lol, well as i S A I D, they have a lot of the same patches using new wave forms- but there are LOTS of new patches. just stroll through the string patches on the old rack, and then scroll through them on the new one, you'll see! there are also world sounds not present on the old version.
pluis, i think the effects section upgrade alone is worthwhile- they almost tripled the number available! thats beyond "mere" technical advancement. that allows for greater depth in patch editing and creatin- freeing up your pc for the majority of those chores to be used for just mastering and eq purposes!
take THAT!!!!!!!!!
Mo Rack:
Sounds:
Tone Generator: AWM2 (complying with the Modular Synthesis Plug-inSystem).
Polyphony: 128 notes + the polyphony of the Plug-in Board (if installed).
Wave ROM: 84 MB (when converted to 16-bit linear format).
Preset Voices: 640 + 48 drum kits. Plus 128 GM voices + 1 drum kit.
User Voices: 256 + 32 drum kits (include 128 Preset normal voices and 22 init drum kits).
ES Rack:
Tone Generator: AWM2 (complying with the Modular Synthesis Plug-inSystem).
Polyphony: 128 notes + the polyphony of the Plug-in Board (if installed).
Wave ROM: 175MB (when converted to 16-bit linear format), 1,859 waveforms
Preset Voices: 768 Normal Voices + 64 drum Kits
User Voices: 384 Normal Voices + 32 drum kits
double the wav rom- it includes the "mega voices" for things like guitar strums, etc. double the wav rom, an extra bank of both user annd preset sounds, 16 more drum kits.
its pretty substantial upgrade.
is it "necessary"? well, no, but realistically it is a pretty good jump from one to the next.