KVR Audio

Alan Lastufka · Post by **Alan Lastufka** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:15 pm

I see in the "Which Sampler do you Use?" thread that Kontakt is running circles around the closest competitor.

But I wonder - of the people who voted in that thread, how many of you actually buy sample libraries?

I can tell you the numbers don't add up from those that voted on what they use and GigaStudio libraries outsell all other formats for many resellers and independant devs.

I am a Kontakt man myself (who also owns GigaStudio for professional reasons) and wish the numbers in the previous mentioned thread actually reflected the sales as I would prefer to develope Kontakt only libs.

Guess I'm just wondering - how many of those Kontakt votes actually buy smaple libs, and how many just wait for the legal freebies or donationware samples.

Just FYI, I have bought and paid for the following libs:
Garritan Orchestral Strings
Garritan Personal Orchestra
Bela D Media DIVA
Bela D Media Diva By Design
Scarbee Imperial Drums
Post Piano: The Emperor
Post Piano: The Old Lady
Vienna Symphonic Library (VSL): Overdrive
Project Sam: Solo Sessions
Art Vista: Malmsjo Acoustic Grand

opiadream · Post by **opiadream** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:40 pm

I believe it's still possible to create your own sounds for a sampler

sure there's still alot of math and high speed chases involved
but it can be done

Sielsynth · Post by **Sielsynth** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:50 pm

I use mostly soundfonts with Kontakt. I have a ton from E-mu and some from Sonic Implants. I am going to be looking for a bass library soon and I'm not sure if I will buy soundfonts of a different Kontakt library.

neverwhere2012 · Post by **neverwhere2012** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:50 pm

i pretty much use the hollowsun samples and various EXS instruments i've found scouring the web. and the VSL Overdrive library... that's their electric guitar thing, isn't it? how does that sound and does it do convincing metal stuff (i.e. would i be able to construct a pseudo-slayer or other righteously heavy riff with it)?

deps · Post by **deps** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:56 pm

opiadream wrote:I believe it's still possible to create your own sounds for a sampler

I agree. Or maybe my method of working is weird? I tend to create a section of sound (whether it be drum-based, pads, leads, guitars, whatever) either using recorded audio and effects or midi/vsti's/effects, bounce it down to audio, clean it up (normalise, etc) in an audio editor, and chuck it through kontakt for looping, start/end points, envelopes, etc. Finally I use a sequencer to play it in sequence with all the other samples I've created in the same way.

It may seem like a huge amount of effort but it's amazing how much you can get done once you start going.

Or am I missing the point? I always found that when I did use other people's samples I ended up doing all of the above anyway, so it was easier to create my own stuff. They can be useful for inspiration though (especially looped samples), although so can mucking about with a drum machine or a synth.

I'd be interested to hear what other people think.

deps

René · Post by **René** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:58 pm

Alan, Kontakt has done great since 1.0 release. It's not a secret that it outperforms by two or three times the installed base of any other sampler, and that's without counting the packed instruments using Intakt, Kompakt and the Kontakt player.

However, you possible have to take into account that a gazillion giga fans migrated to Kontakt due the lousy timing of Tascam.

Some industry experts say GS3 is too little, too late. I beg to enormously differ. Most likely the real war will start after Kontakt 3 release.

Tickets anyone?

-René

Alan Lastufka · Post by **Alan Lastufka** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 3:18 pm

So basically the above answers are "no, we don't buy professional sample libs."?

I agree, rolling your own is alot of fun, that's why I started LastLibs.com - I was just curious seeing so many Kontakt users why the Kontakt libs don't move as well as Giga, and I am not speaking about just my own, I am speaking of everyones, I am good friends with many devs and a few resellers and they all tell me the same thing.

Sielsynth · Post by **Sielsynth** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 3:27 pm

Hey Alan,

As a result of this thread I just went searching for Kontakt bass libraries. I came across your Acoustic Bass set. I listened to an mp3 called realities. I must say for 85.00 I think I'll give it a shot!! Sounded pretty good.

Alan Lastufka · Post by **Alan Lastufka** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 3:42 pm

Sielsynth wrote:...I came across your Acoustic Bass set. I listened to an mp3 called realities. I must say for 85.00 I think I'll give it a shot!! Sounded pretty good.

Thanks! There are many more demos up here: http://www.lastlibs.com/01/demos.htm showcasing all the different applications for the Acoustic Bass.

griels · Post by **griels** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 3:54 pm

Got Kontakt, GS2.5 32 (just bought it for a cheap crossgrade to Kontakt) and sfz+ (Giga edition).

In terms of 'generic sound libraries' that load into a standard softsampler I own:

VSL Opus 1
The Kompakt library (got the crossgrade just for the very nice sample set)
Lastlibs Acoustic Bass Guitar
Scarbee J'Slap'n'fingered
Artvista Malsmjo Acoustic Grand
Artvista Cool Vibes
Nemesys Gigapiano
Quantum Leap Guitar and Bass
Yellow Tools Pure Guitars
Purgatory Creek Rhodes
Garritan Orchestral Strings Lite

and probably some other cheap stuff which I never use (naming no names

).

deps wrote: I agree. Or maybe my method of working is weird? I tend to create a section of sound (whether it be drum-based, pads, leads, guitars, whatever) either using recorded audio and effects or midi/vsti's/effects, bounce it down to audio, clean it up (normalise, etc) in an audio editor, and chuck it through kontakt for looping, start/end points, envelopes, etc. Finally I use a sequencer to play it in sequence with all the other samples I've created in the same way.

Not weird at all... I totally respect you for creating your own original sounds. Anyway, it's getting harder to customise sample libraries now with the Rompler-style systems that are arriving, something that I am largly against. It's looking more and more like control is being taken from the customer and placed in the hands of the library designers, so the best way to make unique sounds is to do it yourself. This is also one of the reasons I would never buy the Spectrasonics stuff or Realguitar, as great as the sounds are.

However, respect to people like Scarbee and Lastlibs for keeping their libs 'open' - loadable and fully tweakable.

(Gets off soapbox)

Kriminal · Post by **Kriminal** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 3:57 pm

Soundforge.

Mr. Slater's Parrot · Post by **Mr. Slater's Parrot** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 4:11 pm

I purchase Kontakt libraries all the time. I own dozens of them, including the Lastlibs Bass. Also, I have converted all of my giga libraries to Kontakt format.

Keep making Kontakt libraries!

torhan · Post by **torhan** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 4:17 pm

I use Kontakt - mostly use the ProSamples series stuff and Synthetic Drums (from NI). Plus, I use Vapor's library through Kontakt.

declassified · Post by **declassified** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 5:09 pm

[EDIT]crap...wrong topic.
Sorry for being confused by too many open windows...

cptgone · Post by **cptgone** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 5:52 pm

although I have Halion2, NI Komplete and DR-008, i haven't bought any samples yet.

but i ordered GPO. i got the impression the dedicated GUI makes it a better choice.

hopefully, i won't be needing any more samples once it arrived, as i allready have lots of drum samples and prefer synths for synth sounds.

haven't made my own samples though, except a few recordings of softs synths / my guitar / my voice.

the thought of outdoor sampling is tempting but i don't have the right equipment for that.

Which Sampler do... I mean, How many of you...?