Q: I just got the Native Instruments KONTAKT 3 package and it’s simply amazing! Most of the library is also first-class. My understanding is that some of it comes from the Vienna Symphonic Library, which seems like an awfully sweet deal considering just how expensive the VSL collections are. But I’m unclear about what the difference is between the instruments included in the KONTAKT 3 library and the actual VSL collections. I’m considering the purchase of some VSL libraries and don’t want to end up with a lot of duplicate sounds. Can you help out?
A: The VSL samples included with KONTAKT 3 are indeed terrific and it’s a great introduction to the Vienna Symphonic Library in general. What is included with KONTAKT (versions 2 and 3) are excerpts from the Opus 1 and 2 sample libraries from the legacy Horizon Series, which are 16-bit/44.1kHz. All of the current VSL packages are 24-bit sampled at 48kHz, so it’s definitely a step up in audio quality. Moreover, the current VSL offerings include many more articulations and playing techniques. Consider the VSL samples that ship with KONTAKT as your first taste of a phenomenal meal. It’s so good you’re going to want the whole thing!