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Kontakt
Apr 16, 2023 18:25:01 GMT -6
Post by M57 on Apr 16, 2023 18:25:01 GMT -6
Well...looked for awhile and couldn't' find it. This is the best I could do. Should give you a basic idea of what it comes with. Oh, and yes, Kontakt 7 is the "full" version. www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/samplers/kontakt-7/library/For my money, Kontakt is right at the very top of offering value in the VSTi world. To me, it seems like a bargain - price wise. Beware though, once you start into the 3rd party libraries, they get extremely pricey. I probably have 20k + wrapped up in Kontakt libraries. Ok, this is helpful... So Kontakt 7 does come with some libraries. I don't need to purchase a bundle like Komplete 14 to get a decent introduction to the NI world. I was unable to find that page btw!
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Post by M57 on Apr 16, 2023 18:21:24 GMT -6
So Full Kontakt is the same as Kontakt 7, which is an upgrade from the Player (which does have some free instruments), but it's not Komplete, so it comes with no instruments? ARRGGH!
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Post by M57 on Apr 16, 2023 17:53:44 GMT -6
First off, I have to say that the difference between the various Native Instruments products are ridiculously hard to parse. It's almost as if they're trying to be confusing. Kontakt Player, Full Kontact, Komplete Kontrol, Kontact 7. Anyway, enough ranting..
I've been using the 'Player' for a few 3rd party libraries like Shimmer Shake Strike and Spitfire Strings, and I stumbled across a free library. Loaded it and found that it wouldn't play without Full Contact, which I think is the same as Kontakt 7 (sorry, I'm still ranting).. Apparently I need to upgrade in order to use any libraries that aren't licensed through NI. So my main question is, what do I get with the upgrade? It's a lot of money and the only information I can find is that it lets you load 3rd party libraries and edit them. So it doesn't come with any additional (free) libraries?
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Post by M57 on Apr 16, 2023 8:31:15 GMT -6
I just downloaded this for a 14 day trail and have been experimenting with it using simple set-up on a baby grand. One SDC stereo pair about 11” apart over the hammers and one LDC ~ 24” away from the pair and toward the back close to an edge.
I recorded multiple passes of similar performances, and also slow scales across the entire keyboard to make it easy to A/B individual notes. Here are my initial thoughts.
The’re no mistaking that this thing is making a difference. Re-aligned tracks sound dramatically different. At first I was a bit confused. Higher notes do ring brighter and cleaner, but notes in the mid-range (G2-C4) sounded dull and less dimensional to me. Multiple takes of different material and re-alignments confirmed this, but over time my ears started to get use to it, and I began to realize that out of phase mid-range notes just have more “buzz” to them (for lack of a better word), and I may have been confusing phasing with brighter. It’s taken some time for me but I’m coming to the realization that the mid-range is cleaner with alignment on, and though I haven’t played with it much I’ve had some success putting the ‘bright’ back in with eq.
I do have a number of crits.
The owners manual may be pretty, but it’s mostly worthless. E.g. There’s a wonderful diagram on page 12 enumerating the buttons/features on the gui ..and then.. there’s NO outlined description of what they do! Now granted, there’s not much to the thing, but I did have to futz with it to figure out how to use it.
They don’t want you to tweak the offsets - or anything for that matter.. There’s no middle ground. No adjusting. You either accept their sorcery or you don’t.
When I record multiple takes on a different set of tracks, even if I manually group them separately, the program wants to off-set them against each other. My solution is to analyze and print each group one at a time. Then reset, rinse and repeat. I may be missing something here, but the manual is no help. The thing has a mind of its own.
My plan for the moment is to put it through its paces on a few projects over the remainder of the trial period. I really want to buy this, but $200 is way more than I want to spend on a non-VI plugin.
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Post by M57 on Apr 14, 2023 14:49:31 GMT -6
I must be dumb. Because I'm getting a worse result with it on than off. It’s for aligning multi miced instruments like two mics on a guitar cab or a snare without having to break out an oscilloscope and a delay like Steve Albini. So this should make a difference if you're micing a piano with three or 4 mics, right? How does it work? I.e, does it pick one as a reference and align the others to the reference?
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Post by M57 on Apr 14, 2023 8:53:24 GMT -6
Would this be helpful for piano?
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Post by M57 on Apr 7, 2023 5:52:21 GMT -6
I seriously considered one of the LG 32" screens but decided on the LG DualUp ..in combination with an older HP 24." The 24" serves as my fader screen because it has a standard 16:9 ratio, but the unique 16:18 ratio of the DualUp is great for seeing a bunch of tracks stacked (with ample room for faders). Another reason I went that way was because I anticipated that being able to drag a window from one screen to the other and then being able to put one or both windows in full-screen mode would make for smoother work-flow. I haven't used it for mixing all that much yet, but so far, I'm happy with my decision.
The mount on the DualUp is very nice too. When I'm tracking myself using the X-Touch as a remote, I can easily swing it around and move it closer such that it's facing me directly.
Of course, the down-side is that I can't have a bazillion faders across 32."
