The largest sample library IK has ever produced, over 260 GB including over 200 GB of all-new sounds. Requires an OpenGL 2 compatible graphics adapter.SampleTank 4 MAX. 40 GB (SampleTank 4 SE), 128 GB (SampleTank 4), 300 GB (SampleTank 4 MAX) of hard drive space. Mac (64-bits) Minimal: Intel Core 2 Duo (Intel Core i5 suggested), 4 GB of RAM (8 GB suggested), macOS 10.10 or later. Requires a 64 bit CPU and Operating System. SampleTank is a 64-bit application.

With its easy-to-use interface and broad, very useable sound palette, SampleTankВ 3.5 provided a workmanlike virtual instrument that would make a great starting point for those building a music production system. For this review, I had access to the fully-loaded MAX version which offers 250GB of samples spread across some 8000 instruments.We last looked at SampleTank back in the SOS August 2015 issue. All use the new front-end but are supplied with different sizes of sound library. Write your review Item ID: ST4MAXBx.IK Multimedia's newly updated one-stop sample shop is bigger and better than ever.SampleTank 4 is now available in three editions SE, the standard and MAX. Arpeggiator, Strummer, Pattern Player, Loop Manager, Live Interface, 60 Effects, DAW-style Mixer, and iRig Keys I/O Integration - Mac/PC Standalone, AAX Native, VST, AU. Upgrade for just /299.99Parts View allows you to load up to 16 individual instruments into a single instance of SampleTankВ 4.SampleTank 4 MAX Virtual Instrument Bundle (boxed) Sample-based Workstation with 260GB of Sounds, 8,000 Instrument Presets.

For this review, I had access to the fully-loaded MAX version which offers 250GB of samples spread across some 8000 instruments. All use the new front-end but are supplied with different sizes of sound library. However, while IK have delivered lots of new features and refinements to the user interface, they have also done a pretty good job of retaining SampleTank's 'easy-to-use' tag.SampleTankВ 4 is now available in three editions SE, the 'standard' and MAX. Alongside the collection of samples, therefore, it provides a sample-based virtual instrument with 16-part multitimbral capabilities, support for multi-layer, multi-articulation, sampled instruments, and playback of audio and MIDI loops (patterns). So, what does v4 bring to tempt the music producer looking for that perfect sound source workhorse? What's In The Tank?Let's start by confirming that the underlying SampleTank concept remains firmly intact. That's not a criticism simply an observation because, for certain groups of potential users, that's exactly what they are looking for.IK Multimedia have now introduced SampleTankВ 4 with new features and new samples.

Pieces Of EightThe revamp of the UI means SampleTank's feature set is now contained within eight main windows Parts View, Instrument Browser, Edit Panel, Effects Rack, Player Panel, Layer Editor, Mixer and Live Mode. This is a virtual instrument that all but the most technophobic of computer-based musicians ought to be able to handle. Users also get access to some content from earlier SampleTank releases with, again, different selections for each edition. The expanded content offers plenty of 'new for v4' samples including acoustic pianos, bass, brass, strings, guitars, acoustic and electric drums, percussion, synths, voices and woodwinds. SampleTankВ 4 runs as both a stand-alone application (useful for live performance) and as a multi-format plug-in.Usefully, the IK website has a PDF document that details the content provided in each edition so you can see exactly what you will get.

ST4 makes building complex layered sounds very easy.The Instrument Browser provides the usual options for finding sounds, with filters for library, category and type. Flip to the Layer Editor and, for the same 16 Parts, you can constrain the MIDI note range each Part responds to. As expected, the Parts View provides an overview of the (up to) 16 instruments (Parts) you might have loaded in an instance of SampleTankВ 4, with simple controls for setting such features as MIDI channel, mute/solo, pan and volume. And, despite some changes, existing SampleTank users will find much that is familiar.Keyboard splits and layers are easy to create within the Layers Editor.The functions and features of some of these windows are fairly obvious.

The exact combination of features varies based on the nature of the preset sound, and this includes the ability to handle presets from earlier SampleTank sample libraries. It allows you to dig into your sounds with controls to adjust the oscillators, LFOs, filter, and amplitude and filter envelopes, and also provides a more comprehensive modulation matrix that can be opened in a sub-panel. The effects selection has been considerably expanded and draws from IK's AmpliTube and T-Racks software, which is shorthand for saying there are some great options covering all the obvious categories of effects processing, both corrective and creative.The effects options have been considerably improved in this release.While ST4 remains easy to use, there is more to tweak if you want to customise your sounds.For those that like to tweak under the hood, the Edit Panel is a welcome forward step. The Effects Rack allows you to configure up to five insert effects for the currently selected Part. Time To TweakWhile previous versions of SampleTank excelled as preset playback instruments, in the Edit Panel and Effects Rack SampleTankВ 4 has undoubtedly upped the stakes when it comes to sound tweaking.

Each entry in the setlist retains all the settings associated with it, making it relatively easy to perform with just a laptop and master controller keyboard. Road WarriorThe Live Mode screen allows you to create a setlist of 'songs', each with associated presets or multis that can be easily (and quickly) loaded as you move through a live performance situation. Export to your DAW is also possible. A good collection of preset phrases is included but you can also import standard Type 0 MIDI files if you wish. Multiple phrases can be mapped across a range of MIDI keys for triggering. Finally, the Phraser allows you to trigger MIDI phrases for a Part.

For the MAX edition, this represents some 250GB of samples and thousands of instrument presets. While all editions include sounds from earlier ST versions, IK have also produced a lot of new content for ST4. Sound InvestmentAs mentioned earlier, the key difference between the different SampleTankВ 4 editions is the amount of sample content provided. The whole system is easy to use and great for live performance or in the studio. This does, of course, come into its own if your controller keyboard has some rotary controllers, and ST4 supports MIDI Learn to link these. You can display these as virtual knobs at the base of the main UI and the target parameter for each can be easily assigned by a pop-up menu.

It sounds very good indeed and offers plenty of playing dynamics.Of MAX's orchestral instruments, I particularly liked the brass and string sounds. As well as 'lite' versions and (for example) a 12GB stereo version, you also get versions recorded for binaural playback. For example, there are several presets built around new sampling of a Yamaha C7 Grand Piano.

It's also worth noting that, while there are multi-articulation presets elsewhere within the new sample content (for example, amongst the guitars), at present, no keyswitchable presets are included based upon the new orchestral samples. I was a little surprised that no larger sections were included amongst the new samples, but presets from earlier ST versions are included to fill this role. Well, you get the general idea. Fast attacks, slow attacks, staccato, sustains, legato, crescendos of various speeds, rips, scoops, growls, falls, trills.

Sampletank 4 Max