The Update to Where We Are At - Your comments and Questions

[Garritan]

A new update was posted and was made 'sticky' above.

This thread is to address any comments or questions you may have regarding the updates.

Thanks all for your patience.

Gary Garritan

[Garritan]

Here is a repost of the Update to Where We Are At:

Many of you have been patient in waiting for new releases and updates and I thought I would let you know where we're at with various projects. The last Update thread is over 600 posts and some have suggested a new thread be started with just the updates.

GPO and JABB Updates to MacIntel and Kontakt 2 Player...

Native Instruments is finishing their Q A and ready to upload it. We thought they would be online this week but there is a holiday in Germany tomorrow and most people are not in the office Friday, so the latest word is that the updates will be available early next week.

The GPO and JABB Updates have taken much longer than we expected. For those unfamiliar with the saga, here is a brief recount:
Ours simple plan was this: we take GPO and JABB as it was in the original Kontakt Player and put it in the new Kontakt 2 Player, give it to our users as a free download in a reasonable time period, and everything should work and everybody is happy.

It did not work that way. As I posted in the original post (http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/showthread.php?p=494833#post494833) back in November "Of course more player bugs, unexpected surprises or Murphy's Law can destroy these best laid plans." I must be a prophet! The Kontakt 2 Player was late to begin with. When we finally got the Player 2 in our hands, we tested it and it had some problems. Some GPO/JABB features that worked in Kontakt Player 1 did not work in Kontakt Player 2 and critical bugs were discovered that rendered our libraries, in our opinion, unusable. Since the problems were intermittent we had the burden to "reproduce" and prove the bug and this took time. Some problems we were able to script around and some of the more critical problems we had no choice but to wait for NI. Since it is Native Instrument's Player and we license it, it was up to them to fix these bugs. We could not fix it. Back to square one, encoding, testing, bug reports, a few angry customers, waiting, re-testing, reporting, QA, praying, etc. This diverted a good deal of our resources and delayed our other projects.
The good news is that the updates are imminent, according to NI, and will be ready early next week. We hope this will end this long saga and that this struggle will soon be history. Users will have their free updates and we can re-focus our energies on getting out new libraries. We learned a great deal and this knowledge will help when we come out with our upcoming libraries. If we can get throught this we can get through anything.

Concert and Marching Band...

The bug that delayed GPO and JABB also affected Marching Band. There was another problem that surfaced dealing with broken loop points in the Kontakt 2 Player. This has been solved and hopefully we'll release this library late next month/early next.

General MIDI...

This library is just about there. We had to redo some programming since this cannot work in Bandstand as we had originally hoped. We added some additional functionality to get more expressive sounds from general midi. We also hope this will be ready late June/early July if all goes well.

Stradivari, Gofriller,Solo Strings and Orchestral Strings 2...

Strad 2.0r and Gofriller Cello are shipping and working well. We are rethinking our strategy with regards to all of the strings. We don't yet know for sure which changes will come about but will keep you informed when we decide. GOS 2 is coming along quite well. We'll post more information about the strings later.

Steinway Piano...

The Steinway is coming along quite nicely too. We added more beta testers. I am very happy with the engine and performance and believe this will set a new standard in piano libraries. We'll tell you more about the Steinway soon.

GPO Christmas Album 2007...

DP Dan is doing a good job on putting this together this year's community Christmas album. Hopefully we'll have lots of Christmas presents once this current log jam is cleared.


------


We did our best to keep everyone informed every step of the way - letting you know what was happening when it was happening. Do you favor this type of continuous input in light of what has happened? Or would you rather we just say nothing and release when ready? Feel free to start a new thread about this.

That's the latest right now and soon we hope the problems will be history. Thanks again for your patience. Let me know if you have any questions and I will answer what I can.

Gary Garritan

[BenBotkin]

Thanks for the update. :)
I didn't read anything about the drag and drop technology in the update...
Is this going to be incorporated into future Garritan libraries?
Maybe this is all covered ground but I sure didn't pick up on any of it.

[Samantha Penigar]

Does this address any of the issues with the full GPO and Finale 2007?

