Native Instruments Rocks!...Am I wrong?

[soupking]

I've done a search on comments about NI, and from what I can gather the majority seem to be disgruntled with the software.

I just started using it with Ableton Live and love it, but I'm really new to the stuff. Have of what I've been using is still demo.

Am I wrong? My Sound and playability have been so dramatically improved with a PadKontrol and NI sound library software.

[DJDJ]

I don't think many will dispute the sound quality of NI as far as Virtual Instruments goes.

That's why people put up with 'em. The problems with NI tend to be that the instruments & updates can be buggy, installation doesn't always go so smoothly, customer support is a nightmare, releasing products before they're ready, etc....

Their business side needs improving. And they're moderately expensive. I think that's why people groan about NI. Sound? They sound amazing. I don't think you're wrong at all.


Good to hear that your experience as a music maker is improving with better software & hardware.

If it's working for you, Keep it up!

[elambo]

Originally Posted by DJDJ

I don't think many will dispute the sound quality of NI as far as Virtual Instruments goes.

That's why people put up with 'em. The problems with NI tend to be that the instruments & updates can be buggy, installation doesn't always go so smoothly, customer support is a nightmare, releasing products before they're ready, etc....

Their business side needs improving. And they're moderately expensive. I think that's why people groan about NI. Sound? They sound amazing. I don't think you're wrong at all.

I'd say that your summary is nuts-on accurate. Superior sound - shit service. Has been that way for as long as I can remember. I use them every single day and pray that I never have to contact them for help, or for authorization, which is a whole other issue.

[Stiff]

They make good sounding stuff, some experience a lot of issues. I guess I've been lucky, have only experienced "some", and not at all the nightmares I've read.

[Nuno_F]

I have Komplete 5 and Kore 2, and besides once all my software needing re authorization due to an imaginary hardware change and some initials problems with Kore corrupting its database I am happy with them. Very good products and their phone support is great. Email on the other hand is basically worthless, or was at the time I used them.

[thehuman]

I think they all sound really nice, and I have Komplete 5 because it came with my Receptor, but I have to be honest: I NEVER use the stuff in songs. When it comes down to it, I reach for other synth's and sample libraries. I have a blast playing with FM8 and Massive in standalone, but I don't think they have ever made it to a track.

That being said, I DO use Kontakt all the time. Just not the factory library. Everything else just goes untouched. I don't even care for Reaktor, which everyone else seems to love. I don't know why. Just when the time comes, I instinctively reach for other VST's.

[quincyg]

yep. great plugs. frustrating customer support. worth the risk imho.

[captain caveman]

I don't think their customer support is bad anymore. They have changed the structure of their forums recently with more information on releases etc and when I have had to call them they have been fine.

Maybe a couple of years ago they might have been bad, but this is improving IMO. Reputations take a long time to change in the audio world though - I'm sure the last few people that clung onto the idea of different makes of hard drive sounding better or worse have only just given up on that particular myth.

And the forums are almost heavenly compared to some manufacturers ones.

[redddog]

I've only used the B4 (the first one).

It's been flawless and sounds utterly fantastic.

[sheever]

I dont know guys...
I though is awesome too ....long ago.try to fitt together with real synths,and sampling by rhodes....tutt

[mOjO FET]

I like their pioneer like attitude. Think reaktor ten years ago! Or B4.

I find on the other hand their softsynths are innovative in design and architecture but sound wise the do little for me. Compared to the Arturia synths or Sonicprojects' OP-X they lack character.

imho
Michael

[soupking]

I like how they have a tutorial for Absynth 3. I've got Battery 2 and it's really easy to use, and goes for miles in terms of sampling.

However, Absynth is a little tricky to get a hold on when it comes to LFO modulation. I bet there's a lot of tricks with the software that I'm missing.

I'll agree that their CS is not stellar.

[e-cue]

Originally Posted by elambo

Superior sound - shit service.

Agreed. Their service is terrible. In the middle of an issue, the ping pong of emails I had been sending to NI evaporated. I emailed them several additional times and never got a reply and never got the issues resolved. I also was shuffled from tech support to tech support with 2 people contradicting directions several times. I still never got 3 of the best programs imo (Akoustic Piano, Elektric Piano, Kontakt 3) in Komplete5 to work, and the rest are buggy and crash expectant everytime I load them.

