KVR Audio

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 8:12 pm

S_A_P wrote:
Lunch Money wrote:
Raven wrote:Amplitube 2 maybe
As long as they release a non-$400 version, that would be sweet.
Especially when cheaper hardware amp sims sound better...

Not that I've heard. The guitarist in my band has several and they sound substandard. I mean, they do the trick live for variety but they don't sound nearly as good as AmpliTube for recording. I don't want to name which but let's just say certain known name brands for that. But, your opinion could be different of course.

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 8:16 pm

Alfalfa wrote:
Squids wrote: As for comments about scrolling, yes I am with you. It's been suggested and perhaps will be implemented but there are other things that personally I'd like to see also and there has to be priorities. As it is though you can load sounds in ST2 10X faster than you can in Kontakt. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my Kontakt but for quick loading of samples I really work faster with ST2. Same with SS2. But, that doesn't mean there can't be more ways to load sounds or scroll sounds in the future. I am just giving a little comparison there for sample-based instruments. Also, the load time is better than UVI engine-based stuff from my experience. They each have their good and bad points I guess but ST2 engine is probably one of the quickest and most efficient for getting your work done. But, that's probably because you have so many sounds that come with each piece.
LOL, yes. Kontakt/Kompakt is much worse. UVI engine-based stuff too. I have complained to NI and Spectrasonics about this issue as well. I hate pulling up the massive Atmosphere UI just to press two tiny buttons. I know that some graphics designer spent many hours developing the UIs for these soft synths, but I find that they lock the sounds into an inconveniently-accessible format. I want my hand on the keyboard, not on a mouse. With hardware, I press a button on my MIDI controller, and I change a patch, immediately back to playing. No doubt the new stuff at NAMM will be cool. Hardware is still just enough more convenient that I still turn to it, even if I prefer the software sounds. For immediacy that is. For mixing, software is tops.

Yeah, keep in mind I don't ONLY use ST2 based stuff. I have Kontakt, I have UVI based stuff around and I too like convenience features like this. Anyway, I don't affect feature requests really for those other ones but I do for ST2 engine based stuff so I will do my best to see if I can help those kind of features be implemented... but, guys, I do this anyway. Sometimes it just takes time and it's about balance amongst a larger plan than just every cool possible feature one could want. What ST2 does with instant sounds is amazing for songwriting, producing and arranging. If you do any of those things then perhaps you've experienced the benefits I am talking about (and have done on KVR many times in more detail)

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 8:20 pm

Liondream wrote:I'm just hoping the prices on these new items are within reach. There is one item in particular that I've been hoping to see IK/Esoundz tackle and I've always thought that you would do a brilliant job at it.

So I can't wait to find out if you finally did it!

Within reach is a motto around here.

It's all relative. Synclaviers were out of reach for most. EIIIs at 10K were out of reach as well. Even some $3K libraries are out of reach for some. But, most of the plug-ins I am involved in tend to be something that most musicians can afford say relative to other things they might have to buy such as a guitar or a computer or a keyboard controller, speakers etc. Yet, it can be the heart of your system to have the SOUND SOURCE that a lot of your music is created from.

Funkybot · Post by **Funkybot** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 8:48 pm

I dunno Squids as a guitar player I have to say that Guitarport sounds amazing at $100 and IMO blows Amplitube out of the water in terms of sound quality. Of course Guitarport is basically a Pod XT that runs off of your CPU so that explains the sound quality, but I can't use it is a plug-in. But if IK can get that kind of quality in a plug-in it'd certainly be worth a few bucks (though I am in the Amplitube is a bit overpriced crowd, though NI's Guitar Rig just sounds terrible and is far more overpriced). Still I'm looking forward to NAMM, what are you SR boys cooking up for us?

Stupid American Pig · Post by **Stupid American Pig** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 9:16 pm

Squids wrote:
S_A_P wrote:
Lunch Money wrote:
Raven wrote:Amplitube 2 maybe
As long as they release a non-$400 version, that would be sweet.
Especially when cheaper hardware amp sims sound better...
Not that I've heard. The guitarist in my band has several and they sound substandard. I mean, they do the trick live for variety but they don't sound nearly as good as AmpliTube for recording. I don't want to name which but let's just say certain known name brands for that. But, your opinion could be different of course.

