Play > Kontakt 3 compared

[topaz]

What are we actually getting extra in play that we do not have already in kontakt 3.

it would be great if there was some kind of list showing exactly what the advantage is upgrading to play.


as of now I am not convinced the price of £77 for the play upgade is totally justified.

[persentio]

It's all written on the product page:

New Features:
Four versions available:EWQLSO PLATINUM COMPLETE PLUS 24-BIT AND 16-BIT (194GB)EWQLSO PLATINUM COMPLETE 24-BIT (117GB)EWQLSO GOLD COMPLETE 16-BIT (33GB)EWQLSO SILVER COMPLETE 16-BIT (11GB)

64-bit* with 32-bit compatibility PC (*see system specifications)

Full memory access MAC (requires 64-bit MAC)

Mac Intel compatible

Intuitive custom interface

Intelligent Performance section including Portamento, Repetition, Legato, Round Robin Reset

Improved articulation window and controls

On screen mic position mixing (Platinum and Platinum Plus only)

Switch able 24-bit/16-bit depth (Platinum Plus only)

State of the art Convolution Reverb with pre-delay and additional Master control to route reverb to all instruments in an instance

Convolution includes hall orchestra was recorded in for additional control of hall ambience

Intelligent release trail engine that follows the note-on samples volume at all times, so release trails always match

Release trails unaffected by mod-wheel cross-fade programs, radical mod-wheel movements do not degrade release trails

Recall custom key-switches instantly

Key-switch sizes now unlimited

Improved sound quality with high-resolution audio engine

Hi fidelity one pole filter for natural cross-fades

Stereo image editing now possible using channel sourcing

Licenses included to install each section on multiple computers (Platinum and Platinum Plus, ilok required for each computer)Original and Pro XP expansion combined into "complete" PLAY version

Silver to Gold to Platinum to Platinum Plus compatibility streamlined

Completely re-programmed for PLAY from the original recordings

[topaz]

indeed it is, but what are the REAL advantages of upgrading to play asside 64 bit (I assume kontakt will be some time) what are the major things that make the upgrade shine over the kontakt engine.

more than a copy/paste reply would be cool from someone.

Originally Posted by persentio

It's all written on the product page:

[teraslasch]

the PLAY engine includes great convolution reverb, including impulses from all thee east west studios and halls etc. great adt effect, stereo sourcing, delay. More efficient handling of the samples both in terms of the computer's resource and the way it is loaded, play plus includes 16 bit samples. looks much better than kontakt. 64 bit, etc, and great support from the east west team which is not subjected to NI's updates anymore in the future. on a whole, it is a must-have investment for me, if u don't really see the need to get the benefits from this all new great engine from east west, then don't get it.

[teraslasch]

by the way, the copy and paste example pasted included all the benefits you get from play. so which point is it that you don't understand?.

one point to add on. NI's suupport is horrendous. sry.

[topaz]

I have to say that NI's support has never been a problem for me, the convolution in kontakt is fantastic.


I still do not see what REAL advantages there are in the list, this is not to say I will not get the new engine I was just asking what makes it so much better than kontakt.

of course unless you are a beta tester all mentioned is pure speculation that things will be so much better, having no release canditate to test it can be no other way.

Originally Posted by teraslasch

by the way, the copy and paste example pasted included all the benefits you get from play. so which point is it that you don't understand?.

one point to add on. NI's suupport is horrendous. sry.

[topaz]

well it is time to bump this old thread, it seems that play does no handle resources as well as kontakt3, play is actually using about 20 to 40 % more cpu with the same sounds loaded.

hopefully the coders can fix this problem.

Originally Posted by teraslasch

More efficient handling of the samples both in terms of the computer's resource and the way it is loaded.

[johng]

Then don't buy it. Wait to pay for a 64 bit version of Kontakt. Then you can be their beta tester instead.

I'm upgrading now because it's 64 bit right now, I don't use scripting or much editing in Kontakt, and PLAY has worked very well for me on the libraries I've bought. And it's only $99 -- I'd pay that for 64 bit, to upgrade the scripts so that the legato is improved, and generally get a face-lift of the samples I use every day.

[topaz]

I wonder how I could of worded this without provoking

"the don't buy it" replies.

I guess internet forums are not the best place to ask pre-sales questions.


actually it's not $99 it would be if a shop purchase was possible, make that nearer to $160 inc TAX and p+p

[persentio]

Its not a provocation really... Just a simple answer: Don't buy it if you don't think its worth it. All the perks of upgrading have already been listed to you. If you want a personal judgement of PLAY, its best that you get to test it out for yourself since preferences are subjective. There's a PLAY trial pack you can get for a cheap fee to test out the engine and what some libraries sound like. (unfortunately not for SO though. But at least you get to compare the GUIs and Reverb.)