Komplet 15 Ultimate vs V Collection X

[Trancer]

Thank you very much for your responses and opinions.

I have watched a lot of videos on the V collection X and Komplete 15 Ultimate.

It’s true, the Komplete is really very rich and offers an immense palette of sounds.

It is a sound palette with very good potential for musical creation.

Even if you don't need everything, it's all there.

The Komplete can stand on its own in a certain way.

I opened another post on a choice of 88 note master keyboard.

If I took the option of the Komplete 88 notes, it would seem obvious to take the Kontrol S88 MK3.

Additionally, NKS support opens up possibilities to drive third-party vsts.

Donx, this seems like a really good option.

There is currently an offer at Native Instruments.

Now, it is true that the price is more substantial than for a Novation or Arturia.

On the other hand, we don't buy a master keyboard every week.

Unless I'm mistaken, the Arturia keyboard is more limited, perfect for Arturia products, but much less open to third-party vsts than the Komplete S88 MK3.

I don't think that when taking the Komplete 15 Ultimate, it is wise to take another master keyboard than the one from Native Instruments.

What do you think?

[EnGee]

I would personally take Komplete S over Arturia’s keyboard. I have mk2 keylab 49 and the soft synths integration is not great! It’s good only with analog lab.
Anyway, it has stopped working properly since one year. The keyboard is working with the wheels, but everything else is jammed. It’s a software problem but couldn’t be solved! Oh and I hated the drums pads!

I’m much happier with the cheaper Novation launchkey mk3 49 which works great with all DAWs. It’s not for a Piano player though. For me the synth keys are good enough to play (I don’t use or care for aftertouch). The drums pads are small but with a great sensitivity

Anyway, for 88 keys. S88 I think is from the best choices. I would go with a Komplete standard and if I need analog emulation, I would buy individually what I really like from Korg, GeForce, u-he and Arturia. If all in one, maybe Diva is the best choice

[sin night]

I would ask you what you already own (both instruments and effects), what do you expect to cover with the bundles and which areas would still need some additional purchases.

Komplete is probably a more “all around” bundle, it includes instruments and effects and there are also some drums (Battery), although the drum library is not the freshest probably (does it matter?). V Collection probably offers more when it comes to synths, there are a lot of emulations…

Maybe the choice depends also on which style of techno you want to do… if I had nothing and I had to choose just one bundle, I’d probably go for Komplete because it’s more all around… otherwise, I’d just buy something like a drum machine by D16 and/or a drum sampler and/or something like Triaz, then one or two synths (maybe Diva?) and some effects…

Finally, regarding 88 keys: do you actually need them? Do you need that kind of action? I bought a digital piano years ago, but I often play a slightly smaller keyboard with a synth action instead. Fatar keys are lovely though (both piano and synth).

[sin night]

I feel I should be clearer about effects (despite being in the instruments forum): how much will you depend on them for your sound design? You can make techno by working almost exclusively on the synths, or you could go heavy with effects. This is important for your choice.

[Trancer]

Thank you very much for your responses and opinions.

The Novation has this reputation for being very versatile and whatever the daw.

I already have a wide variety of vsts for melodic Trance / Techno.

So on this side, I am amply satisfied and no longer need anything.

I would really like to add more orchestral elements.

Why I'm looking into an 88-note master keyboard.

A version of 61 notes would certainly be too limited.

By that I mean, orchestral elements on the distribution of the keyboard into 61 notes.

Regarding Komplete 15 or V Collection X, the Komplete it is true, really has a much richer and more diverse palette than the V Collection X.

What interests me in the Komplete 15 are the orchestral instruments.

In the V Collection, there are only modules (augmented) apparently not enough to really use them in orchestral.

Coming back to the 88 note, the extent of the notes compared to a 61 note must certainly be important in relation to the use of orchestral banks?

Regarding the effects, unlimited, no restrictions on use.

[Scoops]

Thank you for your answers.

Concerning the Komplet, for orchestral, is it an introduction, nothing more?

Better to take something more specialized?

Oh, so bad with NI?

There's a lot of nonsense talked about NI on KVR.

You say What?!

Nonsense?

I say Popycock to your nonsense!

Real world says "Run Forest Run"

It's a Fustercluck!

Cheers

[Scoops]

Thank you for your answers.

Concerning the Komplet, for orchestral, is it an introduction, nothing more?

Better to take something more specialized?

Oh, so bad with NI?

There's a lot of nonsense talked about NI on KVR.

You say What?!

Nonsense?

I say Popycock to your nonsense!

Real world says "Run Forest Run"

It's a Fustercluck!

Cheers

So, go to the NI Forum where info for tips and tricks are shared for NA

What do you find? (Just a slice of top 5 from NI board)

- NTKDaemon Issue
- Native Access not downloading and updating
- Download Failed for all downloads in Native Access
- Reimbursement of our costs
- Has anyone been able to resolve the "Download Failed" errors on Mac OSX Ventura?

I see nothing but issues!

Yeah, must be all nonsense

[sin night]

I don’t have all those issues with NI access… maybe because I’m on Windows (but I plan to switch back to Mac)? I don’t exactly like it, but it works.

Kontakt is probably an industry standard for sampled instruments. If you need orchestral sounds, you’ll likely need Kontakt (like it or not).
The Augmented Series by Arturia is something else… I briefly tried those included in VC9, but that’s it, so I can’t really say much about those.


