IK Multimedia Xpansion Tank 2 Group Buy

[zedd]

Oh, I *KNOW* the RAW versions of these sets would be Good Things. My point is that we might be better off getting the RAW versions instead and skipping the SampleTank versions.

What advantage is there to having them in SampleTank format?

The ability to play the slices.

I would use the REX versions to figure out which loops I want to work with, then I would either drag them into my DAW and start moving around the audio manually, extracting the parts of the loop I want to use --OR-- I would load up the SampleTank version of the loop(s) and actually play the loop so that I can create my own groove variations with the same sounds. It is a totally different way to get something original out of the loop. You could do this by importing the REX loops into Stylus RMX, as well, but I prefer the ease of doing it in SampleTank since I always have ST running.

So it's not "previously unreleased"? That would be a bummer.

Thats correct but I don't think that it is the "1 gig exclusive" set that Squids was referring to. My guess is that he was referring to the Squids Tron Exclusive Extras. Which I guess is exciting if your into Mellotron sounds.

It is neither of those collections.

[oiramo]

It is neither of those collections.

So what is it? Has it even been announced? Everything on the list seems to have been previously released. Does that mean that everyone who redeemed their extra library basically wasted their download if they were expecting to get the previously unreleased library Squids was talking about. That would indeed be a bummer because that was the only reason bought in a second time.

"
Squids I have a disappointment about this. I got a manual download for my bonus entered by Allen as my download code did not work for whatever reason.

Well I chose SampleTank Rare Vintage Collection Vol. 1 and contains parent folders: Rare keys, Rare Strings, Guitar, Bass and Rare Synths...

but no drums at all.

i.e. no "drum kits in the style of Ringo, Bonham, Phil Collins and more" so I have to say this does not match the description I relied on to choose. I guess this is some oversight or snafu and not intentional and I am grateful for the group buy anyway, but I thought I would bring it to your attention.

That's odd the one I downloaded had an entirely different set of folders.The folders were labeled as Vintage Keys, Vintage Extras, Vintage Gtr and Bass, and Vintage Drum kits

[torgo]

So it's not "previously unreleased"? That would be a bummer.

Thats correct but I don't think that it is the "1 gig exclusive" set that Squids was referring to. My guess is that he was referring to the Squids Tron Exclusive Extras. Which I guess is exciting if your into Mellotron sounds.

There's nothing previously unreleased in the Squids Tron Exclusive Extras set either. Reminder: that set is ONLY the extra stuff from Squids' Tron Collection that was left out of SampleTron.

[curt1lp]

Bluman: thanks for the listen and kind words. I had a quick listen to your track. You had some great tone there. The track is very cinematic. Very cool vibe from the hand drums and the other "world instruments" you used, I liked the transition to the rockier section. you made good use of the hiphop style back beat, the heavier tone was great!

[curt1lp]

It is neither of those collections.

So what is it? Has it even been announced?

"
Squids I have a disappointment about this. I got a manual download for my bonus entered by Allen as my download code did not work for whatever reason.

Well I chose SampleTank Rare Vintage Collection Vol. 1 and contains parent folders: Rare keys, Rare Strings, Guitar, Bass and Rare Synths...

but no drums at all.

i.e. no "drum kits in the style of Ringo, Bonham, Phil Collins and more" so I have to say this does not match the description I relied on to choose. I guess this is some oversight or snafu and not intentional and I am grateful for the group buy anyway, but I thought I would bring it to your attention.

That's odd the one I downloaded had an entirely different set of folders.The folders were labeled as Vintage Keys, Vintage Extras, Vintage Gtr and Bass, and Vintage Drum kits

OK I think I will have to contact support about this. Thanks!

[torgo]

It is neither of those collections.

So what is it? Has it even been announced?

"
Squids I have a disappointment about this. I got a manual download for my bonus entered by Allen as my download code did not work for whatever reason.

Well I chose SampleTank Rare Vintage Collection Vol. 1 and contains parent folders: Rare keys, Rare Strings, Guitar, Bass and Rare Synths...

but no drums at all.

i.e. no "drum kits in the style of Ringo, Bonham, Phil Collins and more" so I have to say this does not match the description I relied on to choose. I guess this is some oversight or snafu and not intentional and I am grateful for the group buy anyway, but I thought I would bring it to your attention.

That's odd the one I downloaded had an entirely different set of folders.The folders were labeled as Vintage Keys, Vintage Extras, Vintage Gtr and Bass, and Vintage Drum kits

Well, it looks like we have another mystery on our hands.

But I do think that was the set Squids was referring to when he started the esoundz group buy thread. He specifically described it as "1 gig", "exclusive", and featuring "previously unreleased" ST sounds from SR.

The description of the Rare Vintage collection also claims its 1 gig, exclusive, and featuring previously unreleased ST sounds from SR.

That's a pretty strong match. Whether any of it is actually true or not is another question entirely, but Squids described this mystery set pretty much exactly as the esoundz site describes RV1.

[torgo]

One more heads up: I don't know if anyone is even THINKING about selecting the other Expansion Tank packs as their esoundz "Raise The Bar" bonus choice.

But if you are, be forewarned that those are the original version 1 sets, not the improved version 2 sets in the group buy.

