Happymuso...

Please excuse the tedious length of this post but some of it may be useful to you.

Maybe this can help you out. The Sampletank program needs at minimum three files for each different sound to work: 1)a "sti" file; 2)a "stw" file and 3)a "sth" file. If the user - you - or PG Music edits this minimum package a fourth file is added, a "stip" file. These files are necessarily loaded into the location described above, with one correction...

Typically,and by default each individual sound is found in three (or four) files:

1)<C:\Program Files(x86)\IK Multimedia\SampleTank 2.5\Instruments\Band-in-a-Box\Bass [or Drums, or Piano, or Strings]\*.sti>

2)<C:\Program Files(x86)\IK Multimedia\SampleTank 2.5\Instruments\Band-in-a-Box\Bass [or Drums, or Piano, or Strings]\*.stw> (This *.stw file contains the very large audio information package)

3)<C:\Program Files(x86)\IK Multimedia\SampleTank 2.5\Instruments\Band-in-a-Box\Bass [or Drums, or Piano, or Strings]\*.sth>

4)optionally, depending on user edits: <C:\Program Files(x86)\IK Multimedia\SampleTank 2.5\Instruments\Band-in-a-Box\Bass [or Drums, or Piano, or Strings]\*.stip

(Note the additional folder layer, not mentioned in previous posts, following the 'Band-in-a-Box folder - <...\Bass\>, or <...\Drums\> or <...Piano\> or <...Strings\>)

As noted (but not in my experience), these files may alternatively be found in <C:\Program Files(x86)\IK Multimedia\Instruments\Band-in-a-Box\Bass [or Drums, or Piano, or Strings]\*.sti etc.

When you mentioned opening a particular file location: "When I open the sampletank.txt file mentioned above it contains "Piano\Acoustic Grand Piano.stw"...you have not opened the SampleTank file(s). Instead...

The *.tgs file and *.txt file alluded to are "pointers" and are found in a different location: C:\bb\DX Settings\*.tgs and C:\bb\DX Settings\*.txt (and maybe a second *.txt file if comments are included in the user edit). My non-PG Music supplied SampleTank instruments do not use these files and they do not exist for them. I think they are the way BIAB is able to "grab" seamlessly, and internally, SampleTank instument sounds that PG Music has edited (tailored) for sound excellence - hence, the 'Hi-Q' moniker.


As an exhaustive example the Band-in-a-Box Acoustic Grand piano sound you searched for, as it exists on my computer, uses the following files:

1)<C:\bb\DX Settings\Hi-Q 001 01 Piano, Acoustic, Grand SampleTank.tgs>

2)<C:\bb\DX Settings\Hi-Q 001 01 Piano, Acoustic, Grand SampleTank.txt>

3)<C:\bb\DX Settings\Hi-Q 001 01 Piano, Acoustic, Grand SampleTank info.txt>

4)<C:\Program Files(x86)\IK Multimedia\SampleTank 2.5\Instruments\Band-in-a-Box \Piano\Acoustic Grand Piano PG.stip>

5)<C:\Program Files(x86)\IK Multimedia\SampleTank 2.5\Instruments\Band-in-a-Box \Piano\Acoustic Grand Piano.sti>

6)<C:\Program Files(x86)\IK Multimedia\SampleTank 2.5\Instruments\Band-in-a-Box \Piano\Acoustic Grand Piano.stw>

7)<C:\Program Files(x86)\IK Multimedia\SampleTank 2.5\Instruments\Band-in-a-Box \Piano\Acoustic Grand Piano.sth>

I have installed most of the other instrument packages offered by IK Multimedia - Bass Collection, Acoustic Guitars, etc.,etc. and they all follow the conventions as described above. The folder layer labeled "Band-in-a-Box" is replaced by "Bass Collection" or "Acoustic Guitars", etc., as appropriate, and each of these collections appears at the same level as the "Band-in-a-Box" collection on the SampleTank interface.

I had some trouble getting it all to work as you are having now, but after sorting out the various file functions it began to make sense. I bet your problem is a simple one and you will be pleased when you get the aha moment. Be sure to check the extra folder layer I described above.

P.S. No warrantee is offered, expressed or implied on this claptrap. Its all the derivation of my fooling with IK Sampletank (and Amplitude) for several days.

P.P.S. I also use IK Amplitude (primarily) in its stand-alone personage. I have a Taylor T-5 into a Fender Cyber-Twin II and pass the guitar signal thru Amplitude on its way to the amplifier (via the IK Stealth Pedal). I have installed most of the purchased IK guitar sounds for Amplitude and the range of available sounds is immense. I use BIAB as my 'backing band', using ASIO functionality.

A limiting factor in this application of software/hardware must be the computer; I use the HP9 series (I7 quadcore (virtualized to 8 functional cores) 3.5Ghz processor, and 12G memory, and it handles the mindboggling realtime load in stride.

Good luck, JE