Kontakt, Falcon, or Something else?

[cuttime]

I have not seen a single good reason to update to K8. All of my libraries function just fine in K7 and below. I know Kontakt has the largest and best third party selection. I'm wondering if I should be saving my pennies for something else, given the present state of NI. Do you think Falcon is a contender in the long run? Or, do you think the future is company specific players like SINE or Spitfire Player? Have you upgraded to K8, or do you plan to do so? Input, anyone?

[bayswater]

I'm probably the last person to ask. I'm still using Kontakt 5. It does what I need.

Some take it for granted that if there is a new version of a VI it will be better. That was probably true 10 years ago. Things got faster and better, but now, while bugs get fixed, new bugs are introduced. I prefer the stability of an established setup than the time wasted updating for no specific reason, and the subsequent trouble shooting.

I don't think you are likely to be happy with one sample based VI. I usually start with Falcon and that does most of what I want, but for some orchestral sounds I usually bring in Spitfire, Kirk Hunter etc. Same thing with pianos, synths and drums, starting with Falcon and adding IKM VIs and other alternatives.

Another reason I start with Falcon is that I came from the K2000 series and transferring to Falcon's approach was easy. I was baffled by Kontakt and only have it because there are a few niche instruments that need it. If you're used to setting up things in Kontakt, that's the way to go, but maybe with V7 for now.

[Michael Canavan]

I really like Falcon, as a sampler and for UVI libraries, but there isn't half the library support there is for Kontakt. The question begs what you are interested in doing? My personal reasons for owning Kontakt is at this point for the libraries. I'm not interested anymore in using it as a sampler, Falcon is much more fun to use for that. I still will use Kontakt, but mostly for it's libraries. I think there are too many libraries for Kontakt to really go anywhere unless NI go under, which isn't likely. There are arguments that Kontakt is more robust for commercial libraries in terms of scripting etc. which explains why UVI are not known for their orchestral libraries.

[dix]

Until there's a library that I want that requires K8 I'll stick with K7. That's always how it's been with me and Kontakt.

I see no sign that Kontakt is loosing dominance at this point. Quite the opposite. There seems to be more and more interesting libraries coming out in that format all the time. That said, I agree that Falcon is indispensable too, but as a sampler (and Kontakt is virtually useless as one). UVI have a few solid libraries, but only a fraction of what is available in Kontakt format. ...so for now, I can't imagine working without both.

[HCMarkus]

Kontakt here. Playback of sample libraries/instruments only. Audio manipulation for me happens in DP; haven't used a sampler to sample anything for a while. I use MainStage's Simple Sampler for live stuff.

Bought K8 with a coupon I had... it has some solid improvements in the browser which, depending on workflow, may or may not prove handy. (Yes, you can still set it up in Classic View if desired.). 8 is not yet and may never be essential; that depends on library developers' adoption.

[mikehalloran]

Falcon just had an update—major if you ask UVI—that was no charge to Falcon owners,

Unlike Falcon and Kontakt, IK Multimedia's SampleTank 4 is the full-featured sampler/player and always free if looking for a sampler. Download the CS version which includes some libraries.

Paid versions include more libraries but ST4 is the same. When I'd picked up a ton of ST3 libraries at a GC super-sale and they stopped working over macOS Mojave, I downloaded ST4 CS and everything worked again. Here are all 9 free IK CS players, each with content:
https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/i ... r%20Filter

Some of the new libraries require K8. That will force the update, I suppose. No reason I know to do so beforehand.

I had big problems with Native Access (and many other apps but not DP) and Sequoia — problem was Apple (macOS 15.0 hosed all of my Users Permissions). I resolved it, then told Apple how (and they paid me!) and then rolled back to Sonoma (not for the timid but can be done).

I'll post that saga separately.

[HCMarkus]

I had big problems with Native Access (and many other apps but not DP) and Sequoia — problem was Apple (macOS 15.0 hosed all of my Users Permissions). I resolved it, then told Apple how (and they paid me!) and then rolled back to Sonoma (not for the timid but can be done).

I'll post that saga separately.

I look forward to that, Mike!

[cuttime]

Thanks all for the input. I think I'll skip K8 and take a closer look at Falcon. I might reconsider if NI offers a $50 upgrade on their next sale.

[mikehalloran]

Thanks all for the input. I think I'll skip K8 and take a closer look at Falcon. I might reconsider if NI offers a $50 upgrade on their next sale.

I don' know if the current owners of UVI are extending the upgrade price from MachFive that they've offered in the past but it doesn't hurt to email and ask. It's nice that those of us who purchased Falcon 1 now get to enjoy Falcon 3 at no additional charge.

[mikehalloran]

I had big problems with Native Access (and many other apps but not DP) and Sequoia — problem was Apple (macOS 15.0 hosed all of my Users Permissions). I resolved it, then told Apple how (and they paid me!) and then rolled back to Sonoma (not for the timid but can be done).

I'll post that saga separately.

I look forward to that, Mike!

As soon as I finish my final report to Apple, I will edit and post here. "What a loooooong, strange trip it's been."

[HCMarkus]

Thanks all for the input. I think I'll skip K8 and take a closer look at Falcon. I might reconsider if NI offers a $50 upgrade on their next sale.

That's what I did. Got a $50 voucher from NI for removing from my system the Sample Modeling Brass Package I snagged for free due to an NI glitch. What a screw up by NI: They included SM Brass in Komplete Start (free) and it was up for a day or so before they sorted it.

[James Steele]

Thanks all for the input. I think I'll skip K8 and take a closer look at Falcon. I might reconsider if NI offers a $50 upgrade on their next sale.

That's what I did. Got a $50 voucher from NI for removing from my system the Sample Modeling Brass Package I snagged for free due to an NI glitch. What a screw up by NI: They included SM Brass in Komplete Start (free) and it was up for a day or so before they sorted it.

I really do think Falcon is more enjoyable to work with and possibly better, but it's the Beta vs. VHS thing. It seems just way too late in the game for UVI to catch up to Kontakt. Falcon is really nice though.

[James Steele]

Thanks all for the input. I think I'll skip K8 and take a closer look at Falcon. I might reconsider if NI offers a $50 upgrade on their next sale.

BTW... I've posted about this before, but have you owned Mach Five before? I don't know if UVI will still do this, but for quite some time it was possible that if you wrote to UVI and identified yourself as a Mach Five refugee, and asked if there was a crossgrade, they'd often write you back and offer some sort of accommodation. It doesn't hurt to ask.