How Complete is Komplete?

[philosorhymes]

Hi Guys, I'm thinking of really taking receptor to the next level and use it as a proper workstation (by that I mean sourcing all my sounds from it). But I need a soft synth that is a good all rounder, so my question is, for a musician like myslef that needs organ sounds, drum beats (live and electronic), EP's, organs, pads, and other eccentric sounds, How would Komplete measure up? Am I better off, just buying Colossus and running that via Kontakt or would I really get a whole deal extra from Komplete?

Your help is much appreciated.

[Hybernation]

Hi Guys, I'm thinking of really taking receptor to the next level and use it as a proper workstation (by that I mean sourcing all my sounds from it). But I need a soft synth that is a good all rounder, so my question is, for a musician like myslef that needs organ sounds, drum beats (live and electronic), EP's, organs, pads, and other eccentric sounds, How would Komplete measure up? Am I better off, just buying Colossus and running that via Kontakt or would I really get a whole deal extra from Komplete?

Your help is much appreciated.

I think Collosus and Kontakt2 is a pretty potent combination and covers the basses well. Not sure about "Drum beats" though, since I don't do that much.

The only other things from Komplete that I think are really ESSENTIAL are B4 (And I guess B4 II is better, but to be honest I think I prefer B4), FM7 ('cause I just like FM/DX7 sounds) and Absynth (because it has killer pad, bells, string, etc and is pretty easy on CPU).

I think with these plus Atmosphere I "could" source all sounds from Receptor (though I would need 2 of them to do it without my two Dell's or to do it all live).

Beware, though, that Receptor doesn't really support the "Komplete installer" yet, and NI only gives you a single "Komplete serial number" these days. You have to have individual serial numbers to install the user installables like Kontakt2, Elektric Piano, Absynth, B4II.

[philosorhymes]

Thanks Hibernation, That was very useful feedback. I currently own Atmosphere and Kontakt2 already, so I think I might head for colossus for now. What are the piano samples like on colossus? are they good?

[Hybernation]

Thanks Hibernation, That was very useful feedback. I currently own Atmosphere and Kontakt2 already, so I think I might head for colossus for now. What are the piano samples like on colossus? are they good?

There is a dry Steinway that is pretty good. Not perfect, but I've used it on some tracks. I don't like the other piano (fizoli?) it's got a lot of built in ambience, which just doesn't work for me.

Most of my favorite pianos are just too large for Receptor/Kontakt2 to handle well. However, one of my favorites is SampleTekk's TSO and it works well on Receptor. They are having a big sale right now, I think it's only about $50 or something ridiculous like that!

[philosorhymes]

Once again thanks alot for your help hybernation. I am having a look at SampleTekk's TSO now. Could I ask your personal opinion on Akoustik piano? I keep hearing mix reviews and have not been able to try it?

Many thanks

[Hybernation]

Once again thanks alot for your help hybernation. I am having a look at SampleTekk's TSO now. Could I ask your personal opinion on Akoustik piano? I keep hearing mix reviews and have not been able to try it?

I have not been able to try it either. I have so many pianos, I doubt I'll get it, unless NI offers it as part of the next Komplete upgrade (like the did Elektric Piano with Komplete3 upgrade). I was kind of disappointed there was no "10th anniversary sale price for Komplete3 customers" on it.

From what I have read, it sounds good...perhaps not QUITE on par with Ivory (believe Ivory has a larger sample base)...And I hear the convolution reverb eats some CPU (they all do I reckon), and since it's the NI DFD engine I'm not too optimistic about it's performance on Receptor. But again, I haven't tried it.

If I ever see a good deal on Ivory, on the other hand, I'll probably get it just because I have heard it works SO well on Receptor

Get TSO. For that price it's a no brainer! FYI, I upgraded to TBO when it was on sale and I actually like the sound of TSO better. I also really really like their "Black Grand Close" piano. It's a bigger one (6 Gig) so doesn't play too well on receptor but it is one beauty of a close-miked, minimal ambience piano. I play this one through IK Classik Studio Reverb and I'm in piano heaven.

sorry to ramble...

[philosorhymes]

So sorry Hibernation I actually forgot to thank you for your feedback on this. Thanks!

[analogaddict]

Re: komplete on Receptor; I bought Komplete in late may or early june, and have since then been trying to get separate serial numbers from NI - something I know they have done for other users - to no avail. After emailing them initially daily and later once or twice a week explaining that I need separate serial numbers in order to install the NI products on the Receptor, I got a response early august saying that all I needed to do was use the Komplete serial number to install the separate components on Receptor..!

So, now I run all NI products from my laptop and Kore, and I use Kontakt 2 (which I own separately) for playing samples from the Receptor. Kind of silly of them to promise compatibility and not deliver that last piece of crucial info... Based on this, I'd say go for Colossus, at least you know it will work!

Please note that I LOVE the NI products, I use them for almost all my sequencing and live, I just wish I could install them on my Receptor, which plays MUCH better than my Mac G4 laptop with 1.5 ghz and 1.5 GB ram...

While we're on the subject; making KORE and Receptor compatible would create the most powerful and flexible live synth setup yet..!

[thesoundsmith]

After emailing them initially daily and later once or twice a week explaining that I need separate serial numbers in order to install the NI products on the Receptor, I got a response early august saying that all I needed to do was use the Komplete serial number to install the separate components on Receptor..!

So you can install Komplete on Receptor using the same serial for each element? That could be great news for Komplete customers. Or are you saying they sent you a response and it was wrong and would NOT authorize?

[Hybernation]

After emailing them initially daily and later once or twice a week explaining that I need separate serial numbers in order to install the NI products on the Receptor, I got a response early august saying that all I needed to do was use the Komplete serial number to install the separate components on Receptor..!

So you can install Komplete on Receptor using the same serial for each element? That could be great news for Komplete customers. Or are you saying they sent you a response and it was wrong and would NOT authorize?

No you HAVE to have individual serial numbers for each thing in Komplete. I recently convinced NI to give me a Kompakt serial number but it took several weeks and many many emails to get them to respond.

It is actually a very delicate balance between user input, developer interest, and strategic need. We are currently working on a Komplete installer helper that will allow ALL of Komplete to be installed on Receptor, and that has taken up a lot of the bandwidth that would usually go to getting more installer helpers done. <..>. We're trying to get a well rounded set of plug-ins supported so that we can help customers cover as many musical demands as possible.

That all being said, our users have the loudest voice, so the more people who ask for a given plug-in, the higher priority it will get.

Thanks for your input and continued support!

Bryan

Bryan, any update on the Komplete installer? It seems like a LOT of people are needing this, Komplete continues to be a very attractive set of plugs, especially with the recent discounts.

[analogaddict]

Sorry if I was a bit unclear! Like stated above, it does NOT work. However, it's great news to hear that an installer may be underway; It would indeed be a much better soultion that having Komplete/Receptor owners indulge in e-mail insania with NI... I guess we'll just have to wait and see!