KVR Audio

leeturne · Post by **leeturne** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:32 pm

I need a sample player that can be used in OSX and XP with relatively light CPU usage, obviously dependant on the size of the samples. I don't need extensive editing capabilies just the ability to use velocity layers.
I use Tracktion on both platforms and use a desktop DAW running XP for tracking then when I'm on the move a powerbook for programming drums and assigning sounds etc. I'm struggling to get the same performance on my powerbook as on the PC especially with VST instruments.

As most of my tracking is done with acoustic piano sounds I need a relatively decent sample as I can't get the right feel with simple piano sounds. I can always assign the right sample for mixdown but I need consitency for tracking across both platforms. e.g. the same dynamics, tone etc.

Any suggestions as to what to use in terms of either sample player, samples or standalone piano sample players?

PeeBs · Post by **PeeBs** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:01 pm

Hi,Steinberg are bringing out a version called Halion Player,check it out.Which dosen't have all the "bells and whistles".Plus it's a good price.I've been also looking for a sample player,brill that a Pleyer version Halion is coming out!It should be released very soon.

leeturne · Post by **leeturne** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:28 pm

Have you used the sounds in Halion and if so how are they? The big advantage is being able to use rewire so only one instance of the progam is running.

Daath Fader · Post by **Daath Fader** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:32 pm

Or the Emagic EXSP24

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/113.html

leeturne · Post by **leeturne** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:36 pm

Re the EXS24, at that price and with no support for Windows it's not an option. One of the reasons I moved to Tracktion was to get cross platform compatibility and support. I was a dedicated Logic user for years but I can't risk having no support for the platform. I just hope with Yamaha/Steinberg deal doesn't change anything for Mac users.

asseca · Post by **asseca** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:58 pm

Remember, ALL Stenberg products are supplied with a dongle.

griels · Post by **griels** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:59 pm

You could try DS404 available with Computer Music.
You could convert a decent piano multisample (the Splendid Grand SF2 or the Maestro Concert Grand Gigasample perhaps) to this format using Awave Studio or Extreme Sample Converter and use that. Bear in mind it doesn't stream so you need a fair amount of RAM.

Daath Fader · Post by **Daath Fader** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 2:06 pm

Yeah the EXSP24 is a bit old now. There's Kompakt as well, but maybe it's not what you'd call light on cpu.

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/405.html

leeturne · Post by **leeturne** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 2:08 pm

I can always freeze tracks after assigning the sound it's just the consistency across platforms that I need.

griels · Post by **griels** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 2:37 pm

Alternatively, you could use BS-16:

http://homepage.mac.com/bismark/products.html

Again, it doesn't stream, but it's free.

marce · Post by **marce** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 3:33 pm

Bismark is not free. Is cheap. u$s 50, and u$s 30 the bs-1 that have better performance than sfZ, at least in old machines like mine. (less cpu use and dropouts)

griels · Post by **griels** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 4:13 pm

marce wrote:Bismark is not free. Is cheap. u$s 50, and u$s 30 the bs-1 that have better performance than sfZ, at least in old machines like mine. (less cpu use and dropouts)

Ah, my mistake

I swear I remember BS-1 being free... I'm getting old y'know

I've always found sfz pretty easy on CPU at draft level, but it does use lots of SSE optimisations which older PCs may not have. And of course there's no Mac version, and I doubt Cakewalk will commission one...

leeturne · Post by **leeturne** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 4:33 pm

Looks as if I'll have to wait for the upgrade to Tracktion 2 as that's got bs-1 included.

leeturne · Post by **leeturne** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:20 pm

OT - Someone mentioned the Splendid Grand soundfont. The site I've tried http://www.soundcreationsinc.com/splendid/ is giving me a page not found error. Any idea where I can get this Sf from.

realmarco · Post by **realmarco** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:35 pm

kontakt is the best...and it uses little cpu...much less than ds-404

even on my slow 4 year old g4

Light CPU sample player for XP and OSX