I just installed the Educational version of Akoustik Piano by Native Instruments. Is anyone using it and could answer some beginning questions. It appears very buggy and I can't seem to get the updates that are recommended to unzip themselves.

Just looking for a few tips that might get me started.

I bought one month ago an educational version that wouldn't load on my toshiba laptop. I called US NI tech support (which usually puts you in a line for a minimum of 45 minutes!!! before they answer their NON-TOLL FREE phone grrrrr!).
Anyway, after enduring this sucky wait time, they had me try it on a second computer. Still would not load. Bottom line is they agreed to send me a second set of cd's. However, they were back ordered from Germany. After three whole weeks I finally received my replacement cd's. This time the Install disk worked but disk number 2, 3 and 4 didn't! I finally figured out a work around (damn if I'd sit another hour in line waiting for "NI tech support" to answer). What I did is I checkmarked at install for only the Bosendorfer, that is resident on the install disk, to load and not to load any other pianos or libraries. I was successful performing the above. I then manually copied each of the other three pianos sample folders directly off of disks 2, 3 and 4 into their relevant install created "sample" folders for NI.
Personally I think NI needs to do three things if they want to stay in business:
a) They need software designers that are more familiar with Microsoft XP and how an "ini" file works. I can't believe they are still dependant on an "exe" to load their software. I mean, Wow, that was a software developer approach only used up to about 1993!
b) They need more than one person at their US facility acting as "tech support".
c) They need a healthy US stock of product units so they don't have to go crying to Germany for replacements. If they don't do this then they need a better database to tell them when they need to order from Germany!

Otherwise I'm so-so OK with the performance of their product. Their Bosendorfer 290 sounds like a sound they stole off a carnival carousel (You know, the one that goes round and round and you ride on the paper mache' horsees).
The Concert Grand D is good and the Bechstein D is somewhat "OK". The Steingraeber is an upright and sounds like one.
If I hadn't gotten the software for so cheap $99, I would label NI Akoustik as a rip.
Per your updates. I'm afraid to try them myself as the program seems to run OK as is.
I also have Garritan Personal Orchestra and they (Garritan) recommended I update their OEM Kontakt Player (also from NI) to the new NI Kontakt version 2. After doing so I can no longer get my Garritan VSTI to load in Ableton Live. I'm sure it's a simple fix but holy _hit. Do I want to pay to stand in line on the phone for another hour so that I might get a resolution?
You might say I have more than a few second thoughts about NI.
Germany NI... I hope you are reading this post. As it stands now, future Competition is going to eat your sauerkraut and I welcome them!

Climber,

I also got my program for $99. I had to wait about a month for an install disk that would work. That one came today and I was successful in getting the program loaded. Mine loaded all the piano samples from the CD's. However, it wasn't friendly to my laptop and I had to do a defrag to clean my system after installing the program.

I might just use it as it is for now without the updates and learn what it can do.

I like the Steinway D sound very much.

Yes,I think the Steinway sample is by far the best one they have in the package. I was very disappointed in the Bosendorfer. I've played a Bosendorfer 290 and the sampling Akoustik offers does it a dis-service.
Performing a "disk clean" followed by a "defrag" should always be performed after a major software install such as Akoustik. I hope it is running OK for you now. I would also visit the Akousik forum at NI for known issues with Akoustik before loading (or attempting to load and activate) any updates or "patches". After the experiences I've cited above with NI I just don't trust their PC Expertise.

Speaking of Bosendorfer its Ivory implementation is said to be excellent.

Where did you get NI Akoustik for $99 ?

Serge

I got mine from Midimall.com
They said, however, that it was the last educational pack they had. Don't know if they have any others.

When I bought mine from midimall.com there were 2 and I think Climber and I got those.

Climber, thanks for the warning about installing the updates. I like the way it is working now and the standalone Steinway sounds so sweet coming from my Korg that I don't want to mess with success. I'll check out the forum comments.

For everyone looking for a "deal" on Akoustik: You might want to do a google search on "Academic Discount" and see which sites pop up. Many of these sites offer a music section such that if you are a student/teacher/educational institution you can buy at discount. My kids are still students so they do the buying.
Also, I located my copy on E-bay.

Climber,
I should have followed my own instincts about not installing updates. I installed the latest one and even though it started to install itself with an error I couldn't take out the damage it did to the main program. So after a system restore and 6 hours of struggling to get my laptop stable again I'm going to attempt to reinstall the main Akoustik piano. (WITHOUT the UPDATES)

Do you know whether Native Instruments respond to emails. They don't have enough techs to support their products.

Climber,
I just found an email response form on their website and sent them an explanation of my difficulties. This should be easier than waiting on the telephone for a solution.

Please let me know if they punctually respond to tech emails and if what they recommend actually works. I emphatically agree with you that they appear to not have enough tech support.
To NI's credit I must say that their Steinway Hamburg does sound better than Pianoteq or Truepiano. Main technical difference however is that NI uses a meld of samples and "Layer Morphing" which adds some dynamics. NI is still primarily a "sampled" piano base software with it's "toe" dabbling in the "modeled software" world.
I'd also, to NI's credit, like to say to others that their Akoustik Piano manual is quite good. It's a shame their tech support structure does not equal or surpass the caliber of their manual.

Climber,

I was successful this afternoon reinstalling Akoustik Piano. I'm back enjoying my standalone "Steinway Hamburg D"!!!!

I might have the update problem solved. I should have turned off my antivirus software during the install because that was the program most impacted and nonfunctional after the failed update installation. I'm going to confirm this with the Native Instrument online help.

Have any of you guys had massive clipping problems? Like when when you hold a chord for a few seconds and it cuts off? I have had Acoustik Piano for about four months and have yet to get it working correctly. Aggravating to say the least!

allthestops,

Using Akoustik as a standalone I don't get clipping problems, but trying to record has "massive clipping problems". I probably have just the minimum of what is needed in my HP laptop.
HP Pavilion zv6130
AMD Athlon 64 3200 Processor, WinXPsp2
768 RAM
80Gig HD IDE 4200rpm Ultra Ata ST
*Dedicated DDR
SB Audigy 2zs notebook sound card PCMCIA (24 Bit and ASIO 2.0

This is what I have and I have problems whether it's standalone or in Acid Pro 6:

Pentium 4 2.8
1024MB DDR400 RAM
250GB 7200RPM
M-Audio Audiophile 192 - 24 bit, 192k/hz

With this combination, not being able to run AP; it just doesn't compute! (doesn't compute, ha ha)

You may want to bump up that ram to 2 gigs. I have the same specs (including the Audiophile 192), and even a slower processor (2.4GHz), but 2.5 Gigs of RAM, and have no issues running Ivory with all the bells and whistles enabled...

Hello AllTheStops,
I don't use the crappy recorder (sampler) in Akoustik. I use Abelton Live 5 to record using Akoustik as a VSTI. No problems so far with Live.
My setup is:
Toshiba P35 laptop
1.5 gig RAM
Dual Pentium "P" processors with a combined speed of 3.8 gig.
E-MU 1616 audio interface
XP Home
By the way, my favorite "sampled sound VSTI" is the inexpensive Steinway that came with Garritan Personal Orchestra. Garritan is also working on a new VSTI of sampled Steinways and will not use the Kontakt player. Note that Garritan is pure samples, no modeling and no morphing but sounds great for recording. Would not recommend Garritan for dynamic playing however.