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I am thinking of buying Sampletank 2.

Does anyone here have anything either good or bad to say about. If you do like it, can you tell me why? If you don't like it, what is your preferred virtual sampler?

If you have it, how are the factory samples. I would be buying the "L" version which comes with less samples, but it is all I can afford a the moment...later I will ask which sound libraries people like.

R



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: nprime on 2004-12-24 14:18 ]</font>

I use Sampletank 2 XL... and I don't think the samples are all that spectacular. It really depends. Most of the samples sound like.. uhm... well the JV series is pretty close. I think a lot of the samples in sampletank series have a roland-ish sound to it.

Also, the sample collection isn't too complete. Drums are usable, guitars are usable, bass, and also percussion.. but pianos, brass, strings all have the imminant cheapness of a ROMpler synth. (sounds like the Roland SC series to me)
You'll quickly find out that a lot of the patches use the same samples. (even in XL) When I first got it, I was wondering why the sample lib was so huge, when samples were used over and over again.. but after a little while, I gave up and stopped wondering about it.

But it's good to have I think. Go for the XL lib if your budget allows. If not.. I'd think twice about the L package. You're also not going to use much of the "stretch" or whatever that new gimmick sampletank2 has. It's kinda cheap sounding, and not too effective. (in my opinion)

After I got sampletank2 xl, I haven't used any sounds from my Triton. I often do feel the urge to use my Triton instead, but thinking of the hassle of having to record from line ins, I usually just stick to sampletank and try to tweak my way through.

If you just need something quick, cheap on CPU resource, with barely on par sound, then sampletank 2 might work.

This tune makes extensive use of sampletank 2XL. Everything but the farty synth bass is sampletank I think.
http://www.planetz.com/Pulsar/files/music/leina1.mp3
But I did process the hell out of the samples so I'm not sure if this is a good example.

Here's another one, everything but the fart bass is sampletank. (which isn't much) Great djembe samples I think. Oh yeah, the portamento saws are from pulsar.
http://www.planetz.com/Pulsar/files/music/leina4.mp3

Here's one with almost untouched sound (if I remember)
http://www.planetz.com/Pulsar/files/music/pot_3.mp3

So, I hope these can serve as examples.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2004-12-24 15:16 ]</font>

Thanks for the honest input.
R

nprime wrote:
I am thinking of buying Sampletank 2.

Does anyone here have anything either good or bad to say about. If you do like it, can you tell me why? If you don't like it, what is your preferred virtual sampler?

I have nothing to say about its technical merits (sound or ease-of-use), but I do have something to say about the company.

I downloaded the evaluation/free version to check it out, then went through the somewhat convoluted process of registering this with their website.

When I entered the SampleTank-generated keys into their web form, it informed me that the information I was entering "was not a genuine SampleTank key".

I then spent yet more of my time double-checking that I had used the correct keys etc, and tried entering them again but with the same problem.

So, I sent SampleTank an email explaining this situation and asked them what the problem might be and what I could do about it, but I received no response from them at all.

Now, perhaps as I'm only a lowly demo user who hasn't given them any money, they simply ignored me. However, I find their inability or reluctance to respond very disturbing as I place a very high importance on communication. Also, I had pointed out a technical issue with their demo-registration system which they have apparently ignored.

So, they may have the best VST/Software sampler on the market, but they have certainly lost a potential customer as I would never pay money to a company who were incapable of communicating with me.

Just my personal experience.

Royston

i have sonic synth. i don't really use it THAT much, but as ken said, it is good for when you need roland jv-type sounds, very useful. it works well and is easy(uses sampletank1). there are a number of these types of romplers, take yer pick. i'd say(from the viewpoint of having an older product) that it's worth having if you don't have this type of basic library.