Would you like an as is, sampletank 2 64 bit version?

[braj]

I'm almost hoping for something akin to the Kontakt Player from IKM, i.e., the free SampleTank 3 Player, because there are odds and ends I'd like to have access to in future from the Total Workstation Bundle (the theremin in SampleMoog -and the entirety of SampleTron... I'm a Theremin and Mellotron whore ). I'm not thilled about the idea of shelling out for ST3 to regain access to them though.

At this point we plan to release a free version like the current and upcoming free versions of other products.

Why 'at this point'? Why is it so hard to commit to such a fundamental, simple feature? Especially when this one feature would be a huge consideration for anyone buying the current version.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

I'm almost hoping for something akin to the Kontakt Player from IKM, i.e., the free SampleTank 3 Player, because there are odds and ends I'd like to have access to in future from the Total Workstation Bundle (the theremin in SampleMoog -and the entirety of SampleTron... I'm a Theremin and Mellotron whore ). I'm not thilled about the idea of shelling out for ST3 to regain access to them though.

At this point we plan to release a free version like the current and upcoming free versions of other products.

Why 'at this point'? Why is it so hard to commit to such a fundamental, simple feature? Especially when this one feature would be a huge consideration for anyone buying the current version.

Because it isn't coming out by the end of the year and things sometimes change so if I make one statement that references something that changes for ANY reason I'll get crucified here. Good enough reason?

Perhaps I'll stick to zero information on it from here on in, then. Sounds like a MUCH better plan.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

I'm almost hoping for something akin to the Kontakt Player from IKM, i.e., the free SampleTank 3 Player, because there are odds and ends I'd like to have access to in future from the Total Workstation Bundle (the theremin in SampleMoog -and the entirety of SampleTron... I'm a Theremin and Mellotron whore ). I'm not thilled about the idea of shelling out for ST3 to regain access to them though.

At this point we plan to release a free version like the current and upcoming free versions of other products.

And they will read the old libraries?

If so:
If not:

Yes, that's what I'm told at this point Seriously, though, THAT'S something that of course could change like anything but we don't prefer to have our headquarters stormed and burnt down so I'll say that's a solid YES.

[braj]

I'm almost hoping for something akin to the Kontakt Player from IKM, i.e., the free SampleTank 3 Player, because there are odds and ends I'd like to have access to in future from the Total Workstation Bundle (the theremin in SampleMoog -and the entirety of SampleTron... I'm a Theremin and Mellotron whore ). I'm not thilled about the idea of shelling out for ST3 to regain access to them though.

At this point we plan to release a free version like the current and upcoming free versions of other products.

Why 'at this point'? Why is it so hard to commit to such a fundamental, simple feature? Especially when this one feature would be a huge consideration for anyone buying the current version.

Because it isn't coming out by the end of the year and things sometimes change so if I make one statement that references something that changes for ANY reason I'll get crucified here. Good enough reason?

Perhaps I'll stick to zero information on it from here on in, then. Sounds like a MUCH better plan.

It is a business consideration, not a technical one, and IMO you SHOULD be able to say definitively. Not like you haven't had a decade to consider it. If you guys haven't figured this out from a business perspective there is something extremely flawed with your company. There is no technical risk in committing, but there is a business one, which if you are still on the fence about that I don't know what to think of IK.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

No, I can say that as of today yes we are releasing a free version that plays previous libraries. I said "at this point" for the reasons I stated and if you don't think it is like that at KVR I'd be surprised considering you've been here for quite a few years.

Edit - and I'd think you'd understand by the fact that any hint of a wisp of IK blood in a thread is likely to trigger a shark attack of surgical post deconstruction (present and future) thus the phrase "at this point" was required.

[braj]

No, I can say that as of today yes we are releasing a free version that plays previous libraries. I said "at this point" for the reasons I stated and if you don't think it is like that at KVR I'd be surprised considering you've been here for quite a few years.

So you don't say what you mean, and you aren't prepared to stand by your words? OK, good to know.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

No, I can say that as of today yes we are releasing a free version that plays previous libraries. I said "at this point" for the reasons I stated and if you don't think it is like that at KVR I'd be surprised considering you've been here for quite a few years.

So you don't say what you mean, and you aren't prepared to stand by your words? OK, good to know.

I said EXACTLY what I meant. I stand by it. If things change (I wish I lived in your rigid world where nothing ever changes) I didn't want people to be disappointed but (AGAIN) I don't expect it to change. Wow, you were just looking for an excuse, eh? I hope you enjoyed your daily feeding.

[Xenobt]

That's great news, Peter! And SHOULD effectively shut down any more "I'm not paying for an upgrade, meh, meh, meh..."comments.

And Squids from Sonic Reality (one of ST's biggest developers) has also mentioned here that the new engine will sound even better than ST2, and be able to access the full 24 bits of the older libs for playback! And if he's not in the loop, who is?

I still love my IK instruments in 32 bit land, but once I Pro Tools goes 64, I'd REALLY like that new version!

