$149 for what? Vista compatibility?

Dynamitec,

Thanks for the detailed reply. It does ease some of my concerns if simply for the streamlining and stability issues

The skepticism behind alot of updates, is that it's just candy. And we all know candy is just empty calories Seriously, I don't need a bigger library. As it leads off the list of improvements, it's almost a turn-off for me. Excuse my pessimistic attitude, and I hope I'm wrong on this, but it seems like when companies throw us a bone like a huge library, it's a way of to justify all the shortcomings. When it's all said and done, it's something they can fall back on. It's happened before. I know it seems ungrateful, and maybe it is to a degree, but I will buy for streamlining and stability. My money is hard-earned. I don't have time to work through bugs or deal with a convoluted piece of software. I don't mind paying for updates/upgrades if there is significant improvements, and improvements work as advertised. The folks at NI are entitled to make a living, and I'd love to support them, believe me. But, at the moment, I'm lurking, keeping my eye on things, 'cause I'm not parting with any cash until I see more positive things such as posted by yourself.

Regards

 

What do you define as candy?
Except for the big library, I think all the added features are anything but.
I believe that so many people are discontent (the non pro users), because there is not enough candy! (more FX, Filters, etc..).

 

Well, I hope you're right. The library is the big thing in reference to 'candy'. My wish is that they'd skip/limit the library and use that R&D $$ on functionality and stability. I'm going to wait and hope that the features deliver. Keep us posted

 

I don't know about the stability, but as far as functionality is concerned, I think, R&D has done exactly what you wanted

Have you checked out the video's?

 

When I opened this post I thought "God, did I just knee jerk order this upgrade", which is something I've done I the past. New,More,Better.....Want, not questioning the need or usability for my circumstance.
So I looked at the video tutorials again. This upgrade looks super.
The zone envelope is almost worth the price.
The new search engine will make doing my work that much easier. (the K2 search engine is lacking...badly)

K2 has been the most valuable VI of all my the stuff I own. My job would be torturous without it.

If this thing works as stated by NI, it's a good buy.

So, thanks for the skepticism.

 

Until i here K3 is stable i will not be upgrading. Kontakt 2 is the most unstable audio plug-in i have under XP so why should i upgrade to continue the nightmare? I think K2 is fantastic when it works but simple editing is enough to crash my host when K2 feels a bit upset (this is not hard to do)

Sorry to see they have still kept the SAP style interface. To me this interface is awkward, cumbersome & illogical.

Sounds like they have re-jigged the front panel, slapped a K3 sticker on it, then wait for the money to roll in.

 

Hi Voyager360,

i find such comments unfair, particularly without looking into depth of what has changed in Kontakt 3.

But now back again to the old topic:

i thought a little bit about the 64bit issue we discussed.
Maybe i should add that i really would like to see Kontakt in 64bit, too. Don't get me wrong! But on the other hand: 64bit often means a complete rewrite of most parts from the scratch. This means: it costs A LOT of time.
So i ask: what do you want? The features which has been requested for so long (Like sample offset in DFD mode? Raised zone limit? Automapping?) plus a lot of bugfixes *now* or this features + 64bit in two years? Do you see my point?

So i'm glad that there is Kontakt 3 which has a lot of new additions i was waiting for so long. This shortens the time to wait for the next major update

Btw. i don't think that NI is ignoring that 64bit is coming. But i think it just wasn't possible to do with Kontakt 3 in the given time. Let's hope for Kontakt 4 *with* 64bit support. And till then *i* prefer using a much improved Kontakt 3 over Kontakt 2.

Another point is the interface: i *fully* agree that the interface should be resizeable! Personally i would prefer a standard UI, so everything looks like i'm used to (like the operating system). But as you can see in this thread: people think different when it comes to this issue. One would like a more graphical interface, another a interface as simple and textbased as possible. So i can understand NI: they want to stand out from the crowd of plugins / interfaces. And they managed it - but i don't think the result is optimal. The best thing would be: a graphical interface which looks cool but is switchable to a textbased standard UI interface.

Best,
Benjamin

 

regarding the pricetag of 149.- €: i think the message is clear.
having had komplete4, i was able to upgrade to K5 for only 199.-€, including massive, kontakt3 and guitarrig3.
what NI is probaly saying is "get komplete". with the new kompletepacks you also have the change to get komplete in steps. and when you finally are "kompleted", you will give them 199€ every year for the newest komplete update and have it all which then is pure bargain for sure. and easier calculation for NI.

 

What I want? I want a pledge from NI, that Kontakt 4 is definitely going to be x64, that they have already started working on it or will do so in the near future and that it will be released within a two year timeframe (I realise that x64 means a complete rewrite). If that is the case, then I can accept the fact, that this minor upgrade at a regular upgrade price pays the costs to develop K4. That's what I want.

And btw, bug fixes should never have to be paid for.

