Hello, after hoping into this midi sequencing thing last month after 5 years of conventional audio engineering, I'm having a blast. I'm getting the hang of Cubase SX3 and I'm half done producing a country pop record using DHF Superior drums and midi bass (I haven't decided on what instrument / sample I'm going to be using for that yet).
Anyway, I'm ordering Kontakt 2 tonight. My question is regarding samples. While I'm doing a country pop record right now, I'll probably end up doing a death metal record, a crazy industrial record, and a Christina Aguilera type pop record this year. On top of that, I know a few songs I'm doing right now will require an orchestra. In other words, I'll probably be doing a little bit of everything. Is there one monstrously comprehensive sample library that will cover 80% of my needs?
I'd greatly prefer being able to do most things with one huge library as opposed to collecting smaller, more specific libraries.
Also, for all I know, the included Kontakt 2 sample libraries will do this. How "comprehensive" are the included sample libraries in Kontact 2? I mentioned doing an orchestra score, but it's still for a pop song. It'll be pretty involved for me, but I probably don't need a $1,000 orchestra sample library to pull this off. I don't need anything overkill. I'm just
looking to cover the typically required instruments in one big batch. If I find that my comprehensive package doesn't do it for me, I can always pick up something more in depth.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Brandon
Comprehensive Sample Libraries??
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- KVRist
- 154 posts since 24 Jun, 2006
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- KVRist
- 145 posts since 19 May, 2005 from London UK
The K2 library is pretty comprehensive and I think that the included VSL orchestra sounds would be enough to acheive a good result. But, like any all-in-one smaple library there are compromises. And while I can offer suggestions, what I find a compromise you may not.
Having said that I turn to Colossus far more than any other package now days, especially when it's a genre of song that is not my forte. There is so much high quality sounds in there to keep me happy for a long time. And I like how the majority are 'uneffected' so I can alter them easily to my needs.
I am still collecting specific libraries when they offer more articulations, for when I need that detail.
Having said that I turn to Colossus far more than any other package now days, especially when it's a genre of song that is not my forte. There is so much high quality sounds in there to keep me happy for a long time. And I like how the majority are 'uneffected' so I can alter them easily to my needs.
I am still collecting specific libraries when they offer more articulations, for when I need that detail.
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- KVRist
- 329 posts since 8 May, 2002 from Sun Valley. California
i'm using sampletank2 quite a bit these days....
JUNEBUG
JUNEBUG
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- KVRAF
- 2211 posts since 2 Jan, 2003 from right here...
...if money isn't an issue you are on a pretty safe side with Colossus as a rompler...
...regarding Kontakt 2 or the mentioned Sampletank 2, I recommend doing some research/ask some people about their opinions on these plug-ins. Both are loved as well as hated by a lot of people. I have both - it's a long time since I used ST2 and I would love to get rid of it. I have decided for Kontakt 2, but that doesn't mean that I'm satisfied with it at all...
...regarding Kontakt 2 or the mentioned Sampletank 2, I recommend doing some research/ask some people about their opinions on these plug-ins. Both are loved as well as hated by a lot of people. I have both - it's a long time since I used ST2 and I would love to get rid of it. I have decided for Kontakt 2, but that doesn't mean that I'm satisfied with it at all...
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 154 posts since 24 Jun, 2006
What is it that keeps you from being satisfied with the Kontakt 2?I have decided for Kontakt 2, but that doesn't mean that I'm satisfied with it at all...
Brandon
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- KVRAF
- 2211 posts since 2 Jan, 2003 from right here...
... a lot of things - problems with the Rex-import, problems with the database, hanging notes, the half-hearted design of some midi scripts etc. I strongly recommend to take a look at the Kontakt forum at NI and see what other people find annoying about K2, also try out the demo extensively (it's fully functioning for 30 days, if I'm not mistaken) to find out if it's working for you. Don't get me wrong - K2 is a wonderful instrument and I love it, but it's over-featured and has been released too early. I have it for 16 months now and it's still not working properly. A next update is supposed to be released this quarter and I hope it will finally fix all issues (...but I wouldn't count on it...). If you're about to work for some record companies, you'll surely have tight release schedules and I would buy an instrument you can rely on - that would bring on Colossus again in my view. It's based on the Kompakt player, that's been around a bit longer and that's more reliable, but doesn't offer all these cool features like surround and stuff. Furthermore its library is a lot better than the one of K2, which is a very god value for money, but it is lacking brass instruments for instance, the E-Pianos are crap etc. The K2 library definitely has its advantages, but it is not a complete bread & butter library. Regarding Sampletank 2 - overpriced, a lot of poor sounds, buggy, worst customer support ever (...and I'm not talking about Sonic Reality, that is affilated with IK...), and a ridiculously high transfer fee, if you'd wanted to get rid of that crap (...but there are people who would say the same about NI and K2 - except for the transfer fee... 
