IK Multimedia Xpansion Tank 2 Group Buy

[samsam]

I can't believe that anyone in the market for sounds could possibly let this deal slip by. Total bargain really.

As for my packs: Thumbs up for them all really. Cinematik is my fave, great for messing with envelopes, FX and whatever takes your fancy. And fun getting one loop pack (Modern Tech Rap) which I'd recommend. Wouldn't use all the construction kit parts together but the loops are pretty inspiring, especially when used out of context (in my case at 130/140 bpm as opposed to rap tempo) which I always think is the best way to use a loop.

[esoundz = revdaxx, thought I'd plug my new account, just one time ]

[barbecutie]

I'll make one more (non Squids mega post) clarification for anyone who is wondering about what my role is typically in these group buys. I'm here to help it be a success and to find its way into the hands of people that will appreciate it. The success benefits both the company(companies) and the customer in the "bang for the buck" area. So I simply do my best in the ways I know how. I don't hold back my opinions and I try to be as objective and fair as I can be. But my intentions are to either give a large amount of people some good tips or advice or at least make you smile or laugh... even a minor snicker is worth something or I'd even take a smirk! OR a half-smile...like Ben Affleck... you know the one he does at the end of Good Will Hunting when he (rather slowly) realizes his friend left on a road trip? I do that half-smile sometimes when I am taking a piss. A mild sense of satisfaction.

Anyway, hopefully that first part made some good sense.

Hi Squids.

I have to say you are doing an awesome job! I am surprised at how much time you spend in your responses. You are very thorough, professional and humorous.

Thanks for helping us make educated decisions. Keep it up!

BBC

[barbecutie]

IK Multimedia Xpansion Tank 2 Group Buy

Now 4X1! Currently at 1596 users! Need 2500 users for 5X1!

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/xtgroupbuy

and

http://www.esoundz.com/details.php?ProductID=4293

BBC

esoundz user: BarBeCutie or see epointz referral thread below for other users:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... ht=epointz

[chroma]

well, a mini-review - i got omnisynth, symphony strings, world instruments, and cinematik.

short version - i think it sounds like a high-end workstation. This is both a compliment and a complaint, I guess - these days, I sort of expect native libraries to be able to use more memory and sound better than your average workstation. But modern workstations do sound really good, this is definitely a usable and wide-ranging group of sounds. Maybe closer to the Korg sound than the Roland sound, maybe. Of course this is a much larger variety that what's on any workstation, and it's only $50!

and if you were thinking of the pianos/strings/omnisynth/a couple of others, if you get the sampletank XL factory content, there are demos of a few of those in there to try.

Of course I'm a bit spoiled too... the ultimate studio drums group buy was not just 'usable', it was spectacular sounding. These are not at that level, but they still sound really good. I didn't really have a full set of woodwinds in particular, and while those don't typically generate the kind of emotion as strings, I really like the woodwinds so far that come with omnisynth.

I did have an issue with some uneven mapping in the sampling... for example, in the omnisynth 'bonus larger instruments' section, I tried the viola. It's a decent sounding viola, but there's an obvious timbre change at the F2/G2 transition. I was a bit annoyed to discover a similar odd note in a symphony strings viola solo strings patch, viola04_leg, at A3, which kind of sticks out. Squids - any chance you could look at that?

However, this library is more than worth it just for the ensemble strings - they have that sort of 'film score' sheen to them and just sound incredible. Not necessarily realistic, so maybe not for classical, but for pop/rock/electronica they really work. Even better than the similar strings in the cinematik library, imho.

The world instruments - well, those types of instruments aren't ones you tend to 'wow' over, but everything I've tried here sounds great. In particular there are a LOT of didgeridoos, very woofy sounding if you're into that. As wide a variety as the emu library on their samplers I used to use too. Honestly I got this one mostly for the shakers - there are only a couple of shaker patches, but each one contains a bunch of different types of shakers (maybe 10-20 per patch? can't remember).