[LFO]

Gary,
Thanks for the update. My vote is for you to keep up the great communication. I know there are some whiners (there always will be, you can't please everyone all the time) however from what I have read these individuals have no idea how much you put into this community. A high degree of communication is very welcome!

Keep up the good work. The good thing about waiting is that it gives me more time to save up for all the libraries I want to get. :hp:

-Kevin

[aconquija]

Hi Gary,
Will the player that gets released next week also resolve the Strad and Gofriller load speed issues that some of us have been experiencing while using the currently available GPO K2 player? Also, any chance that the tranposition issue with the Gofriller Finale patch will be fixed during this cycle as well?

Thanks for the updates, your candor is rare and much appreciated.
JS

[Garritan]

Thanks for the update. :)
I didn't read anything about the drag and drop technology in the update...
Is this going to be incorporated into future Garritan libraries?
Maybe this is all covered ground but I sure didn't pick up on any of it.Hi Ben,

We are hard at work with the new player. Drag and drop technology will be incorporated in future libraries. I cannot give any exact dates yet since software development operates under Murphy's Law. When we are close I'll let you know.

Gary Garritan

[Garritan]

Does this address any of the issues with the full GPO and Finale 2007?Samantha,
We are working with MakeMusic and NI to address the issues with GPO and Finale. First the Kontakt 2 issues needed to be resolved. Next Human Playback has to be updated. This is being worked on and hopefully will be available as a download soon. I'll follow up with the Finale folks and let you know when I find out more.

Gary Garritan

[Garritan]

Gary,
Thanks for the update. My vote is for you to keep up the great communication. I know there are some whiners (there always will be, you can't please everyone all the time) however from what I have read these individuals have no idea how much you put into this community. A high degree of communication is very welcome!

Keep up the good work. The good thing about waiting is that it gives me more time to save up for all the libraries I want to get. :hp:

-KevinThanks Kevin! It seems some news (even if not good news) is better than no news and silence. I'll do my best to continue communicating.

Thanks for your support!

Best,

Gary

[Garritan]

Hi Gary,
Will the player that gets released next week also resolve the Strad and Gofriller load speed issues that some of us have been experiencing while using the currently available GPO K2 player? Also, any chance that the tranposition issue with the Gofriller Finale patch will be fixed during this cycle as well?

Thanks for the updates, your candor is rare and much appreciated.
JSJS,
The transposition issue is being fixed and a new Human Playback update as well as a Cello update fix will be posted soon. As soon as MakeMusic posts the update we'll post the corresponding nki.

As far as the Gofriller load issue, could you send me an email outlying the specific problem and I will forward to to NI to see if we can find a solution to the problem.


Gary Garritan

[Garritan]

BTW: Probably I'm not entitled to ask those question, but can you give us an "update" what's up to your health, Gary? It's some weeks ago I've read about the pneumonia.

KaiKai,

That was very considerate for you to ask. After a three month bout with the nasty bug, I am fully recovered. With all the computer bugs I've been dealing with, what's a little pnemonia bug? ~|

Thanks for being concerned. This helps more than you know.

Gary

[RobertTewes]

Gary:

Thanks for the continued open communication about the forthcoming releases and causes for the delays. You have been very communicative and I, for one, really appreciate your honesty and integrity. Also, glad to hear you're over your health concerns. Keep up the great work. Your products are a delight to use. Thank you!

Robert Tewes

[engson]

I thought that the new update info would have something to do with integrating Garritan with the new "budget" sequenser from Steinberg...
http://www.steinberg.net/1301_1.html
http://www.sequel-music.net/

*()

[KeithW]

When the bug-free K2 player is finally released, will it break Strad and Gofriller?

Keith W.

[robh]

Oh you cynic, you! :)

Rob

[virtorch]

Gary, thank you for the VERY THOROUGH news on all of the updates. It is apparent to me that you probably work harder and longer than most humans do. You must be exhausted at the end of the day. Thank you for your efforts.

And, yes, I for one appreciate regular news "updates" about updates. :p :)

I think if folks can grasp how the troubleshooting process works, it helps (at least in my case) to foster patience and understanding.

Thanks again.

