NI Samplers: help me understand!

[iain_morland]

Hello,

I'm no expert in sampling, but I am tempted by the many libraries available for NI products. However I am befuddled by the differences between KOMPAKT, INTAKT and KONTAKT 2.

At the most basic level, KOMPAKT and INTAKT are clearly cheaper than KONTAKT 2, but is KONTAKT 2 the future? Are the libraries and functions of KOMPAKT and INTAKT a bit dated now?

That said, I can see several functions (or should I say, NI-style, FUNKTIONS?!) of KONTAKT 2 that look excessive for my purposes, e.g. surround (i have no surround speakers) and convolution (i already have a convolution VST).

Finally I own East West Silver Orchestra; does that qualify me for some kind of a discount (DISKOUNT, even?) on any or all of these?

Any straightforward explanations of the pros and cons of each program would be much appreciated. Thanks

[hollowsun]

KONTAKT is just that... Kontakt - full featured sampling playback and manipulation.

KOMPAKT is the 'lite' version with a limited (but usable) UI. Favoured by many VSTi plug developers who licence the technology.

INTAKT is NI's take on rhythm/beat orientated material (also favoured and licenced by VSTi developers).

[dougsyo]

Hollowsun is correct. Kompakt was a subset of Kontakt 1.5, with a completely different (and IMHO more desirable) library.

Kompakt had some incompatibilities with some Kontakt1 sound sets, and will have substantially more with K2-specific sound sets that some vendors are releasing.

For this reason, I would not buy Kompakt (the instrument, not a sample set with it as a bundled player) at this point, except as an add-on sound set for K2, which it does nicely.

Doug

[ew]

Kompakt had some incompatibilities with some Kontakt1 sound sets, and will have substantially more with K2-specific sound sets that some vendors are releasing.

Anything made in or for K2 won't load, period.

ew

[dougsyo]

Kompakt had some incompatibilities with some Kontakt1 sound sets, and will have substantially more with K2-specific sound sets that some vendors are releasing.

Anything made in or for K2 won't load, period.

Thanks for the heads-up, I haven't tried it (why would I use Kompakt when I have K2?), but I knew there would be problems related to scripting, convolution, etc - just wasn't sure the extent. "won't load, period" is pretty incompatible.

Doug

[Rozzer]

Finally I own East West Silver Orchestra; does that qualify me for some kind of a discount (DISKOUNT, even?) on any or all of these?

Yes it does. You can get Kontakt 2 for a pretty good price, which is even cheaper right now thanks to the NI Anniversary sale.

http://www.native-instruments.com/index ... yoffers_us

[iain_morland]

Thanks for your replies so far, very helpful.

KONTAKT is just that... Kontakt - full featured sampling playback and manipulation.

KOMPAKT is the 'lite' version with a limited (but usable) UI. Favoured by many VSTi plug developers who licence the technology.

INTAKT is NI's take on rhythm/beat orientated material (also favoured and licenced by VSTi developers).

So would you say that KONTAKT includes all the features of KOMPAKT and INTAKT or do they do anything totally distintive?

Also, given that INTAKT's speciality is beats, would KOMPAKT conversely not be much good at beats?

Thanks again.

[ew]

Thanks for your replies so far, very helpful.

KONTAKT is just that... Kontakt - full featured sampling playback and manipulation.

KOMPAKT is the 'lite' version with a limited (but usable) UI. Favoured by many VSTi plug developers who licence the technology.

INTAKT is NI's take on rhythm/beat orientated material (also favoured and licenced by VSTi developers).

So would you say that KONTAKT includes all the features of KOMPAKT and INTAKT or do they do anything totally distintive?

Also, given that INTAKT's speciality is beats, would KOMPAKT conversely not be much good at beats?

Thanks again.

Oh yeah- Kontakt does everything the others do. The others are just essentially subsets of Kontakt.

ew