Sampletank 2.1

[Squids]

Are there people who owned a Motif and an Emu sampler? Yes. So, there are people who own a SampleTank and a Kontakt. In my opinion they are not in direct competition with each other. If you want plug and play sound module with some important and some amazing on board processing and sample technology (like Stretch, PSTS, Loop Sync etc.) then SampleTank is an ideal thing to get (not to mention the system of sounds we have in IK/SR land ). If you want a lot of modulation, sample import and editing, cool filter types and some other types of advanced sample tweaker toys then Kontakt is a great one to get. I of course have both and I love them! I use them for different things. They sound very different from each other as well.

I love the depth of features Kontakt has. We also did sounds for the factory sound bank btw. We're doing a lot of sounds for the factory soundbank in SampleTank 2.1 Honestly, I use ST2.1 more than I use Kontakt just like would use my Motif more than I would use my Oberheim modular 8 voice. I still love them both and would use either when it is called for. If that makes sense I hope.

[nexussynth]

..We also did sounds for the factory sound bank btw. We're doing a lot of sounds for the factory soundbank in SampleTank 2.1

Hah, I thought so!

Squids makes a good point here. Kontakt is more specialized while ST2 is more generic like a good workstation keyboard.

If I could have only one I think I'd take ST2 as it has the tie-in to Miroslav (just pre-ordered) and SS2 (SS2-next on my list! ...after creditcard recoups ).

Its like the days when I used to buy all those Roland expansion cards

Software samplers are just at a crossroads where they are going to get lumped all together for awhile.

MOTU seems real shy to demo their Symphonic Instrument against the recent competition it seems though...

[Rellik]

Are there people who owned a Motif and an Emu sampler? Yes. So, there are people who own a SampleTank and a Kontakt. In my opinion they are not in direct competition with each other.

Your rationale doesn't really lead up to your conclusion, as far as I can tell. The fact that there are people who can afford and use both does not mean that competition does not exist.

Of course, you just said that they are not in direct competition, not that they are not competing at all.

This is the kind of thing where statistics can really help. But in my opinion, from what and who I know, from what I see and what I hear, there are more people who can only afford one than can afford multiple samplers/samplesets. FAR more. Often a less vocal group, as well - but the market for soft-samplers is not limited or composed primarily of professionals. Everyone wants realistic sounds - most people want power along with it.

Now Kontakt has the power, obviously, and it's getting to be that it has a perfectly competent soundset. SampleTank 2XL has an arguably better soundset, but lacks the power - more importantly, it lacks the ROOM FOR GROWTH/EXPANSION that people crave(footnote). This was the main reason I hesitated in buying ST2XL way back in the ages of yore - it was that I didn't want to get stuck without a real sampler that could load up the different formats that things come in these days. But eventually I did decide to go for ST2XL, because frankly, I thought that the soundset would have been better than it actually is - nevertheless, I don't regret the purchase, since ST2 is extremely useful to me, I'm just doubting whether it was the right choice.

As nexxus said, everything competes with everything Kontakt is getting into SampleTank2's territory, I think SampleTank2 should get into Kontakt territory - and well before SampleTank3 comes along! Believe it or not, Kontakt2 is competing with Miroslav in my mind as we speak maybe they're both in my imagination after all.

footnote: and people are cheap, "Expansion Tanks" doesn't count as positive expansion when you want that other library over there that's cheaper and better and in a format that somehow doesn't fit inside your sampler

[ianscott111]

I was wondering for the new sounds, will we see different samples for every instrument, or will sounds utilize the same samples (an example of this is guitars and effected drum kits) as others, just with (slightly) different effect settings? This is the only thing that got me a little bummed about the sounds for both Sonic Synth 1 and Sampletank 2XL.

[Squids]

Yes, but from some perspectives you could say that EVERYTHING is in competition for each musician's budget. There are certainly aspects of it that are competitive and there are people who will only buy one or the other. However, I think that if you are a MUSICIAN FIRST and mad tweaker second then you'll probably get more out of SampleTank. If you are a rocket scientist who loves GOBS of features (and nothing wrong with that! I happen to be BOTH then Kontakt is one of the best ones (as is GigaStudio).

To be flexible in production it is GREAT to have both. It really is. But, otherwise, it can be argued every which way in terms of competition. I think HALion and Kontakt are a bit more direct in their competition and SampleTank is unique (as is Reason) and doesn't follow the "Giga in a plug-in" sort of route. For me though, I like them all in different ways. But, if I had to pick my must-haves it is ST2, Kontakt and Reason. I enjoy the EXS and HALion as well but at a certain point you don't need to have them ALL. It's just nice. But, when you're a sound developer you kind of get spoiled. I have Giga 3 as well on one whole computer and that is a nice thing to have too! Each one DOES sound different and has something special about it.

But, the moral of the story is just get SampleTank anyway.

[Sequent]

I tend to agree with Squids on this... that Kontakt and Sampletank are two different beasts... with some crossover, of course. Also agree that if you're a musician first and tweaker next you might possibly get more out of a Sampletank-based product.

...and that they do sound a bit different and fill different uses.

Apples and oranges in many respects and a lot depends on your needs.

Ideally, it's nice to have both. And it is possible to do so and still pay a lot less than what you would have paid for a hardware sampler OR a jv even a few years ago.