[virtorch]

Samantha,
We are working with MakeMusic and NI to address the issues with GPO and Finale. First the Kontakt 2 issues needed to be resolved. Next Human Playback has to be updated. This is being worked on and hopefully will be available as a download soon. I'll follow up with the Finale folks and let you know when I find out more.

Gary Garritan

Sorry to chime in again, but I was unaware that we were waiting on a Finale update as well.

So the Human Playback update is independent of the NI K2 update?

If you had to ballpark a percentage of what elements are functioning in the current HPB in Finale 2007, what would you say, 0%, 50%, 75%, etc.?

Just trying to know what to expect to save any frustration when the K2 update is officially released, because I will be using GPO and JABB primarily with Finale 2007.

Thanks.

[Paulumos]

Greetings. Question for Gary or anyone who can answer it...

Will the forthcoming K2-based GPO update be a fully backwards-compatible, "plug and play," transparent transition for projects started with the original GPO? (eg, will I be able to open and use projects that were started with v1 without any losing settings and/or further adjustment?) I'm particularly concerned about the process of moving projects to an intel mac where GPOv1 is not an option.

This isn't always a problem, but I can think of examples specifically from NI. (eg, B4 v2 was not backwards compatible with v1.)

Many thanks!

Paul

[etLux]

https://secure.rxcarecanada.com/drugimages/Bayer%20Aspirin.jpg

[Garritan]

Greetings. Question for Gary or anyone who can answer it...

Will the forthcoming K2-based GPO update be a fully backwards-compatible, "plug and play," transparent transition for projects started with the original GPO? (eg, will I be able to open and use projects that were started with v1 without any losing settings and/or further adjustment?) I'm particularly concerned about the process of moving projects to an intel mac where GPOv1 is not an option.Regretably, and to our surprise, the Kontakt 2 player is not backward compatible.

You can manually rebuild your projects using the new player but it will not automatically playback Kontakt Player 1 projects. Old projects will continue to work with the old player so long as it is not uninstalled. We realize this will be an inconvenience, but it is beyond our control.

etLux, share your aspirin.

Gary Garritan

[etLux]

etLux, share your aspirin.



I stuck 'em out there for everyone because I knew the forthcoming answer... lol.
.

[Robert P]

Sorry to chime in again, but I was unaware that we were waiting on a Finale update as well.

So the Human Playback update is independent of the NI K2 update?

If you had to ballpark a percentage of what elements are functioning in the current HPB in Finale 2007, what would you say, 0%, 50%, 75%, etc.?
Hi there,

Just to let you know that the Human Playback update is ready, in final testing.
The current version of HP you have is working well (99%!) with JABB and GPO (KPL 1.5), the Stradivari and Finale GPO (KPL2). 0% with JABB & GPO (Full) KLP2 and the Gofriller!
The new version is supposedly working 100% with ALL Garritan products!

Best,
RP

[Samantha Penigar]

As always thank you Gary for a quick, professional and sincerely concerned response to our needs. I'm so glad I chose GPO. One of the best features of this forum is that one can post without fear of someone being unfairly critical or disrespectful of anothers opinion.

[Reegs]

Thanks for the update Gary.

Glad to hear things might finally start to chug along for you guys.

Best,
Reegs

[Paulumos]

Regretably, and to our surprise, the Kontakt 2 player is not backward compatible.


Hi Gary.

Thanks for the quick reply.

That sucks, but so it goes. You may have been surprised, but somehow, as someone who has owned NI products since the original Reaktor, I'm not surprised.

I've had the same situation with several other plug-ins that I've updated to facilitate the jump to MacIntel (eg, NI's B4 v2, IK's Amplitube 2, etc.) It's a little tedious, but I'll get over it. Still looking forward to the update.

The aspirin graphic cracked me up. I knew what was coming as soon as I saw that...

Best,

Paul

[Hannes_F]

The good news is that the updates are imminent, according to NI, and will be ready early next week. We hope this will end this long saga and that this struggle will soon be history. Users will have their free updates and we can re-focus our energies on getting out new libraries. We learned a great deal and this knowledge will help when we come out with our upcoming libraries. If we can get throught this we can get through anything.