Well I know you guys have to make a living, and I have tried and liked somethings about amplitube. However, I purchased a used Johnson Jstation for 100 bucks off of ebay and get sound that is in many cases better(to my ears anyway- opinions differ this is true) than any software I have tried. Plus I dont have the load on my CPU. I would probably have less of a problem with it if it didnt cost 400 dollars. I think that all plug ins have gotten out of control with their pricing. I would probably own amplitube if it was less than 100 bucks(even 99 bucks works here), where the price *should* be. If the hardware companies can code an amp sim, design, and build DSP hardware for less than 300 bucks then there is NO reason software that does the same thing should

Sequent · Post by **Sequent** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:30 pm

Squids wrote:Within reach is a motto around here. It's all relative. Synclaviers were out of reach for most. EIIIs at 10K were out of reach as well. Even some $3K libraries are out of reach for some. But, most of the plug-ins I am involved in tend to be something that most musicians can afford say relative to other things they might have to buy such as a guitar or a computer or a keyboard controller, speakers etc. Yet, it can be the heart of your system to have the SOUND SOURCE that a lot of your music is created from.

Well, you're definitely right... it IS all relative. If you really want that $3k library you will try to figure out a way how to make the money to get it. And it may take some time, but eventually you will get it. Granted a little easier with a $3k library then with a 10k Eiii or even a Synclavier in its day.

But then at this point I wouldn't want either an Eiii or a Synclavier.

However, I wouldn't mind a 2k library that is integrated and maybe cheaper than the sum of its parts.

Anyway...

There is a lot of bang for the buck with Sampletank and Sonik Synth for what they do and I think you get more for your money than you might with some alternative products - at least in my own opinion. So, I am definitely excited to see what the next few days will reveal.

Timfonie · Post by **Timfonie** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:59 pm

Joxer the Mighty wrote:Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I hate those flash/puzzle teasers!

I've collected all eight time frames and put them together as one single jpg (I felt bored

). However there's no way to upload any pictures to this forum, so unless someone is willing to host it I can't share it here.

There are fragments of Sampletank2, Ampltitube and (I think) Sonic Synth. And probably more ... which I can't discern.

Ah well, it's the 20st of January in only two days now (I live in Europe)

...

DaPelikan · Post by **DaPelikan** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 12:14 am

I wonder wether IK Multimedia have hired the people who did Simulanalog Guitar Suite ? And maybe a better GUI artist ?! I say this because Ik & Simulanalog are both Italian, and imho, Simulanalog puts Amplitube to shame, in terms of raw guitar sound (not talking about fx), while being a lot lot lot less cheaper (well, ok, being freeware, that's not a fair comparison) ...
As for the GUI, the little bits of what looks like Amplitube II to me do look much nicer than the former version.
Let's wait untill NAMM starts .. I'd better be making predictions about national lottery, it's not a much more useful nor intelligent occupation than this, but at least it might earn me some money

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:21 am

BC wrote:
DHR53 wrote:As it is, I hardly ever use ST2 because of that... It simply takes way too long to find sounds on the fly, while scrolling through 100s of presets, and manually opening and closing preset groups with the mouse... Maybe it's just me, but I suspect not?
You are *not* alone! Virtually *every* softsynth and sampler I use has *abysmal* patch selection/preview capabilities.

NI stuff is the worst in this respect. I should be able to hit a single key to preview/load the next preset.

ST2 and SS2 can be configured to use keys on your controller keyboard to browse up, browse down, and load the selected instrument. It's really fast to do (fast than moving your hand from the keyboard to the mouse and back again). I just don't use it because I've only got a 61 key controller keyboard, and I need all those keys for playing!

Forever,

Kim.

Nikgundam · Post by **Nikgundam** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 8:28 am

Guitar rig sounds better

Amplitube sound better

Amplitube 4.2

This is better as another..

blablabla...

Try to make your sound mans....

I have a smile when i read that Guitar Rig sounds terrible... shure...

DaPelikan · Post by **DaPelikan** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 10:55 am

@Nikgundam: of course, i do make my own sounds. The fact is that if you don't drench the sound of Amplitube, or Guitar rig for that matter, in delay, chorus etc., you can clearly hear that these modellers stand no chance against even a basic amp.

Sure, they are much more versatile, you can get Mesa, Vox, etc emulations in one box for a lot cheaper than the real thing, and you can tweak the sound after recording, which is a big plus.

But Simulanalog and Guitifier have a much better raw sound, and those are freeware made by 'non-pros'. You can add any further fx you want in Cubase fx slots's if you don't want a 'dry' sound, that's the whole point of vst isn't it ?

I'm only saying that one could expect much better sound and playing response from a piece of software that costs $400 and is made by 'pros'. I mean i can pick up a Guitar Port for 149euros, a Behringer V-Amp for less, and i get hardware for that price. The fact that you can use Amplitube as a vst plugin is NOT sufficient to account for such a price difference.

