IKM SampleTank 3 (ST3) Now Available

[murnau]

For me, a "high-quality" sample product is innovative (breaks new sonic ground in some area), highly-interactive, and high fidelity; it is capable of a full dynamic range (articulations recorded at all velocities), has sonic depth, and can sound modern OR vintage. There are plenty of sample sets that accomplish this, and set the bar very high.

I would describe the audio/video examples we've heard as fair-quality, but redundant with existing libraries--some of which were released over a decade ago. Sonically, I don't hear anything new here. From my perspective, IKM is just repeating itself. That said, the GUI does look innovative and interesting indeed; I am just not at all thrilled with the sample set

velocity layers are there also round-robin, full dynamic range anyway. the rest you wrote is only babbling.

ps. you forgot multi-out, sample engines, multiple articulations via key switch and so on.

[BBFG#]

For me, a "high-quality" sample product is innovative (breaks new sonic ground in some area), highly-interactive, and high fidelity; it is capable of a full dynamic range (articulations recorded at all velocities), has sonic depth, and can sound modern OR vintage. There are plenty of sample sets that accomplish this, and set the bar very high.

I would describe the audio/video examples we've heard as fair-quality, but redundant with existing libraries--some of which were released over a decade ago. Sonically, I don't hear anything new here. From my perspective, IKM is just repeating itself. That said, the GUI does look innovative and interesting indeed; I am just not at all thrilled with the sample set

Many people think the same about Kontakt factory library. I don't understand why people expect something "innovative" and not "redundant" (or "assumptive") in factory (= "general purpose") libraries for such instruments (samplers, romplers and GM modules). You need something innovative? You have to buy extra libraries, often more expensive than the instrument itself and way much bigger than the whole factory library (e.g. Kontakt basic factory library: about 25gb. Berlin String library for Kontakt: 253 gb).

I think that due to it's subjective nature, (by both those that develop and those that play them) redundancy may have a case only in instrument listing. Each have what they think to be the most important factors of an instrument and each of us are looking for which ones align with our beliefs and uses. I find I use the same instrument but from different developers according to where and how I need to use it. Why does a guitar player need more than one guitar? Because each gives them something they like better without excluding the others in their arsenal. But this is especially true with sampled instruments. One may have a better breath sound while another utilizes micro-tuning better and still another a general playability at the cost of those things can be just enough reason to own many.
IMO, STank's biggest problem has been the lack of third party sounds for it. It will be interesting to see if STank3 will change that.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

part of this comes down to too much hype. however, i think that so much has changed in the last 10 years, that (from only video evidence) has seen ik a bit behind the times.
software has become cheaper, as has hd space, while computing power has increased, hugely. as such, those huge, specialist libraries are in the reach of many more of us.

from the videos only (and i have many criticisms about the performances that may influence my judgments), a lot of these sounds are obviously, and painfully, artificial sounding. this was fine 10 years back, but now we are used to seeing specialist libraries with gigs upon gigs of data, dedicated to as much realism as possible. 33gig is too little to give this amount of sounds the correct treatment, and too much to install just for a few that you might like, here or there

personally, i think the pianos sound ok, but will need to see how they 'feel'. the brass is terrible, the gospel choir seems cheesy and fake, and the guitars ?? i am absolutley sure that i will find much 'roti & ghee' here, to justify my outlay (but not at full price), and i am really hoping there are extensive customised install options, as i reckon i could easily bring that install down to less than half it's size in usable sounds.

i am imagining (and i doubt that ik would miss such a trick), that add-on libraries will be made available for purchase, that will be more specialised and more convincing. otherwise.......

[neverenoughfunk]

i am not sure if the 5 year wait is the problem or how ST 3 was/is being marketed or the reps themselves... but for the product itself what more could you ask for especially if you are eligible for $99/$149 upgrade...

how many time have you took a girl/women on a date to the movies and dinner/drinks thinking that you were eligible for "some" at the end the night... come to find out that you were not eligible for "some"... that movie, dinner/drinks cost more than $100... right?

therefore... worst case scenario you wasted $100... you have done that before... right? best case scenario you will find good use of ST 3...