Hi Gary,

thank you for the update.

Quick question: Will the GPO K2 update include all the controls that the latest version of GPO K1 had? cc 16 for bow noise, cc 17 for vibrato speed, cc 21 for length, cc 24 for brightness and so forth?

Hannes

[Michael_uk]

Hi there,

Just to let you know that the Human Playback update is ready, in final testing.
The current version of HP you have is working well (99%!) with JABB and GPO (KPL 1.5), the Stradivari and Finale GPO (KPL2). 0% with JABB & GPO (Full) KLP2 and the Gofriller!
The new version is supposedly working 100% with ALL Garritan products!

Best,
RP
Hello Robert,

With regard to our previous correspondence, thank you for this encouraging news. Looking forward to working with HP fully again.

[aconquija]

As far as the Gofriller load issue, could you send me an email outlying the specific problem and I will forward to to NI to see if we can find a solution to the problem.


Gary Garritan

Gary, I just sent you a PM you on this. Thanks!
JS

[scientist]

any word on the refill version of gpo? this whole problem with the kontakt update delays is exactly why i hate anything to do with native instruments, and i'd love to have the gpo sounds within an environment that is much more cpu and user friendly. also, is there any word on the what the differences will be between gpo and the limited refill? i checked the main site, but can't find any specific information.
thanks!

[paulsanwald]

gary, I've been waiting for the mactel upgrades to buy JABB. should I go ahead and order a copy now, and then download the upgrade? or will there be a new DVD with kontakt 2 for the mac that I should wait for?

[ozDavo]

any word on the refill version of gpo?

A refill version of GPO? Oh gosh, I guess that means I gotta buy the GPO refillable paper cup first. Or will this be a supported downloadable upgrade to the GPO Happy meal? Will the download be dependant on the original cup size?

Ok, I apologise, I haven't slept much :-)

[dewdman42]

Did GPO Advanced get dropped from the roster or what?

[Markleford]

Did GPO Advanced get dropped from the roster or what?
I took this update to cover things within view, not those still over the horizon. ;)

- m

[KeithW]

No updates today on the NI website. So we keep waiting.

Keith W.

*** UPDATE **** I guess this was one day premature... no more waiting

[germancomponist]

No updates today on the NI website. So we keep waiting.

Keith W.

Oh..., are they overtaxed again...? ;)

[ozDavo]

I've been checking the NI update manager page regularly too. I might even configure this as my browser's home page.

[Nickie Fønshauge]

The JABB KP2.2.2 and GPO KP2.2.2 updates are now available from NI.

[Markleford]

Cool! At least if the player is stable, any fixes to the instruments themselves can be handled by a download direct from Garritan.

- m

[Nickie Fønshauge]

Cool! At least if the player is stable, any fixes to the instruments themselves can be handled by a download direct from Garritan.
Wouldn't that require Kontakt 2.2.2 (to create the fixes with)?

[Markleford]

Wouldn't that require Kontakt 2.2.2 (to create the fixes with)?
Good question. I'm presuming not, at this point: I've opened pre-release 2.2.2 files with 2.2.1 without problem. Sometimes NI doesn't manage to break backward-compatibility between minor revisions! ;) Can't say for sure until I've tried it against this release, though! (just now installed it)

Anyway, I'm sure the full version of Kontakt 2.2.2 is probably not too far behind (or perhaps they're adding more fixes to it for 2.3 or 2.2.3)

- m

[Nickie Fønshauge]

Good question. I'm presuming not, at this point: I've opened pre-release 2.2.2 files with 2.2.1 without problem. Sometimes NI doesn't manage to break backward-compatibility between minor revisions! ;)
Amazing. They didn't break the backwards compatibility. I am able to load JABB KP2.2.2 in Kontakt 2.2.1. :wow:

[Leaf]

The JABB KP2.2.2 and GPO KP2.2.2 updates are now available from NI.Hey, thanks for the heads up, Nickie!:)

Thanks Gary and everyone for keeping us informed and for for working so hard to get this out right, you guys rock!*()

[Jon Bryson]

Samantha,
We are working with MakeMusic and NI to address the issues with GPO and Finale. First the Kontakt 2 issues needed to be resolved. Next Human Playback has to be updated. This is being worked on and hopefully will be available as a download soon. I'll follow up with the Finale folks and let you know when I find out more.

