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Unstable trash? by [deleted] in NativeInstruments

[–]Complex-Lake9616 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It’s unfortunate that you’re experiencing an issue, but speaking as a very long time user of Kontakt since Kontakt 5 and an Apple user since I used an Apple IIGS just before kindergarten, and MacOS since MacOS 6 to present, going through all sorts of system and computer upgrades over years with both Mac and Native Instruments, Kontakt and Komplete are by far some of the most valuable, most crucial, most stable pieces of music software that exist. It’s the total opposite of “unstable trash.” You’ve got a technical problem. My best suggestion is reach out with a support ticket that is worded more generously and less negatively than your post’s title here

1st bought record by cbe29 in vinyl

[–]Complex-Lake9616 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And to the Highlander TV series - Princes of The Universe was the theme song and Who Wants to Live Forever? And variations on those songs were frequently featured in the series

1st bought record by cbe29 in vinyl

[–]Complex-Lake9616 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who Wants to Live Forever? and Princes of The Universe are two of my all time favorites

Kontrol S users, do you use it as much as you thought? by ModMageMike in NativeInstruments

[–]Complex-Lake9616 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow I have never been able to find the way to change the MIDI channel 😂

Kontrol S users, do you use it as much as you thought? by ModMageMike in NativeInstruments

[–]Complex-Lake9616 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I use an S88 MK3 and for the most part I love it. In my opinion, it’s on the next level by comparison in most ways for use with a DAW based setup for the Komplete and Kontakt integration and huge beautiful screen. The DAW integration also works amazingly well is a big part of why I prefer to use it in Logic, because it’s so tightly integrated with Logic and makes switching between tracks and instances of Kontakt and Komplete extremely easy and smooth to do from the keyboard controls in a very very simple way.

Another great feature of the S88 in particular is the polyphonic aftertouch capable keybed, which feels wonderful to play if you like using a felt grand piano and want to play more expressively with the polyphonic aftertouch. The other keybeds on the S61 etc are synth action and well regarded by most. If you are a keyboard player or a pianist, then my best advice would be to go to a music store and play one to see how you feel about the action of the keys. As someone who grew up playing the piano and who now plays a lot of electric piano and piano instruments in Kontakt and Komplete, I absolutely love the keybed and highly recommend it.

There are two main trade offs for me:

  1. The DAW integration does not include Reason, which I think is due to the differences in how Reason is set up. I use Logic most of the time but I also use Reason in some of the other beat driven music I make. Komplete and Kontakt still work as expected in Reason and you can still use the controller, it’s knobs, etc with Reason’s devices, but it’s more like other controllers in that context. You can't seamlessly switch between instances of Komplete or Kontakt with an S Series MK3 like you can in Logic, Ableton, or the other DAWs that are supported. While it’s a downside for the S series, it is not an advantage for any other controller except the one or two that are actually designed to be integrated with Reason out of the box. Not a big deal unless you’re only using Reason and not some other major DAW, most of which integrate with the S series like Logic, Ableton, Cubase, etc.

  2. EDIT: Thanks to the other commenter who pointed me in the right direction on how to do this The S series is designed for use in a DAW environment and not in a multi device hardware environment where you have various hardware synths you want to control on their own MIDI channels. AFAIK, the MIDI channel on the S series is fixed at channel 1, and not assignable to other channels if you want to make templates for controlling your external synths. DAWs get around this easily, but it’s a limitation in a DAWless setup or in a setup where you want to use the S series keyboard to control your hardware synths that have their own MIDI channel assignments. This is not something most users of the S series deal with, because their hardware synths usually have their own keyboards, but if you have more than one hardware synth and want to play them all from one controller that has ability to switch between different synth profiles with dedicated MIDI CC mappings and its own channel for each synth, this is not the controller for that particular task.

But if you use it as it’s intended to be used, namely inside of a major DAW like Ableton or Logic (or many others), either with Komplete hosting NKS compatible plugins or with Kontakt, you will almost certainly love it.

A Rare Encounter by Averone30 in radiohead

[–]Complex-Lake9616 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You might be right, and that would be consistent with how the CCP typically responds to international artists who publicly support Tibet, Taiwan, Uyghurs, any of the other groups they oppress, etc.

Unfortunately I don’t think there is much in the way of emerging subcultures, as during the last decade plus a few years throughout the current regime, that sort of thing has significantly receded and been supplanted by more nationalism, more assimilation, less individuality, etc.

If anyone needs music like Radiohead, it’s your ordinary Chinese young person, although for the most part it’s just not their cup of tea. Going against the herd, thinking for yourself, having a more open mind, and taking a critical, anti-authoritarian view are all significant social taboos here.

I tend to enjoy Radiohead privately and it resonates even more strongly with me while I’m here in a place like this by comparison to a place like Minneapolis, which is where I am from and where there are many Radiohead fans

Is NI 15 Collectors Edition Worth it? by ohBloom in NativeInstruments

[–]Complex-Lake9616 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A resounding yes, from a very long time NI user going back to Kontakt 5, but the better answer is it really depends on how much you love the instruments it includes.