Cinematik is the only one I probably would have gotten differently. Yes, it sounds good for what it is.... but I also have alchemy, and that's in a different league for those kinds of sounds. If I didn't have alchemy, I would probably appreciate it more. I haven't played with it much yet though.

[blueman]

The second time I joined I only received 3 choices I received 4 "sounds" on the first order as soon as we hit the 4 x 1 mark so I am confused. Strange, it's actually the "2 x 1" promotion that isn't working so I'm getting the first, 3rd and 4th ones.

Is this normal? Is anyone else (who has joined twice) having this problem?

The "Multibox" option is what I missed. That's where you select the first option (just in case anyone else is confused like I was)

Thanks to Peter @ IKM for helping me

R

[Harry_HH]

Thanks Harry. Well said. I totally agree (as I just posted) that user opinions are important. I have seen a fair amount of them though in this and the other thread in the SR forum. But you can never have too many. Interestingly, in the spirit of keeping this Group Buy something that inspires new people to join (something everyone in the group buy also wants), what is it that you are particularly enjoying about the Vocal and Acoustic Drums libraries that you got?

Well, as you said yourself, everyone tries to pick up content which
complements the instruments/sounds they already have.
E.g. although I aready have VERY good drum libraries (among other RMX with many expansions + BFD2 including Joe Barresi), the IK Acoustic Drums complement these kins of multi-multi layered sounds with some nice lower-fi or
trash/fx style type sounds for special purposes or styles or moods.
What comes to the Vocal library, I wonder why there are so few ANY decent
vocal samples available in the r&b&pop genre for generic "background vocal" purposes. Plenty of choir-style or classical music genre, or etno style but few usable samples to create some natural sounding rock harmonies (which can be refined e.g. using Melodyne or sampler), you don't want necessary buy e.g the whole Vocal Planet for that. IK's ST Vocal bundle include at least 10 very useful vocals, one of my favorites is Beach Boys style vocal timbres. One advice for those who use the Vocal library: in many cases the factory settings include to steep attach to my mind (= you can hear a "notch" in the beginning of the sample which can be some cases useful but often not), this can be fixed easily by using Sampletanks adjusting possibilities.
There, some remarks. Harry

[beau921]

I've been really surprised at how SampleTank, XpansionTank, Sonic Reality, IK Multimedia, etc, have been critiqued and questioned here.

Take for example Symphonic Strings.

There was a time when, if you wanted authentic strings, you either took violin lessons, or hired orchestral players to come to the studio and record them.

I wrote, several pages back, a brief review of SampleARP and SampleOB Xpander.

In it, I mentioned this being a cost effective alternative to buying any/all of the sampled instruments.

Those "vintage" keyboards all had idiosyncrasies that made them tempermental, and occasionally, difficult to work with...which are now, often, called "character," and make us desire them.

And, here they are. Right here in XpansionTank.

Yet, if the sample of the classic synthesizer has the idiosyncrasy of a slight volume difference, it's a major event.

If you question the appeal of Cinematik, on it's own, imagine it as accompanyment when layered with other sounds. And, you may find replicating some of it's sounds elsewhere nearly impossible.

I'm not trying to be preachy.

I'm trying to say, enjoy this.

This is a fantastic time to play and produce music.

As musicians, we live with the curse of actually being able to have, pretty much, everything we want with which to make music.

Okay, that's not really a curse...unless we make it one by forgetting to enjoy what we have.

If you'd told me, 20 years ago, we'd have XpansionTank, SampleMOOG, Amplitube, or any of the other tools we have today, I'd have laughed in disbelief.

Today, I'm laughing because I do have it all.

We all, including myself, have gotten spoiled.

We've gotten used to this [modern computer recording technology], and sometimes forget what it was like to not have it. Those of you who may be young enough to not have experienced not having it, count yourselves lucky.

Technology has finally caught up with our brains.

But, the "WOW!" factor has given way to analyzing how many velocity layers something has.

I'd be surprised if your listeners, hearing this instrument in a mix, think about velocity layers.

