Hi,
Just thought I'd drop by and ask if there is any difference in quality between Kontakt and ST2 XL. Both are good products from what I've read and currently I have ST 2 LE as it came with an Expansion Tank.
I figure I'm looking for a soft sampler of reasonable quality and on the shortlist would be the obvious big names like ST, Kontakt, Halion. These are the obvious choices. There is also Dimension Pro.
I'm not here to start a mass debate on whats best etc but to learn a little more of the pro's and cons as it were. IK Multi-Media have ST2 XL, Sonic Synth and Miroslav going for a very good price which may be impossible to beat on a value for money basis, that is unless you folks know something that I don't in terms of other offers elsewhere for top of the line products.
Thx in advance.
Kontakt & ST2 XL
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- KVRAF
- 3476 posts since 9 Apr, 2003 from NE Ohio, USA
I have both (plus DimPro and others).
Significant differences between the two:
- Kontakt streams, ST2 (and derivatives) are RAM-based. You won't find a 10gb piano for ST2.
- Kontakt can read multiple formats, ST2 has relatively limited import/alternate format support.
- Kontakt will allow you to map your own sample sets.
- Kontakt has a scripting language for sophisticated programming.
- Converter tools and workalikes (VSampler, DirectWave, SampleLord) are available for Kontakt. I believe EXSC converting to ST1, and SampleLord playing ST1 is all that's available in that format - I don't know that anything supports ST2 format.
- Kontakt has better third-party support. For the most part the only vendor producing a lot for ST2 platform is Sonic Reality.
- Kontakt uses more CPU and is a more complex instrument.
- Of late, IK has been more responsive than NI, but neither is as responsive as Peter, Liqih, WilliamK and other well-spoken-of developers.
Doug
Significant differences between the two:
- Kontakt streams, ST2 (and derivatives) are RAM-based. You won't find a 10gb piano for ST2.
- Kontakt can read multiple formats, ST2 has relatively limited import/alternate format support.
- Kontakt will allow you to map your own sample sets.
- Kontakt has a scripting language for sophisticated programming.
- Converter tools and workalikes (VSampler, DirectWave, SampleLord) are available for Kontakt. I believe EXSC converting to ST1, and SampleLord playing ST1 is all that's available in that format - I don't know that anything supports ST2 format.
- Kontakt has better third-party support. For the most part the only vendor producing a lot for ST2 platform is Sonic Reality.
- Kontakt uses more CPU and is a more complex instrument.
- Of late, IK has been more responsive than NI, but neither is as responsive as Peter, Liqih, WilliamK and other well-spoken-of developers.
Doug
Logic is a pretty flower that smells bad - Spock, in "I, Mudd"
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- KVRAF
- 2211 posts since 2 Jan, 2003 from right here...
...it depends on what you'd like to have - a more or less solid rompler or a sampler with sound-design capabilities...
...without going into depth now, the first thing, while comparing those two, that would put me off is IK's resale policy - so one of the first questions would be if you could live with that.
...regarding Dimension Pro - I don't know that one, but I think to remember that Cakewalk's policy even doesn't allow any resale actually...
...without going into depth now, the first thing, while comparing those two, that would put me off is IK's resale policy - so one of the first questions would be if you could live with that.
...regarding Dimension Pro - I don't know that one, but I think to remember that Cakewalk's policy even doesn't allow any resale actually...
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- KVRAF
- 4345 posts since 8 Mar, 2005
Actually you can convert TO ST2 format, but you cant convert FROM ST2 format. You can convert FROM/TO ST1 format though.
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
Kontakt is great but more complex and costs more to get the kind of sounds you mentioned (full workstation, synth, orchestra etc.). Your best DEAL for sure is to get the IK Workstation Bundle UPGRADE (which you qualify for via your Expansion Tank... ironically saves you even MORE money than that Expansion Tank even cost you!): http://www.esoundz.com/details.php?ProductID=1417
The workstation bundle comes with SampleTank 2 XL, Sonik Synth 2 and Miroslav Philharmonik which is thousands of high quality MUSICAL sounds. Very efficient get the job done stuff... I use it all the time and my company Sonic Reality made most of them.
The other sampler/sampler players you mentioned are great too though. You really can't go wrong with any of them. They're ALL good quality. True that large libraries with streaming can SOMETIMES give you more in certain areas of sonics and performance. But that's not always what is needed or affordable. It all depends on what your budget is and what your needs are. I personally use a variety of them like SampleTank, SS2, Miro (of course) and also Kontakt 2, Reason and others.
The workstation bundle comes with SampleTank 2 XL, Sonik Synth 2 and Miroslav Philharmonik which is thousands of high quality MUSICAL sounds. Very efficient get the job done stuff... I use it all the time and my company Sonic Reality made most of them.
The other sampler/sampler players you mentioned are great too though. You really can't go wrong with any of them. They're ALL good quality. True that large libraries with streaming can SOMETIMES give you more in certain areas of sonics and performance. But that's not always what is needed or affordable. It all depends on what your budget is and what your needs are. I personally use a variety of them like SampleTank, SS2, Miro (of course) and also Kontakt 2, Reason and others.
