Well, I've been on Logic for a while and been doing hardware sampling, so I never got into the EXS24 and I'm having some problems getting wav. and other formats to convert into it. So I might buy CDXtract. This got me thinking if there was a different sampler that is more intuitive. I like to be able to use a sampler as an instrument and not spending a lot of time mapping and all that. I've checked out Redmatica's programs, but am not totally convinced that's what I want.
Live seems like a really nice intuitive tool. And I've heard DirectWave is really great (and is coming to the Mac platform soon).
I am on a Macbook and using Logic 7.2 as my DAW. I haven't got into EXS24 yet, when I did I couldn't seem to convert much. Maybe I just need to study up more. I'm not sure, but I do know that my friend showed me how he uses Live and it just seems really quick and easy to where you can get on with making music instead of messing around trying to set things up.
Any suggestions for intuitive software samplers?
What Sampler is more Intuitive than EXS24?
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- KVRian
- 951 posts since 18 Jun, 2004 from Here I am.
Well, even though it's not what you asked for, i'd suggest you try to learn the EXS it is quite powerful and converting a wav to .exs is a less-than-6-clicks operation ...
Actually, I'm using an old PC version and i don't know if it still the same process for mac now, but it is pretty easy to do it ...
As for other samplers, most of the big/popular ones use their own native format (.nki for kontakt etc ) so you'll have to go htrough a conversion process anyway
Actually, I'm using an old PC version and i don't know if it still the same process for mac now, but it is pretty easy to do it ...
As for other samplers, most of the big/popular ones use their own native format (.nki for kontakt etc ) so you'll have to go htrough a conversion process anyway
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- KVRAF
- 4229 posts since 9 Apr, 2003 from Right here, in front of my computer...
The EXS24 converts Akai, Gigasampler, Recycle and Soundfonts directly. Usual wave samples etc you import into new instruments and load those.
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- KVRAF
- 13445 posts since 14 Nov, 2000 from Hannover / Germany
Ok, I admit that the EXS is a convoluted thing by design.
The editor is still horrible and getting your grips with it certainly isn't as intuitive as with other samplers, especially considering that its options are quite sub par compared to what you find in other samplers.
In addition the "you MUST save a patch before you can actually use it" paradigm is as stupid as it could get. There's not a single software sampler on the market requiring any such a thing.
Then, from a tweakers point of view, the EXS is the worst on the market. Just one filter at a time, only two absolutely mediocre envelopes, limited LFO shapes, etc. Layering patches isn't available without going through quite some hoops either.
Further, there's still no high quality interpolation mode, so once you deal with patches made out of only a few samples, you may run into aliasing, should the EXS have to do some internal pitch shifting.
Let alone there's not a single effect available, which sometimes *might* be important for a patch. Sure, you can always save a channel strip, but it's absolutely not the same as the FX can't be integrated into any modulation scheme.
But, on the other hand, it's not all that horrible.
You will hardly find any other sampler being that effective. On my (pre Core2Duo) Macbook I can run around 800 (!) voices with the filter activated. That's just freaking incredible.
In addition, the filter is sounding really great IMO. I haven't heard another sampler with filters as fat yet.
Then, once you have your patches done, tweaking them, while being limited, is a breeze. The GUI is as clear as it could get and setting up some modulations can be done in a matter of seconds. In fact, the only thing I really miss personally is a more flexible envelope or two (think temposyncable multibreakpoint envelopes).
However, if you want proper patch editing in the first place, Keymap from Redmatica might be your friend.
If you want a sampler being capable of reading a truckload of formats, Kontakt most likely will be the best choice. In addition, it's tewakers heaven. Modulation options galore, beatmangling, granular stuff, various FX - basically all you need. But, compared to the EXS, it's rather slow to operate. And, IMO, to have the filters sound equally good, you need to tweak around quite a bit.
If you want better format compatibility in general without much fuzz, go for CDXtract.
Bottomline: While, by technical and featurewise standards, the EXS is surely outdated, it's still a great workhorse, and even if I own Kontakt as well, I'm using at least 4-5 EXS instances in almost everything I do.
Btw, what exactly are your gripes?
The editor is still horrible and getting your grips with it certainly isn't as intuitive as with other samplers, especially considering that its options are quite sub par compared to what you find in other samplers.
In addition the "you MUST save a patch before you can actually use it" paradigm is as stupid as it could get. There's not a single software sampler on the market requiring any such a thing.
Then, from a tweakers point of view, the EXS is the worst on the market. Just one filter at a time, only two absolutely mediocre envelopes, limited LFO shapes, etc. Layering patches isn't available without going through quite some hoops either.
Further, there's still no high quality interpolation mode, so once you deal with patches made out of only a few samples, you may run into aliasing, should the EXS have to do some internal pitch shifting.
Let alone there's not a single effect available, which sometimes *might* be important for a patch. Sure, you can always save a channel strip, but it's absolutely not the same as the FX can't be integrated into any modulation scheme.
But, on the other hand, it's not all that horrible.
You will hardly find any other sampler being that effective. On my (pre Core2Duo) Macbook I can run around 800 (!) voices with the filter activated. That's just freaking incredible.
In addition, the filter is sounding really great IMO. I haven't heard another sampler with filters as fat yet.
