SampleTank 4 on the way

[musicalwarmth812]

Even the old ST3 interface is better than Kontakt, which is a mess of UI changes cobbled together over many years. Still, this isn't a fair comparison because the retail price for Kontakt alone is $399, and the best guitar libraries are several hundred dollars more.

What a bizarre statement. GUI: There is a reason why companies specialising in Pro-libraries do release these for Kontakt. Pricing: Ever heard of Komplete? Also, there are many excellent Guitar libraries for Kontakt at lower price points. You will not find a lot of Rompler-stuff though.

Why is that bizarre? I'd agree that in my opinion ST3 interface is more intuitive than Kontakt. GUI is not the reason 3rd party developers go with Kontakt - it is because of Kontakt's powerful scripting and the mere fact that Kontakt is THE format. You're going to be shelling out more dinero for K12U CE over Total Studio Max + Sampletank Max (doesn't devalue K12 as the standard, only talking about price, not price to content ratio, etc.)

[lazyeye]

OpenGL 2 is a very old standard. pretty much everything out there going back more than a decade will support OpenGL 2.

Thanks Burillo, much appreciated.

[FrankT]

Even the old ST3 interface is better than Kontakt, which is a mess of UI changes cobbled together over many years. Still, this isn't a fair comparison because the retail price for Kontakt alone is $399, and the best guitar libraries are several hundred dollars more.

What a bizarre statement. GUI: There is a reason why companies specialising in Pro-libraries do release these for Kontakt. Pricing: Ever heard of Komplete? Also, there are many excellent Guitar libraries for Kontakt at lower price points. You will not find a lot of Rompler-stuff though.

Why is that bizarre? I'd agree that in my opinion ST3 interface is more intuitive than Kontakt. GUI is not the reason 3rd party developers go with Kontakt - it is because of Kontakt's powerful scripting and the mere fact that Kontakt is THE format. You're going to be shelling out more dinero for K12U CE over Total Studio Max + Sampletank Max (doesn't devalue K12 as the standard, only talking about price, not price to content ratio, etc.)

GUI: I am talking about Kontakt instruments that come with their own GUIs - which is the case for all Pro instruments & libraries. The core Kontakt GUI I don’t care about. Guitars: this list isn‘t by far comprehensive, bit it gives an idea: https://blog.native-instruments.com/top ... l-guitars/. As I said: I didnt even bother installing ST3 anymore as these days any DAW comes with shitloads of good-enough Rompler content. And even simple Midi keyboard nowadays offer wrappers with astonishing Layer/Stack/Mix functionality of such bread&butter sounds. Of course YMMV - and if ST4 turns out to bring something new to the table, fine!

[ZombyWoof]

I am a current ST3 owner. If I upgrade now to ST3 MAX USB (which costs the same as an upgrade to ST4 MAX USB) at 199 EUR, I can use the extra content until ST4 MAX is released and then I'll get a free upgrade to that version. Is that correct? I'll just have to pay twice for USB shipping?

Also, do USB customers also have access to the downloads immediately after ordering?

[Burillo]

I am a current ST3 owner. If I upgrade now to ST3 MAX USB (which costs the same as an upgrade to ST4 MAX USB) at 199 EUR, I can use the extra content until ST4 MAX is released and then I'll get a free upgrade to that version. Is that correct? I'll just have to pay twice for USB shipping?

Also, do USB customers also have access to the downloads immediately after ordering?

nope. IK has made an extremely stupid decision to name the "big" ST4 version "ST4 MAX", contrary to pretty much everything else in their product line. ST4 MAX is not a bundle - it's an equivalent of an XL version of yesteryear.

so, if you upgrade to ST3 MAX, you'll be lucky if you get ST4 standard - most likely you'll get ST4 SE. you definitely won't get ST4 MAX.

[Saukar30]

Personally, I think if you're expecting the same flexibility & functionality from Kontakt to be in Sampletank you're making yourself upset from your own misguided expectations.

Kontakt is THE leader for 3rd party libraries which is why it has become some powerful. Most of NI's instruments are made by 3rd party developers. Sampletank is basically based off IK's own sampling techniques which have improved slightly over the years. It is just getting a mod matrix. Expecting vast amount of scripting is whimsical at best. That's just not their bag. IK's strength has always been in its sounds & effects not in Its user's capabilities to make robust instruments. Why expect Orange Tree level instruments when nothing IK has even in the same league?

It's great to push them to aspire for more in the future, but at this stage the focus should be on how well the features of ST4 are implemented.

[ZombyWoof]

I knew it wasn't a bundle like Total MAX and more like XL, but if ST3 MAX USB is purchased after Nov. 13, I understand that the equivalent ST4 version would be provided, and that would be ST4 MAX USB. I just wanted to confirm with Peter. If this isn't the case, I can just go directly to ST4 MAX USB (if downloads are also provided).

Peter, does it make sense to buy ST3 MAX now, or should I just go to ST4 MAX directly and have to wait for the content when it is released?

Also, what are the download options, if any, when buying the USB version?

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

I am a current ST3 owner. If I upgrade now to ST3 MAX USB (which costs the same as an upgrade to ST4 MAX USB) at 199 EUR, I can use the extra content until ST4 MAX is released and then I'll get a free upgrade to that version. Is that correct? I'll just have to pay twice for USB shipping?

Also, do USB customers also have access to the downloads immediately after ordering?

