Subject:Kompakt & Loading sample files

Posted by: Cheye

Date:8/17/2008 8:20:01 AM

Hello

I'm trying to use the Kompakt Sony Acid Pro Edition sampler in Acid, but I can't see the wave files in the browser section of the sampler. All of the folders are showing, but when I try to open the folder with the wave files inside, it won't open. It seems that all it sees are folders and not files. I have selected wave in the tools option, tried shift dragging folder. I've checked the manual and found nothing that helps. Is there a preference in Acid that needs to be checked? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

cheye

Subject:RE: Kompakt & Loading sample files

Reply by: Patrick@Denman

Date:8/17/2008 4:55:22 PM

Cheye...I don't think you'll be able to browse the individual wave files in the KOMPAKT library. The library is stored as a "monolith", which is a KONTAKT format that stores all wave files in a single, consolidated file. Hence, the term monolith.

There are two monoliths included with the KOMPAKT Sony ACID Pro Edition: Kompakt_Sony_ACID_1.nks and Kompakt_Sony_ACID_2.nks - but when you select the folders containing these files in the KOMPAKT browser, nothing shows up. You can see the instrument (.nki) files in the folders, but not the underlying wave files.

FYI, I don't work for Native Instruments, but here's a bit of a plug for them: the KOMPAKT tool impressed me so much that I ended up buying KONTAKT. The current version of KONTAKT has over 30 GB of instrument samples, and is completely amazing. There is still a lot you can do with KOMPAKT, but if you get really serious you may want to look at this. There used to be a special "cross-grade" deal for KOMPAKT users; I'm not sure if this is available any more or not. Might be worth checking out.

Subject:RE: Kompakt & Loading sample files

Reply by: Cheye

Date:8/17/2008 8:55:02 PM

Thanks for the info Patrick and I will look into the cross grade to komtakt for sure, but I've got my wallets eye on Spectrasonics Omnisphere which is coming out on September 15, 2008. Have you heard about this new creation? If not check it out...

http://www.spectrasonics.net/

Check out the hyped up videos for this monster...

http://www.spectrasonics.net/news/2008/omnisphere-psychoacoustic-sampling/

Lastly, I ended up using the two samplers in Reason today and got them rocking pretty good. In your opinion how would you compare the reason samplers to Komtakt? Close or not even?

Appreciate the help and info

Cheye

Subject:RE: Kompakt & Loading sample files

Reply by: jackn2mpu

Date:8/19/2008 3:23:02 PM

Added on edit:
Kompakt was designed mainly as a sample player, which is why in some offerings, like East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra or Ra, for instance, it is provided as the built-in player for the instruments. Relatively easy on processor requirements. Kontakt, in all it's version, is NI's workhorse sampler. You can play the monolithic files as well as create your own instruments from multi and single samples. Unfortunately, NI no longer offers Kompakt for individual sale.

I have Kontakt 2, Kompakt (NI's full version), and Reason 3. The two samplers in Reason (NN19 and NNXT) are both capable pieces of software with NNXT being the most tweakable. Kontakt 2 is also quite tweakable. What I like about K2 is the ability to add effects inline without having to add mofules to a rack like in Reason. I especially like the ability to do impulse response based reverb and effects in Kontakt 2, which is something you cannot do in Reason. I have no experience with the newer Kontakt 3. One thing that NI does well with Kontakt is the library of sounds/samples that comes with it - what they supply from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra Library alone is worth the bucks spent.

Would I pick K2 over Reason's samplers - in a heartbeat, because I have more experience in putting together sounds in Kontakt. What would I recommend to you? Since you already have Reason, go with the NNXT sampler. Just remember the processor load with Reason would be higher than if you ran Kontakt, not to mention having to keep track of the whole Rewire concept, which I sometimes have a problem with.

I for one would NOT spend the money on Omnishpere. I have Atmosphere and consider it a waste of time and money. There were updates and expansions that were intimated for Atmosphere by the developer that never materialized. Spectrasonics website touted that it was not a closed system and that all kinds of new things could and would be done for it. Nada, zip, zilch, bupkis, at least from the developer. If you want to spend wisely, you can do no worse than Kontakt.

Jack

Subject:RE: Kompakt & Loading sample files

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:8/20/2008 8:59:47 AM

> Would I pick K2 over Reason's samplers - in a heartbeat

Actually, Kontakt 3 is the latest version and it's quite impressive. I picked up the original version of Kontakt cheap on eBay and have been upgrading ever since. Sometimes you can get a better deal by buying an older version on eBay but check out the cross-grade price first since you already have the Sony version on Kompakt. The 33GB sample library that comes with Kontakt 3 is an awesome assortment of instruments that will keep you content for a while.

Check out the video of Kontakt 3 on the NI site to get an idea of the capabilities.

~jr