KVR/eSoundz: Xenobt

[braj]

No, I can say that as of today yes we are releasing a free version that plays previous libraries. I said "at this point" for the reasons I stated and if you don't think it is like that at KVR I'd be surprised considering you've been here for quite a few years.

So you don't say what you mean, and you aren't prepared to stand by your words? OK, good to know.

I said EXACTLY what I meant. I stand by it. If things change (I wish I lived in your rigid world where nothing ever changes) I didn't want people to be disappointed but (AGAIN) I don't expect it to change. Wow, you were just looking for an excuse, eh? I hope you enjoyed your daily feeding.

So you are calling me a troll then, that my concern isn't valid? I have spent plenty with you guys recently, maybe not in the future since I am a troll to you. I feel a little dumb for falling for your marketing BS though for a dead product that gets crap support, except for your nice PR campaign. Lipstick on a pig that is.

[Rabid]

So you don't say what you mean, and you aren't prepared to stand by your words? OK, good to know.

And here I was feeling bad about what I said earlier, but damn, you are setting the standard for trolling. Seriously, Peter seems to be doing a good job treading that line between what can be said and warning that there is always a chance that something could change. You have to remember, he is not the programmer and he is not the CEO. He can only report where they stand as of today.

[lotus2035]

I'm almost hoping for something akin to the Kontakt Player from IKM, i.e., the free SampleTank 3 Player, because there are odds and ends I'd like to have access to in future from the Total Workstation Bundle (the theremin in SampleMoog -and the entirety of SampleTron... I'm a Theremin and Mellotron whore ). I'm not thilled about the idea of shelling out for ST3 to regain access to them though.

At this point we plan to release a free version like the current and upcoming free versions of other products.

And they will read the old libraries?

If so:
If not:

Yes, that's what I'm told at this point Seriously, though, THAT'S something that of course could change like anything but we don't prefer to have our headquarters stormed and burnt down so I'll say that's a solid YES.

Well now I'm pretty excited about being able to use my SampleTank XL/SampleMoog/SampleTron/Sonik Synth 2/Miroslav Libraries again in a modern interface.

I would like to add that I may very well have been the first person to suggest the idea of a Sampletank 3 player here on KVR. I'm not saying it was MY idea but I did mention it waaaay back. Do I get a cookie?

[Mushy Mushy]

I have the distinct feeling you're all gonna be blown away by ST3.

[braj]

So you don't say what you mean, and you aren't prepared to stand by your words? OK, good to know.

And here I was feeling bad about what I said earlier, but damn, you are setting the standard for trolling. Seriously, Peter seems to be doing a good job treading that line between what can be said and warning that there is always a chance that something could change. You have to remember, he is not the programmer and he is not the CEO. Something can always change.

Yeah but it is a simple damn thing to know, and purchasing decisions now are affected by the answer. Sorry if it seems I am being hard on Peter personally, I don't blame him just this is a pretty simple question, I asked a bunch of times and so far this is the answer, which is still not firm, for a product that is supposedly going to be released in a couple months, that has been in development for years. It should have an easy yes/no answer but Peter hasn't been able to answer it definitively yet, so far this is the closest but why hedge bets on this at all? It is an important consideration for anyone buying the current product.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

I would like to add that I may very well have been the first person to suggest the idea of a Sampletank 3 player here on KVR. I'm not saying it was MY idea but I did mention it waaaay back. Do I get a cookie?

I'm only laughing here because you sound like me when we finally re-released SampleTank Free (mostly because of how it still ranked so high here years after we stopped it for whatever reason!) - I was always pointing out how it was obvious that it should have been out and that it should be full featured, etc etc but I didn't get a cookie when it happened either. I'll see what I can do though.

[Meffy]

Braj, I have no insight into IK (so the following might or might not apply) but I can provide a little window into software development in general.

As a programmer (in a non-music related field) I can say that it's not always possible to give a solid, definite time when a project will be completed. I'd love to be able to do that but nobody, no matter how prescient, can foresee every possible glitch or bump in the road. The bigger and more complicated the system, the greater the chances that some unexpected gotcha will pop up to cause a week or two of overtime headdesk sessions.

It's happened to me more times than I care to count, and though I work with Weird Physics instead of music, the software I write is no more complex than most music software that I've got to see the source code to. It's nobody's fault, just how things are when working with really complicated systems.

Does this mean gotchas always appear, that schedules are never met? Nope. I've enjoyed smooth sailing far more times than the marathon migraines. But having experienced the latter taught me (the hard way) that I can't depend on the waters to remain smooth.

Hedging on schedules is a part of software development. It's not an excuse for jerking customers around. It's an honest response to an unfortunate but very real situation.

Believe me, having been on both sides of the producer-consumer relationship I understand both wanting to plan ahead for buying decisions AND the practical impossibility of predicting all possible obstacles. Try to be kind -- know that devs aren't trying to pull the wool over your eyes. They genuinely want to bring their stuff to market, to have musicians create using what they've made, to earn money for their companies!