" was disappointing all the same.

Looking forward to K2.

- m

OMU · Post by **OMU** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:11 pm

I fyou have a free USB port... MachFive

"The best sampler ever" (Future Music)
I own Kontakt and Halion, I tried Sampletank Free.
But in terms of "sampler" you won't find something to match this.
Good luck.

Sascha Franck · Post by **Sascha Franck** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:15 pm

OMU wrote:I fyou have a free USB port... MachFive

I would seriously miss the syncing multibreak envelopes and 32 step follower of Kontakt, which make up for extremely wicked rhythmic patches.

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:23 pm

I would seriously miss the syncing multibreak envelopes and 32 step follower of Kontakt, which make up for extremely wicked rhythmic patches.

I have Kontakt but have never tried these. Where can I learn about mutibreak envelopes and the 32 step follower. These are not in the manual.

Gordon

Sascha Franck · Post by **Sascha Franck** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:30 pm

Beardedone wrote: I have Kontakt but have never tried these. Where can I learn about mutibreak envelopes and the 32 step follower. These are not in the manual.

I'll post a patch or two in a few minutes (well, not exactly minutes perhaps, need to quickly get some food and stuff first) using them.
The envelope is actually called "Flexible Envelope" and the step follower is called "32-Step modulator" (forgive my wrong wording).
You can find information about them from page 114 onwards in the english manual, the chapter is called "Modulation Sources".

Sascha Franck · Post by **Sascha Franck** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:30 pm

Allright Gordon, here's two pad patches (using the same samples) making use of Flex Envelope and Step Modulator.
Actually, for some reasons I usually prefer the Step Modulator.

You'll see there's quite some other modulations going on - just play some nice slow vocings and gradually turn up the ModWheel (otherwise you won't notice the modulations).

http://home.arcor.de/s.franck/temp/ModStringPad.zip

Kontakt vs Sampletank XL 2