What Sampler Are You Using And Why?

[brandondrury]

I wanted to discuss what samplers people are using and why they use them. I'll go first.


I'm using Kontakt 2. I haven't upgraded to Kontakt 3, because I haven't been convinced that my needs would be better met with the new software.

I must admit that I use Kontakt 2 for it's built in library, but the only 3rd party sample library I use is the Steven Slate Drum Samples.

All the dedicated libraries I own (Quantum XP hardcore bass, Native Instruments B4 organ, etc all come with their own little Kompakt player which I'm quite happy with).

Brandon

[tacman7]

I bought a EmulatorX sampler with my 1820m card. It seemed cool but I didn't really know how to use it.
So to learn to use a sampler I bought an emu 6400 or something, forgot exactly, but a hardware sampler. It was neat to understand the roots of sampling, if you like a 500+ page manual that is.
Well it was cool and all and instructional but it didn't have a place in a modern setup so I sold it.
I have X2 and I got into how to do a lot of things and all, but when I run a lot of VSTi's it causes a problem and I quit using it. The free proteus works better. I have a lot of synths now and am not using a sampler, most of these are romplers though.
I don't do a lot of tweaking, just use presets and do things with the audio using UAD plugs. Just a stage I'm in.

I'd like to find a good sampler that can run in a crowded project. I think the disk streaming or something in the X2 causes problems.

[Metaltyme]

I'm using Dimension Pro as my main go-to-er. It's got a nice batch of instruments out of the box, and is expandable with different expansive packs and such.

The quality of the instruments, scapes, textures, etc. are top-notch to my ear, and everything is highly tweakable to boot. I like the "element" system that it employs, where you can layer or mix-n' match different aspects of the app to make one completely unique tone.

On top of that, there are tons of virtual pots to tweak, graphs to manipulate, multiple simultaneous EQs, compressors/limiters, amp-models, tons of FX, and sleek user interface to navigate through with ease. All settings, custom patches, etc. can be saved for future use.

I would remark on a number of audio possibilities with this thing, but almost all of the possibilities I've achieved, so far, have been stellar...too many to list here in other words. [Edit: It's also very lenient on CPU resources as well. I've had at least 15 instances running all at the same time in my DAW with completely different instruments/sounds all being generated in a cohesive, simultaneous instant....with little to no lag at all!]

[Bigduggieface]

Although I own a few hardware and software synths, I normally prefer sample-based software plugins and samplers.

I use Kontakt 2 quite often, and there are some great expansion libraries available for it such as Heavyocity's Evolve. Sonic Couture is making some really good sounding libraries for K2 as well.

I do a lot of stuff using symphonic orchestral sounds and ethnic instruments as well. I generally go for Gigastudio 3 for this. I bought the Vienna Symphonic Cube and the Vienna Performance set for Giga (I bought them second hand), and they sound great! I love Giga's convolution reverbs too.

I use a lot of sample-based plugins as well. Miroslav Philharmonik, Garritan Personal Orchestra, BFD drums, Spectrasonics Trilogy, and NI Battery come to mind. Can't forget about Stylus RMX which is very adept at importing and playing back drumloops at any tempo, and can easily export these as a MIDI file which you can manipulate later.

I tried playing with a friend's MOTU Mach5 2 sampler, and I didn't like it. I found the layout very cluttered and confusing, plus the stock sounds were very plentiful, but they didn't blow me away. It's supposed to play back formats such as REX, Giga, and Kontakt 2, but I found it didn't work very well at this. Just an opinion there. Maybe I should have spent more time figuring out how to use it.

[scooterlow]

I use Hypersonic 2 for a lot of my songs.
Its not really a sampler its a workstation synth and it has GM Capabilities so I can set up a template in Cubase and import a midi file I did in the past or one I have acquired and they will play all the right sounds. Then I can go and do extra tweaking. I like the fact I can load 16 instruments at once and doesn't bog down my system. and it loads sound almost instantly , no wait time.
I wish more company's would build theses types of synths but it seems there on the way out of style. I want a synth like this that will load midi files on the fly so I can use it in a live situation.

[scooterlow]

Originally Posted by scooterlow

I want a synth like this that will load midi files on the fly so I can use it in a live situation.

What I mean is i wish it had a midi file player built in to use live.

[Cailyn]

I use Kontakt 2 with Garritan Personal Orchestra and BFD Drums. Live comes with a native sampler imaginatively called Sampler which has been more than adequate for my needs otherwise.

[Dogface]

Im using an Akai MPD 24. Only got it 3 weeks ago for Christmas...I really dont know how to use it yet but i will be using it for Drums and Bass and anything else that it can do. I got it because of the Pads for use when recording Drums. Im a good finger tapper drummer and using a Keyboard was a total pain in the butt for me and I hated it, so this thing should be ideal once I work out how to use it!

[Craeon78]

I have samples from (1) REASON NN-XT library (2) Sampletank and (3) Garriton Personal Orchestra/ Jazz Orchestra

Why:
(1) I like how you can mess with many different parts of the samples and then screw the sound over by unconventional software 'plugging' that could normally (possibly) harm a hardware plugging arrangement.

(2) I saw it being used and Liked the easy learning curve but still am finding new things out about it. I find the samples OK. ( I'm sure there are better samples out there) but Its fine for scratching, percussion and beginning drum building.

(3) my go to for strings/ orchestral sound scapes and (for the jazz orchestra) for the upright bass and honky tonk piano sounds. Again ease of use with plenty of room to learn more as my knowledge increases.

[Craeon78]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

I'm using Kontakt 2.

Brandon

Brandon, King of Recording Review, etc etc. What are the strong and weak points of Kontakt 2? I feel as if my sample sources may be out-of date (see my post particularly Sampletank2)