What is better Sampletank XL2 or Gigastudio 3

[Dazza3311]

Hi all,

I can only by one program which is better?
I want good sounds for composition.
Thanks,

Dazza

[Hellbilly]

I think people here generally like Sampletank better, but i can't say, i haven't tried it.

[harmony gardens]

I like Sampletank better, but I've never tried Giga. eSoundz is having a group buy that you might be interested in if you conclude Sampletank 2 is what you want. Here's some more info on the deal. There is some good Sampletank info on the thread, too. http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 474#981474

[Funkybot]

Sampletank is more of an all rounder w/ a lot of included sounds. Where Gigasampler doesn't come with much out of the box, but has some great specialized libraries available for purchase. For instance, if you just want a really really good piano or two, Gigasampler with something like the Vintaudio Yamaha Grand (a library that's over 9GBs alone for a single instrument) would be great, whereas if you need a bit of everything starting out with Sampletank then moving to Gigasampler for when you have more specific needs would probably be the best way to go.

[Dazza3311]

Thanks for the instie, I am thinking on the same lines, better to go with what people are happy with.
And at the moment lots of sounds on Sampletank

[griels]

Sampletank is more of an all rounder w/ a lot of included sounds. Where Gigasampler doesn't come with much out of the box, but has some great specialized libraries available for purchase.

GS3 comes with a TON of stuff out of the box.

Although I don't think the comparison is very easy as they are two very different products. And bear in mind Sampletank doesn't stream so there's a limitation on the size of multisamples you can load with it. This is fine for some instruments, but others really benefit from intensive multisampling, especially if they are being used up front in a mix. Nor does it have articulation keyswitching/advanced midi processing/convolution.

Drawbacks to GS3: it's currently rather unstable, at least if you load a lot of samples. Also host integration is only via Rewire, although I believe it's possibly to automate template loading somehow (at least using FXMAX's VST<->GIGA adapter).

[harmony gardens]

Giga might have some more flexability if you want to create your own Samples, but my personal expirience is that Sampletank works great for the little sound effects samples I make, and for mapping loops to different keys. I find it's easier to buy sounds from eSoundz than to make my own. Also there is an update coming to version 2.1 which will also have a new improved sound set. If you buy it before that comes out, you get the Sampletank engine update, and the free sounds for free when they are released.

[Dazza3311]

Thanks I think I will go with Sampletank as a good free option with Amplitude at the moment. Happy Composing!

Dazza[/quote]

[bugs]

Look at Kontakt 2 as well.

[Funkybot]

Griels it seems like GS3 only comes with a bunch of stuff in relation to which version you buy, and the orchestral version (the one with the most) is $500 and still doesn't include the variety of sounds that Sampletank would (no synths, electric pianos, basses, guitars, etc). That's all I really meant with the previous statement. I wouldn't mind some more info on how GS3 is working, I'm thinking about picking it up, but having to rewire is definately a turn off, and if it's really that unstable, I might just stay away for the time being.

Also, how's the new Gigapiano? I'm curious on just how well that soundboard resonance sampling works, and how realistic it is.

[andywright67]

Get GS3 for sure!!!!!

Get the Orchestral version as it comes with some of the Vienna Symphonic Library, which I can asure you kicks ass.

[Squids]

I like both a lot but for different reasons. SampleTank 2XL is more portable and faster to work with. You also have more built-in effects (particularly vintage style effects like amps, phasers etc.).

Giga on the other hand has some nice high end features like streaming, Gigapulse convolution reverb and some performance key switching and more. It's only PC (too bad it's not Mac... most people are on PC though but I always wanted this for the Mac).

You really do need to DEDICATE a whole computer to Giga though. It TAKES OVER. But, a lot of pros use it because there's good library support and has a lot of nice features. It comes with some of the Vienna but I have the real Vienna and this is just a little taste and didn't do much for me (but I am a little spoiled by the real thing... which is $3K+).

