Emu X3 or MachFive 2 or Kontakt 3?

Flo Fandango · 3rd March 2009

I need to buy a soft sampler, as I have many libraries I want to use (mostly in Akai format). I narrowed the options to Emu X3, MachFive 2 and Kontakt 3. I need them for a Cubase SX3 on Win XP, 3.4 processor (Intel 865 mobo) and 4 Gig RAM.
Which one is less CPU hungry? Does anybody tried Emu X3? Which one is more stable? Please let me know what you think.
Flo Fandango

www.fandangorecording.com

jrwaltb · 3rd March 2009

Not many are going to agree with this but I say EMUX3.....Look, I have never seen a company with such horrific PR but as an owner of X2 their is nothing that sounds even close....It's not even a contest...
EMUX3 is never going to be be the popluar VSTi everyone loves but IMO it's the only real soft SAMPLER ...The rest are just romplers..

Flo Fandango · 3rd March 2009

jrwaltb, can you elaborate a bit? Did you work with the other two - are they soo far sound wise? Also, do you know anything about their Modern Symphponic package?

Flo Fandango

www.fandangorecording.com

Flo Fandango · 3rd March 2009

Anybodu with insight about MachFive 2 and Emu X3 (or X2)?
Flo Fandango

www.fandangorecording.com

Flo Fandango · 9th March 2009

I was told that Emu X3 is excellent, a class above Mach Five or Kontakt. Does anybody agree with that? I would be very interested to know even if the learning curve may be steep - I do want a really good sounding sampler, and I don't want to experiment buying all of them. Any answer will be greatly appreciated.
Flo

www.fandangorecording.com

yuk · 14th March 2009

Though I haven't yet gotten X3, Emu X2 is excelltent. If you would like to sample by yourself, X3 should be very good choice. Its modulation capability is very deep and is not inferior to any other soft samplers.

But if you want a rompler, x3 is not good choice. no third party libraries, unsophisticated file management system etc...

wakestyle · 15th March 2009

Im using EMu proteus VX free, which is a very good sounding rompler. It is included in EMU X3. Havn't yet used X2, or X3 though... I would like to try running my other libraries thru EMU X3.

Flo Fandango · 16th March 2009

Yuk,
I would definitely do sampling, on the other hand, you have a point, the lack of reading the other libraries may be a problem... there is a trade off I suppose... anyway, I am still weighing possibilities, I am not sure which way to go...
Flo Fandango

www.fandangorecording.com

tribeofenki · 16th March 2009

Kontakt and Machfive here... I'd like to know about the X3 .

By the way, the best sampler/rompler depends on what are you into...

kontakt is totally electro/house and partially hip-hop oriented. But there are many libraries and you can load almost anything in it.

machfive is better as a standalone, more synths and better effects. Plus orchestral patches that are far better than the ones into kontakt .

jikky · 16th March 2009

Hi Flo,

I would suggest trying the demos and see what works best for your workflow. The libraries should sound the same or the differences minimal in the actual sample playback. Once you find the one you like, you can add sample format converter software like Extreme Sample Converter or Chikensys to transfer libraries that the sampler doesn't support.

Personally I use Kontakt for my sample libraries. I kinda know my way around in it. I have a few libraries converted from Giga and then the stock library, but use what's best. Also, I use alot of the internal fx and the routing inside works for my needs. Hope that helps.

piano · 16th March 2009

Emu builds on some 25 years of sampling machines.

So there you go.

TheBoss · 16th March 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flo Fandango

I need to buy a soft sampler, as I have many libraries I want to use (mostly in Akai format). I narrowed the options to Emu X3, MachFive 2 and Kontakt 3. I need them for a Cubase SX3 on Win XP, 3.4 processor (Intel 865 mobo) and 4 Gig RAM.
Which one is less CPU hungry? Does anybody tried Emu X3? Which one is more stable? Please let me know what you think.
Flo Fandango

Toronto recording studio Fandango recording mixing mastering sound restoration music studio

All three of those samples are great samplers. What you need to really consider is do you want to sit there and convert libraries/files all day long or do you simply want to load them and start playing and being creative. I have worked on all three and found Kontakt to be the easiest to use. The other two have a bit more steep learning curve but thats probably because I been using Kontakt more than the other two. All in all I use Halion more than any of the other three because of the library format I already have and since all three support AKAI you can't go wrong with any of them. I just wish Halion was not discontinued because for me it did a great job handling my projects at the time. So between the 3 you mentioned my favorite is still Kontakt, that's probably because I use it the most and I am pro in it I suppose. Go by which is the biggest library format you have . There are tons of plugs you can use to compensate for the few bells and whistles you may be missing in the choice of your sampler.

One other thing to keep in mind is going forward with future upgrades...NI has been on top of its game by doing major upgrades. Original Kontakt and current version is night and day difference. I think going with company known as industry leader when it comes to software vsti, NI wins hands down. The only negative thing about NI is that lately they are more hardware driven then software so I hope they don't abandon current Kontakt users for future hardware/Kontakt version. lastly, Kontakt is a bit more CPU driven then the other two. But with more and more CPU power that is no longer an issue for me.

TheBoss · 16th March 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by piano

Emu builds on some 25 years of sampling machines.

So there you go.

Very true, still have ASR 10 sitting collecting dust. I think what we do need to compare it to is code rather than hardware. I say NI has more gray hair when it comes to code than both of them combined.