I recommend no one give this company anymore money until these widespread issues are resolved. Read into that what you will.

[kdm]

Yes, NI is poor at addressing problems. That said, I've only had one problem in the past few years installing and running on various systems - Kontakt 1, 2, 3; Komplete 3, 4 and now 5; and numerous 3rd party Kontakt Player based VSTi's. Guitar Rig 3 eventually crashes Nuendo 4.2.2, but that's likely a VST 2.4/3 compliance issue and not a general bug in the plugin (and one I reported a year ago - still no response or fix afaik....so I no longer use it). Other than customer service, NI products work well here. Authorization has also worked fine.

I do sympathize with those who have experienced problems. But, I would suggest that if the apps crash consistently, look for and eliminate any potential system related issues to at least get back up and running. Obviously NI isn't going to help much either way - might as well do what you can.

[Dor]

Originally Posted by soupking

I like how they have a tutorial for Absynth 3. I've got Battery 2 and it's really easy to use, and goes for miles in terms of sampling.

.

How are you sampling with Battery?

D

[jikky]

Originally Posted by Dor

How are you sampling with Battery?

D

Load up sounds in browse and there's a page with simple cut, copy, crop, and paste options. You can't make several slices and set the to several pads, but the basics are doable.

[soupking]

Originally Posted by jikkyboy11

Load up sounds in browse and there's a page with simple cut, copy, crop, and paste options. You can't make several slices and set the to several pads, but the basics are doable.

Wow, that's dope. I just meant sample library. Looks like I've got to check the vocab a bit. And my skills, I just got Absynth...Man, another world there.

Good to know though. I love padkontrol. I got on the thing for 5 minutes and was whipping out all this kung-fu taps. I never used the sh1t before and was blown away. I started laughing. It was like watching a yo-yo do tricks by itself on replay.

Man, fun as hell. It's a great time to rock electronic.

I've got great studio setup to get a good electric guitar sound. Speaking of sampling, now I just need to find a way to butterfly net the stuff into use. But I've got to find out how Absynth would work with wav files etc.

[greggybud]

I started using Reaktor in 1999 and it quickly replaced Seer Systems Reality.

Since then added Pro 5, 52,53 FM7 FM8, Massive, Battery, Kontakt 3 and KORE.

My biggest issue with NI: GET SOMEONE TO WRITE A DECENT MANUAL!!

The power of Reaktor even back in 1999 was simply amazing, but had a joke of a "manual". Over the years it slowly improved.

KORE 2 has a horrible manual. Yes it will tell you what everything does, but doesn't tell you HOW, or give applications, examples etc.

Then there are 3rd party tutorials, but why should the user pay an extra $20-40 to learn what the manual should have contained?

Also when complaining about tech support, it's probably important to mention where you are calling for support. In the past the Los Angeles support left a lot to be desired. My last few calls however I felt like they had improved.

[CWsounds]

Battery 3 is in EVERY single one of my projects and I have had 0 issues with Cubase 4.5.2 and Battery 3.0.4.001. I have komplete 5 though and end up using massive and fm8 for a lot of filler sounds... Never really for the bread and butter sounds... Honestly the sampler i've most been impressed with laterly was HalionOne (with 2 gig sound library update) that came with Cubase 4....

[tenshin111]

I've been using Absynth 4 for a while and I love it! I also have a few Kompakt-based virtual instruments.

I will definitely but more stuff from them in the future...I just wish it was a bit cheaper.

Oh, and I never had any problem with authorization. It is quick, 100% online and works flawlessly for me. I guess, I am the lucky one

[James Meeker]

NI has a good line of products, although they haven't done anything innovative in a few years. I'd like to see something a little bit newer than Massive.

Anyways, I extensively use Battery and Kontakt. The rest of the stuff gets sporadic use here and there. I have a lot of softsynths, so that's not surprising.

[thehuman]

Originally Posted by James Meeker

NI has a good line of products, although they haven't done anything innovative in a few years.

Yeah, it seems like all they're doing now is releasing new Kore Soundpacks. Borrrriiinngggg...

[Dor]

Originally Posted by jikkyboy11

Load up sounds in browse and there's a page with simple cut, copy, crop, and paste options. You can't make several slices and set the to several pads, but the basics are doable.