On the other hand, we have Miroslav Philharmonik coming that will work within SampleTank 2XL for orchestral sounds and it is DIFFERENT than Vienna but in very good ways. Besides the sounds of them, Miro has 23 violins and Vienna doesn't have an ensemble that large. But, it's RICH and beautiful. Miro ALSO has 11 violins which is more like the Vienna.

All in all, these are two really great programs. ST2 is a PLUG-IN for any sequencer and Giga is a stand alone that you can Rewire into hosts (but like I said, most people just dedicate a whole computer to it and turn it into a sort of hardware sampler at that point and run a separate computer with their DAW... for instance, I have this set up.).

Good luck! I am partial to ST2 in many ways but Sonic Reality embraces all sample technology. There are different things I like about each sampler. Giga has some nice toys in there. It's not for everybody but for the right person it's a good one. SampleTank 2 XL is probably more immediately useful for most people though. The way the sounds are designed for it you get more sounds per hard drive space (a big part of its portability... ST2 would run better on a laptop than Giga for example).

Good luck!

Oh... I forgot. One good thing about getting ST2XL right now is that you get a free upgrade to ST2.1XL which has a new enhanced sound set on 2 DVDs. It includes some orchestral sounds from the Miroslav orchestra in it... among other goodies.

[SJ_Digriz]

I wouldn't mind some more info on how GS3 is working, I'm thinking about picking it up, but having to rewire is definately a turn off, and if it's really that unstable, I might just stay away for the time being.

GS3 is disappointing to me. If you are long time Giga user, its not a major problem. If you are used to ST or other rompler implementations it will drive you crazy. I have exiled GS3 to a 2nd PC and rarely do I even use it anymore. I simply use it to apply sample updates at this point. I'm hoping a patch might make it better but I'm not holding my breath.

There are some awesome things about GS if you want to make your own samples or use existing libraries to their fullest. But if you are just needing a rompler or only use the basics of a sampler there are far better and cheaper options now.

Also, how's the new Gigapiano? I'm curious on just how well that soundboard resonance sampling works, and how realistic it is.

It, just like the rest of G3, is a mixed bag. At first it seems amazing because of how clear everything sounds compared to the muffly sound of Giga piano and most other sampled pianos before it. But it still suffers from key ranges that sound "wrong/clinky/stretched" C5->E5 for example. But not near to the extreme as the original Giga Piano which really sucked. The soundboard and damper pedal still sound artificial. It's almost like they are sampled from a different piano. I don't know if it's phase issues or what, but I swear it would resonate to the wrong frequencies at times. There are other good and bad. But overall it isn't either really really good or really really bad.

In general if you just need primary dynamics for pop or general jazz piano you would be hard pressed to find a better sounding sampled piano. If you want to play Debussy or Monk it might not be what you are after.

[SJ_Digriz]

Also, just as general info: I have Halion as well. I didn't get Halion 3 and doubt if I will. I just wasn't up for another round of patches to fix stuff that should have never been broken or resolve stupid new features that no one ever asked for or even want. YAY for another set of built in half assed FX that no one uses.

I'm 95% sure my next purchase will be *argh* Kontakt 2 (pending initial customer response hehehehe).

[griels]

Griels it seems like GS3 only comes with a bunch of stuff in relation to which version you buy, and the orchestral version (the one with the most) is $500 and still doesn't include the variety of sounds that Sampletank would (no synths, electric pianos, basses, guitars, etc).

Well, there is a guitar from Westgate Studios with all versions and a Bass from Sonic Implants with all but the Solo version. No epianos, but then there are plenty of other cost effective solutions for that - Mr Ray or Precision Sound's Dusty Electric spring to mind. No synths but there are plenty of great free and cheap softsynths offering much more flexibility than any sampled synth, although there is something to be said for sampling non-digitally synthesised sounds.

Personally I'm going to pass on GS3 for the minute and wait to see how Kontakt 2 turns out... The included sound library sounds *extremely* promising, and it seems the audio engine has been rewritten from scratch, so perhaps the sound quality and stability issues people complained of before will become less important. In the meantime, I myself am very happy with Kontakt 1.53 and sfz+.

That said, the built in Sampletank effects are excellent