Library-content-usability-whishes

[fahl5]

1) a kind of global soundorganisation concept
2) at least a short comment/documentation to explain each of the vast variety of sound the IK/SR-Produccts offer.

- 1) "global soundorganisation concept"
a. With each new library one adds to his existing ST-content the existing folderstructure gets either more complicated or needs nearly a completly new organisation (which is espacialy laborious since each single preset of each sound has to be searched and copied seperatly since their names often did'nt show any direct relation to the stw-file they belong to.)
b. the richer the sample content becomes the more understanding of each different sample and its presets is necessary to make efficient use of it. A good and detailed folderstructure may contribute vastly to this necessary understanding.
c. What seems to me realy fascinating in this respect is the approach of Native Instruments "Kore" to build up a kind of multicategory based search matrix in which not only a set of musical characteristics should lead to a appropriate selection of possible sounds, but this matrix may include also all kinds of existing libraries and different installed plugins. Espacialy for extremly rich libaries like those of IK/SR-Prodducts it would be a big steps toward efficiency of use to be likewise organized or even establish or participate in a kind of global sound organisation-standard.

- 2) short documentation
The enormously rich and detailed differenciated content the IK/SR-Products demand a likewise detailed understanding for the purpose, idea and possibility of the contributed spectrum of sounds. I fear, that no one alone realy can afford this neither by his own musical experience nor by an intensive experimenting exploration of each Sound. So I already several time whished, to have some hints about the Idea or reasonable application of a certain sample or preset in the Library.So is there any kind of documentaion of the ST2 or SS 2 Sounds? If not - why could'nt there be already some guiding informations about sounds and presets found in the "commments" section the ST-UI provides for each sound?

I am curious what other think about...
Steffen

[ozinexile]

I see two small problems with 2) short documentation, and that is:

a) How many 1000s (10,000s?) of sounds are available for sample tank? I have ST2XL, SS2, all sonik capsules and one ET, now I don't want to even count them, let alone write a small description of each one. I don't think IK or SR could justify the time for this amount of work for basically something they can recoup no money on.

b) I like the time I spend exploring the sounds (especially in SS2), if I find something really inspiring I start using it imediately and if I find a sound I like I make a note. I don't want to discount and skip a sound because it's been suggested for this or that style, I want to find out for myself.

I agree that the library organisation can get a bit messy, but then I like the fact I can organise it to suit me and how I work.

I don't mean to be negative on your suggestions, I think it's good to discuss them in a forum like this to see all angles. I'm sure good improvement suggestions get noticed.

[fahl5]

I see two small problems with 2) short documentation, and that is:

a) How many 1000s (10,000s?) of sounds are available for sample tank? ... let alone write a small description of each one. I don't think IK or SR could justify the time for this amount of work for basically something they can recoup no money on.

Your absolutly right, it would be alot to do to add short informations afterwards. But I see two further options:

1) If content is produced, each sound engeninier follows for each sound a certain concept of musical usage. Why shouldn't they in future share their intention for creating this certain sample, or preset in short formulations one may find already in the commentsfield? I dont think this will anybody keep away from listening and searching inspiration from the sounds themself.

2) very much explantion can be done in the way the sounds are organized, categorized, grouped. (I feel with SS much better in this respect than with ST or the combination of both). One very important tool for Soundorganisation is of course the naming. Why shouldnt the naming be in general follow some basic principles for categorizing, grouping and discerning special variations the samples? So with a little insight in thoses naming principles you will even learn important things about a certain sound just by its name. I assume this will be most convincing solved with Miroslav, but the Sonics Capsuls I know seem still better than some of the SS 2 and much of the ST 2.0 content.
How wouldit be, if you may easily combine the masses of samples of certain libraries, just because they follow similar naming principles?

b) I like the time I spend exploring the sounds (especially in SS2), if I find something really inspiring I start using it imediately and if I find a sound I like I make a note. I don't want to discount and skip a sound because it's been suggested for this or that style, I want to find out for myself.

Espacialy relating to SS I am totally with you, as far many sounds and elements are realy quite inspiring by themself. But whats about for instance the consonant-samples in the vocal section, is it realy so inspiring to explore that and how you can combine them with certain vocal-vowl-samples, or wouldn't it be helpful just to know something about their purpose before working with them. I fear there might be still enough User, that didn't even recognized, that they could do with some combination, speechlike sounding choirs in SS, that all think they could only do with the $ and GB-hungry east-west-symphonic choirs.

I agree that the library organisation can get a bit messy, but then I like the fact I can organise it to suit me and how I work.

I suppose for pragmatical reasons as for an easier Understanding it deserves to think about soundpool-organisation. And as NI observed well, this problem isn't just a problem of a single company but for the most plugin-users multiplicated by each other Soundengine they have installed in their setup. So I still think, it will also become more and more a question of global standards.
Thanks for yourpoint of view, it seems to me quite worth to discuss this topic to.
Steffen

[Squids]

It is always good to hear suggestions. I think databasing and organization will be improved as time goes on. Although for the most part the collections are pretty straight forward in their organization... ie. Pianos have pianos in the folder, Organs have organs in the folder etc. But, things like Sonik Synth 2 Elements are like finding a needle in a haystack! It is a place to EXPLORE (which is also a good thing... having thousands of sounds and an element section means that different people will find different "gems" of their own).

Also, writing something for every sound would take too much time. Yet I like the idea at least. It would be good to do it in the future so maybe we will at some point. At least with products like Miroslav Philharmonik we did an extensive PDF sound manual though.

What I should do is tons of video demonstrations pulling out certain things in products like Sonik Synth 2, Philharmonik and even the upcoming Studiophonik (to give a little taste... wet the appetite... or at least when it is just a bit closer to release). But, I could do some demonstrations of how you can use those vowel and consonant attacks (btw not QUITE as cool as the EWQL Symphonic Choirs! But, still fun and a lot less expensive). I am setting up a rig to be able to do regular video presentations. I can even show you guys how to do control switching in Miroslav Philharmonik! (like key switching but with continuous controllers).