Gary Garritan

This is good news as I have hoped to upgrade to Finale 2007 (finally), but have been a little gunshy based on the reports I have seen.

Thanks for the update!

Jon

[virtorch]

Hi there,

Just to let you know that the Human Playback update is ready, in final testing.
The current version of HP you have is working well (99%!) with JABB and GPO (KPL 1.5), the Stradivari and Finale GPO (KPL2). 0% with JABB & GPO (Full) KLP2 and the Gofriller!
The new version is supposedly working 100% with ALL Garritan products!

Best,
RP

Do you mean the new version of KP2 (i.e., it addresses the Finale HPB GPO & JABB issues), or a new version of HPB yet to be (or already released) from Finale?

I have latest version of Finale 2007 with all latest updates. When will Finale be releasing the update for HPB (if that's what we need), or, again, would the new K2 player that is now available from NI address it?

Thanks for the response. Anyone who can provide clarity on this would be much appreciated.

[Nickie Fønshauge]

Robert is working on a Finale HP update, that should fix the issues with the new KP2 libraries, when you use these in Finale. The GPO/JABB KP2 updates do not in themselves address the HP issues. They only provide the foundation/prerequisite for the upcoming Finale HP update.

[virtorch]

Robert is working on a Finale HP update, that should fix the issues with the new KP2 libraries, when you use these in Finale. The GPO/JABB KP2 updates do not in themselves address the HP issues. They only provide the foundation/prerequisite for the upcoming Finale HP update.

Thank you very much!

Any idea when the HPB update will be available for Finale? June?, July?, 2008?, etc.?

[Nickie Fønshauge]

Thank you very much!

Any idea when the HPB update will be available for Finale? June?, July?, 2008?, etc.?
Robert said "a few days". I wouldn't take that to mean July or 2008.

[luisto]

any word on the refill version of gpo?

Last Gary told us, it's under review by the Propellerheads. Gary, is there any ETA for this? Even if it's a rough date?

[Markleford]

Last Gary told us, it's under review by the Propellerheads. Gary, is there any ETA for this? Even if it's a rough date?
Properllerheads had given it the thumbs-up a few weeks back, actually. Light beta testing was also extremely complimentary.

Otherwise, the current wait will be that it's planned that this ReFill will be the first downloadable Garritan product. There's some IT support to be built around that. If it were actually a physical product, it could've started shipping already!

In the meantime, one more change will slip in: a new choir will replace the one currently included (though perhaps both will be kept for fun?).

As to an ETA? One would hope end of June, but that's only a rough guess depending on how the download/payment mechanism turns out.

- m

[Bob De Celle]

I was able to download and install the new Kontakt 2 player, much to my surprise.
It seems to me, that I read somewhere, that there was a PDF manual dealing specifically with this player. Does one exist? I's way to complicated for me to figure out. Thanks

Bob De Celle

[Markleford]

Hrm, now that you mention it, I can't seem to find PDF documentation for K2P either.

I wonder if NI simply don't have documentation, or if they just forgot to add it to the installer!

- m

[germancomponist]

I was able to download and install the new Kontakt 2 player, much to my surprise.
It seems to me, that I read somewhere, that there was a PDF manual dealing specifically with this player. Does one exist? I's way to complicated for me to figure out. Thanks

Bob De Celle

Wen you are at the downloadpage from NI, right beside that download link is another link with some download- and installinformation... .

[Markleford]

Wen you are at the downloadpage from NI, right beside that download link is another link with some download- and installinformation... .
Well, there is install information, but not an operator manual for K2P that tells of more complex tasks such as multi-output configuration and loading convolution reverb IRs.

At least not that I've found!

- m

[KeithW]

Well, there is install information, but not an operator manual for K2P that tells of more complex tasks such as multi-output configuration and loading convolution reverb IRs.

At least not that I've found!

- m
It would be nice to have the Operations Manual. Does anybody know if there is one or whether we just haven't found it yet?

