XILS 3 LE and PolyKB II Player, good buys!

[Nielzie]

This is definitely one of my favorite synths now and I hope Xils Labs releases more serial-number protected plugins I'm going to buy PolyKB II LE later today to give support to that part of your business
(OK, just bought it, a definite no-brainer too!)

I you mean the player version with "PolyKB II LE" then be aware that it's not meant as a synth to design new sounds on from scratch, like XILS 3 LE, but it's more like a preset player/changer with the option to manually assign parameters to a few controls, change them and save them as new preset).

[braj]

This is definitely one of my favorite synths now and I hope Xils Labs releases more serial-number protected plugins I'm going to buy PolyKB II LE later today to give support to that part of your business
(OK, just bought it, a definite no-brainer too!)

I you mean the player version with "PolyKB II LE" then be aware that it's not meant as a synth to design new sounds on from scratch, like XILS 3 LE, but it's more like a preset player/changer with the option to manually assign parameters to a few controls, change them and save them as new preset).

Yeah I know that. But it IS a serial number product and I am voting for that with my wallet, and besides it is a good preset player @$20 from Sweetwater. I have the CM version and will appreciate more presets, and I think there is enough options to tweak that I can get make useful sounds for my needs.

[braj]

So now that I'm on board with PolyKB II Player, are there any preset expansions available or planned? That seems like a good idea for a player model.

[Nielzie]

This is definitely one of my favorite synths now and I hope Xils Labs releases more serial-number protected plugins I'm going to buy PolyKB II LE later today to give support to that part of your business
(OK, just bought it, a definite no-brainer too!)

I you mean the player version with "PolyKB II LE" then be aware that it's not meant as a synth to design new sounds on from scratch, like XILS 3 LE, but it's more like a preset player/changer with the option to manually assign parameters to a few controls, change them and save them as new preset).

Yeah I know that. But it IS a serial number product and I am voting for that with my wallet, and besides it is a good preset player @$20 from Sweetwater. I have the CM version and will appreciate more presets, and I think there is enough options to tweak that I can get make useful sounds for my needs.

Ok, all good then Sweet deal for only $20. I bought it some time ago also with a discount. Then it made me buy the Analog Bag 1 and 2 soundsets. And then it made me upgrade to the full version

Unfortunately with the dongle protection. I prefer serial nr or key-file protection too. I wish someday they will drop the dongle and still have a healthy income from their quality products.

Just like Rob Papen did a few years back. Brave move and they showed that it is possible!

[braj]

Yeah I figure I'll complain about the dongle while showing support for their products that don't use one I say to them 'resistance is futile!'

[Ja.x]

Sorry, some more questions:

It seems unable to load/find any presets. It only shows funny symbols and when I select 'use factory' it set everything to 'default'. All the *.INIT and *.PRT are in the same folder as the dll's. I looked at the Manual and menu system here doesn't show all the options there. Also can't build any preset from scratch because I can't get any sound from the keyboard (yes, it works with other plugs, in XT 1.4. Mulab and Reaper), although the GUI's keyboard highlights the keys I play; in the midi settings panel it shows no controller, choosing 'learn' does nothing, even if I play a little on the keys. Writing notes on the piano roll also do nothing here.

Please, Xavier?

[XILS-lab]

Sorry, some more questions:

It seems unable to load/find any presets. It only shows funny symbols and when I select 'use factory' it set everything to 'default'. All the *.INIT and *.PRT are in the same folder as the dll's. I looked at the Manual and menu system here doesn't show all the options there. Also can't build any preset from scratch because I can't get any sound from the keyboard (yes, it works with other plugs, in XT 1.4. Mulab and Reaper), although the GUI's keyboard highlights the keys I play; in the midi settings panel it shows no controller, choosing 'learn' does nothing, even if I play a little on the keys. Writing notes on the piano roll also do nothing here.

Please, Xavier?

I assume your are working on windows 7 (or Vista).
You need to reinstall the plug-in using the following folder for the presets :
c:/Users/Public/Dociments/XILS-lab/XILS 3

The preset folder must be user accessible for "user", and this one should be.

It is actually the default folder, but previous version got only the "XP" default folder.
So if you installed a previous demo version, it wasn't correct, but still recorded.

I hope that helps

Best
Xavier

[Ja.x]

Thanks a lot .

[braj]

Just back to the PolyKB II Player, one nice thing about it is that it has ONLY 8 knobs my Oxygen8 controller only has 8 knobs and they are laid out in the same 4x2 configuration, anyhow it adds some coherent simplicity to my life, and the synth sounds good. I honestly would like to see more 'players' like this but with maybe more parameters available to specify for those 8 slots, but it makes mapping much easier, and on a patch by patch basis I believe it will work out well.

[aMUSEd]

That's a good point - and it plays all of the big versions patches? I already have the full version but maybe I should get that just to use in Kore.

[Nielzie]

and the synth sounds good.

Yes, it certainly does.

and it plays all of the big versions patches?

Yes, it certainly does.

[braj]

That's a good point - and it plays all of the big versions patches? I already have the full version but maybe I should get that just to use in Kore.

Yeah from what I understand it plays all patches made in the full version. It is also a good alternative for mobile play, if you DO happen to like dongles but don't want to take yours on the road, you can use the Player version which only requires a serial, so long as the editing options are enough for you, especially for performances it may be enough. It would be way more coherent to deal with on a laptop or stage than a full GUI of any synth IMO. I would suggest to Xils to make the Player free to owners of the full version as this is a good selling point IMO, especially for people like me that are reluctant to use dongles in the first place. It could give some peace of mind (though I refuse to use a dongle still, they will be assimilated, not me!)

(BTW maybe a Player for full-version users should have all available parameters?)

[braj]

I'm actually loving the 8 knob/dropdown menu paradigm. It would be cool if all synths came with a player like this, because I just map the controller once and any changes I want to make are easy, and easy to see too, laid out just like my O8 which is pretty standard on many midi controller keyboards. It is a very nice design and I'm happy I pulled the trigger and got the player, it may be a very convenient synth for me to use. I feel a little better about not having the money to buy Corona right now

[aMUSEd]

Poly KB is definitely one of the loveliest sounding and most musical plugins out there. Ranks with impOSCar 2 and Diva for me for overall musicality - considering the number of plugin synths there are there are only a few that feel like real instruments to me.

[Lotuzia]

Glad you like the sound Braj

There are two big soundbanks available on Xils site for the PKB II player and there are very affordable ( Analog bag 1 & 2 plenty of audio demos as well ). Then Sounds Divine also proposes some incredible presets and Julian Ray has a VERY big soundbank/bundle for it. ( around 500 instruments iirc )

The sound engine of the PKBII player and the flagship version are strictly identical : Same zero compromise quality.

And the soundbanks for the PKBII ARE compatible with the Player versions.