For example, it's "Symphony Strings", not "Symphony Strings 2". So you'd ONLY get the ensemble and string section patches. You wouldn't get any of the solo strings, since they weren't included in the original version. It makes a big difference - v1 is only about half the size of v2.

Likewise, it's Omnisynth rather than Omnisynth 2. You don't get any of the "larger instrument" patches. Huge difference. Piano, not Piano 2. Etc. etc.

[curt1lp]

Hre is an image of the folder is that would be of interest;

[zedd]

It is neither of those collections.

So what is it? Has it even been announced? Everything on the list seems to have been previously released.

It hasn't been announced. I think "officially" (or unofficially--I'm not sure which) it was abandoned in exchange for our option to select from a number of different options. If it is still coming, in the form of an extra bonus, then it will come in addition to what you select from the list.

All the stuff on the list has been previously released, yes. Even the Tron collection is all previously released Tron stuff and does not contain the unreleased Tron extras which are soon coming in a different pack.

But I do think that was the set Squids was referring to when he started the esoundz group buy thread. He specifically described it as "1 gig", "exclusive", and featuring "previously unreleased" ST sounds from SR.

The description of the Rare Vintage collection also claims its 1 gig, exclusive, and featuring previously unreleased ST sounds from SR.

That's a pretty strong match. Whether any of it is actually true or not is another question entirely, but Squids described this mystery set pretty much exactly as the esoundz site describes RV1.

Wanting it to be what you wish was there is not going to turn it into something that it isn't.

But if selecting that pack will make you feel you got what was originally advertised then by all means you should select it. However, keep in mind oiramo's report that almost everything in this pack overlaps with stuff from the bass collection, electric guitar collection and vintage keys. I don't actually have that pack to confirm this, but I was indeed under the impression that this pack has been around for a while and that it consists of previously released material.

[torgo]

That's an interesting looking set, Curt1lp, but yep - no drums.

Question - how large is that full set. Is it 1 gig, as advertised?

[zedd]

Hre is an image of the folder is that would be of interest;

What product is that?

I purchased all of that content in a Group Buy about 2 years ago. I believe it was in the Rare and Vintage GB of 2008.

[torgo]

Wanting it to be what you wish was there is not going to turn it into something that it isn't.

Zedd, what I'm saying is that there is an EXTREMELY high correlation between the way Squids described the other set and the way the esoundz site describes this one.

I'm not wishing. I'm just noticing a heck of a resemblance in the marketing language. Occam's Razor says it probably isn't a coincidence.


But I'd want someone to confirm that it's NOT new material before I decide. Are they the same parent samples? Sure, the other sets have B3's and old guitars and drums. But that alone doesn't make them duplicates.

If someone has both this one and Vintage Keys, could you please run Anti-Twin and see if the samples really are identical?





Follow up question on the RAW packs... you mentioned the alternative of loading the files into your workstation and moving them around manually vs using the SampleTank version.

Why not just load the files from the RAW packs into SampleTank? ST can import the WAV files, which is why I was thinking I might not need both. If you have the RAW, you can still use it in SampleTank.

But since you have the RAW sets, is it a major hassle to get them into ST?

[darsho]

I consider buying a second time.
At IK I can use my points, but at esoundz I get another extra package.
Yet it seems to me that some of the esoundZ packages are only named differently to the IK packages.

Which of the esoundZ packages are actually exclusive, and their sounds not available in the IK packages ?

[torgo]

planet ugh - are you looking for loops/grooves, or are you wanting SampleTank patches for your bonus? It makes a big difference.

If the loops/grooves thing is your bag, the esoundz packs are R.A.W. collections (REX, Apple, WAV files). There are also a few collections on the R.A.W. list that are not included in the IK list, such as the three Latin titles.

As for the SampleTank patch collections, that's what we're discussing / debating now. The "Expansion Tank" collections are the older, out of date versions of the ones in the Group Buy. I'd suggest avoiding those.

The Tron set seems to be a popular choice. But I'm making sure everyone realizes that it's a "fill-in" set and not a complete, well-rounded collection. (It was created to give SampleTron owners the rest of the sounds that were in the Squids Tron Collection set but were left out of SampleTron. If you own SampleTron, you definitely want it. If not, be forewarned that most of the famous Tron sounds won't be included.)

The Rare Vintage Collection is under heavy debate now. The esoundz site claims it has new material. That's now being called into question.

The Studio Drums capsule is included in the Acoustic Drums Collection in the group buy. So if you get Acoustic Drums as one of your choices, avoid the Studio Drums capsule.

The "SampleTank 2.5 Bonus Disc" set appears to be repeats of other material.

The Bass preview thing is something that will soon be repeated (if not already) in StudiophonIK.

And FYI - we're all in a Waiting For Godot mode, wondering if Squids will announce a major bonus soon that he teased us about when we were close to hitting 5000 users. We still don't have any details on what that might be, so we can't help you there.

[zedd]

Why not just load the files from the RAW packs into SampleTank? ST can import the WAV files, which is why I was thinking I might not need both. If you have the RAW, you can still use it in SampleTank.

But since you have the RAW sets, is it a major hassle to get them into ST?

OMG, that would take a long time. You have 1000s of loops and you would have to import each one individually. That would drive you mad.

And not only that, they wouldn't be sliced, so there would really be no point in doing that. Much easier to just drag the REX loop you want to work with directly into your DAW.