If you've bought this, and hear a sound you think you'll never use, chances are that will be exactly the one you need, at some point. It's happened to me countless times.

However, if you get 5 to 10 sounds out of every sound pack, you've gotten your money's worth.

It could be argued, even 1 sound at this price is worth it.

If you make music, and haven't bought this, buy it.

There is something here for everyone, from heavy metal to hip hop.

Buy it, play it, critique it, but, don't forget to enjoy it.

There was once a time when I wouldn't touch MIDI.

So, if I can embrace this, I know you can.

I'm not hard to please, but I do have expectations.

XpansionTank and the Sonic Reality sounds/samples have more than met them.

I can't imagine anyone passing this deal and not regretting it later.

Sorry for being so wordy.

I now return you to your thread.

[2ndStringer]

And I think it needs to be pointed out that there are different opinions. If you read the entire thread, there are pro and con comments on the same Xpansion Tanks. One person said they didn't like the strings. Then others said they did. Someone criticised the ARP or Obi Xpansion Tank (can't remember which one), and someone else said that was their favorite. We're all going to look at it differently.

Yeah, one person said that the strings were thin and metallic, and someone else said they were warm and lyrical. They sound good to me, but I haven't had much time to play.

John

[vrooom]

I think that some of us remember spending silly money in the past on synth workstations (in 2002 I spend £800+ on one) and nowadays all our sound needs are done via software packages that cost £40. I could never see this coming. It is funny how things go, no?

[Squids]

I think that's the longest post of bold type I've ever read! Haha.

Some good points guys. I love the point about the listener of your music not knowing or caring about the specs of the sounds you use. This is a good reminder perspective. A lot of times what gets laid down on an album or film score or any recorded music is from any number of sources - some of which you might think to be less than ideal or perfect to say the least... I mean even just something like a Mellotron with its warbly lofi, one velocity, no envelopes, tuning instability, noise and everything else just so happens to sound AMAZING in the context of music! To me that is the best judge of the usefulness of a sound... does it WORK in your music? That trumps all else IMO. It can even have some glaring flaws but if it works in the context of music then I want it in my collection!

I remember way back when we did the Squids Tron Group Buy... that was a good one. We did an extra disc of the quirkier outtakes and a lot of people liked those even better! They had some full length non-looped things where the tapes ran out and got weird or just wow and flutter errors that had a charm to them... things that might otherwise be on the cutting room floor as they say. One man's trash is another man's gold and all that. But overall, when it comes to workstations and expansion packs etc. it is more of a variety grab bag of stuff. You have to find the sounds you like that make it worth it for you. What's unique here is that it ain't over!!!! You might STILL be able to get yet ANOTHER free pack... and then ANOTHER! Maybe. All depends on how good the group is at growing the group!!!! Can you spread the word? Can you INSPIRE someone to want to join because that is what this stuff is all about. Play some MUSIC you made with it!

Now, some of you are really talented and you need to show us your production and playing chops. Reverend Rhythm you know I am talking about you as well as many others I've been able to hear over the years. We have that mega thread in our SR company forum that has a bunch of everyone's demos. Let's all share some of that. Sounds in musical context! A good excuse to have some fun anyway... that is a major part of what this is all about. The fun of winning something and the fun of creating.

I have to check where we're at on esoundz but it is around 200 or so. If you want to get that prize I mentioned you'll need another 8 hundy buying from http://www.esoundz.com/details.php?Prod ... ode=XT2KVR We can make this thing better and better but ya gotta work with me here! Let's make this the BIGGEST group buy ever! It can be done. We can do it! Are you with me? Let's get out there and WIN this game! (woops, sorry I was channeling a Football Coach there for a second).

Off to the studio for me. I am working on this really pretentious prog track and I am using SampleTank 2 Xpansion Tank sounds for it incidentally. I may see about video taping us in the studio while I am here. Just one style/possibility but it sure is working out great having my laptop in my set up here... I have every sound I need! I mean, seriously, we were doing this one track and I needed a Hurdy Gurdy drone and within seconds I had it playing and everyone just looked at me in shock! haha. It's good to have all of the libraries for situations like that.

