IK Multimedia Total Studio 3

IK Multimedia Total Studio 3 Bundle comes loaded with 5 virtual synths and 3 effects suites. There are about 20 thousand total sounds with this bundle and over a 150 effects. If you are looking for a total instrument and effects bundle this is the one to buy. It cost less than 400 dollars and for all that you get it could easily cost over 500 like some of the other bundles online. You will get Sample Tron, Sample Moog, Sonic Synth 2, AmpliTube 3 and a few other plug ins when you purchase this bundle.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I ran Total Studio 3 on my PC running Vista but you can run it on just about any system as long as you have a faster processor and at least 1GB of RAM.

OVERALL OPINION

My favorite plug in out of the set is Sonik Synth 2, you can purchase Sonik Synth 2 alone for almost the same price as this whole bundle and that is why it is such a deal. Sonik Synth 2 has some great presets and I use them in almost every single song that I make. Sonik Synth 2 has kind of become like my go too synth.
Setting up the Total Studio 3 Bundle was easy, it just took a long time because it is loading so much stuff. I would choose this bundle over any other VST bundle except for Komplete 8 bundle. I have also used the Total Workstation XL from IK Multimedia and it is very good as well. IK Multimedia has come out with some great plug ins and workstations over the years and this bundle has never gave me any issues with freezing or crashing on my computer. I I highly recommend this bundle especially if you are just starting out and need a good set of sounds that are affordable to start with and build off of.

Total Bundle for Mac and PC 32 and 64bit, includes:
Sound-banks: general (tank sample and xtansion), moog, mellotron, orchestra (Miroslav) synth / organ / electric piano (SonicSynth)
A-amp emulation / pedal / guitar cabinet
-Compressor / éqaliseur / limiter / Esser classic and vintage T-rack
-A reverb

The installation CD is still a little long, given the 8 DVD and the registration procedure requires internet access, but no ilok key

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

This result is now a little old demand quite a few resources, both for its banks, the compressor and even reverb.
In addition, it is very stable

OVERALL OPINION

This suite contains everything you need for a musician who wants to start in computer music, either PC or Mac.
It is aimed at those who want a large bank of sound without having to program synths. This result thus differs from Native Komplete offering its banks, many synth, a guitar amp emulation tools but no mix / mastering
Sound banks are all based on the virtual sampler SampleTank, which is pretty easy to use, offering a list of banks to use in 16 layers / midi channels max (so we can stack multiple sounds on the same channel). Then we can apply the types synth effects (envelope, filter cutoff, resonance), a drive, a multi-effects (chorus / delay / ...), reverb, volume for each bank ...
I find it good, but it is a choua below Kontak.
Side quality of banks: they are generally light weight (especially SampleTank banks), but well made, very musical and usable.
In xtension, acoustic pianos, string, acoustic bass and drums as well as kinematic banks can be found, bass guitars and acoustic drums are able, acoustic pianos are used in a mix but not enough to solo (1 point for komplete)
In SampleMoog, banks are successful and very usable even if they do not sweat.
SampleTron in idem; except loop points often poorly positioned. I could not compare with the M-Tron.
In SonicSynth, electric pianos, organ and vintage synth (Oberheim, ...) are very successful, sometimes duplicate with Moog / Mellotron / Xtension (Sample vs komplete slight advantage for me)
In Miroslav, a first reference samplers, superb orchestral sounds can be found for a featherweight, which is the same technically outdated compared to the purely musical aspect.
Finally, electric pianos, organ, vintage synths, bass guitars and acoustic drums are widely as well as Komplete, which outweighs the other acoustic sounds as well as modern synth, almost nonexistent.

Next simulation guitar, Amplitube 3 turns really well and has a nice clean crunch. If Guitar Rig effects of good bills, its simulation lack of heat (such as its synth I think). I do not know other paid solutions. Compared to vst free, it is not obvious because the community is now offering free well expanded and offers a lot of quality simulation (to complete with cabinet simulation)

T-Rack has good presets and is very efficasse an insert on a track, and the series "vintage" adds a good heat. If there are very good free today, they usually do that on pc 32bit ...

The reverb also has good presets is really good, and can be compared to the tenor of the kind (lexicon). It is very wide but with a slightly vintage / warm, so not 100% transparent (less than neutral lexicon) side.

In summary, counseling for all musicians (guitar, ...) that Mao begins with a basic sequencer (cubase element, magix samplitude studio, live lite ...) and a sound card, everything has to start

Installation nickel, allow 2 hours for the pack.
Registration: no problem.
No inconsistency so far.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Laptop i5, 4 GB of RAM
Sound card Echo Indigo IOX express card format, I regret very strong on the day the pc will drop me, because this format does not exist in laptops, is it's very very bad.
Used inside Cantabile Performer, 44.1 kHz to 128 samples, 3ms latency without dropouts.
There still need 2 to 3 minutes to open SampleTank, while other VSTi opens in seconds.

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 6 months. Mainly for VSTi.
I love the variety of sounds, it is very vast. Warning there is very good as ridiculous, but in the other one I like to go back and I usually always find something that suits me.
The effects section is still complete and in good order.
It's 16 multitimbral, so those who like to toy and combine sounds can still have fun.
It's light and it runs properly.

I did not try after mastering. CSR reverb sounds very good to my ears.

For negatives, exists only in 32bit for me not matter because my system is 32bit.
Archaic ergonomics: no way to use the mouse wheel or the up and down arrow keys to scroll through the presets, it does not work, you have to click and drag.
Another big downside for me is the recognition of non-native aftertouch, then I do not understand how they could do that.

Overall, I think we can get very good things these VSTi provided to get your hands dirty. Now, this is not the bank of the century but considering the price I do not regret the purchase. This is the best choice for a pc not too powerful. I could have gone to a Kontakt or other sampler, but then it does turn out cleaner on my laptop.

The installation is done it without problems? Yes, no worries
Have you experienced any incompatibilities? No
The general configuration is easy? Nothing special to do
The manual is clear and sufficient? I have not used

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

What is the configuration of your computer? Mabook Air i7 with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD
The software works he correctly on this configuration? Yes, no problems
This software + hardware is stable? I lprincipalement uses the internal sound card of the Macbook Air and occasionally a Zoom H4N with Garageband, Reaper and Ignite.

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it? I use it for 2 months.
What is the particular feature you like best and least? A very interesting offer with lots of plug-ins. I bought it because I needed Amplitube. Rather than buying one, this bundle allows for other plug-ins such as T-RackS or virtual instruments but I do not really useful.
Have you tried many other models before buying it? Before my expatriation in France, I had a recording studio hardware (UAD preamp, Chandler) and software (DSUs, Protools) top end and so I can not compare software that does not play in the same way.
How would you rate the quality / price? With experience, you do again this choice? For a musician, that's enough, no brainer, functional and compatible with the DAW market presets. Great deal but only for AmpliTube seems to be really very good for the final production, because virtual instruments are not really top