I will attempt to not to bore the masses...
Firstly, we are all so spoiled... before good software Samplers we had a ton of cables and external SCSI crap (like an Akai S5000/S6000) and then we had SCSI Hard drives / CD ROMS on the Akai samplers.
http://www.vintagesynth.com/akai/s5000.php
Now, as a side note, the filters and AD converters on many vintage hardware samplers like the S5000 sounded so Fat and creamy that I personally fought against software samplers for many years.... but eventually, the house keeping of matching Sample libraries with projects with cable spaghetti and backing up external SCSI hard drive libraries and CDs became a huge pain in the ass... so as the technology became better of internal software samplers, the convenience outweighed the headaches and the quality got real close.
Now for my vote, the Reason stuff (even as a re-wire) NNXT and NN19 are #1 in the "low overhead" and speed category. So, for instance, converting Standard MIDI cover files into Audio files, these babies really shine. Fast, low CPU, and 100% better quality than loading a VST Roland GM sound module.
HALion and EXS24 and the choices for Original Artist works, they are very flexible and offer real emulations of the hardware samplers (filters, etc.). Both provide the quality needed to make pro projects sound... well... pro. Both offer great libraries and the ability to get formats in/out and convert almost anything with 3rd party stuff.
The Kompakt/Kontakt propriety sample libraries have always pissed me off even though they are great, stable products. Converting protected NKI patches is not an option, also, I like having the ability to use use software converters like "Chicken Translator" and I like the ability to actually see my samples as separate files to rename, replace, for max flexibility.
Firstly, we are all so spoiled... before good software Samplers we had a ton of cables and external SCSI crap (like an Akai S5000/S6000) and then we had SCSI Hard drives / CD ROMS on the Akai samplers.
http://www.vintagesynth.com/akai/s5000.php
Now, as a side note, the filters and AD converters on many vintage hardware samplers like the S5000 sounded so Fat and creamy that I personally fought against software samplers for many years.... but eventually, the house keeping of matching Sample libraries with projects with cable spaghetti and backing up external SCSI hard drive libraries and CDs became a huge pain in the ass... so as the technology became better of internal software samplers, the convenience outweighed the headaches and the quality got real close.
Now for my vote, the Reason stuff (even as a re-wire) NNXT and NN19 are #1 in the "low overhead" and speed category. So, for instance, converting Standard MIDI cover files into Audio files, these babies really shine. Fast, low CPU, and 100% better quality than loading a VST Roland GM sound module.
HALion and EXS24 and the choices for Original Artist works, they are very flexible and offer real emulations of the hardware samplers (filters, etc.). Both provide the quality needed to make pro projects sound... well... pro. Both offer great libraries and the ability to get formats in/out and convert almost anything with 3rd party stuff.
The Kompakt/Kontakt propriety sample libraries have always pissed me off even though they are great, stable products. Converting protected NKI patches is not an option, also, I like having the ability to use use software converters like "Chicken Translator" and I like the ability to actually see my samples as separate files to rename, replace, for max flexibility.