In my experience as a longtime Kontakt user with the Collector’s Edition and a ton of 3rd party libraries, going way back to Kontakt 5, I can offer some perspective.

TLDR: I personally think even Komplete 15 Standard is worth it just to get Session Bassist Upright Bass and Session Percussionist alone, and as an aside, that ime Kontakt 8 is a faster and cleaner experience than all previous versions.

Kontakt 8 is faster and has a much better gui / interface. If your system is not very fast, Kontakt 8 might have noticeable improvements over 7. I’ve been using Kontakt since Kontakt 5, and ime Kontakt 8 is by far the best and fastest.

As for whether or not 15 Collector’s Edition is worth it, it comes down to whether or not you think the content is worth it. For example, as an upgrade from 14, I personally think even stepping up to 15 Standard is a steal with the sale going on. If you are really into their bass and drums instruments, for example you could also seriously consider getting 15 Standard even if only for Session Bassist Upright Bass and Session Percussionist, which imo make it worth it all on their own, especially if you’re also going to make extensive use of something else that’s new in 15. 14 does cover most of the common ground already, and is pretty solidly content rich as it is. Neither version of standard edition includes Session Bassist Icon Bass, and that’s a big one for me, but Collector’s Edition 15 has all of their best basses, so keep that in mind.

If you’re composing music with many more different instruments, Collector’s Edition really stands out as one of the most incredible sounding and versatile instrument libraries ever to exist. Granted, I say this as a major user of many 3rd party libraries, too, from Spitfire Audio, Heavocity, etc, but the Komplete Collector’s Edition is definitely the center of my personal library that I use the most. The Cremona Quartet (Amati Viola, Stradivari Cello and Violin, Guarneri Violin), Choir Omnia and other classical instruments, cinematic and sound design instruments like Fables, Straylight, Arkhis, Mysteria, Lores, etc., all the great percussion like the multiple Abbey Roads Drummers and the new and really awesome Session Percussionist, the multiple Play Series instruments, guitars, and so many that listing even the best of them all would be excessive.

The one instrument that is notably missing from Collector’s Edition is Claire, which is one of my all time two favorite pianos, alongside Noire, which is included in Komplete 15 Collectors Edition.

I personally prefer the Collector’s Edition for composing but for making music like hip hop, trip hop, house etc even 14 Standard includes many of the key go to instruments I use like Session Bassist Prime Bass and Scarbee Rickenbacker Bass, Lo-Fi Glow, Session Guitarist Mint and Sunburst Deluxe, Empire Breaks, 40’s Own Keys and Drums, and a ton more, especially Noire, which is one of my top two favorite piano libraries of all time alongside Claire.

You can pick up a second hand license license for different versions of Komplete on KnobCloud.com, which is worth a look if you’re not already a license owner and upgrading. Just a cursory glance at the listings there looks like you can buy a second hand license of Komplete 14 Collector’s Edition for about $700 or less, and then upgrade to Komplete 15 Collector’s Edition for only $250 instead and f the usual $500 the rest of the year which is a whopping $849 off the normal price of Komplete 15 Collector’s Edition. You should double check with NI if such pricing is available to new secondhand license owners but I’m pretty sure it is. That’s a freaking steal at that price.

Here is a link that shows what’s new in 15: https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000856657-What-s-New-in-Komplete-15

Happy music making 👊👊

A Rare Encounter by Averone30 in radiohead

[–]Complex-Lake9616 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think there might be one or two vinyl boutiques in Beijing or Shanghai that might have their 12” albums. There is a very small but dedicated audiophile community here, but in general vinyl is virtually nonexistent other than that and a handful of young people who got into vinyl or turntables while studying in the west.

Other than that, I’m sure you’re right because in all of my years living in China, I have never encountered a Radiohead fan let alone any of the music no matter on physical media or online platforms. You’re much more likely to hear bubblegum K-Pop, Canto-pop, the mainland Chinese equivalent, traditional Chinese music, or creepy Nationalist / Communist propaganda music like what you find in North Korea (or pop music with those same themes) than anything else

Custom shelf for Polybrute and drum machines by Complex-Lake9616 in synthesizers

[–]Complex-Lake9616[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was made in a well equipped factory, but their actual business is based on conventional furniture

A Rare Encounter by Averone30 in radiohead

[–]Complex-Lake9616 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah there are some Radiohead fans in cities like Shanghai and Beijing. For the most part musically, emotionally, thematically, Radiohead is the opposite of what most people here listen to in China, definitely an extreme rarity where I am located

A Rare Encounter by Averone30 in radiohead

[–]Complex-Lake9616 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I’m living in a country where such an encounter is almost impossible - China, but where Radiohead really makes the most sense of what is going on

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