IK Multimedia Xpansion Tank 2 Group Buy

[ATS]

Those epointz can add up!

3748 right now!

You have 3748 ePointz!!! Wow. It really does pay to participate in these GB threads!

You could buy everything that Sonic Reality releases for the next 5 years with those ePointz!

you really got to stop smoking that stuff...

[barbecutie]

IK Multimedia Xpansion Tank 2 Group Buy

Now 5X1! Currently at 3768 users. Need 232 more users for 6X1!


http://www.ikmultimedia.com/xtgroupbuy

and

http://www.esoundz.com/details.php?ProductID=4293

BBC

esoundz user: BarBeCutie or see epointz referral thread below for other users:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... ht=epointz

[Dave Bourke]

I bought into the first SampleTank 2 group buy and I've never used it once because I can't read a single word on the interface.

Yeah, I know - get glasses.

No.

Kind regards.

[BERFAB]

Curious as to others' thoughts on which of the following are more flexible/usable in a DAW (i.e., Logic) environment:

1. RAW packs (i.e., Apple Loops)
2. Construction kits in the ST format

I'm debating between the Trip Hop Collection GB pack in particular vs. the RAW pack from Squids' bonus choices. Don't want this to re-open the "Are Using Loops Creative or Not" debate... everyone has a style that works for them. However, my style tends to favor using instruments that are playable across the keyboard. Would love to hear some of your opinions between the two loop formats as it pertains to workflow.

Thanks,
Toxie

One advantage of the REX loops included in a RAW pack, is that you can import them into Stylus RMX (to do similar Slice Loop stuff that you can do with the ST Slice Loops) plus you could load them into another library (like DrumCore) for quick auditioning of the loops, and then an easy drag and drop into your DAW project.

The SampleTank versions have their advantages, but the major drawbacks are that auditioning is slow, since you have to load each loop one by one, and you cannot directly drag and drop the MIDI into your DAW. You have to search for the appropriate loop in your SampleTank folder and drag it into your DAW from there.

I have all of those RAW packs loaded into DrumCore for VERY QUICK AND EASY reference. I can audition stuff I may want to use at lightning speed and then directly drag and drop it into my project --OR-- load up the loop preset I want to use in SampleTank format and play it in slice mode. That is why I have also added the ReTank titles to my collection so that I can save myself a lot of time and use the one to audition the other.

Sometimes I prefer working with the actual audio loops versus the MIDI versions, so having both is useful.

Hope that helps!

Zedd

I would agree that the REX RAW stuff is a much more versatile format. For fast auditioning, I created several instruments in Kontakt, assigning a different loop to each of 60 keys. However, this was quite time consuming to do.

I also audition them using Guru. But I never thought of using Drumcore, which really is my favorite beat program ATM. Zedd, what's the quickest way to get these into Drumcore? Are they imported like a drumpack? Any shortcuts?

Thanks
-B

[blueman]

Is there an instrument list for this one: "SampleTank Rare Vintage Collection"? Can someone who got it please review? How does it sound?

Thanks!
Rich

[zedd]

But I never thought of using Drumcore, which really is my favorite beat program ATM. Zedd, what's the quickest way to get these into Drumcore? Are they imported like a drumpack? Any shortcuts?

It can also be time consuming to get them into DC in the most useful manner. I decided that I was determined to do it, and just spent a couple of hours doing it while I talked on the phone or watched TV.

You can't import them automatically like a drumpack, unfortunately. They *MAY* have improved the importing features with DrumCore 3 (so perhaps someone else can chime in here to report on that), but I am still using v2.5, which does not import files in subfolders.

Therefore, you can either copy all the loops in a Loop Pack into one folder and import them all at once, or you import each subfolder individually and have the opportunity to store each group of loops in their respective subfolders (i.e. Groovesets).

Here are the basics...

• (1) Copy the drum pack REX loops into your DrumCore Content folder.
  
  (2) Group any items that you want to appear together into the same folder. Since DC plays loops at whatever tempo you determine, I would recommend joining some folders together in the more complicated libraries. If you have a bunch of tambourine folders with grooves at different tempos, you might as well dump them all into the same folder so that all your options come up when you audition that folder. And then import time is reduced.
  
