Machinesworking wrote:Nick the Zombie wrote:This is like comparing apples and oranges to me. Sampler is a creative sound design tool for people who like to cook up their own stuff from scratch (me). Kontakt can do this, too, but to me the interface isn't NEARLY as inspiring as Sampler. If you want a big library of premade sounds, go with Kontakt. If you want awesome sound design tools with a simple workflow, go with Sampler.
I personally don't enjoy using sounds that someone else cooked up for me because I am a sound design geek at heart. Therefore Sampler was the way I went, and I haven't regretted it since. It all depends on what you need.
- Nick
Wow? I totally disagree with you on this. Kontakt has a freaking convolution reverb built in, slicer, time and pitch machine, built in FX, sends, and master, the ability to layer 16 + instances in a single instantiation. Plus the interface when doing all this doesn't require racks with endless folding and unfolding etc.
The main advantage of Sampler is a sort of neat FM FX concept, and the ability to save samples in a Live set without having to do that in Sampler, beyond that it's much more limited sound design wise. It also is less likely to go through periods after OS and Live updates of instability, I'll give it that.
I suppose if simplicity and lack of features allows you to focus on the sound design you can do with said features, then Sampler is better.
Well, my post was based around what I find inspiring, which means it's subjective. Your disagreement is duly noted. However, this doesn't change the fact that me, as well as many other producers I have spoken to, just don't like the Kontakt interface. Period. I tried to get into that program, but the NI interfaces always leave me cold. I like the aesthetic of Sampler because I like the aesthetic of Live, and that kind of stuff is as important to my workflow as the presence of features.
Convolution reverb? Never gave a shit about that. I think it's a great concept, but I've never found myself saying "if only I had a convolution reverb right now, my sound would be complete." I like the way the Sampler interface is simple and tabbed, and things are easy to find. All the things that are necessary for MY sound design needs are present, and if I need something more I look to racks. Unfolding things, contrary to some of the posts in this thread, really isn't that hard. You just click.
Furthermore, I have NEVER needed to have 16 instances of anything running at the same time. If you the TC needs to do that kind of thing a lot, I would say Kontakt wins out. That's generally something you do when loading big sound libraries, which as I said is not something Sampler excels at. The Kontakt library cannot be beaten for the price, so I'm glad they made sure that loading multiple instances was easy to do.
As far as the Slicer, I FAR prefer Live's method. I like being able to slice individual parts to different cells of a drum rack, already mapped out for my MPD, and having each slice run from its own Sampler. From there, assigning any effects etc. is easy using Drum Racks' excellent handling of effects and routing. I like how it's all tied in with Live in a way that I find elegant.
The various things that you mention liking about Kontakt (master bus, fx sends, etc.) are already present in Live so they didn't need to add them to Sampler. I have been working in Live since it came out (as you most likely have as well) so you can understand that there's no need to use a whole other program to do stuff I can already do.
I enjoy Live because it allows me to work with small modules that do a few things very well, like Sampler. If I need more sound design options, I load up another Sampler, or I bring in a VST, etc. To the TC: Kontakt is actually pretty great about this, too, because you can add modules to its interface as they are needed, such as filters and modulators. Since Live already does this, though, I don't see the need for a replacement.
Bottom line: It depends on what you need, and what works for you. Just don't fall into the trap of thinking that more features means better.
After they're sliced you have individual hits plus an automatically created MIDI file. I love it. Guess we have different workflows.