Relative merits of Ableton's Sampler and Logic's EXS24

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
Post Reply
pinky
Posts: 47
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:03 pm

Relative merits of Ableton's Sampler and Logic's EXS24

Post by pinky » Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:01 pm

I want to create polyphonic patches from my monophonic analogues, namely a couple of Moogs and an ARP.Does anyone on here have experience of Sampler and EXS24 ?

Sampler's automatic looping function looks interesting as it would save a lot of time setting up crossfades.As far as I can tell EXS24 doesn't offer an auto function, which could mean labouriously setting up crossfades.

Sampler certainly looks easier to use but does this come at the expense of programming depth/functions ? I'd imagine sound quality would be similar but what about mod routings, filter quality, blah de blah de blah.

At the moment I can only afford one of them so need to get it right first time, any help/advice gladly appreciated :D :D

Pinky.

Machinate
Posts: 11648
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:15 pm
Location: Denmark

Post by Machinate » Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:48 pm

I absolutely HATED programming on the EXS24 - this is a lot more effortless in Sampler, from my point of view.

The main question is however still: Which DAW to use? Because with Sampler you are stuck with Ableton Live, with EXS24 you are stuck with Logic.

... I prefer Live, and I don't regret switching from Logic one bit.

hope this helps,
Andreas.

Freekster
Posts: 102
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:33 pm

Post by Freekster » Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:23 pm

With EXS24 u are not stuck with logic as all other samplers read EXS files. With smpler you are really stuck with Live as no other sampler can read your patches. That is why I can't make any new patches with it. I use it only to playback my EXS sounds.

I also hated to program EXS but it's now better in Live 8. Sampler is not that much better as you have to deal with racks to do some normal sampler stuff.

Redmatica does some really awesome stuff for EXS24. I'm gonna buy the Autosampler to sample my analog synths: Moog, SH-101, EDP Wasp & Juno-106. Keymap looks like sample editing in stereoids, but it's quite expensive.

Hope this helps.
Last edited by Freekster on Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Studio: Macbook Pro, Live 8 Suite, Plugins, Apple Logic Pro, MicroKONTROL, Nocturn, Motu UltraLite, iPad B Truth monitors.
Stage: MBP, Live, MicroKONTROL, iPad, UltraLite.

New EP out as free download: http://music.bubblescum.com
Bubble Scum Homepage
Bubble Scum Facebook

pat the dog
Posts: 217
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:56 am
Location: londoner in amsterdam

Post by pat the dog » Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:27 pm

i haven't used exs24 for a while though if my memory serves me right, it has some similar limitations as sampler - e.g. a shared filters and envelopes per instrument - though lives racks can work round this. exs24 can have multiple outputs unlike sampler.

if you're setting up looped waveforms and crossfades on the exs24 you should have a look at redmatica's keymapper as it has some serious features for doing exactly that.

the main thing i love about sampler is the ability to drag and drop waveforms from just about anywhere in live. this is one of the key things keeping me with live and i understand that it will also be possible with the drum racks which will be awesome.

Machinate
Posts: 11648
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:15 pm
Location: Denmark

Post by Machinate » Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:01 pm

pat the dog wrote:i haven't used exs24 for a while though if my memory serves me right, it has some similar limitations as sampler - e.g. a shared filters and envelopes per instrument - though lives racks can work round this. exs24 can have multiple outputs unlike sampler.
and racks work around that obstacle, too.

pat the dog
Posts: 217
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:56 am
Location: londoner in amsterdam

Post by pat the dog » Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:35 pm

Machinate wrote:
pat the dog wrote:i haven't used exs24 for a while though if my memory serves me right, it has some similar limitations as sampler - e.g. a shared filters and envelopes per instrument - though lives racks can work round this. exs24 can have multiple outputs unlike sampler.
and racks work around that obstacle, too.
indeed they do.