 

Another thought about the RAM issue: let's say you have a 64 Bit OS with 16GB RAM. Would it be possible to create a RAM-Disk if Kontakt 3 would support cashing the DFD memory to this RAM-Disk? I mean: for Kontakt it would look like a hard disk (so no complete rewrite would be needed) but it could load more than 2GB samples (or DFD offset)?

 

Hi Nickie,

yeees, i completely agree!

But: if you are going to develop a new major version which is based on an older version, there is one point where you have to stop bugfixing the old versions. Otherwise you would increase the number of versions you have to work on with every new release.

Btw: I don't like this, too! But it seems it is the way to go in this business.

I still can remeber how angry i was when Steinberg told the Cubase SX 3 user that there won't be another update anymore (and there were a lot of unfixed bugs!)

Best,
Benjamin

 

Yes, Benjamin, when all bugs in the old version have been fixed, because that is what you payed for, when you bought the old version: A bug free program.

Unfortunately, among software developers, this kind of business ethics is rather Utopian.

 

Same with Finale. MakeMusic would scare the **** out of people, if they ever manage to fix all bugs in a version before they release the next version.

 

I can’t believe that we Producers and Musicians actually take it?


If the “Music Plugins” Industry and “DAW” Industry was in example the “Car Industry” or Car manufactories they all had been dead; and run over twice; years ago!





The Funny Car Example!


You purchase a complete new car but just after 2 weeks the stick fall off? You return the car to the dealer!
You say: This strange thing happens? After only 2 weeks with my new car the stick just fall off? I just drove my new car?


The Dealer says: Sir, we can fix that with a new update of your car!
You said: Thanks, that’s great, now the stick actually works again!




But after nearly 3 weeks later, this time the wheels fall off! What?
You return your car to your dealer to get it fixed again but this time the dealer says:



The Dealer says: I’m very sorry Sir, We can’t fix your car anymore because the manufactory has sees with there updates of you car. But Sir, you can always purchase a new car instead?
Sir, try this one instead. Look here; it has a better stick and has better wheels too, then the last car you purchased.

The Dealer says: Sir, and remember; if you purchase it NOW you can get a 40% discount on the price if you return the old car to us, like an update of your old car!





You said: That car seems to be a really great deal though! 40 % discount on price, yeah; I really need new car because the last one broke down, so let’s do the paper works.





You purchase the new car and drive away, but just after 2 weeks later; guess what?
The “Story” repeats itself as always; the stick fall off, AGAIN!



Hope you all get the point! :lol:


The Best Regards
Freddie

 

My above comment is still valid (if a little harsh, but i am annoyed at this situation & the way K2 users have been treated). There is nothing wrong with the functionality of Kontakt 2 in principle. I believe that rather than re-jigging K2 into a new product, they should concentrate on making K2 work as it was designed to. I am outside of the grace-period for upgrading but this doesn't make my K2 bugs any less valid than someone who is.

K3 obviously means there will be no more updates for K2 meaning upgrading is the only option to follow to beat the bugs. Who's to say upgrading will fix anything? Only time will tell if K3 will be stable enough to use with confidence. I would upgrade without a second's hesitation if i knew K3 was stable, but until i find this out, i'm sticking with K2.

The new huge library & features are not something i am seeking at this time....

Stability is my only requirement.

 

Speaking of the interface, did you noticed the new monitor view? Looks like this feature will improve things.

I also really like the idea that the data base will automatically up date. No more rebuild!

Zone envelopes etc.. There seem to be some nice new feature in there.

 

what I would really like is for an option to buy just a downloadable upgrade to kontakt 3 without all the library stuff. for a more reasonable price than the current upgrade.

let's face it, many of us buy specific libraries to fill their sample needs. Last thing they need is another universal library forced onto them (it's fine for people who want it, of course). There really should be an option here.

but I'm aware that will probably never happen, cause NI has an interest in forcing everyone to pay the full price, even if they don't want all the bloatware.

so I guess I'll just stick with kontakt 2. I'm tired of upgrading just for the sake of it (I've done way too much of that already to get more new features etc. that I don't really need. of course what I would need would be a bug-free version, but where's the money in that...).

 

i don´t think that a "barebone" kontakt without a library would be any cheaper: i see the library as a teaser / advertisement for the complete libraries of the respective developers

a 33 GB library (18GB "new" content) alone would be "worth" more than the 130 euros which NI is asking for

 

a library's worth depends on whether you actually want it. and keep in mind it's not a specialised library, but more a jack of all trades. many people end up using specialised libraries, so the jack of all trades thing to them is just a waste of hd space. of course more sounds are always nice. but not if you're forced to pay for them if you want a sampler update...

 

yes, i actually meant that the included library basically is advertisement stuff from the library developers, thus more or less free for Native Instruments; which wouldnt make a barebone Kontakt any cheaper - unless they want to drop the price of the product anyway:
sort of the way that you probably wouldn´t get your sound card any cheaper, even if they removed Live Light, Cubase SE, Reason Adapted, etc. from the bundles


but maybe i´m wrong with that assumption