MOTU MachFive 3

Easy installation. Config too.
The installation of sound is long and tedious (like KONTAKT matter).
Side incompatibility, MF is not recognized by the automap 4 NOVATION. There are 5 months, I contacted the customer service, since nothing, even with the recent release of version 3.2.1. Annoying.
The manual is not bad, not great.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

PC Core i7 2600K OVERFREQUENCY (3.8 GHz or more) - 8GB RAM - 8.1 Win 64-bit - Audio Interface Focusrite Saffire PRO 14 (loopback).
Performance and operation: smoothly and stable except with sampling IRCAM "Stretch" which caught the machine fast enough polyphony (+ 2 notes).

OVERALL OPINION

I use the software since March 2013.
I used Kontakt since its first version to version 5. I can say at this time that MachFive 3 is very high quality KONTAKT 5 thanks in large part to IRCAM tools that crush the competition! The "time machine PRO" Kontakt 5 can get dressed!
You guessed it, the feature that attracted me was the IRCAM tools. Small anomalies are worth noting: if there is an acute or grave accent in the title of a sound, MF does not recognize (SAV aware too). Another point mentioned: the automap not recognized (I have to go through the old editor "REMOTE SL Editor" but "sustain" pedal does not work .... I look why ...)
For those who like to fiddle with the sound, this is the ideal software! It is true that MF is expensive, do as I do: Enjoy a 50% coupon!

Installation without any problem on macbookpro 10.8.3

I encountered an incompatibility with Live in AU format, but problem solved with the VST plug in

I did not need the manual except for some news since I bought the update to version 2

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

macbookpro 10.8.3
intel core 2 duo 2.66 GHz
6GB of RAM
sound card Motu Ultralite mk3

I have an internal hard drive dedicated to sound banks so performance is pretty good especially when my sequencer is running in 64bit, so more than enough for most uses. I've used it in the studio with a MacPro Quad with 12g of ram and there it still turns more easily (obviously)

OVERALL OPINION

I use MachFive since 2008, the update to version 3 has finally built a search engine and then has a nice evolution of the effects internally as a reverb algorithm to (SparkVerb) I find more good quality IR not to mention the numerous opportunities offered by a virtual sampler as good bill!

In summary, I would not trade this fabulous sampler for anything!