KONTAKT Vs. EXS24mkII?

I am getting a G4 with LOGIC PLAT.5 and I wanted to know if I should get EXS24mkII or if I should wait for the release of KONTAKT that is compatible with OSX? I am a little concerned reading some of these posts that are talking about how KONTAKT is having a more difficult time operating on MAC's. What I am looking for here is the positives and negatives of going with each program. Thanks in advance for your advice and input.

 

My words

Well I know Kontakt a bit and EXS24 (not Mk2)..I can truthfully say they are both unique..I would say if you are into heavy sound manipulationa and the
need for these heavy filters,fx and tricks then I would go Kontakt..Kontakt also
is supperior over EXS as it has multi outs and can edit each sample and vol,env,filter etc..per each zone..where as in EXS all global per instrument..For example if you make a drum kit and want to filter a HH or change its release..you can do it in Kontakt where as in EXS it would change all the samples..The Filters in EXS are great but still find Kontakt better..
EXS has better stability and cpu use..and better overall use with logic ..(of course as it is made by Emagic..).. I think overall EXS is more simple to run out of the box..If you are into just playing instruments and sound banks then I would go EXS and Logic..If you are into crazy sample manipulation and need modular routing etc..go Kontakt....If you have spare $ go both..

 

Wrong info

I was playing with the EXS24Mk2 today and honestly can say the overall filters and drive combined are more powerful and realistic to hardware than Kontakt..I also found that the filters,env,vol,bal all can have its own unique parameters in EXS24 as well(I wrote above it was global)..I also tested the 2 VST's using the same sample and env,filter type (24db fat) and in EXS it was not even showing cpu where as in Kontakt it would show about 10% cpu..
My vote now EXS24Mk2..if you have Logic of course..

 

I have to say I really like both samplers. I initially planned to quit using EXS24 after buying Kontakt, but the reality of things made me use both samplers.

I really think Kontakt is good, but it's much easier and far less CPU-consuming to use the EXS24. And also the way that Kontakt handles the files in a PC-manner really makes me annoyed.

The advantage of Kontakt is more flexibility and modulation.

I must say that for now - I choose both. I'm a little disappointed in Kontakt's efficiency. It seems too heavy, and if you try to launch a "Kontakt" sampler on each (audioinstrument in Logic) channel (for full mixer/fader control) it will eat your CPU. Kontakt is intended to be used on 1 audioinstrument, assign midichannels, and make a kontakt-mix and adding it to the whole mix. Just like an old hardware sampler. Personally I think that's a step back from the EXS24 philosophy.

I hope Kontakt soon comes in a more light, easy, Mac-friendly version with the same possiblilties but a different architecture. Are you listening NI?

Sincerely,
Miltersen, Denmark

 

I think it was just ported over

I think most apps..from NI are just ported over from the original PC code.Kontakt was originally made first for PC then they just port the code and same graphics to Mac..Thus the optimization is not good..They are not Mac programmers..This is why the program is sluggish and not as stable as EXS24..Some of the newer apps such as Tracktor OSX however is much better..
there is hope.

 

Hi Miltersen (from another Dane)

I had trouble with the CPU load of Kontakt at first but as you say, using one multi-instrument is far more efficient than using one VSTi instance for each instrument. Where we differ is that in most circumstances there is no need to "do the mix" in Kontakt, at least not in CubaseSX. I use the multiple outputs facitlity and that gives me one mixer channel in the sequencer for each instrument. On rare occasions I "bundle" two instruments on one Kontakt output but that is most often because it makes sense musically, like having a snare and a clap one one channel.

Kind regards,

Soren

 

Yep have to agree with the above. I am a Logic/ESX user but recently started using Kontakt for the simple reason it is 'Multitimbral'. I got sick of having 8 ESX's loaded for a few seperate drum hits and that would also mean an extra 8 tracks (audio Tracks). Add to that the other 8+ I would usually use for synth sounds, drum loops etc and that amounts to 16+ seperate tracks for something that could be done with one (IE Kontakt).

I dont see NI approach as a step backward at all. The very fact that the ESX is not multitimbral is a massive negative point in my opinion. I mean who wants to have 20+ instances of a sampler, not to mention other VI's and all your audio tracks. I have seen me with sessions of 60 tracks which is totally ridiculous. I get completely lost with to much real estate.

While I have to admit the ESX filters are more realistic than Kontakts the later sampler wins easily for the multitude of extra features.