EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

Hello all,
Ok I did search the archive regarding this issue and didn't get that
much info.  My question is to those who have made the switch entirely
or partly from hardware samplers.  I understand items like
integration, file managment, larger amounts of usable sample ram, and
24 bit sampling put the hardware units into obsolesence.  I wouldn't
argue that for anything.  My question is how does it sound compared to
the hardware units?  How flexible is it to program?  Users of EMU EIV
and Kurzweil K2000/2500 series comparisons especially.  I have a E4XT
Ultra.  Aside from the file managment and user interface I couldn't be
happier.  Many softsamplers including EXS are fairly flexible for
modulation but how does it compare to the EMU EOS or the Kurzweil VAST
architecture?  The softs also have filters some more than other but
can they compare to the EMU's Z-plane filters?  The previous post I
dug up on this subject said the soft samplers couldn't compare yet but
those posts were pretty old.  What's the state now?

>Hello all,
>argue that for anything.  My question is how does it sound compared to
>the hardware units?


Hi there,

I'm using the EXS (got kinda stuck with it for convenience) but I 
start to really dislike the sound of it. I'm almost tempted to use 
the word hate, but that is in fact a strong word.

My friends EMU 6400 is just so far beyond soundwise it's not even 
funny anymore and I think I will dig up some of those as soon as I 
can afford and stick one big drive in that has the library and use it 
for the crucial sounds.

This post is highly subjective.

Cheers
Hans

>> Hello all,
>> argue that for anything.  My question is how does it sound compared
>> to the hardware units?

Hans Hafner <hanshafner@...> wrote:
> I'm using the EXS (got kinda stuck with it for convenience) but I
> start to really dislike the sound of it. I'm almost tempted to use
> the word hate, but that is in fact a strong word.

> My friends EMU 6400 is just so far beyond soundwise it's not even
> funny anymore and I think I will dig up some of those as soon as I
> can afford and stick one big drive in that has the library and use it
> for the crucial sounds.

I also dumped EXS24 and went for Kontakt which I find far superior. EXS24 is
useless for big archives amongst other things. (Perhaps unless you know
exactly what you're looking for). Anyway, I'd say your hardware/soundcard
has the biggest impact on the sound quality of the soft sampler (Not talking
bouncing of course). And the EMU sampler I used to have, I don't miss at
all. I'm as soft as my under belly these days! Hans, there's a downloadable
demo of Kontakt on NI's pages. Give it a try, if you haven't already done
so.

> This post is highly subjective.

This reply too! ;-)

At 10:02 Uhr +0200 23.10.2003, Oblivian | Bacteria AS wrote:
>Hans, there's a downloadable demo of Kontakt on NI's pages. Give it 
>a try, if you haven't already done so.

Well, not for OS X yet, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and will 
check out the demo once it's available.

However you mainly mentioned the file management which is superior in 
Kontakt, but what about the sound? I find that most of NIs stuff 
sounds pretty cold except the ones they didn't develop (Absynth, 
Battery)

This question will have a highly subjective answer again ;-)) I'm 
sorry, too little sleep

Cheers
Hans

> I also dumped EXS24 and went for Kontakt which I find far superior. EXS24 is
> useless for big archives amongst other things. (Perhaps unless you know
> exactly what you're looking for).

anyone not knowing either: i don't know how this statement is meant, but
there is no way to organize, handle, relink or how ever maintain a big
archive in kontakt.
as a matter of fact you may not be able to "archive" at all for kontakt
still has some serious "sample not found" bugs. so if you move things aka
archiving ... you might end with unloadable projects.

the exs in comparison has a "search" function and doe relink all samples &
instruments  once loaded. also you are able to move things for the find
algorithm is far better working than in kontakt.

kontakt is great for heavy manipulation.
exs is great for bread, butter _and_ archive, to my experience.

cheers,
u.