[kovacs]

I sold Kompakt to get the Sampletank 2 and upgraded it to XL. I miss Kompakt. I was planning to upgrade it to Kontakt but the ST2 offer was too tempting.

But I regret not keeping Kompakt. The soundset in Kompakt is truly masterful. ST2XL, even with all the six capsules that came with it, is just sitting on my harddrive. I fire it up now and then and use a drumkit from one of the capsules but for me it has been a waste of money. I hope the 2.1 update will improve it.

It is a sad state of affairs that I cannot sell this bundle again - Kompakt was easily transferred and that have me some peace of mind. Now I am stuck with ST2. I am not complaining - I knew that this was IK's policy - but I was expecting a LOT more from ST2 than what I got.

FWIW, the preset pack that Squids made for the Group Buy is excellent. There really is nothing *wrong* with ST2XL, it simply isn't what I was hoping for.

Ironically, I use Amplitube (which came bundled for free) more than ST2 as AT has more or less replaced my PodXT due to the insane ease of use. So at least I got something out of it - I am considering to get AT2 when it is launched. But since that is not transferrable either I might sell my Pod and opt for Guitar Rig instead (AT1 is already very good). The non-transfer policy might backfire in the end, when the competition offers it but not IK.

[Caleb]

Just to bring this back to an ST2.1 discussion, I'm an ST2 engine-only customer.

I have been waiting for ST2.1 to upgrade the sounds so that I get the newer sounds rather than the old set.

Does anyone have any idea how that will work? Do I pay a sounds upgrade fee? Is it likely to be much?

I'm just trying to work out how the upgrade path will work for me as I'd also intended to get my hands on the SonicReality XL soundset.

Caleb

[Kim Lajoie]

Caleb, if you've already got the engine then the 2.1 engine upgrade is free. The sounds upgrade is going to be $99 if you've already got ST2XL. Seeing as you're an engine-only customer, I suggest you contact eSoundz directly (via email) and get one of the staff to fix you up.

-Kim.

[martian]

Yes, but from some perspectives you could say that EVERYTHING is in competition for each musician's budget. There are certainly aspects of it that are competitive and there are people who will only buy one or the other. However, I think that if you are a MUSICIAN FIRST and mad tweaker second then you'll probably get more out of SampleTank. If you are a rocket scientist who loves GOBS of features (and nothing wrong with that! I happen to be BOTH then Kontakt is one of the best ones (as is GigaStudio).

its really simple!

if you are looking for an 'everything' sound library then of course kontakt 2 and sampletank are in direct competetion. other things like halion, kontakt 1, mach5 etc.. arent, simply because they dont have a comparible library.

whereas if you want a sampler then obviously you'd go kontakt over ST, but the fact that kontakt is also a comprehensive sampler package is reflected in the price difference.

k?

[harmony gardens]

I have been waiting for ST2.1 to upgrade the sounds so that I get the newer sounds rather than the old set.

Actually, there really isn't a reason to wait. If you buy it now, you will get the current XL sound, and get the upgraded sounds when they come out. There are a lot of great sounds in XL now.

I hope this upgrade comes soon, the natives are getting restless!

[Derek up North]

Caleb, if you've already got the engine then the 2.1 engine upgrade is free. The sounds upgrade is going to be $99 if you've already got ST2XL. Seeing as you're an engine-only customer, I suggest you contact eSoundz directly (via email) and get one of the staff to fix you up.

-Kim.

Just for clarity - what's the position for ST2L owners? Do we have to upgrade to XL first and then take the $99 route for the new sounds or is there an alternative?

Not that I have any money to spend anyway - new PC required first.

Regards,

Derek.

[Derek up North]

Caleb, if you've already got the engine then the 2.1 engine upgrade is free. The sounds upgrade is going to be $99 if you've already got ST2XL. Seeing as you're an engine-only customer, I suggest you contact eSoundz directly (via email) and get one of the staff to fix you up.

-Kim.

Just for clarity - what's the position for ST2L owners? Do we have to upgrade to XL first and then take the $99 route for the new sounds or is there an alternative?

Not that I have any money to spend anyway - new PC required first.

Regards,

Derek.

[harmony gardens]

Hi Derek

All Sampletank 2 L and XL owners get the engine upgrade for free. L owners can get the sound upgrade for $99. XL owners bought after Jan 1st from esoundz (I'm not sure the exact starting date for people who bought somewhere else, but if I remember right, it was around Jan 15th) get the sound upgrade for free. XL users who bought before Jan 1 will have to pay the $99 fee for the sounds upgrade,,, unless they are Platinum members at Esoundz, in which case they get the sound upgrade for free,,,

If you own Sampletank L or XL, you can also get Philharmonik from esoundz for $319, and if you prepay, before July 5, you get a free gift, either a tee shirt, or a sound set,,, and you can use up to $50 worth of epointz, plus you can use the special discount code, to take another $10 off that purchase, plus, you can use someone as a referrer (harmonygardens, just as an example) and you both get $5 worth of epointz, unless the person who you use as a referrer has $50 worth of epointz they haven't spent, and their bin is full.


It's simple,,,,I can't believe you guys don't get it LOL*

*Kidding,,, and having a little fun with this...

[Frunobulax]

L owners can get the sound upgrade for $99.

My understanding has been that the $99 2.1 sound upgrade is available only for XL owners. The 2.1 press release seems to suggest as much: http://www.sampletank.com/Main.html?prod_ST_XL

Have you seen or heard something to the contrary?