[BBFG#]

... and i am really hoping there are extensive customised install options, as i reckon i could easily bring that install down to less than half it's size in usable sounds.

i am imagining (and i doubt that ik would miss such a trick), that add-on libraries will be made available for purchase, that will be more specialised and more convincing. otherwise.......

I agree, especially on the install options.
And I'm also sure they have add-on libraries in the wings.
The question is whether they are all done by them or a couple of developers or if they make something that many developers will feel the engine to be viable enough to do their sets for.

[Bombadil]

i am not sure if the 5 year wait is the problem or how ST 3 was/is being marketed or the reps themselves... but for the product itself what more could you ask for especially if you are eligible for $99/$149 upgrade...

how many time have you took a girl/women on a date to the movies and dinner/drinks thinking that you were eligible for "some" at the end the night... come to find out that you were not eligible for "some"... that movie, dinner/drinks cost more than $100... right?

therefore... worst case scenario you wasted $100... you have done that before... right? best case scenario you will find good use of ST 3...

So, you are comparing IKM's pricing structure to getting screwed? Uh huh.

[Tpot]

I really don't think I have to define a common word like quality. My point is, as I wrote earlier, that IKM makes the following statement: "unparalleled level of realism", which is a statement of "quality". That makes me assume that a preset named "violin" is sounding close to a real violin, but I simply can't hear that in IKM's audio demos. ST 3 is neither "unparalleled" nor more "realistic" compared to other sample libraries, and I find it lagging to the competition. To spend 10 years refurbishing ST 2 to ST 3 with such a meager result, makes me seriously wonder what took them so long.

Now, if people like the ST 3 audio demos, good for them, and I wish you have as fun as I had when I started with ST 2. It's just not for me.

[neverenoughfunk]

i am not sure if the 5 year wait is the problem or how ST 3 was/is being marketed or the reps themselves... but for the product itself what more could you ask for especially if you are eligible for $99/$149 upgrade...

how many time have you took a girl/women on a date to the movies and dinner/drinks thinking that you were eligible for "some" at the end the night... come to find out that you were not eligible for "some"... that movie, dinner/drinks cost more than $100... right?

therefore... worst case scenario you wasted $100... you have done that before... right? best case scenario you will find good use of ST 3...

So, you are comparing IKM's pricing structure to getting screwed? Uh huh.

that is really funny (actually made me laugh)!!!

[murnau]

"unparalleled level of realism"

after all the years my professional eye overread those adverts easily.

[BBFG#]

...IKM makes the following statement: "unparalleled level of realism", which is a statement of "quality". That makes me assume...

It is a statement dependent on assuming. In and of itself, says nothing.
The level at the bottom can equally be unparalleled after all.

[Bombadil]

DEAR IKM: BE GENTLE!

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

but for the product itself what more could you ask for especially if you are eligible for $99/$149 upgrade..

i can easily justify the upgrade price at $99, and think i will be very happy if i take it at face value. if i were to believe the hype (meaning i'd have to believe that they compressed a few hundred gig into about 30), then i'd be disappointed

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

Let me circle back later on some questions if I missed any since it is Father's Day here (and I am one and lucky to still have mine around) but the pianos like this one we posted elsewhere do sound great and you'll get a feel for them too next month...

SampleTank 3?brings you a lot of excellent realistic instruments like this Grand Piano 1 played in a classical style: https://soundcloud.com/ikmultimedia/st3-grandpiano1

[SLiC]

Sounds great

[LoopyFruit]

Hi Peter

Thanks for answering questions here,

I would like to see Sonik Synth 2, Miroslav Philharmonik, SampleMoog, and SampleTron in action using the ST3 engine, are there any videos?

Thanks .

Hi Peter any info on this please?