  (3) DrumCore > File > Import Files...
  
  (4) Choose the folder to import, CHECK "Infer BPM from filename", and also check "Loop/Fill" Loop.
  
  (5) Name the Drummer Pack. It is going to be the name of the Loop Pack you are creating. Create that name (which will become available for future imports of folders into that library).
  
  (6) Name the Grooveset. This will be the name particular folder which you are importing (e.g. Tambourine Loops), which will show up as a unique set of loops in the second row of the DrumCore GUI when you select that Loop Pack (i.e. the Drummer).
  
  (7) Click on "Import" and repeat the process for each folder of Loop Pack that you are importing.

It's not much of a shortcut, I know. But it produces happy results in the end.

I would hope that DrumCore 3 has actually dealt with this and that you can just import a mother folder and it will automatically assign the separate Groovesets. But I don't know this for sure.

I just hope that all my hard work will easily transfer over to DrumCore 3 when I do decide to upgrade.

Good luck!

[DarkStar]

For very flexible groove making, hybridizing the RX2 sliced loops, have a look at LiveSlice too.


Random name for you to refer at eSoundz: tboulette

[zedd]

For very flexible groove making, hybridizing the RX2 sliced loops, have a look at LiveSlice too.

Wow. Is this the long awaited equivalent to ReCycle!?! I have refused to purchase ReCycle because I think it is overpriced, and I haven't been desperate to create my own REX loops. But if LiveSlice is a cheaper alternative, I might just have to consider getting it.

[Chester Desmond]

you really have to play with liveslice to appreciate it's amazingness and versatility. anything from simply rearranging a loop to replacing slices with a different sound (while retaining the groove), or combining 2 or (or 10 or 64) loops into hybrid craziness.. Add to that the ability to mangle each slice in various ways... Really really cool software!
Having said that I would consider the RAW packs to be much more versatile than the ST tanks. Like most have said, the flexibility is much higher.

btw you can't create rex files with it though

[iaminsane+]

I bought into the first SampleTank 2 group buy and I've never used it once because I can't read a single word on the interface.

Yeah, I know - get glasses.

No.

Kind regards.

this makes me laugh. I had the same problem with sonic synth. I simply can't read it. Sampletank is a bit difficult, but I can make it out.

[tomg]

I bought into the first SampleTank 2 group buy and I've never used it once because I can't read a single word on the interface.

Yeah, I know - get glasses.

No.

Kind regards.

this makes me laugh. I had the same problem with sonic synth. I simply can't read it. Sampletank is a bit difficult, but I can make it out.

Virtual Magnifying Glass Portable 3.3.2
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-S ... able.shtml

[zedd]

btw you can't create rex files with [LiveSlice] though

Nuts. What format do you save your creations in? Are they only editable afterwards in the LiveSlice application?

Sounds like cool software though! I'm interested.

[VitaminD]

I bought into the first SampleTank 2 group buy and I've never used it once because I can't read a single word on the interface.

I just downloaded the demo to see how well it works for me.. and I'm finding the same thing.. small GUI and TINY fonts on it.. wow

I could even get around it for the sheer amount of samples provided in the deal if it wasnt for the fact that Sampletank2 demo seems to CRASH my host..

now im pondering if its really worth spending the money on this..

[darsho]

Is there an instrument list for this one: "SampleTank Rare Vintage Collection"? Can someone who got it please review? How does it sound?

Thanks!
Rich

a bunch of drums , 5 guitars/basses and the rest is all keyboards and organs.
sounds good but it's nothing too spectacular.

[zedd]

I could even get around it for the sheer amount of samples provided in the deal if it wasnt for the fact that Sampletank2 demo seems to CRASH my host..

now im pondering if its really worth spending the money on this..

What host are you using?

You folks who have an issue with the size of the GUI might want to consider that this may be addressed in the SampleTank 3 release which is somewhere around the corner (albeit probably several months away). I like the size of the GUI, myself, but my eyesight is pretty good and I use quality monitors.