And Here comes PLAY

[StrangeCat]

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=4556

I know that they no longer are on here yea whatever...This is really interesting not only for the sound but the playability of the samples, is this the future of Samples ? It's almost like the Stradivari when it comes to being able to play the sampels.
Well a lot of people might have not seen this yet so with out further Adoo PLAY
LOL!)(~

[wes37]

I dunno. I just watched the whole video and wasn't impressed with the playability, but then again it must be hard in that environment to play cleanly. The vocal patches, guitar, and bass just didn't sound like they blended properly between notes.

Perhaps this will be a landmark sample engine, but I'll wait hear what users think.

To date, I've been most impressed with the playability of VSL's new engine and Garritan's strad. I also can't wait to hear what Garritan's forthcoming engine will do! I also dig the playability of Trilogy for bass.

[AndrewW]

It seems like the new Garritan engine is similar to the AudioImpression's DVZ technology where you can select an instrument, put it in a virtual space and play as an ensemble. Hopefully Garritan's engine will include many of the features that DVZ offers.

[StrangeCat]

I am totally not impressed that's why I posted it you think I would post this on there forum LOL! I just not impressed with the Legato that's all or voices of passion playing at all either . But Gypsy and Storm Drum2 sound Fantastic!

It does't really strike me as VI style approach.

[EricWatkins]

I'm sure the new libraries will be excellent in many ways. It wouldnt really be fair to try to judge them from the video for many reasons including relatively poor audio, background noise, and trying to perform on nerves stretched taught over months of preperation for this first official unvailing. I will be more interested in what the official demos reveal as far as potential. Other than the Strad and Gofriller, I'm writing off VI's as being super "playable" in realtime. Hopefully things will get better but to me, the truth is that you have to really roll up your sleeves and get down and dirty with cc1,7,11,and others in the edit screens of your sequencer to get things sounding natural and still play to the strengths of your particular libraries. I agree that Voices and the electric guitar dont sound that "playable" to me but I'm sure that they can probably sound phenominal in the right context with a little tlc. Those guys DO make some killer libs over there. I wish them much success with this new wave of libraries. Just my $.02.

Eric :)

[nikolas]

Well new products, new player, new sampler, 64-bit it all sounds miraculous tbh. I mean it is a great new era (:P).

Just that EW is not well known for the playability of their products, No product I know or own is playable realtime. not by a million. Symphonic orchestra, The choirs, Stromdrum, Colossus... Nope. which makes me a little skeptical over the playability of the new libraries. Other developers have their hands and knees on playability (for example the strad is a miracle in playability. One patch, everything with keyswitches and foot controller/mod wheel), but not EW so far.

May this change with PLAY.

Note, I don't have a midi controler or keyboard in my home/studio, so I don't care about playability. Just joining the thread...

[dpasdernick]

Stormdrum2 sounds beautiful. Especially all of the hardcore electronic stuff and the big ensembles. I liked the sound of the bass in Ministry of Rock. The Voices of Passion is where they lost me though. The Bulgarian singer did not sound natural. I hate to say it but it reminded me of Vocaloid. I wonder if these sounds will outdate themselves rather quickly as there seems to be a lot of canned phrases that, once you hear them a few times, will become obvious after a while.

Still it's great to see these guys coming out with new stuff that isn't a rehash of a lot of existing libs out there. Nick Phoenix seems to have a dream job!

2 cents,

Darren

[kstevege]

I think it has potential. However I already have a ton of fine samples such as Acoustik Piano, DIVA collection (Bela D Medai), Lyrical Distortion, Scarbee Bass, etc. and have just barely scratched the surface with what I already have. Plus I have Kontakt 2 with the instrument bank fetaure for my articulartions. Thus I have no real incentive for the newest Play libraries at this time. Can't justify spending more money when what I have is pretty darn good to begin with.

[Jake Johnson]

I liked the sounds of the pianos. I'd have to buy a new computer or hard drive to play them though, if I wanted to use the full installation of 250 gigs.

[germancomponist]

Stormdrum2 sounds beautiful. Especially all of the hardcore electronic stuff and the big ensembles. I liked the sound of the bass in Ministry of Rock. The Voices of Passion is where they lost me though. The Bulgarian singer did not sound natural. I hate to say it but it reminded me of Vocaloid. I wonder if these sounds will outdate themselves rather quickly as there seems to be a lot of canned phrases that, once you hear them a few times, will become obvious after a while.

Still it's great to see these guys coming out with new stuff that isn't a rehash of a lot of existing libs out there. Nick Phoenix seems to have a dream job!

2 cents,

Darren

Hi Darren,

where do you have heared Stormdrum2 ?

I was at Musikmesse in Frankfurt, have listend there but the hearing there was not an "ohhhhhhh" for me... .*()

[dpasdernick]

Hi Darren,

where do you have heared Stormdrum2 ?

I was at Musikmesse in Frankfurt, have listend there but the hearing there was not an "ohhhhhhh" for me... .*()


Just on the Sonicstate video from the above link. I am a big fan of the original Stormdrum and the stuff that Nick was playing in the video sounded cool to me. Of course, I am a drummer, so you've got to deduct a few points for my taste to begin with. ;) Anything that goes bang and scares the cat is music to me!

