Native Instruments Kontakt vs. Gigasampler

[Studiocat]

So I'm thinking about buying a Native Instruments bundle (with kontakt) so that I can start using more professional sample libraries than are offered in Reason formats. The orchestral samples for Reason aren't good enough. I'm particularly interested in Giga format... But then I wonder, should I just get Gigasampler instead?

Kontakt or Giga? For argument's sake, lets say I want to use the Vienna Symphonic libraries.

Thanks guys
A

[OHA]

Are you on a windows or mac based computer?

Gigastudio are only windows. I bought one myself, but I have never come as far as getting a windows machine in my studio... One of my tabus I'm afraid..

In the early "kontakt age" the importing of Giga format was a bit buggy, but I think everything works fine now. Also, all new titles are in Kontakt format, and I think its tomorrows format.

[ptbbos]

Depending on which version of VSL you want to use, you might not need either.

The new version, Vienna Instruments, uses its own plugin - which does some pretty amazing stuff for automatically selection articulations, based on parameters you specify. Check out the videos on their site.

[Studiocat]

I have a Protools LE system on XP, and an HD system on OSX.

ptbbos - I noticed that vienna has it's own player. Very neat. So it's the choice interface for those libraries? And has features that wouldn't be available in a 3rd party sampler? It doesn't really make sense to get gigasampler. So I guess it's between Kontakt or standalone mode.

My next question:

We would like to get these sample libraries on both of our company machines, mac and PC. Supposing I bought the Horizon series Opus bundle, and a copy of Kontakt, could I load it all on to two machines? Or would I have to buy two opus bundles and two copies of kontakt??

A

[Studiocat]

Looks like you can authorize Kontakt on two machines. But the vienna samples...?

A

[Red_venom]

Well a few things to keep in mind... Gigasampler is really effecient and great, but you really want to run it on its own stand-alone machine. Which requires a bit of extra hardware. The libaries(That you will want) are mostly very expensive. The only ones I can think of off the top of my head that arent are Larry Seyers Acoustic Bass, and the two Scarbee EP libraries(But they are both available on Kontakt anyway).

Gigasampler also cant handle editing of the libaries in real time, it has a seperate app for this. Basically it makes the program a big rompler, imo. Im sure the editing is fine but I just cant be bothered to quit out of a session to tweak something. I prefer Kontakt 2 because whatever I need is just right there, absolutely mind boggling modulation and editing is possible. They both have some effects, but I think Kontakt 2 gets the edge here too, giving it a further edge in the sound manipulation department.

I think most of the big sample libaries are already moving away from Gigasampler. Sad, but true. The market has simply opened up, they are either making their own app or providing patches for all formats.

Gigasampler will be used by a lot of people for some time im sure just because of how used to it they are. But its just a good thing to be aware that its probaby not necessary to have it. Kontakt 2 in stand alone on its own machine(Or running through a program like Steinberg V-Stack or FX Teleport) would be just as good, im sure.

[Studiocat]

Thanks venom.

You're definitely reinforcing my instinct on this one. Kontakt just looks to be more comprehensive and flexible. And very reasonably priced!

So does anyone know if you can use the Vienna Horizon series on two machines? I mean, there's no vienna software involved, so how could they even protect against it?

A

[Red_venom]

You definitely can on the Kontakt/Giga versions.

[ptbbos]

You can authorize kontakt on two machines, but you're only supposed to run on one of them at a time.

With the VSL instruments plugin, it is authorized with a dongle, so you can install on as many machines as you need, and just move the dongle to whichever machine you want to work on.

[jcschild]

HI,

Kontakt all the way, Giga sucks if its on the same computer as your sequencer.
Kontakt can open most all GIga format libraires anyway.

for Giga you must have a seperate computer.

Scott
ADK

[Studiocat]

What are everybody's favourite sample libraries for Kontakt?

How do you do your horns?

A

[msrecprod]

BUMP for favorite sample libraries!

[Studiocat]

To continue this story...

I've been using Kontakt in Protools for a while now. It's a great program. Used it on my PC, and recently switched to a mac pro, with great success. Much more stable than the PC, but that's another story!

I have some Vienna string samples and Kontakt seems to deal with them very efficiently. I would like to have a better handle on the "performance" capabilities of Kontakt. Maybe learn to emulate some of the features that are in the more expensive vienna plugin instruments.

Does anyone know how to make a mod wheel crossfade script to roll between two sample sets, eg legato violin and tremolo violin?

Thanks
Adam