Flo Fandango · 21st March 2009

Guys,

I've been out the country in vacation (nice, in the sun, you know, the whole nine yards...) I'm back now, and first I want to thank you all for your replies.
I do not plan to use the sampler as a stand alone, but as a VST, I have a PC (SX3, tons of UAD and Powercore cards, SCSI) and a MBP (Logic 8), I need a sampler basically for the main computer - the PC.
Somehow, I think the answer is either Kontakt 3 or EMU X3. Even tough I don't have sampling experience, I'm looking to go deep down into it. I am a bit scared by soo many comments regarding kontakt 3 being too buggy and CPU hungry. On the other hand, while most expensive, the X3 Emu seems to be to new, nobody uses it yet.

Flo Fandango

www.fandangorecording.com

quincyg · 21st March 2009

pretty happy with kontakt. i had to abandon machfive due to bugginess on mac a few years back.

Flo Fandango · 4th July 2009

I bought Emu X3. Bad decision. It shuts down Cubase SX3 when launch as VST. For two months I am waiting for guidance from EMU. So far, general answers. I reinstall, did all they asked, I do not have anything that they say it shouldn't be there. Long story short: now I'm told it doesn't work because of Ilok key (Waves, motu, etc). I can not ditch these programs because EMU can not fix the problems. I am waiting now for their response, and I will definitely take them to court if it will not work. I'll get back with details.

Flo Fandango

jrwaltb · 4th July 2009

Cubase 3 is a major issue...Have you tried using Reaper to test it out? What about upgrading Cubase?

3rd March 2009	#1
Flo Fandango Gear nut Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 92 Thread Starter	Emu X3 or MachFive 2 or Kontakt 3? I need to buy a soft sampler, as I have many libraries I want to use (mostly in Akai format). I narrowed the options to Emu X3, MachFive 2 and Kontakt 3. I need them for a Cubase SX3 on Win XP, 3.4 processor (Intel 865 mobo) and 4 Gig RAM. Which one is less CPU hungry? Does anybody tried Emu X3? Which one is more stable? Please let me know what you think. Flo Fandango www.fandangorecording.com

15th March 2009	#7
wakestyle Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,583	Im using EMu proteus VX free, which is a very good sounding rompler. It is included in EMU X3. Havn't yet used X2, or X3 though... I would like to try running my other libraries thru EMU X3. __________________ It could be different on a mac...

16th March 2009	#9
tribeofenki Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: @$tr@L pL@n3 Posts: 1,511	Kontakt and Machfive here... I'd like to know about the X3 . By the way, the best sampler/rompler depends on what are you into... kontakt is totally electro/house and partially hip-hop oriented. But there are many libraries and you can load almost anything in it. machfive is better as a standalone, more synths and better effects. Plus orchestral patches that are far better than the ones into kontakt . __________________ Ishkur Guide to Electronica ૐ Where are all the Goa parties?

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3rd March 2009	#2
jrwaltb Gear nut Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 91	Not many are going to agree with this but I say EMUX3.....Look, I have never seen a company with such horrific PR but as an owner of X2 their is nothing that sounds even close....It's not even a contest... EMUX3 is never going to be be the popluar VSTi everyone loves but IMO it's the only real soft SAMPLER ...The rest are just romplers..

9th March 2009	#5
Flo Fandango Gear nut Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 92 Thread Starter	I was told that Emu X3 is excellent, a class above Mach Five or Kontakt. Does anybody agree with that? I would be very interested to know even if the learning curve may be steep - I do want a really good sounding sampler, and I don't want to experiment buying all of them. Any answer will be greatly appreciated. Flo www.fandangorecording.com

14th March 2009	#6
yuk Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16	Though I haven't yet gotten X3, Emu X2 is excelltent. If you would like to sample by yourself, X3 should be very good choice. Its modulation capability is very deep and is not inferior to any other soft samplers. But if you want a rompler, x3 is not good choice. no third party libraries, unsophisticated file management system etc...

16th March 2009	#10
jikky Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Triple D!!! Dallas/Houston, Tx Posts: 1,167	Hi Flo, I would suggest trying the demos and see what works best for your workflow. The libraries should sound the same or the differences minimal in the actual sample playback. Once you find the one you like, you can add sample format converter software like Extreme Sample Converter or Chikensys to transfer libraries that the sampler doesn't support. Personally I use Kontakt for my sample libraries. I kinda know my way around in it. I have a few libraries converted from Giga and then the stock library, but use what's best. Also, I use alot of the internal fx and the routing inside works for my needs. Hope that helps.

16th March 2009	#11
piano Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,336	Emu builds on some 25 years of sampling machines. So there you go.

21st March 2009	#14
Flo Fandango Gear nut Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 92 Thread Starter	Guys, I've been out the country in vacation (nice, in the sun, you know, the whole nine yards...) I'm back now, and first I want to thank you all for your replies. I do not plan to use the sampler as a stand alone, but as a VST, I have a PC (SX3, tons of UAD and Powercore cards, SCSI) and a MBP (Logic 8), I need a sampler basically for the main computer - the PC. Somehow, I think the answer is either Kontakt 3 or EMU X3. Even tough I don't have sampling experience, I'm looking to go deep down into it. I am a bit scared by soo many comments regarding kontakt 3 being too buggy and CPU hungry. On the other hand, while most expensive, the X3 Emu seems to be to new, nobody uses it yet. Flo Fandango www.fandangorecording.com

21st March 2009	#15
quincyg Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,127	pretty happy with kontakt. i had to abandon machfive due to bugginess on mac a few years back.

4th July 2009	#16
Flo Fandango Gear nut Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 92 Thread Starter	I bought Emu X3. Bad decision. It shuts down Cubase SX3 when launch as VST. For two months I am waiting for guidance from EMU. So far, general answers. I reinstall, did all they asked, I do not have anything that they say it shouldn't be there. Long story short: now I'm told it doesn't work because of Ilok key (Waves, motu, etc). I can not ditch these programs because EMU can not fix the problems. I am waiting now for their response, and I will definitely take them to court if it will not work. I'll get back with details. Flo Fandango