Kontakt 2 or something better for LE7.1?

[rstreber]

I recently started using Kontakt 2 in PT LE 7, and I'm finding it to be very unstable (much like everything else in PT 7). However, I'm wondering if Kontakt is particularly sketchy, and if anybody has experience with other sampler plugins (Mach5, for example) versus Kontakt 2. Have you found any better alternatives that are more stable, more efficient, etc. Also, any other software plugins reliably support multiple audio outputs within PT? Kontakt is really disapointing in this regard.

[GW]

Both Ivory and Trilogy are stable and so is Reason 3. I think you have to define what kind of music you are wanting to create to get better info - perhaps your answer is Independence (but that one I haven't got myself...)

[rstreber]

I'm doing primarily through-composed new-music (classical) type stuff. Hard to define,except to say that there's virtually no repetition. As far as samples go, I'm using a bunch of VSL Horizon series samples, then messing with them as necessary with other plugins and outboard processing.

One of the things I hate about Kontakt is all of the extra BS effects and crap that it includes and that I'll never use. I'd love just an elegant and rock-solid software sample player that works as an RTAS plugin. Is Independence a bit more along those lines?

Anyway, in trying to pin down something besides ProTools as being the cause for all of my LE 7.1 woes, I'm finding that things are generally MUCH more stable when Kontakt isn't instantiated, so I'm really thinking about looking into an alternative.
Anyone have experience with Independence, or want to recommend something else?

[dj_grimmace]

Hard to say whether this is an LE issue or a kontakt issue. I'm using Kontakt 2.0.1 quite well with my PT 7 HD system. Rarely get a crash or any issue using it. (Actually, I get a crash when quitting PT from using DFH as is spelled out in many posts in the TDM DUC.)

However, I'm now trying to use Kontakt 2 with my PT 7 LE system (7.0 cs5) and I can't play a note without crashing! I'm using VSL stuff, as well as Big Fish Audio First Call Horns, and a number of other libraries. However, Xpand! works just fine. Seems like it must be a Kontakt and Le problem. I've gone through all the standard problem solving methods to no avail.

Your frustration with this is shared! It should be known that I'm using my PT 7 LE on a Powerbook G4 1.67 with 1.5 megs of ram, my PT HD system is on a G5 dual 1.8 with 2.5 gigs of ram.

To my knowledge, the only softsampler that really compares with Kontakt and works as an RTAS plug in is Motu's Mach 5. Unfortunately, there is not nearly as many libraries available in the M5 format. Reason's NNXT doesn't really compare to Kontakt in it's features, although it is a good sampler in of itself. Your only other answer is most likely to buy a pc and get giga sampler.

[rstreber]

Thanks for posting your experience with this. I've been using Kontakt for the last few hours with no problems at all; the only thing I've done differently is load it on an Aux track rather than an instrument track, and it seems very stable. How are you running it in LE? I wonder if this could possibly make a difference...

[GW]

If you don't want the extras then Independence seems to be up your alley.
Independence is here... (http://www.yellowtools.us/cp21/cms/index.php?id=614)

I run Kontakt wrapped with the VST2RTAS FXpansion, but one of the problems are the CPU-spikes that they REFUSE to do something about - read the Forum.

Yes, one of the best working softwares are Reason 3 and some sounds are great, others less than great...

[Equality 7-2521]

I'm interested in Independence too. It looks very well layed out. Seems not many people are using it yet though. Apparently Independence is much more CPU friendly too.