Speaking of NI… to me it’s not clear where they are headed, what’s their current vision, what’s their market target…
I don’t understand why they made in Kontakt 8, for example…

[EnGee]

Coming back to the 88 note, the extent of the notes compared to a 61 note must certainly be important in relation to the use of orchestral banks?

Well, most of the orchestral instruments are much less than the Piano's. The thing is the articulations that the libraries add which mostly on the left side of the keyboard. Some of them fits within 61 keys but others need 88 keys.

Anyway, the most important thing is how do you feel playing weighted keys. Some love it and some hate it. Also, if you plan on learning Piano, the weighted 88 keys is a must (teachers would definitely tell you that). It is constructed to replicate the Piano feel and to enable you to play fast with special technique or strokes that can't be done with synth action (advanced piano players).

For me, I switched from learning the piano to learning the classic guitar So, what I have now is my 49 Launchkey, 61 MODX and my NI KK M32 with mini 32 keys. I also have ATOM. So, I use either the 49 or 61 as my main and if more needed, I can transpose any other midi to use with articulations.

So, IMO, buy the S88 if you:
1. Love the weighted action
2. Might learn Piano in the future
3. Want one master keyboard for all

[IvyBirds]

Why I'm looking into an 88-note master keyboard.

A version of 61 notes would certainly be too limited.

By that I mean, orchestral elements on the distribution of the keyboard into 61 notes.....Coming back to the 88 note, the extent of the notes compared to a 61 note must certainly be important in relation to the use of orchestral banks?

An 88 key keyboard will give you an extra octave or so on the high and low end contrasted with a 61 key keyboard

The notes/frequencies of those octaves are not even possible to hit with the overwhelming vast majority of orchestral instruments.

A properly tuned piano has a range of 27.50 Hz - 4,186.00 Hz, the lowest standard orchestral instrument is the "double bass" it's lowest frequency possible is 41.2 Hz but that note (E1) rarely gets played.

A piccolo flute can actually hit higher notes than a piano but again that's very rare and unpleasant to listen to

Pretty much every orchestral instrument has a range of four octaves or less, but they are generally only played over a 2-3 octave range. Orchestral composers are generally very aware of what is the sweet spot for each instrument and fill the available spectrum with the instruments that are in that

I play piano professionally and started lessons over 50 years ago when Dinosaurs roamed the earth. I consider myself pretty proficient at it, but I detest playing any kind of synth or sampled instrument out side of a piano on 88 keys as the action is vastly different

One advantage however with 88 keys for orchestral stuff is you can set up a split rather easily and have different instruments played live with each hand

[twal]

When i was making the decision between these two I went with V Collection. Komplete is something i'll get later. I really enjoy all of the synths. I am not a "you can do mostly everything with one synth so why need the rest type of person" as I'll look at the list and pick a synth that strikes my fancy and check the presets out and a presets user and that adds flavor. When you have choices for a meal, you dont always pick the easiest one nor the best one you pick what sounds good at the time. A lot people here think of making music as this super logical decision making process and base decisions on programming when a lot if it comes down to feeling and just whatever comes to mind. Now on the other hand, if I could magically swap v collection for something else I may because I would like something new but v collection is fun to have, i just dont care for analog lab and if you use the instruments independently one should def bounce stems, i mean you should almost always, but if you ran everything in lab it would be easier and uniform as an instrument if you get what im saying; and I dont care about layering 80s synths. No real world instruments in the collection really unless you like the whatchumakalit products and v piano, which I like but the strings are so storage intensive and monstrous on the cpu i dont use them right now. Overall if you have the room Komplete is probably better product, more versatile, more options, better staying power with future, more interesting, greater programming and possibilities, but more expensive while v collection can be had very cheap on here sometimes too. I love Arturia as a company and it seems very streamlined having v collection as opposed to all of the randomness with komplete you just install and download and its all right there sorry for poor post on phone don't want to edit thanks for reading my modest opinion

[IvyBirds]

There seems to be this idea that Komplete is a go to because it has Kontact. But you can get Kontact by itself if you desire. It's also frequently on sale at Plugin Boutique because they have the same ownership as NI. Wouldn't surprise me if it goes on sale for Black Friday, the regular price is $299. So if you want Kontact get Kontact, no need to get all of the other synths

[sin night]

If you want *only* Kontakt, then it could be a good option when it goes on sale (depending on the price), but if you want Kontakt and then something else by NI, you easily end up with a total price at least comparable to Komplete Standard.

I think it could be worth to make a list of the plugins you actually need (and those you’d appreciate) and then find the best way to get them (or most of them) through a mix of bundles and single purchases.

[EnGee]

I think the OP is thinking of S88 keyboard and Komplete ultimate is because of the current offer at NI.
There are good offers now, so it make sense to buy a bundle.

There are some wonderful synths in VC and depends on your taste and style, you are the only one can decide. What others experience won’t necessarily be your experience. Also your taste and workflow might change in the future especially if you are the kind of evolving person.

For me, NI synths and Reaktor ensembles trigger my creativity to make some music more than VC.

[anagram70]

I have both and love them both. It’s amazing how you can manipulate an Indian sitar sample to a great end pluck. So in the end, it’s how you use the sounds. Arturia - easier UI. Komplete - I just love and haven’t found an end to the possibilities.