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Post by M57 on Apr 4, 2023 20:16:07 GMT -6
LOL - the Outrage in and FU out meters are pegged.
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Post by M57 on Apr 2, 2023 11:57:15 GMT -6
Neat. clean and tidy, @robsmith Nice!. I have a similar set-up, only mine has more of a "what a two-year old leaves behind after getting into the toy chest" kind of vibe. How far part are those Dyns and how far do you sit from them? Mine are 48" apart and and 42" from my ears ..aiming slightly behind my head. Your's look like they're 70+" apart.
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Post by M57 on Mar 14, 2023 10:28:52 GMT -6
Also, this is a lame reason to like the monitor but... I play exactly one computer game which is Civilization VI and it runs natively in the 18:16 aspect ratio that the DualUp comes in and is SUPER fun in that format. "Well, that is lame." he says, omitting the fact that he has been known to play Steam-powered Euro-style board games with friends on his studio computer. I need to do the math and determine which screen yields the most area. A 32" ultra-wide, or the DualUp? One thing that occurs to me is that a DU setup would result in substantially more space between the monitors and the screen. My Spidey-senses tell me that's probably a good thing sonically, with less surface area to bounce off of in the horizontal plane, ..not to mention it might leave enough space for stuff ..like the OSC-4 500 series box that currently sits awkwardly on my main desk.
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Post by M57 on Mar 12, 2023 14:16:21 GMT -6
I highly recommend the LG DualUp. Been using it for a couple weeks and I love it. Ideally suited for a DAW. It's the same size as two stacked 24" screens. So it's slightly higher than it is wide. It also comes with a fantastic desk mount with a very heavy duty articulating arm. Matte finish to the screen. Really everything I was looking for. It can also take two different input sources and split the screen if you need such things. Honestly... buy it. Try it. Return it if you don't like it. I bet you'll keep it. Really interesting. In my studio it would mount to an elevated desk tier. Even with the articulating arm affording the bottom of the screen to touch the deck, I'm guessing the middle of the screen would be at or slightly above eye-level. My concern is that it could be uncomfortable if I need to look up a lot.
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Post by M57 on Mar 11, 2023 5:59:25 GMT -6
HDMI display video output Support for one display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz DVI output using HDMI to DVI Adapter (sold separately)
Does this mean the Studio requires a 60Hz monitor? Most of them spec at 75 and above.
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Post by M57 on Mar 10, 2023 18:08:45 GMT -6
And also 16:9 vs Ultrawide 21:9? Right now I use a 32" TV and it works pretty good but I need to readjust my desk setup to get my computer screen out of the way of my speaker monitors (currently getting weird reflections with how things are setup). I'm using two monitors right now. A 21" and an iMac 27". So I'm really use to keeping the playing field on one screen and dragging plug-ins to the other, so the Ultrawide just makes a lot of sense to me. I am, however, also interested in how the proximity of the screen to my monitors (they're practically touching) affects things sonically, and how much I should try and avoid that.
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Post by M57 on Mar 10, 2023 18:01:59 GMT -6
Also -- Thoughts about curved vs flat? My desk is curved so curved would look awesome. But is it good or bad that they would curve into/towards the front edge of my monitors (..again, a cool look). Might not it be better sonically if the edges of the screen stays well behind the boxes (essentially pointing towards the center of the speaker boxes (Dyn 48's)?
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Post by M57 on Mar 10, 2023 17:51:02 GMT -6
I use a 2k 32". I sit about 2ft away from it and I find this about the right size and resolution for me. Pixel pitch (resolution/screen size) matters as being too large (if the screen is large but resolution is low meaning they pixels are physically large) results in obvious aliasing and blockiness. Too small of a pixel pitch (say 4k at 32") means that all print is very small in native resolution and probably needs uprezing which will reduce functional resolution and wastes money buying a higher resolution.. Also, I only buy IPS panels in matte/non reflective finish. They're much brighter and richer and you don't see your reflection.. 2k ..interesting ..and even more inexpensive! I'm about 3' away from the screen - and more when tracking. I also notice that a lot of these are 75 hz and above. I seem to remember that the studio only supports 60 hz. Can anyone confirm that?
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Post by M57 on Mar 10, 2023 17:47:24 GMT -6
Im' looking at my LG Ultrawide right now, running on my Mac Studio. I bought in on the suggestions of people here. I did not pay a grand. link I got this one and I've been really happy with it. Nice! So you're saying the UltraFine is probably overkill?
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Post by M57 on Mar 10, 2023 17:02:41 GMT -6
I'm shopping for an approximately 34" monitor for a Mac Studio (not purchased yet). Most internet searches point me toward the LG Ultrafine model (LG 34BK95U-W) that comes in at around $1000 (Amazon). They have LG 34" Ultrawide monitors at half that price and less. This is a recording studio; I don't need gaming quality graphics, do I?
There's 5k, 4k, ultrafine, ultrawide. - What are folks using/recommend in this size range?
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Post by M57 on Feb 26, 2023 5:38:36 GMT -6
Paris. It was beautiful and sounded great. I'm still pissed that Ensoniq sold it ..and E-mu just let it die.
