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  3. Kontakt Version?

  • Kontakt Version?

    G
    G
    Hello
    I am seriously considering purchasing vsl samples in the next few months or so . Does anybody know if there is a kontakt version on the horizon?
  • B
    B
    (but no native version, I think.)

    I have the 1st edition and converted everything with Translator to Kontact format. It's pretty good - a few translation issues, a few features lacking from Kontact (multi-dim layering) but it works beautifully by and large and Kontact is:

    1. a boatload cheaper than giga

    2. voices limited only by RAM and CPU because you can have as many instances of Kontact as you wish.

    3. (as I understand from recent postings) Kontact can use most of 2 gigs and giga only most of 1 (I may have misunderstood this, please feel free to correct.)

    4. Much better, cheaper, more powerful DSP effects.

    5. Integrates into your sequencer

    6. Easy to run on a single machine

    7. The Kontact upgrade at the end of this month (never buy a product on upgrade promises but here's the rumor) will natively support giga format so (i hope) no translation needed. (WHEW! Disclaimer! I may be talking trash. Not a low fat food. Not responsible if you put out an eye with this information.)

    I can't speak to the pros of giga because I've only used giga32 and was so unthrilled that I didn't bother going that direction any further. I know people love it though. I think that giga's streaming and RAM usage is a little lighter. And giga3 is on the way, but the timetable is unknown and, as I said above, never buy software on upgrade promises.


    just my $.02. if giga3 is everything people say it will be, I may switch. But the short answer is yes, you can run it on Kontact with some additional effort and you will get fine results. Search for KingIdiot's posts for tips on Kontact + vsl, also. But Kontact/VSL support is community-based, not corporate, since they don't release such a version, so it ain't a free ride.

    (as a personal aside, I just did my first gig with Kontact/VSL and it sounds really good. Every note you play is like a gem that you could just sit and stare at for hours. I'm looking forward to the Kontact upgrade and buying more ram for my computer - i've only got 512 - but I'm really happy with the setup I've got.) (SX/Kontact/VSL).


    -denny-

    p.s. this wasn't a flame against giga. I would love to hear the pros of gigastudio, but please don't turn this into a flame post. merci.
  • H
    H
    I can't make big announcements at the moment, because this is up to NI. I personally expect a lot with the release version after 1.3. [[;)]]


    best wishes
    Herb
  • G
    G
    Thanks for the replys
    I have Kontakt 1.2 already, so i will upgrade as soon as 1.3 comes along and post the new features!
  • P
    P
    You should be aware that with 1.2.1 you can import VSL Giga with no problems. You don't need Translator at all. Also, the Performance Tool works with it as well on the PC. We've tested this and there's no difference in sonic quality between Giga and Kontakt on import.
  • A
    A
    Peter,

    Do you have to be sequencing on the same PC to use the Performance Tool with Kontakt? I'm running Kontakt on a PC, but am sequencing from a Mac running Digital Peformer......

    Thanks,

    Andy.
  • G
    G
    Peter,
    Will the performance tool work on a mac running protools?
  • cmC
    VSL Team
    cmC
    andy, if you use kontakt as a standalone application (not as vst) you can use the performance tool with whatever midi-source you like (keyboard, sequencer on a second machine connected via midi-cables, sequencer on same machine using virtual midiports)

    george, AFAIK exs for protools is not mkII, anyway it will not work with the performance tool, since only logic 6.1.1 can handle it

    christian
    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.
  • A
    A
    Hi Christian,

    Thanks for your reply. Can I just check that this is the correct way to set up the Performance Tool ins/outs for Kontakt?

    Perf Tool:
    In Port: MIDI A
    Out Port: MIDI A

    Kontat:
    In Port: MIDI A

    Thanks,

    Andy.
  • A
    A
    I now realise that the setup above just bypasses the Perf Tool. So how should I set it up? I'm completely confused, as Kontakt isn't an option that shows up in the OUTPORT......

    Andy.
  • N
    N
    George, you can use the EXS version inside Logic on a Mac with Pro Tools HD or MIX. You need Emagic's ESB, which gives you eight outputs from the Logic native engine into the TDM mixer. It works really well - I do that all the time.

    But I also have to advise you to consider - consider, not necessarily decide upon - buying a Windows machine and running the VSL in GigaStudio (or possibly Kontakt later on). One computer isn't really enough, and Windows machines are much cheaper. Even if it turns out that a G5 can run most of the VSL on its own (because you can load them with up to 8GB of memory), I'm not sure it'll be practical to do everything in one machine. It really depends on what else you're doing with the Mac, i.e. how much loading and unloading you're going to have to do.

    My strategy is to use Windows machines as sound modules and use the Mac for extra things within the sequencer - soft instruments, samples, etc. - that come up for each project.
  • G
    G
    Thanks for that Nick,
    I just want to keep things as simple as possible
    How would you connect the two computers? Would you be limited on the amount of tracks you could use or am i behind the times somewhat?
  • cmC
    VSL Team
    cmC
    last edited
    last edited
    andy, the inport for the performance tool must be another than the inport for kontakt. it seems you might need some virtual midiports on your machine (eg. mapleports)
    performance tool in is midi A (assuming this is where your keyboard/sequencer is connected to)
    performancetool out is mapleport1(in)
    kontakt in is mapleport1(out)
    makes sense?
    christian
    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.
  • G
    G
    last edited
    last edited

    @Another User said:


    How would you connect the two computers?

    http://www.musiclab.com/products/rpl_info.htm

    You can get now a good PC for 800 $ / Euro
    Plus a good sound card for 300 $ / Euro

    And run five or ten PC simultaneously if you want...


    This is the new approach for Home Studio since a few years.


    (More info here : http://www.northernsounds.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi? )


    Regards

    The French dyslexic who speaks badly English.