I hear ya, that's sample playback & sample manipulation, not sampling.

D

[staudio]

NI has the worst update/authorization managers I have ever used. It crashes, its buggy, it forgets I have already authorized my plugs, it forgets my login info, it doesn't keep track of the updates I actually need, the actual update files sometimes are corrupted and I have to re download. I wish NI would get serious about making system maintenance easier and less time consuming.

One serial number, one user name and password, one click update and authorization!!!

But I love the sound of NI's stuff.

[Sqye]

Originally Posted by DJDJ

I don't think many will dispute the sound quality of NI as far as Virtual Instruments goes.

That's why people put up with 'em. The problems with NI tend to be that the instruments & updates can be buggy, installation doesn't always go so smoothly, customer support is a nightmare, releasing products before they're ready, etc....

Their business side needs improving. And they're moderately expensive. I think that's why people groan about NI. Sound? They sound amazing. I don't think you're wrong at all.


Good to hear that your experience as a music maker is improving with better software & hardware.

If it's working for you, Keep it up!

.

+1.....nail on the head...beeen screwing around with Guiter Rig 3/ Kontrol Rig
for the last year or so.

sounds are great, functions are great, very slick, but they still need to get the bugs out.

i still have to use it with Sonar 8 - we'll see!....Sonar 7.2.1 wasn't happening, yet...
buggy, crashing, freezing, not changing patches, etc....

Kontakt 3 has been on and off a nightmare...great sounds and library (experience),
but unbelievably buggy.

.

[jikky]

Battery 3 is in EVERY single one of my projects and I have had 0 issues with Cubase 4.5.2 and Battery 3.0.4.001. I have komplete 5 though and end up using massive and fm8 for a lot of filler sounds... Never really for the bread and butter sounds... Honestly the sampler i've most been impressed with laterly was HalionOne (with 2 gig sound library update) that came with Cubase 4....

Cosign. I have a template that opens all the Cubase 4 synths and instruments, Kontakt 3, Battery 3, Trilogy, and Omnisphere. HalionOne has some decent sounds.

Good to know though. I love padkontrol. I got on the thing for 5 minutes and was whipping out all this kung-fu taps. I never used the sh1t before and was blown away. I started laughing. It was like watching a yo-yo do tricks by itself on replay.

Man, fun as hell. It's a great time to rock electronic.

I know man! Have fun with that PK. A dude on FP made some kind of chord progression scenes to play out chords. Another dude stray411 has some stuff too. Look him up on youtube.

I hear ya, that's sample playback & sample manipulation, not sampling.

D

Well there terms get smudged, but sample players are considered samplers in a software sense, not in the sense of sample recording. I guess one's DAW software would be considered the sampler.

[bgroup]

As far as virtual instruments go, I think they're great, but I'm not sure I agree that they "sound" great. I recently stopped using Battery a lot because I found my tracks were sounding small - load up the same samples in my VERY old Akai or E-mu samplers and instant HUGE...

I love everything about virtual instruments except the sound... YMMV.

[sheever]

Originally Posted by bgroup

As far as virtual instruments go, I think they're great, but I'm not sure I agree that they "sound" great. I recently stopped using Battery a lot because I found my tracks were sounding small - load up the same samples in my VERY old Akai or E-mu samplers and instant HUGE...

I love everything about virtual instruments except the sound... YMMV.

yeah sampler are sampler.no comment

[ToneCre8]

Originally Posted by bgroup

As far as virtual instruments go, I think they're great, but I'm not sure I agree that they "sound" great. I recently stopped using Battery a lot because I found my tracks were sounding small - load up the same samples in my VERY old Akai or E-mu samplers and instant HUGE...

I love everything about virtual instruments except the sound... YMMV.

my brain hurts.

[hugol]

Originally Posted by bgroup

As far as virtual instruments go, I think they're great, but I'm not sure I agree that they "sound" great. I recently stopped using Battery a lot because I found my tracks were sounding small - load up the same samples in my VERY old Akai or E-mu samplers and instant HUGE...

I love everything about virtual instruments except the sound... YMMV.

Playing back samples is a trivial thing to do. If you're hearing a difference it's down to artifacts from the old converters.