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Post by M57 on Jan 28, 2023 11:15:27 GMT -6
I'm thinking about picking up a Studio with the M1 Max. It's been out for about a year now, right? But from what I read the M2 (Max) is not much of an upgrade, and I see Apple has no plans in the foreseeable future to introduce a newer model studio (with an M2 Max). Is there any reason to hold out? ..or perhaps the next Studio will ship with an M3??
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Post by M57 on Jan 14, 2023 11:05:56 GMT -6
Of course, it's a no brainer if you're a Logic X user. I paid $200 for for the program circa 2012 and haven't spent a penny for upgrades since. Other than that, I can't necessarily make a strong argument for the Mac ecosystem over others. They all have their pros/cons/idiosyncrasies. Do you prefer big brother or anarchy? Choose your dark side.
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Post by M57 on Jan 14, 2023 6:30:07 GMT -6
I hate to say it, but they will need to sound fantastic. That distracting big bold logo all in caps is a pretty big turn-off.
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Post by M57 on Jan 10, 2023 17:44:02 GMT -6
I've been using Pixelmator for the last year or two ..after Acorn died on me and wouldn't happily upgrade. Before that I used something that ran on GIMP, the name of which eludes me right now. I haven't used Pixelmator that much yet, but for whatever reason I've been finding the transition a bit strange ..less intuitive. Manipulating simple vector graphics is, well ..just not as simple as it should be, same with layers ..but then I'm an old dog and don't always take well to the new tricks.
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Post by M57 on Jan 9, 2023 11:56:32 GMT -6
I've only found one that works for me consistently, and unfortunately for me, right now, it's got to go into the shop for a retube and recalibration. If you've got other options, let me know please. Its the only thing I've got that elegantly catches those leading edge transients that eat up headroom and cause instantaneously, and random glitch bits of distortion. Manley VariMu. The Manley has ALWAYS been near or even AT the top of my dream wish-list. I'm starting to get back into recording my baby grand with a combination of LDC and SDC mics with reasonable success (it's really helping to A/B it against quality modeled VI's like pianoteq) and I just know that printing the piano submix through the Manley would take it to the place I hear. I am using three oddly configured mics right now, with the SDC over the treble strings, one LDC on the bass side (spaced maybe 10 or so inches apart), and a third (LDC) way down at the far end faced directly at the sound board, so I'm not sure how or if I would want to track through the Manley. Unlinked for starters I guess. It does do that, right?
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Post by M57 on Jan 9, 2023 10:33:53 GMT -6
No, no.. not 100K! I'm not looking to make money. I'd simply be looking to share the music with a wider audience.
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Post by M57 on Jan 9, 2023 10:12:06 GMT -6
We only want what's best for you! We truly care! P.S. What compressors do you have for stereo piano capture now? (just wondering. so I can recommend which ones you need and how I can help you buy them) Honestly, I'm at this turning point in my musical life, and of course it's linked to and coinciding with decisions (some urgent) that I need to make about my studio. I need to replace my 2017 iMac, which is just dragging its heels. I mean like as in it takes two minutes just to boot up, forget loading a program. The good news is that I'm coming to the conclusion that the entry level Mac Studio with the basic M1 Max chip and 64GB of Unified Memory looks like it should be more than adequate for the task. Even after I purchase a nice big monitor I may have a few extra dollars for gear, which brings me to the point in my musical life part.. Long story short: I need to decide if I'm ever going to release my music on platforms other than SoundCloud or similar, and if so ..how and why. I'm a recently retired teacher turned DIY loan wolf singer/songwriter who writes songs that I would describe as anything but accessible. I wouldn't be insulted if folks were to describe me as as a full-time hobbyist. To date, I have set the bar VERY low when it comes to any expectations for expanding my listening audience (which is mostly made up of other songwriters). There's an argument to be made that the quality of my recordings have no real importance beyond that they're good enough for me. So I have a significant decision to make. With minimal desire to release/promote my work, I might want to purchase a few more pieces of analog gear to get the most out of my set-up and produce from top to bottom, including mastering, maybe throw it all up on bandcamp at $1.99/per and be done. It's a hobby, remember? So the most important thing is that I'm having fun, and I do enjoy doing it all. On the other hand, if I want to entertain the prospect of putting together an EP or similar and releasing it for sale, I might want to save up those extra dollars for mastering and promotion. I.e. whatever costs are associated with putting it out there ..artwork, maybe even a video?? Honestly, I'd really love to do this but I know it's by far the greater challenge, and I have little stomach for taking on the business side of things. As a teacher I was able to avoid it for most of my life, and as far as I'm concerned that is what has enabled me to take my music in a direction that has been personally satisfying. Also, if I want to go the latter route, I know I'll find myself spending a lot of time and energy going back through my catalog and re-mixing, re-recording a number of tracks, and hiring out for other musicians here and there. Bottom line is that I have to make this decision in order to best determine how to allocate whatever extra monetary resources I have. PS: I hope it's obvious that I started this thread much less to complain, and much more for levity's sake. I too am very appreciative of the quality of information and help to be found on this site.
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