Darren

[StrangeCat]

I want that midi controller Nick was using !!!! Storm Drum2 will be a must buy. I do love Gypsy too. Piano hmmm I don't know Piano tech is not coming along nicely with piano tech 2. have to see on that one.
Voices of Passion er wtf! LOL! Don't forget when we upgrade all our libs(me that's everything ) we'll have to pay 100 dollars to keep our exsisting K2 versions and use the PLAY engine.
still I think PLAY will really shine when VISTA is worth upgrading and haveing more ram .
but whatever works for ya:samurai:

[germancomponist]

Smile,

I like stormdrum, too.

The Midicontroller Nick was using is very nice, but for me, I have an akai pad-controller, and it makes the same as this (new) handcontroller :-)

Stormdrum is one of the best samplelibrarie for this theme, and I am very interested about stormdrum2.

So, I wait now for more information... . *()

[StrangeCat]

ahh I can't type I ment piano tech is coming along nicely with Pianotech2 the one thing missing the real tone of the piano. It's getting better and better.
But yea that Bos 290 sounds great on PLAY as well. I also hear Nick bought himself a Bos 290.

Storm Drum2 I think we have heard it all in that video. Hey can you take your Akai Pad and string it around your neck and play it like it were drums?

:p

[StrangeCat]

http://www.zendrum.com/
looks like I'll need to buy one these for my drum ethnic libs now...damn that thing is cool this is what Nick was playing with in that video of Kontakt2.
LOL when everyone one on that other forum is pratically wetting there pance over this video I just have to say i am not impressed as that I mean you can get such amazing results with SIPS and Kontakt2 also Bel D Media is doing fantastic Job of creating amazing playable samples in Kontakt2.
Storm drum2 and the Zendrum yea!

[Crossingsound]

I wasn't impressed with the guitar and rock sounds from that quick glance (I am a guitar player), but the violin in gypsy sounded yummy. I have always loved the rich East West sound, and to add some degree of playability will be marvelous. I think Gypsy will be my first purchase from the batch, then Storm drum 2.

[kstevege]

Nick was playing the new CME 88 keyboard controller

http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/products-list-img/product-pics/vx/VX6_front_with_white_background.jpg

[germancomponist]

ahh I can't type I ment piano tech is coming along nicely with Pianotech2 the one thing missing the real tone of the piano. It's getting better and better.
But yea that Bos 290 sounds great on PLAY as well. I also hear Nick bought himself a Bos 290.

Storm Drum2 I think we have heard it all in that video. Hey can you take your Akai Pad and string it around your neck and play it like it were drums?

:p

Smile,

I don`t need that, because life I play guitar, without guitar to midi ;) *()

[Von Richter]

Off topic RE: Zendrum

I want to start a new band... screw traditional bulky drum kits... I just want someone to rock out on one of these puppies.

[Jake Johnson]

StrangeCat:

Do you mean PianoTeq 2? Have you downloaded the demo? I thought the piano sound was very much there.

[dpasdernick]

Off topic RE: Zendrum

I want to start a new band... screw traditional bulky drum kits... I just want someone to rock out on one of these puppies.


I am a drummer and there is something that just doesn't sit right with the Zendrum for me. There is something amazing about watching a dude bang the crap outta a huge drum set. Massive sound from a massive kit. Hanging a chunk 'o wood around your neck with a few drum machine type pads just doesn't cut it for me. Might as well hang an Akai drum machine and tap those pads.

With that said, the Zendrum is a really cool alternate MIDI controller and they do look beautiful. But if a guys gotta rock, better order up the Ludwig Octa-Plus with extra deep power toms and a side of roto-toms and heaping lashings of the circa 1980's colored cymbals. (Don't forget the hairsrap and makeup!)

:)

Darren

[Braindrop]

Off topic RE: Zendrum

I want to start a new band... screw traditional bulky drum kits... I just want someone to rock out on one of these puppies.

Go grab any of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones albums. They not only have the best bassist and banjo players on the planet, but Future Man on the Zendrums.

[Von Richter]

I am a drummer and there is something that just doesn't sit right with the Zendrum for me. There is something amazing about watching a dude bang the crap outta a huge drum set. Massive sound from a massive kit. Hanging a chunk 'o wood around your neck with a few drum machine type pads just doesn't cut it for me.
Darren

I would agree, if you would send me a reliable, non-flaky, real drummer who can actually play and will stick with a band. ;)

[Steve_Karl]

It would have been smart to do this demo film in their new studio.
It's impossible to tell if any of it is any good.

[Steve_Karl]

Off topic RE: Zendrum

I want to start a new band... screw traditional bulky drum kits... I just want someone to rock out on one of these puppies.

My last live situation in a band had 2 different drummers ( not at once... one was with us for a few yrs. and the other took over later ) triggering samples.
No real drums for about 5 yrs.
It was the best sounding band I've ever played in because we could actually hear the monitors and do a great mix right from stage.

[Crossingsound]

It would have been smart to do this demo film in their new studio.
It's impossible to tell if any of it is any good.

This is just a video at a show, they will put out their official demos, and they agree that it is hard to hear it with this video.