Freekster
Posts: 102
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Relative merits of Ableton's Sampler and Logic's EXS24

Post by Freekster » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:11 am

pinky wrote:I want to create polyphonic patches from my monophonic analogues, namely a couple of Moogs and an ARP.Does anyone on here have experience of Sampler and EXS24 ?
If you are going to do lots of patches then the solution is Autosampler. Then you can convert the EXS patches for Sampler or Kontakt or whatever. I wouldnt even start the sampling with Sampler or EX24.

Autosampler + Logic is cheaper than Live + Sampler, but it all comes to what other DAW functions you need. If you choose to go Live + Sampler you still need Autosampler if you don't want to spend months in the sampling of your synths.
Studio: Macbook Pro, Live 8 Suite, Plugins, Apple Logic Pro, MicroKONTROL, Nocturn, Motu UltraLite, iPad B Truth monitors.
Stage: MBP, Live, MicroKONTROL, iPad, UltraLite.

New EP out as free download: http://music.bubblescum.com
Bubble Scum Homepage
Bubble Scum Facebook

b0unce
Posts: 5379
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 4:16 pm

Re: Relative merits of Ableton's Sampler and Logic's EXS24

Post by b0unce » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:35 am

Freekster wrote:
pinky wrote:I want to create polyphonic patches from my monophonic analogues, namely a couple of Moogs and an ARP.Does anyone on here have experience of Sampler and EXS24 ?
If you are going to do lots of patches then the solution is Autosampler. Then you can convert the EXS patches for Sampler or Kontakt or whatever. I wouldnt even start the sampling with Sampler or EX24.

Autosampler + Logic is cheaper than Live + Sampler, but it all comes to what other DAW functions you need. If you choose to go Live + Sampler you still need Autosampler if you don't want to spend months in the sampling of your synths.
++++++1
the redmatica stuff is Quality, the support is fantastic, the software works like it says it will on the website and when it doesn't they fix it EXTREMELY FAST - not in the next paid-for version. You can't really ask for more from a developer.
spreader of butter

poshook
Posts: 475
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:31 pm
Location: Slovakia
Contact:

Post by poshook » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:34 am

what is absolutely confusing on EXS24 (finally on Logic too)? you can not perform deep editing non-destructively. If I need to change the volume of the hihat in particualr kit only for current project I can not do it without saving edited kit instead of original one... this is so stupid as using time stretching and everything about sample editing in Logic. I always get "overwrite" alert and risk to overwrite original sample which I need for other projects...

non-destrictive editing is nightmare in Logic for years

Homebelly
Posts: 2891
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:52 pm
Location: Aotearoa New Zealand
Contact:

Post by Homebelly » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:08 am

Sampler can read EXS24 files,
Get your hands on key map,, the link is above.
If you really think your going to do a lot of sampling,, especially for the task you are inquiring about, drop the cash on the whole redmatika bundle.
15" 2.4 MBP/Live/Sampler/Operator/ Home made Dumble clone/Two Strats/One Jazz Bass.
Come and visit any time= Soundcloud

muthafunka
Posts: 2251
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2003 5:28 pm
Location: Tokyo

Post by muthafunka » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:14 am

What about Kontakt?

Tarekith
Posts: 19140
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 11:46 pm
Contact:

Post by Tarekith » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:35 am

Kontakt is a much different beast IMO, way more options and the script processing really can take it to another level. I'd probably say that Kontakt or Emu's X2 are the best software samplers out if you need indepth sampling and layering abilities.

IMO, Sampler is more about sound design than setting up realistic emulations of other instruments. It can be done, but you need to get into racks and it can be a lot more work (again, IMO) than using X2 or Kontakt. EXS24 is sort of inbetween Sampler and Kontakt, not as indepth as Kontakt, but lots more options than Sampler.

Here's my Sampler review for anyone that's curious:

http://www.abletonlivedj.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=87

Honestly I think sampelr really excels when you want to take an audio file and tweak it even more than you can with effects and clip envelopes. It's great for quickly messing with your audio in new and creative ways. I think Ableton really did themselves a disservice by marketting it as a competitor to things like Halion, Kontakt, etc.

Post Reply