[JavaJ]

I've downloaded three of four and I think that the "average quality"
is rather good, not superb but you can't expect that with this price level.
The price-quality -ratio was good even without the group buy.

I don't know about this- I don't want to buy good priced junk- I am hoping for an amazing deal on an amazing product. Is this one-thenth the value of Omnisphere for sound quality- or is this more like the best of Wusikstation sounds? Would you you get enough AMAZING sounds for $50 (or would you rather get amazing sounds from a smaller specialized sound pack- like a Kore Pack or maybe a specialized Kontakt sample instrument).

How would the sounds compare to something like the free EMU Proteus synth (with over a 1k presets I believe). Is it more in line with that?
Looking for some really good feedback- as I can spend the $50 or just save it towards a larger purchase.
Help me

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

Nice, can't wait to hear some people play and produce with these and really want to see some studio footage, Squids! I only put up the one bit of audio, so maybe I'll pony up one soon. I did the Floydesque, then I thought one of the loops had three parts that mixed into something similar to the backing drum line on "Pepper" by Butthole Surfers... so I found it was not difficult to throw trem on one of the sounds from the electric guitar pack and grab a sitar sound from the World pack (or maybe XT2 sound pack? I forget) and mangle it and there was most of that one too.

These are ALL construction sets if you'd like them to be. If there's enough variety to do Pink Floyd, Beach Boys, and Butthole Surfers, I'd say there's really not much you CAN'T do with them.

[JavaJ]

Can you INSPIRE someone to want to join because that is what this stuff is all about. Play some MUSIC you made with it!

Yes, please do- the fence is getting sore and I have a butt cheek on either side (not comfortable let me tell you).

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

oops and I forgot to mention that Stretch could be used for the "melodyne-style" sample engine, FYI. Stretch is oft-overlooked but VERY cool and powerful.

Edit - to elaborate, you also do have some really nice oohs and ahhs in the Vocal Collection that could be used for rock and with Stretch you could really extend them.

[chroma]

How would the sounds compare to something like the free EMU Proteus synth (with over a 1k presets I believe). Is it more in line with that?
Looking for some really good feedback- as I can spend the $50 or just save it towards a larger purchase.
Help me

Ironically I just found some e4b files on my hard drive so I have been playing with proteus VX today as well. The proteus composer rom is 66 MB, the omnisynth set is something like 1.1GB. And you can hear the difference. The reverb is much better in sampletank than in proteus VX. That's not to say that proteus is a bad synth - I like it in general, perhaps even a couple things (like the pan flute) better than the equivalent in world instruments. It's an equivalent type of synth honestly - it represents many years of Emu sampling expertise across a wide range of instruments. But it is an older library, based on the modules, not the samplers - if you have the emu essentials sample CDs you are talking gigabytes of samples vs. the 66 megs there, so it doesn't even represent the best of emu. In general, it is a good sounding library for percussive sounds, but for anything sustained, it's heavily looped and you can hear it. This works OK for things like pads, somewhat less for string sounds (you can tell they put in some extra effort here), and not as much OK for brass etc.

Then compare the basic omnisynth grand piano with the basic grand piano (first preset) in proteus VX - not even close, the omnisynth one has space and subtlety the proteus one can't touch. But then (if I'm reading the ST instrument right) the ST one is 32 megs (that's just the one in omnisynth, not the pianos), while the proteus one is probably 800k (i think I know which one it is). You can hear the difference in the size.

Neither one is as good as the deluxe piano from the first USD group buy Which is also 10x the size of the the ST one. I haven't heard the Pianos module for ST (it's my next choice if we go 5x1), but imagine it's also a lot bigger and would give you a similar improvement as well.

Not all instruments will have that kind of difference, but the ones that do are probably the ones you care about.