Sampletank Features

[Caleb]

Better import would be nice.

And I'll always support improvements to STRETCH - I mean who wouldn't really?



Regards
Caleb

[Squids]

We're still not any closer to ST being a real sampler but yes, it is very nice to see those additions and have them for free. Appreciated.

You can thank our interaction on the forums for helping things be more "free" over at IK. There was a time where, like other companies, IK would charge for things like the OSX update. Now, not only was there no charge for the UB update and stand alone but there's even no charge for this version which has a major upgrade to the effects system and other good stuff. Plus you guys DO know about the "crossgrade for ALL" policy where owning ANY IK product qualifies you for the crossgrade discount of any other IK product right? What other company does this?

I don't to take personal credit for this "new attitude" change over at IK but this IS one thing that the direct communication I've had with you guys has helped spawn. This is what I mean when I say "let's not turn this forum into a slagfest on other companies we work with". When we keep it constructive then it is bearable for other companies to read and seeing the results of customer satisfaction can inspire a company to go for the good will. It's something you guys know I've personally been about since the beginning and that's why we have so many repeat customers at www.esoundz.com for instance (forgive me making it a link... sales support us being here). I've always been a "customer's always right" kind of person... or more specifically, someone who values customer satisfaction greatly and understands the balance of what you give to get. It has taken years to influence IK to adopt this sort of attitude which is probably more of an American approach perhaps... in Europe as a consumer I try to say "but isn't the customer always right?" and often they say "No, and we won't let you return that Pate' De Foi Gras, even though it is in a can and you bought it yesterday" (true story).

So, anyway, thank yourselves for helping to make this forum a good platform for discussion and influence over the companies we work with. Imagine that when I talk to the CEO of IK I say "Oh come on, you KNOW they're going to LOVE this if it's free or if it doesn't have the dongle or if..." and he can honestly say he can imagine the response because of places like KVR where you can READ customer feedback... feedback that isn't complete misc anarchy like some forums... where you don't even know if professionals who really make music or "bored brats" are there or if it is friends of competitors trying to shmear your name (which happens sometimes sadly).

It's gotten really good now at IK. Just know that every time you guys show appreciation it helps confirm that it was the right decision... like when AmpliTube 2 lost the dongle and was able to be a downloadable demo. Since the product really is fantastic there was a tremendous change in people's attitude about it and sales increased dramatically. Remember that massive thread? You can read it (if you dare) and see the evolution. Is that still around btw? haha.

Anyway, rant over... I suppose you guys have figured this stuff out... the changes if you've been a customer for a while. I don't want to sound too pretentious or anything but I like to set a standard for customer satisfaction that is very high. That's how it should be in my opinion and that's what I like to see as a consumer myself.

[harmony gardens]

It's much appreciated Squids, and I think all of us are drawn here by your attention to our concerns. I've also learned a lot from watching the way you do business, and have always seen you as a guy with his ear on the rail, but also a good teacher.

I can say for sure that people are taking note of the fact that IK took the dongles off the products. I hope it proves successful for them.

I'm also VERY happy the Philharmonik will fully integrate into Sampletank. It will put Sampletank back into it's intended position as the prime engine of the entire library.

[Squids]

It's much appreciated Squids, and I think all of us are drawn here by your attention to our concerns. I've also learned a lot from watching the way you do business, and have always seen you as a guy with his ear on the rail, but also a good teacher.

I can say for sure that people are taking note of the fact that IK took the dongles off the products. I hope it proves successful for them.

I'm also VERY happy the Philharmonik will fully integrate into Sampletank. It will put Sampletank back into it's intended position as the prime engine of the entire library.

Thanks. Oh, I should say that I didn't mean that I personally want to hear you guys show appreciation toward me. That's always nice but I meant more in the "thumbs up for moves from companies" kind of way... which we've seen a fair amount of recently for IK and that's great... reinforces the decision to do things like lose the dongle, free updates, crossgrade deals... think about it. If no one cared and it didn't seem to make a difference then why bother? So, when you guys back me up it helps me help you. It helps us at esoundz too... and every other store. A happy customer is a repeat customer. Stores depend on manufacturers to help keep their customers happy as well. So it is important that every link in the chain is doing their job well.

[trixie]

It's good to see and feel the changes because, let's admit it, IK's attitude was wrong in the first place. No official support forum, dongle-protected products, no replies to support request emails (happened to me twice) - this is what I call hate-my-customer attitude! I hail anyone, including Squids and the gang, who has helped change this.

The Crossgrade for All option is also a move in the right direction, for it supports customer loyalty. If the SampleMoog is crossgradeable too, you got my money!

[Caleb]

Squids - it's good to know that feedback on this forum makes its way to IK by whatever means.

Sometimes it's hard to know whether they are really listening.

But I'm impressed that even some of the improvements that have come about are because of this feedback. That means that they are not only listening, but acting and it gives us incentive to continue this practice.

I must admit, my interest in IK really came via my interest in Sonic Reality. If SR partnered with some other playback engine it may well have been a different story for me.

