Sampletank alternative

[Arch Findus]

I'm interested in picking up Sampletank 4 as it seems like a sizeable collection of "bread and butter" sounds, including many non-synth samples (I have synths covered).

Only problem is the notorious installer and, apparently, a not brilliant sound quality. It's a shame, because even at full price this is pretty good value set.

Would there be any alternative products, preferably ones not needing expensive add-on libraries? I know Kontakt is an industry standard, but it seems more than I need in terms of multisampling depth, gigantic patches etc. I would be interested if there was a single addon library that improved on the included factory sounds, but I can't find one.

Seems strange that there isn't a kind of mid-level option.

[mdstudio]

Melda's MSoundFactory has some sample libraries now (as well as many synth based instruments), but there are no guitars yet, for which Ample Sound and Kontakt don't have much competion, besides maybe AcousticSamples guitars that run in UVI workstation.

[peterdh]

Steinberg Halion(sonic)! I use it a lot for trumpets, saxophones and piano's.

[IvyBirds]

Another vote for HALion7 here

Another dark horse candidate for "bread and butter sounds" is the Korg Triton Extreme Plugin. Based on the Triton Extreme hardware synth from the early 2000s it's fantastic for bread and butter type sounds

The Triton won't be hyper realistic if you want that go for Kontact or HALion7 especially 3rd party Kontact Libraries

If you just want bread and butter sounds that sounds good it's simple to find them in Triton

[telecharge]

Only problem is the notorious installer and, apparently, a not brilliant sound quality.

Neither is bad enough to avoid SampleTank. Besides, what do you have all those effects for?

UJAM has a lot of bread and butter. Check them out if you haven't.

MAGIX's Independence libraries also come to mind. They have a free one you can check out - https://www.magix.com/us/music-editing/ ... r-software

There's also a free player version of the aforementioned MSoundFactory - https://www.meldaproduction.com/MSoundFactoryPlayer

[Uncle E]

There's EastWest Goliath:

Drums and Percussions

Custom Congas
Distorted Beatbox
EW Studio 2 Ludwig Kit
Radiostatic Anamoly
Rhythmic Synth FX
Tong Zi
Tambourines
Tibetan Bells
Country Drumkits
Electronic Drumkits
Ethnic percussion
Funk Drumkits
Hip Hop Kits
Jazz Drumkits
Rock Drumkits
StandardPercussion
Studio Drumkits
Old Skool Electronic Kit
Taiko Drums


Guitars

Concert Guitar
Fender Telecaster
Hard Rock Rhythm Guitar
Les Paul Guitar
Nylon Guitar
PRS Guitars
Rockabilly Guitar
Surf Guitar
Ska Guitar
Acoustic Guitars
Blues Guitars
Distorted Guitars
Hawaiian Guitar
Jazz Guitars
Banjo
Electric Sitar
Lapsteel
Mandolin
Ukelele


Basses

Lakland Rock Bass
Fender 5 String Bass
Fender Bass
66 Silvertone Bass
72 Rickenbacker Bass
Fretless Bass
Slap Bass
Stingray Bass
Upright Basses


Pianos, Keyboards, and Mallets

PMI Bosendorfer 290
Steinway B Grand Piano
Fazioli F308 Grand Piano
CP-80
Honky Tonk
Clavinet
DX-7
GS-1 EP1
GS-1 EP-2
GS-1 Boosted Tine EP
GS-1 Percussive Piano
Rhodes MKV
Chuck Monte
B3 Organs
Farfisa Organs
Vox Continental Organs
Church Organs
Reed Organ
Celeste
Concertina
Glockenspiel
Harpsichord
Marimba
Vibraphone
Xylophone
Tango Accordian
Italian Accordion
Accordian
Music Box


Pop Brass

3 Trumpets
Alto Saxes
Bari Saxes
Flugel Horn
Pop/JazzTrumpets
Salsa Trumpets
Soprano Saxes
Tenor Saxes
Trombones
Tubas


Orchestra

New Flute
Staccato Flute
6 French Horns
Legato Violins and Cellos
Marcato Violins and Cellos
Orchestral Percussion Kit
new Trumpet
Staccato Trumpet
new solo Violin
Bassoon
Brass Section
Cello
Clarinet
Concert Harp
Contrabass
English Horn
Flute
French Horn
Oboe
OrchestraHits
Orchestral Strings
Piccolo
Pizzicato Strings
String Ensembles
Timpani
Tremelo Strings
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba,Tubular Bells
Viola
Violin


Choirs and Vocals

New Basses
Tenors
Altos
Sopranos and Boys Choir
Solo Boy
Solo Female Vocals
Men's Choir
Women's Choir (extensive vowels with crossfading)


Ethnic Instruments

Agogo Bells
Bagpipes
Cora
Didjeridoo
Duduk
Dulcimer
Erhu
Fiddle
Irish Low Whistle
Kalimba
Koto
Mid-East Strings
NeyFlute
Ocarina
Pan Flute
Sarangi
Shakuhachi
Shamisen
Shehnai
Sitar
Thai Gong
Uilleann Pipes


Other

New Age Ensembles - inspiring ethno ethereal soundscapes
Stormdrones - 3 Gigs of dark atmospheres with morphing
Synth Basses with morphing
Synth Leads with morphing
Synth Pads with morphing

[Arch Findus]

I'll check out Halion 7. I might go for the Sonic Collection - looks to have all the content of the main version.

[ralfrobert]

I'll check out Halion 7. I might go for the Sonic Collection - looks to have all the content of the main version.

Look for second hand licenses for the full Halion 7. These can be found for less than $100.

[HAL76]

I don't think there's a solution that meets all requirements and is the better choice in every respect. Every tool has advantages and disadvantages.

What do you want to do?

Halion's sample library is unfortunately somewhat limited and outdated. The newer developments all tend toward synthesis functions. Halion is also a very powerful workhorse that far exceeds the needs of most users. I work exclusively with Halion when it comes to sampling – but never with the factory sounds.

[Gribs]

Kontakt or Komplete Ultimate on sale (ducks and covers)

Sorry mind blurbed over mention of Kontakt by the OP.

Max version of Sampletank is pretty huge. The synths sound pretty good. I don’t care about the orchestral libraries due to having Komplete Ultimate + lack of need.

UVI is great but there is no unified product other than their subscription service and I am still uncertain whether they cover an entire orchestra.

[satYatunes]

Air Music Technology's Structure 2 is very similar to SampleTank. Multi-timbral and loads of sounds (incl. bread and butter).
Structure 2

Their Xpand!2 is a multitimbral workstation offering four active sound slots, or parts, per patch.
XPand! 2