Thanks.
Keith Walls

[germancomponist]

Well, there is install information, but not an operator manual for K2P that tells of more complex tasks such as multi-output configuration and loading convolution reverb IRs.

At least not that I've found!

- m

Oh,

Bob, Keith and Mark, you can find this PDF in the installed folder GPO library/documentation... .;)

My best,

Gunther

[Tom Hopkins]

Gunther is correct. And for JABB it should be in Garritan Jazz and Big Band Library/Documentation

Tom

[Bob De Celle]

The only PDF file I have in JABB is the jazz manual, unless I'm missing something.

[Markleford]

Aha, I wasn't expecting "Garritan Jazz Big Band Library\Documentation\JABB Manual.pdf" to have so much specific stuff in K2P itself, so I was looking in the K2P program directories instead! :p

- m

[Bob De Celle]

Found it Tom. All I had to do was look. thanks.

Bob De Celle

[germancomponist]

Aha, I wasn't expecting "Garritan Jazz Big Band Library\Documentation\JABB Manual.pdf" to have so much specific stuff in K2P itself, so I was looking in the K2P program directories instead! :p

- m

Mark,

smile, I have a lot libraries whish came with KP2, and the job for an operator manual is always done by the developer from the libraries... ;)

[germancomponist]

Gunther is correct. And for JABB it should be in Garritan Jazz and Big Band Library/Documentation

Tom

Tom,

thank you for the deep "D- Note" played by the bass in JABB now! )(~ )(~ )(~


Tom, I have a question to you:

I am recording a very nice music with the new JABB KP2. I use cubase 4.

When I open cubase 4 and load the latest number of this song, it loads all instruments and so on......, which I am using in this song.

But, one instrument, the drums, have always the volume set to 0, and I have to adjust it... .

Is this a bug from NI or from Steinberg? What do you mean?

My best,

Gunther

[KeithW]

Gunther is correct. And for JABB it should be in Garritan Jazz and Big Band Library/Documentation

Tom

Thanks, Tom. I was wondering if there was an "advanced" K2P manual available to cover some of the more esoteric capabilities beyond what's in the GPO and JABB manuals?

Keith Walls

[luisto]

Otherwise, the current wait will be that it's planned that this ReFill will be the first downloadable Garritan product. There's some IT support to be built around that. If it were actually a physical product, it could've started shipping already!

As to an ETA? One would hope end of June, but that's only a rough guess depending on how the download/payment mechanism turns out.

- m

Markleford, thanks! Two quick questions:


Are there any updated demos you can post? Since the NNXT is not as powerfull as Kontakt, we understood the instruments would be a bit less flexible than full GPO. It'd be nice to hear the Refill in action. A demo was posted last year... anything new?
Since you will have control over the distribution, do you know if there will be some kind of special pricing for current full GPO owners?Luis

[ak1984]

Hi, I was wondering if someone could kindly give me a tutorial on how to set up the new GPO K2 Player to work with Sibelius 5 (Universal binary) on an Intel Mac. Thanks!

[Tony Monaghan]

Markleford, thanks! Two quick questions:

Are there any updated demos you can post? Since the NNXT is not as powerfull as Kontakt, we understood the instruments would be a bit less flexible than full GPO. It'd be nice to hear the Refill in action. A demo was posted last year... anything new?
Since you will have control over the distribution, do you know if there will be some kind of special pricing for current full GPO owners?Luis

Here's a wee tune I did using the GPO Refill beta. The Kyrie from Bach's Mass in Bm (somewhat jazzed up). Uses XT's with flute, clarinet, harpsichord, pizzicato bass. Reverb is one of the combinator presets included with the refill.

http://www.monaghan.tv/kyriegpo.mp3

[truckermusic]

Gary
thank you for posting the information about the updates. keeping us in the loop seems to make it easier to understand even if it is not what we want to hear.
I feel that it shows a lot of respect to your clients (us). Thank you......

Lastly, all these updates that are to be released next week that you are talking about....do they include the update to release the GPO Sibelius EDition into becoming a stand alone version of GPO.......!!!!!!!!!!???????????:(

Thanks
Cliff