Is NI Komplete really needed with Logic 8?

Question

With the current deals in place you can pick up NI Komplete for around $700, which is an amazingly good price considering what is included.
...but reading the feature list, there is a fair amount of redundancy for Logic users now that the Jam packs are all bundled. The 3 pianos from Komplete seem to be covered by Logic as would be much of the orchestral, band and rock stuff in the sampler.
Does anybody run both and what are your opinions?
Is there enough extra sampled content? Does Battery really nail Ultrabeat?
There is nothing like Absynth and Reaktor in Logic - maybe these are worth the admission price alone.
Thoughts?
Thanks.
Matt.
PS. My focus is film and television music with the occasional mix of a recorded song.

Answer 1

Sampleconstruct wrote:
Well I use Reaktor 5, Kontakt 2/3 and Massive every day - I didn't buy the Komplete because there is redundant stuff in there I don't want and don't need. But those three Plug Ins (+maybe Absynth) are absolutely unique and nothing inside Logic comes near the capabilities, those apps have.
I agree with you but I would add GR3 to the list. It's a great general audio FX/destroyer.
However, after you cross some critical number of NI plugins (3, or 4?), it makes sense to get the Komplete. Upgrading 3, or 4 different plugins separately is similar to cost of upgrading from Komplete X to Komplete X+1. Also, Komplete + Kore is a really nice (Note: Kore has it's issues too).
I checked the Battery demo intensively and wasn't too thrilled about it. It's more versatile than UB but if you get Kontakt you don't need Battery, apart from the useful samples that come with it maybe.
Battery is a piece of ****. It is the quintessential example of NI's lackluster quality and design. On the surface it may seem like a cool tool, then you dig just a little bit deeper and you're annoyed by the application at every turn.