)
Hope this helped a bit for your decision...
)Hope this helped a bit for your decision...
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 154 posts since 24 Jun, 2006
Definitely food for thought. I'll be careful before I just dive right in!
Thanks,
Brandon
Thanks,
Brandon
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- KVRist
- 256 posts since 23 May, 2006
I'd steer clear of purchasing Sampletank, though - there's always "Sampletank Free" http://www.sampletank.com/STFreeDwn.html
Kontakt's included library is very comprehensive, not to mention the mountains of Akai (which Sampletank also allows you to import), Giga, etc libraries you can use with it. Sure, there are a few minor bugs - but it's heads and tails better than Sampletank, if only for the import flexibility and editing.
Kontakt's included library is very comprehensive, not to mention the mountains of Akai (which Sampletank also allows you to import), Giga, etc libraries you can use with it. Sure, there are a few minor bugs - but it's heads and tails better than Sampletank, if only for the import flexibility and editing.
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- KVRAF
- 3002 posts since 24 Nov, 2003 from Heidelberg&Hamburg
The K2 symphonic library is pretty good if you think it is included in a sampler you buy, but just in case you'd need solo-strings at some point - they are NOT included. (well the makers have a right to sell their own VSL-libraries, do they ). If money isn't a matter and the symphonic lib would be very important for your projects, I've heard only the best things about Gary Garritan's GPO which is a symphonic library WITH solo strings, and comes as a Kontakt-player-instrument. So depending on how important this feature would be you might want to read about K2 (I'm pretty happy, but not a long-time-user, and notes that don't play at the beginning are a bit brrrrrrr, then some external other formats don't always load too well) AND have a look at this Garritan Personal Orchestra (if that's what GPO means ). The sound-examples at the website are simply stunning, and additionally there is an online-tutorial for orchestration now (after a book by Rimsky-Korsakov, so not exactly made for death metal, though 
). Cheers. And post back what the K2-forums say, if you'd like...
). If money isn't a matter and the symphonic lib would be very important for your projects, I've heard only the best things about Gary Garritan's GPO which is a symphonic library WITH solo strings, and comes as a Kontakt-player-instrument. So depending on how important this feature would be you might want to read about K2 (I'm pretty happy, but not a long-time-user, and notes that don't play at the beginning are a bit brrrrrrr, then some external other formats don't always load too well) AND have a look at this Garritan Personal Orchestra (if that's what GPO means ). The sound-examples at the website are simply stunning, and additionally there is an online-tutorial for orchestration now (after a book by Rimsky-Korsakov, so not exactly made for death metal, though ). Cheers. And post back what the K2-forums say, if you'd like...-
- KVRist
- 145 posts since 19 May, 2005 from London UK
I'll echo whats been said about Sampletank 2, it's not the last word in realistic sounds. I'd compare it to a Roland JV type synth, a trumpet sounds somewhat like a trumpet, if a little flat, or perhaps dull. But sometimes those sounds mix well and it can be had quite cheap these days. But you're into another propriatory system and need to think about that, another interface to learn. I've had it and Soniksynth 2 for a year now and am still struggling to fully exploit it. And because of the transfer fee not likely to recoup any money on it if I decide to sell.
I'm actually interested to see how it works when I eventually get Kore and can forgo the IK interface.
Other comprehensive libraries to investigate:
Sonic Implants Muse - 30 Gig library based on the Gigastudio VST for $500
The new plugsound library. I don't know much about this one.
I'm actually interested to see how it works when I eventually get Kore and can forgo the IK interface.
Other comprehensive libraries to investigate:
Sonic Implants Muse - 30 Gig library based on the Gigastudio VST for $500
The new plugsound library. I don't know much about this one.