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I've been running DP 5.13 with Kontakt 3 on OS 10.4.11 for a while and am now considering upgrading the OS along with the apps. DP 7 is a given. I'm both tied enough to and pleased enough with my many Kontakt libraries that I feel it important to stick with Kontakt, and I just got an email yesterday with decent upgrade pricing for the new version 5.

Kontakt 5 a la carte upgrade is $119. Komplete 8 Ultimate upgrade @ $799 is too rich for my blood and I don't think I'd get enough use out of the extras. The $399 upgrade to the regular version of Komplete 8, though, is compelling, considering all the other interesting things included for the extra $280 over the a la carte Kontakt upgrade.

But I wonder, is there anything else out there worth considering to put that $280 toward alongside Kontakt that would be an even better result than Komplete 8? E.g., how might Kontakt 5 + Reason 5 compared to Komplete 8? Or whatever else to fill in that blank alongside Kontakt 5.

The Kontakt update is probably worth doing just because so many other libraries use the NI engine. As for Komplete, you should take a careful look at all the included instrument libraries to evaluate if they are things you would or could use. At that point, the value vs cost comparison becomes clearer.

If you're already invested in NI products, make sure you're clear on your upgrade path. Check with NI to confirm your price based on the products you already have. You could likely get a lot more for a lot less than you think.

This might change your mind:

You can upgrade to Komplete 8 from as far back as v.2 for $199. I got mine at a Guitar Center store, but you can get it online anywhere for that.

Meaning try to find a really cheap version of Komplete 2 and then upgrade? Looks like the upgrade from Komplete 2-7 is $229. Unless a version of Komplete 2 could be found for less than $170, then it's cheaper (and easier) just to upgrade to Komplete 8 direct from Kontakt.

I've gotten a strong argument from someone outside this forum that Kontakt + Reason would be a stronger set of tools than getting Komplete 8. Thoughts?

msmeritt wrote: I've gotten a strong argument from someone outside this forum that Kontakt + Reason would be a stronger set of tools than getting Komplete 8. Thoughts?

I say get Komplete 8 for $199, and then look into Reason. From your first post, you mentioned that $399 was "compelling", so you're already $200 in the clear. It *almost* doesn't make sense to upgrade Kontakt alone for $119 when you could have, what, 27 libraries and effects for another $80. That's a real bargain, dude-- and the libraries are no slouches.

As I mentioned earlier, take careful stock of the Komplete 8 sound libraries to determine whether what's included is worth it to you. The sounds are great, but they may or may not be what you want. I've just found them worth having.

Reason is great. I'm nigh upon adding it myself. The GUI is clever and very intuitive. There are lots of good tutorial vids on youtube to check out. I would post some links, except musical tastes from one vid to another vary and could be a little off-putting.

I really don't see it as a one-over-the-other sort of thing. Reason and Komplete would make a handsome pair. The good news is that you need not buy everything at once. Get Komplete now (because the upgrade price is not likely to change), and then hold out for a Propellerheads sale where you could get into Reason for a reason-able discount (har-har).

Not sure I understand your math.

Upgrading a lower version of Kontakt to Kontakt 5 is $119.

Crossgrading any version of Kontakt to Komplete 8 is $399.

Upgrading a lower version of Komplete to Komplete $8 is $229, which certainly is less than $399 by a good amount, but it only counts if you have Komplete in the first place, which I don't.

I'm not sure where your $199 figure comes from. If it really would cost me just that total amount to get Komplete 8, you bet I'd get that for just $80 more than the Kontakt upgrade. But I'm not seeing how/where that's possible. I'm seeing that my lowest price for Komplete 8 is $399, which is $280 more than the Kontakt 5 upgrade alone. That $280 is a fair chunk of the way toward possibly getting Reason, which is why I think it may be an either/or situation, at least on my budget. If only I had a few thousand extra bucks laying around to get everything that tickled my fancy

Okay, it wasn't clear just how many qualifying NI products you had. You are right-- Komplete "anything" to Komplete 8 is one price. Kontakt "anything" to Komplete 8 is indeed a higher price.

I recognize and confess that I have Komplete 7, so my upgrade price would be $199. I took respectful care to suggest that you contact NI (which you have) to evaluate what you already have to make a personal assessment of what upgrading will cost will be based on what NI products you already own. I wasn't aware of the totality of the NI products you had.

So, if the Kontakt upgrade will be $119 alone, Reason will set you back about $300 or so right out of the gate. That would put you out $419 or so, yes?

My point was not to cost you MORE money. To the contrary, I think I made some suggestions which were budget-conscious and respectful. In summary:

-- Update Kontakt or Komplete as you feel are necessary.

-- Hold out for a discount sale on Reason... or go for it in one fell swoop.

No complaints here about either software bundle. Just find the right prices and knock out that next Grammy, why don'tcha!

Sorry if I wasn't clear that my only NI product is Kontakt. I appreciate the suggestions.

For me, somehow ending up with Kontakt 5 is a given, and it's just a question of what I put any additional money toward and making sure that it's as well spent as possible.

That may mean Komplete 8 encompassing Kontakt 5 plus its various other items, but in that case I wouldn't end up in the market for considering anything else, indefinitely, just for budget reasons.

Otherwise it could mean Kontakt 5 plus something from another vendor if it would result in a better overall toolbox compared to Komplete 8, just as another musician suggested to me that Kontakt 5 plus Reason would be. I'm just curious whether others agree that Kontakt + Reason is better than Komplete, or whether Kontakt + who knows what else might be better than Komplete.

I have Komplete 7 and Reason 5. I think the synthesizers in Komplete (Absynth, FM8, Reactor, and Massive) sound substantially better than Reason's modules (Maelstrom, Subtractor and Thor) The NI stuff is rich and complex with nice sizzle in the high end. Reason sounds a little dull and muffled to my ears. The other added bonus of Komplete is Reflector a nice convolution reverb that's used through Guitar Rig. Oh did I mention Guitar Rig? Not just for guitarists. Plus with Komplete 8 you get Studio Drummer and West Africa two nice drum and percussion packages that load into to Kontakt. I did an install for a client the other day and played around with both of those instruments and they were pretty slick. You really do get alot of bang for your dollar with Komplete 8.

Thanks for the thoughts. Interesting stuff.

The Kontakt upgrade actually comes with Studio Drummer and a small number of the Komplete effects. But nowhere near as much as Komplete itself. Komplete is tempting...!