It would be the equivalent version (SE, regular, MAX) in download form.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

I knew it wasn't a bundle like Total MAX and more like XL, but if ST3 MAX USB is purchased after Nov. 13, I understand that the equivalent ST4 version would be provided, and that would be ST4 MAX USB. I just wanted to confirm with Peter. If this isn't the case, I can just go directly to ST4 MAX USB (if downloads are also provided).

Peter, does it make sense to buy ST3 MAX now, or should I just go to ST4 MAX directly and have to wait for the content when it is released?

Also, what are the download options, if any, when buying the USB version?

If you want the USB of SampleTank 4 MAX you may want to order that.

You will also get access to the sounds downloads once you register your USB version.

[songshark]

I am a current ST3 owner. If I upgrade now to ST3 MAX USB (which costs the same as an upgrade to ST4 MAX USB) at 199 EUR, I can use the extra content until ST4 MAX is released and then I'll get a free upgrade to that version. Is that correct? I'll just have to pay twice for USB shipping?

Also, do USB customers also have access to the downloads immediately after ordering?

nope. IK has made an extremely stupid decision to name the "big" ST4 version "ST4 MAX", contrary to pretty much everything else in their product line. ST4 MAX is not a bundle - it's an equivalent of an XL version of yesteryear.

so, if you upgrade to ST3 MAX, you'll be lucky if you get ST4 standard - most likely you'll get ST4 SE. you definitely won't get ST4 MAX.

If this is accurate, I am completely confused. I thought Peter said exactly the opposite: if you buy ST 3 Max now for $199, you will get a free upgrade to the ST 4 MAX when it comes out. Peter, am I misunderstanding or is Burillo right?

Also, were you able to find out if the content lists will be made available PRIOR to the expiration of the special pre-order offers? It's now a pretty short window. Thanks.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

I am a current ST3 owner. If I upgrade now to ST3 MAX USB (which costs the same as an upgrade to ST4 MAX USB) at 199 EUR, I can use the extra content until ST4 MAX is released and then I'll get a free upgrade to that version. Is that correct? I'll just have to pay twice for USB shipping?

Also, do USB customers also have access to the downloads immediately after ordering?

nope. IK has made an extremely stupid decision to name the "big" ST4 version "ST4 MAX", contrary to pretty much everything else in their product line. ST4 MAX is not a bundle - it's an equivalent of an XL version of yesteryear.

so, if you upgrade to ST3 MAX, you'll be lucky if you get ST4 standard - most likely you'll get ST4 SE. you definitely won't get ST4 MAX.

If this is accurate, I am completely confused. I thought Peter said exactly the opposite: if you buy ST 3 Max now for $199, you will get a free upgrade to the ST 4 MAX when it comes out. Peter, am I misunderstanding or is Burillo right?

Also, were you able to find out if the content lists will be made available PRIOR to the expiration of the special pre-order offers? It's now a pretty short window. Thanks.

It is stated in the news at https://www.ikmultimedia.com/news/index ... ampletank4 and Burillo is not correct... Here is what it says, should be clear:

Previous versions: Any customer who purchases or receives any version of SampleTank 3 as part of a hardware or software bundle on or after November 13, 2018, will receive SampleTank 4 SE for free at release.

Any customer who purchases SampleTank 3 SE, SampleTank 3 or SampleTank MAX on or after November 13, 2018, will receive the equivalent version of SampleTank 4 for free at release.

The only people who get SE would be those who get a version of SampleTank 3 with hardware or part of a software bundle like Total Studio 2 MAX...

I don't have a status on the list, but it has been requested directly and I have also relayed a request for an extension on the pre-order pricing but do not have news on those items at this time.

[Burillo]

alright, i stand corrected. although it does seem weird that Total Studio 2 MAX (which is a bigger bundle and includes SampleTank 3 MAX as far as i'm aware) doesn't qualify one to get ST4 MAX for free.

[ZombyWoof]

Thanks Peter. The USB vs DL question wasn't addressed on the website, but you cleared it up. Since ordering the ST3 MAX USB would only get me a DL version of ST4 MAX, I'll just keep it simple and go directly to ST4 MAX USB, even if it means waiting for the content. It shouldn't be that long anyway and all the ST3 MAX content will be included in ST4 MAX, if I understand correctly. Happy New Year!

[songshark]

I don't have a status on the list, but it has been requested directly and I have also relayed a request for an extension on the pre-order pricing but do not have news on those items at this time.

Thanks, Peter. It would be surprising (and extremely frustrating) to me if the decision-makers withdraw the pre-sale offers prior to making this info available, but the request has been made, so I guess those of us who care will wait to hear.

Another question (or feature request): Will it be possible to automate the mute function on each individual part of Sampletank 4? That does not seem do-able on ST 3.

Thanks, as always.

[Grizzellda]

I am not much of a complainer, but I have had a few beers and just feel like goin' for it here...

could you please...

alright, pretty please, just tell the team there, the developers, so to speak...

that SampleTank will never be in the category of the big boys,
until there is real deep sound manipulation stuff...

Because, now I'm thinkin'...library player. Got it, Peter?

Peter, sorry if this sounded snarky! Gonna try again here...

SampleTank 4 seems like a very nice upgrade that simply celebrates the basic nature of the app, which has always been...LAYERING!

Sure, a smooth, easy workflow to layer various sounds, add effects per layer, then mix them, then add even more effects...and those effects have always been quite nice. This is what SampleTank is good at!

Of course, gigabytes of sound content is provided, and alright I get it. IKM's studio in Modena sure looks lovely.

So it competes with Halion sonic, or Kontakt player, but not the full version of those apps.