Even my purchase of CSR came largely from the feedback people representing eSoundz/Sonic Reality. Reverb was the effect I was willing to pay more for and it could have gone anywhere - but it went to IK mainly because of this forum.

Once you know your needs and you've found people "in the know" who you feel you can trust, the rest is easy isn't it?

Regards
Caleb

[DarkStar]

Squids,
+1

"squids-rant" ==> common sense and good principles for any business

[and given the recent news releases, gotta go and rearrange my budgets]

[Squids]

Well, I deal mostly with IK's CEO for example who is obviously very busy and the only way I can get him to read KVR is if there's something interesting or constructive going on. If people are just slinging mud then he, like most people, would get turned off and want to spend mental real estate on something else... also combine the fact that musician/artists are sensitive and Italians are typically very passionate it can be touchy! Haha. (oh imbecelle!!!!! jk) especially since SR runs this forum and tries its best to cover as much IK stuff as we can without getting in over our heads. I used to dread the time we'd get flack for doing it but now it is fully accepted and even commended for the success of it... being civil, friendly, constructive and a good source of honest feedback from real users or potential users. That's how it should be but we couldn't do this without everyone's support. If someone spammed or trolled in here you guys would be all over them in a second... and we even have a Meffy now so look out!

Anyway, my point is, that if I don't actually get IK's CEO to read specific things on KVR I at least convey the general message about what people want... plus I kind of know anyway. Shhhhhh. I feel like I have a good sense for what a musician/consumer thinks is reasonable and fair as well as what is incentive for WANTING to purchase from that company... if anything it is as simple as knowing what I want from a company when I buy something! It starts there really... same thing with the sounds. What do I want????? Luckily I want everything. Haha. Every pedal, every amp, every sound... sample everything!

[Chrisma]

Squids - it's good to know that feedback on this forum makes its way to IK by whatever means.

Sometimes it's hard to know whether they are really listening.

But I'm impressed that even some of the improvements that have come about are because of this feedback. That means that they are not only listening, but acting and it gives us incentive to continue this practice.

I must admit, my interest in IK really came via my interest in Sonic Reality. If SR partnered with some other playback engine it may well have been a different story for me.

Even my purchase of CSR came largely from the feedback people representing eSoundz/Sonic Reality. Reverb was the effect I was willing to pay more for and it could have gone anywhere - but it went to IK mainly because of this forum.

Once you know your needs and you've found people "in the know" who you feel you can trust, the rest is easy isn't it?

Regards
Caleb

+1 on this.

I got in on the SonicSynth 1 groupbuy a couple years or so back and since then sold all of my keyboards and sound modules bought ST2 and SS2 received Amplitude 1 for free and many other free features that could have easily been worth a price.
I have no compliants and like the direction IK is heading. I will gladly spend money for ST3.0 at Esoundz.

Thank you Squids, SonicReality/Esoundz and IK. Technology at it's best no doubt.

[Chrisma]

The only thing keeping me from using ST exclusively for making my own instruments (drum kits, etc,) is I would guess the same thing?

You can do this now. I build my own kits all the time by importing wav files. Granted it needs to be revamped with a gui for key mapping so you don't have to add the note to the name of the file. It can be done now but you just have to take to lay your kit and be sure it's how you want it because once you create you kit you can't go back and edit it.

Maybe IK will release a Sampletank Editor. That would work too.

[Chrisma]

Better import would be nice.

And I'll always support improvements to STRETCH - I mean who wouldn't really?



Regards
Caleb

Stretch works best in bit size pieces. For example if you chop up a 8 beat phrase into 8 pieces and sequence in order on each beat and then play around with Stretch you'll see what I mean. Granted if all the chopping could be done within Sampletank man I be in Heaven (well not Heaven but having some fun for sure).

[trixie]

Maybe IK will release a Sampletank Editor.

+1 (repeating myself all the time but hey, this one IS important!)

[BERFAB]

... Pate' De Foi Gras...

... I don't want to sound too pretentious or anything...

YOU?! Pretentious?
Now WHY would we think that? Pate' De Foi Gras, indeed... [couldn't resist that one ]

Seriously though, as was said above, I also came to IK via Squids/SR/et. al. It was actually the Squids series of ST2 demos that brought me to the table. But all the cool stuff at SR (group buys, epointz, crossgrades and freebies) kept me coming back.

Darn glad to be here...

-B

[Chrisma]

Oh yeah...What do you all think about native SFZ/SF2 import in Sampletank 3? Seems like a no brainer to me.

[Bobby Hull]

Mise en garde: je suis tres fatigue.
Is there anyway we can get the ST2 soundset update without the bonus material just so ST2 is as delish as ST1 out of the box. I started reprogramming the ST2 soundset adding compressors and limiters (at Squid'z suggestion) just to hear the sounds (especially the drums)but it was just too daunting. As I see it, IK was charging its loyal customers for something that should have been free so forgive me for not getting all choked up about this latest free update. ST2 needs to be as loud as other VSTi.