Retank... Has anyone done thing productive with it.
-
- KVRist
- 307 posts since 1 May, 2003
The workflow is terrible because there is now way to browse patches. Just wanted to see if anyone had any workflow suggestions? It is too much work as is.
-
- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
The real benefit of ReTank is the following:
1. The slices and zone editing. Okay, I have not yet done a video demonstration of this specifically to ReTank but actually I HAVE done a video of this for SampleTank which you can see on the IK SampleTank page - the video on zone editing. Where it is a big deal for ReTank is the fact that each slice of the groove is its own zone and therefore can be repitched (using any of the three synth engines - resamp, psts or stretch - not to mention tweaked with harmonics, grain etc.) or have envelopes for smoothing or making things sound percussive or backwards or filters set differently per slice and the list goes on. It's a big deal to me because when you want to EDIT per slice this seems to be the fastest sample engine for that! Everything is right there in the same interface without having to turn a page or drop downs etc.
2. The built-in effects system and how you can save back the whole loop production of multiple loops or individual loops with your processing. Similar to Stylus except that IK has their own effects to borrow. Not that many companies have a sampler and also make their own effect plug-ins like IK so they can't draw from their own models so that's something that makes ST great IMO... an effects box to save back sounds with the processing applied.
3. Having the midi part for your powerful sequencer to be able to manipulate, quantize etc.
4. Having the slices you can play from the keyboard (you can even add velocity to amp to give each slice different dynamics) which makes them like thousands of tiny little percussive INSTRUMENTS to play and can also be a source of "happy accidents" where you're playing "bits", almost like you were sampling a record (but this is legal and sampling a record is not).
So for all of THOSE reasons ReTank is a unique and cool product line. Sure, if you could audition the grooves before loading them that would make it better and hopefully an update to SampleTank will allow that. Since the titles mirror our R.A.W. Style Paks you can also just pick up a crossgrade to any of those for cheap ($15 each as a crossgrade price title for title between ReTank and R.A.W. - if you're interested just talk to Allen) you can also just audition from your DAW which loop you want and THEN if you want to edit and mess around with it like I just described above you've got a GREAT tool for loops there within SampleTank! Really, one of the most powerful and quick when it comes to being able to edit per slice or process overall. SampleTank was always good for loops but no one ever did the slice/midi thing for it until now.
Think of loading these loops just like you would loading an instrument in a sampler. You can't audition that first either! But you CAN get to know your library and you can also just load sounds and experiment too! It takes some time investment to get to know a library and also to make your own child presets. You can also keyword the ones you like to be able to find them easier as you go through them. Sure there are a LOT of loops in there but that's a good thing. You've got endless inspiration waiting for you. Starting points to manipulate and put your own mark on them instead of just playing back the loop as is. It's a creative tool more than a "convenient" tool for just playing back loops in sync... in fact, your DAW can do that with RAW already! So this is a step up for new creative possibilities.
1. The slices and zone editing. Okay, I have not yet done a video demonstration of this specifically to ReTank but actually I HAVE done a video of this for SampleTank which you can see on the IK SampleTank page - the video on zone editing. Where it is a big deal for ReTank is the fact that each slice of the groove is its own zone and therefore can be repitched (using any of the three synth engines - resamp, psts or stretch - not to mention tweaked with harmonics, grain etc.) or have envelopes for smoothing or making things sound percussive or backwards or filters set differently per slice and the list goes on. It's a big deal to me because when you want to EDIT per slice this seems to be the fastest sample engine for that! Everything is right there in the same interface without having to turn a page or drop downs etc.
2. The built-in effects system and how you can save back the whole loop production of multiple loops or individual loops with your processing. Similar to Stylus except that IK has their own effects to borrow. Not that many companies have a sampler and also make their own effect plug-ins like IK so they can't draw from their own models so that's something that makes ST great IMO... an effects box to save back sounds with the processing applied.
3. Having the midi part for your powerful sequencer to be able to manipulate, quantize etc.
4. Having the slices you can play from the keyboard (you can even add velocity to amp to give each slice different dynamics) which makes them like thousands of tiny little percussive INSTRUMENTS to play and can also be a source of "happy accidents" where you're playing "bits", almost like you were sampling a record (but this is legal and sampling a record is not).
So for all of THOSE reasons ReTank is a unique and cool product line. Sure, if you could audition the grooves before loading them that would make it better and hopefully an update to SampleTank will allow that. Since the titles mirror our R.A.W. Style Paks you can also just pick up a crossgrade to any of those for cheap ($15 each as a crossgrade price title for title between ReTank and R.A.W. - if you're interested just talk to Allen) you can also just audition from your DAW which loop you want and THEN if you want to edit and mess around with it like I just described above you've got a GREAT tool for loops there within SampleTank! Really, one of the most powerful and quick when it comes to being able to edit per slice or process overall. SampleTank was always good for loops but no one ever did the slice/midi thing for it until now.
Think of loading these loops just like you would loading an instrument in a sampler. You can't audition that first either! But you CAN get to know your library and you can also just load sounds and experiment too! It takes some time investment to get to know a library and also to make your own child presets. You can also keyword the ones you like to be able to find them easier as you go through them. Sure there are a LOT of loops in there but that's a good thing. You've got endless inspiration waiting for you. Starting points to manipulate and put your own mark on them instead of just playing back the loop as is. It's a creative tool more than a "convenient" tool for just playing back loops in sync... in fact, your DAW can do that with RAW already! So this is a step up for new creative possibilities.
-
- KVRian
- 1201 posts since 25 Sep, 2002
Thanks for this reply Squids.
Points 1 - 4 make it clear how REX can be used creatively but the real problem is how to improve the workflow issue ... to which I think you have also suggested a cool solution!
I hadn't thought of them in that way, just a little thinking outside the box. The approach of auditioning the files via the Style Paks had completely passed me by
.
I've got a whole bunch of your stuff so I just gotta match what I have through RAW & REX!
Thanks for this should help with REX usage in ST2 a whole bunch.
All the best
Don
Points 1 - 4 make it clear how REX can be used creatively but the real problem is how to improve the workflow issue ... to which I think you have also suggested a cool solution!
I hadn't thought of them in that way, just a little thinking outside the box. The approach of auditioning the files via the Style Paks had completely passed me by
. I've got a whole bunch of your stuff so I just gotta match what I have through RAW & REX!
Thanks for this should help with REX usage in ST2 a whole bunch.
All the best
Don
-
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 307 posts since 1 May, 2003
Point well taken thanks!!!!!
-
- KVRAF
- 10366 posts since 2 Sep, 2003 from Surrey, UK
... and some other ideas are here:
How to use ReTank:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=236373
ReTank: Download, Installation and Authorisation:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=234896
How to use ReTank:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=236373
ReTank: Download, Installation and Authorisation:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=234896