Then, once you have your patches done, tweaking them, while being limited, is a breeze. The GUI is as clear as it could get and setting up some modulations can be done in a matter of seconds. In fact, the only thing I really miss personally is a more flexible envelope or two (think temposyncable multibreakpoint envelopes).
However, if you want proper patch editing in the first place, Keymap from Redmatica might be your friend.
If you want a sampler being capable of reading a truckload of formats, Kontakt most likely will be the best choice. In addition, it's tewakers heaven. Modulation options galore, beatmangling, granular stuff, various FX - basically all you need. But, compared to the EXS, it's rather slow to operate. And, IMO, to have the filters sound equally good, you need to tweak around quite a bit.
If you want better format compatibility in general without much fuzz, go for CDXtract.
Bottomline: While, by technical and featurewise standards, the EXS is surely outdated, it's still a great workhorse, and even if I own Kontakt as well, I'm using at least 4-5 EXS instances in almost everything I do.
Btw, what exactly are your gripes?
There are 3 kinds of people:
Those who can do maths and those who can't.
Those who can do maths and those who can't.
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- KVRAF
- 4229 posts since 9 Apr, 2003 from Right here, in front of my computer...
I like it. It's not Kontakt, but then I'm not generally making huge complex sampler patches anyway,
I also agree with Sascha on the filter - I was playing with some JP8 samples and trying to recreate the sound elsewhere, and I really couldn't match the filter sound - it was really nice in the EXS24 patch.
Then I realised, the filters weren't from the JP8 at all - but were the EXS24 filters! - the samples themselves were just sampled with the filter wide open.
The EXS24 is a great workhorse for me - it's effectively my rompler, sample library, drum player and sometimes synthesiser.
But yes, the editor kinda sucks balls...
I also agree with Sascha on the filter - I was playing with some JP8 samples and trying to recreate the sound elsewhere, and I really couldn't match the filter sound - it was really nice in the EXS24 patch.
Then I realised, the filters weren't from the JP8 at all - but were the EXS24 filters! - the samples themselves were just sampled with the filter wide open.
The EXS24 is a great workhorse for me - it's effectively my rompler, sample library, drum player and sometimes synthesiser.
But yes, the editor kinda sucks balls...
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 920 posts since 1 Mar, 2007
Well, the other day during band practive (3 guys on Keys), and I'm the one with Logic, so I get the 'song composition duties' - putting their parts with my parts. I was trying to find some good drum sounds. I like to use samples because I like the rawness they sometimes bring.
Anyways, I tried to use EXS24 without much success before and still couldn't do anything. So I'm looking for a handy sampler that is easy just to start using and possibly tweaking samples. I don't even know how to get my Wav samples into EXS24.
( I guess no one cares to mention how
but i read a post on the Yahoo groups that said you have to drage the Wav file into the 'Sample Instruments' folder? And then create an instrument somehow in EXS24. And then, Sascha, you pointed out that you have to save the sample after that? Then the samples can be used... ) I'm not sure if that's right.
I'm willing to give it a shot, but other sampler programs seem to lean towards workflow and aiding your creativity.
Anyways, I tried to use EXS24 without much success before and still couldn't do anything. So I'm looking for a handy sampler that is easy just to start using and possibly tweaking samples. I don't even know how to get my Wav samples into EXS24.
( I guess no one cares to mention how
but i read a post on the Yahoo groups that said you have to drage the Wav file into the 'Sample Instruments' folder? And then create an instrument somehow in EXS24. And then, Sascha, you pointed out that you have to save the sample after that? Then the samples can be used... ) I'm not sure if that's right.I'm willing to give it a shot, but other sampler programs seem to lean towards workflow and aiding your creativity.
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- KVRAF
- 4229 posts since 9 Apr, 2003 from Right here, in front of my computer...
Open EXS editor -> "New instrument" -> Import samples (can be from anywhere) -> Save instrument to Sampler Instruments folder -> Load the instrument into the EXS24.
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- KVRian
- 650 posts since 7 Oct, 2006
Well, it depends on what you want - all these plugs have strengths and weaknesses. Best for internal conversion is HAL - it is also pretty good for fast mapping and instrument building.stikygum wrote:Well, I've been on Logic for a while and been doing hardware sampling, so I never got into the EXS24 and I'm having some problems getting wav. and other formats to convert into it. So I might buy CDXtract. This got me thinking if there was a different sampler that is more intuitive. I like to be able to use a sampler as an instrument and not spending a lot of time mapping and all that. I've checked out Redmatica's programs, but am not totally convinced that's what I want.
Live seems like a really nice intuitive tool. And I've heard DirectWave is really great (and is coming to the Mac platform soon).
I am on a Macbook and using Logic 7.2 as my DAW. I haven't got into EXS24 yet, when I did I couldn't seem to convert much. Maybe I just need to study up more. I'm not sure, but I do know that my friend showed me how he uses Live and it just seems really quick and easy to where you can get on with making music instead of messing around trying to set things up.
Any suggestions for intuitive software samplers?
Good for sound design is Kontakt.
Quite good for sound design and instrument building is Independence .....
KeyMap now is the best for mapping samples and also quite good for sound desgin. it is just amazing - so exs with keyMap are clearly great for instrument building.
hope that helps