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:40 pm

Funkybot wrote:I dunno Squids as a guitar player I have to say that Guitarport sounds amazing at $100 and IMO blows Amplitube out of the water in terms of sound quality. Of course Guitarport is basically a Pod XT that runs off of your CPU so that explains the sound quality, but I can't use it is a plug-in. But if IK can get that kind of quality in a plug-in it'd certainly be worth a few bucks (though I am in the Amplitube is a bit overpriced crowd, though NI's Guitar Rig just sounds terrible and is far more overpriced). Still I'm looking forward to NAMM, what are you SR boys cooking up for us?

Funkybot, Guitarport is definitely a fun toy. I love Line 6 and have friends that work there plus I am a big fan of the genius of Markus Ryle. Having said that I personally think, all biases aside, that AmpliTube blows the Pod and Port away when it comes to sound. This is because the guitar player in my band uses Pods, Vettas, Variaxe etc and he sounds "okay" but not quite THE SOUND (in other words I'd rather him use REAL amps and real acoustic guitars... the only thing I DO like about them is the convenience because he never brings those things anyway so to get "close" is better than to just have one sound all night).

But, wouldn't it be cool if the AmpliTube you know became a little cheaper so there was room for something new to be considered expensive by the Funky one? (which, really isn't for pro musicians by the way considering what guitar gear usually costs for pros, but I know where you're coming from and what you mean).

Anyway, on the budget side of things if anyone wants a Vox AC30 a Marshall JCM800 and a Fender Twin with a tuner and some fx then for $79 AmpliTube Live/LE is pretty darn good value. You can get it on www.esoundz.com and with ePointz that you can accumulate it can be even cheaper than that. So, there's something at every price level that gives you the modeling that many think is more musical like the original.

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:42 pm

Timfonie wrote:
Joxer the Mighty wrote:Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I hate those flash/puzzle teasers!

I've collected all eight time frames and put them together as one single jpg (I felt bored ). However there's no way to upload any pictures to this forum, so unless someone is willing to host it I can't share it here.

There are fragments of Sampletank2, Ampltitube and (I think) Sonic Synth. And probably more ... which I can't discern.

Ah well, it's the 20st of January in only two days now (I live in Europe) ...

There's more.

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:58 pm

Okay, now that I've read some more comments. Here's my opinion FWIW. I am biased but I am also a musician too and have a good overview from a lot of angles.

I agree that Guitar Rig does not sound aweful. I don't think anything NI makes does. It's a bit like Reason in looks. That's okay with me though. I don't dislike Guitar Rig. There are things I don't like about it and things I do. But, since I know what IK has next I really have no need for it personally.

The J-Stations and Pods and all that stuff in hardware is all about convenience and price. To me it is not about the quality of the sound. It is about the variety for live work or for the budget musician making demos. Maybe more than that in some cases but believe me I am a BIG fan of the real thing! I have a Vox AC30 with Top Boost from 1964, I have had Fender Tweed Amps and other REAL DEAL stuff. That is the ultimate stuff and nothing will ever take away the value and coolness of these wonderful things.

With AmpliTube and the evolution of modeling I've seen at IK there is more of a focus on accurate sound emulation with these fascinating techniques I've seen and I also have gotten involved a bit by sending the Italian team some of my vintage gear (does it get any better than having someone model your favorite vintage gear??? I am lucky.). To be more precise and achieve a MUSICAL sound that has more of the qualities and anomalies of the original is a combination of BOTH convenience and sound (and good price IMO, certainly relative to getting the vintage stuff). For instance, I am surprised that none of you noticed there was a piece of a Fuzzface stomp box in that teaser. Come on! You can do better than that! How much does a vintage original fuzzface cost? I know because I recently bought one. It was almost the price of AmpliTube itself.

So, to me, I totally agree that it is ALL good! Each one of these things gets you tools to make music and it is ALWAYS more about YOU making music than whether this sucks and this is good etc. But, that doesn't mean that different tools won't get you to different places sonically and that aesthetic is often down to personal taste. IK was won many, many awards for the modeling in AmpliTube. In fact, it has won more awards than any other plug-in period. I know awards and reviews aren't the end-all thing you should go by but there must be SOME reason why it is so highly acclaimed. I believe it is for what I was saying about the combination of it's SOUND and CONVENIENCE as well as price.

But, for the world of AmpliTube this is just the beginning. Tomorrow will reveal an explosion of IK products that will make some people very happy (me being one of them. You too Funkybot you vintage-loving nut!)

new products ik multimedia at namm!