Soprano sax and other 8Dio winds - buy the Kontakt or Soundpaint version?

I think I said it in another thread, but I'll try to paraphrase my own thoughts here:

Regarding how I'd use the SP/8dio stuff: Kontakt is more suited for MIDI programming. Soundpaint is better suited for for playing/designing/exploring. Which are you trying to do?

For instance, I'd load up the Kontakt Claire Alto Flute if I wanted to program a part with articulation switching and whatnot. I'd load up the equivalent Soundpaint instrument if I want to jam/noodle/sketch or do sound design, without messing with keyswitches or any of that stuff... or if I wanted to see what a hybrid morphed-flute-dulcimer sounds like, etc...

I'm trying to record, using MIDI, and looking for the most realistic sound possible. It sounds like Kontakt may be my best choice.

Soundpaint for playability, although no Keyswitches. I deleted the Tenor for Kontakt though, didn't want to have both versions using space.

I think with the HAL the polyphonic attribute it makes it good for layering and legato playing.

EanS said:

Soundpaint for playability, although no Keyswitches. I deleted the Tenor for Kontakt though, didn't want to have both versions using space.

I think with the HAL the polyphonic attribute it makes it good for layering and legato playing.

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Thanks. I'm looking at primarily realism as my criteria for this instrument. You make a good point about the poly legato, which would be important to me in a brass, string, or choir library.

Scarlet Jerry

EanS said:

Soundpaint for playability, although no Keyswitches. I deleted the Tenor for Kontakt though, didn't want to have both versions using space.

I think with the HAL the polyphonic attribute it makes it good for layering and legato playing.

Click to expand...

The no KS issue will be addressed:



So that being the case I will now go on record and full-on state my preference for the SP version.

I bought a couple SP instruments to gather some experiences with Troels' new favorite toy. As nice as they sound and play I will stick with their Kontakt versions for another while though, mainly because I use key switching quite a bit and really don't feel tempted to waste resources on double versions.
YMMV.

Winds? I only have the tenor saxophone. In my experience, where SP shines, is the transition between dynamic layers. It’s fascinatingly smooth.

The Legado seems smooth, however I don’t have the other version to compare. I don’t recall anyone posting here with evidence that the legato is better or worse in either format.

Key switching and better microphone management I guess it’s supposed to be coming in 2023. But that could be on December 31. If you need to do something before then… I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe.

I think the saxophone is supposed to have some type of portamento style legato transition? I think they called it lazy legato in the salsa library. I couldn’t find it in the SP version. So, it’s possible that the SP version might be missing more than just Mike positions. Maybe some of the articulations as well?

most of my libraries have some implementation which makes it easy to do trills. You hold the first note, then press the second note, and when you lift up the second note the first note plays again. I haven’t found a way to do that in SP. To be fair their kontakt counterparts could not do this. But there is a script which allows you to do this for kontakt I believe. Even instruments in the K6 factory library can do this. I would really like to be wrong about this in SP though.

I am very glad that they have not implemented fancy GUIs with photos of instruments and all that BS. The interface is straightforward and very pleasant to use. I kind of wish all my instruments were in this player.

I think the tenor saxophone has quenched my thirst for the vhorns. What I would personally end up using vhorns for most, can be achieved in SP. The things that can’t, with either, I can do in Broadway Lites.

Just bought the Tenor sax, really like it overall but am slightly annoyed that after a legato transition the note will not loop. If you just play a single not with the legato programs they loop fine, but not after transitioning to another note for some reason. Was this also the case in the Kontakt version?

The velocity controls the type of legato transition I think, if you play forcefully the legato is protamento I believe.

andrewlefevre said:

Was this also the case in the Kontakt version?

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I don't have the tenor but that issue seems to exist in many of their instruments. I purchased "Jenifer" last year during a sale and this is the case (none of the samples loop to begin with, and they're shorter after the legato trans.) Also, I noticed the same thing in the Intimate Winds walkthroughs which is why I didn't get it.

I am noticing some glitchiness with the Soundpaint Tenor Sax Spectralius (using it for live performance in Gig Performer). There is a noticeable delay when I hit the first note (and just moving the mod wheel does not avoid it, it seems you need to actually play a key). If you use mod to increase the dynamics, when I release the note, it hits a note. I also wish the notes held out longer (maybe only an issue when using legato switching). Great potential (and certainly cannot complain about the price, especially during sales), but I wish it worked perfectly.

I any one has suggestions for mitigating this, please post.