ONE-SHOTS
Feb 1, 2003 12:00 PM
Electro-Harmonix Holier Grail
REVERB PEDAL
Designed primarily with guitar players in mind, the Holier Grail ($298) reverb pedal is actually the perfect companion for synth players and DJs who are looking to expand their sound palette with a truly flexible and world-class-sounding reverb. The stompbox-size unit includes four separate reverb sounds (spring, hall, room and E-H's own Flerb setting), short and long variations of each of the four settings, post-reverb gate, gate-reverse switch, gate threshold, blend controls (reverb wet and dry), standard ¼-inch unbalanced I/O and one ¼-inch unbalanced reverb-only output. All of the standard reverb settings produce rich, warm results, offering a marked improvement upon most multi-effects units. The real fun, however, is the Flerb setting, which produces a sound that falls somewhere between a random tremolo and an out-of-sync LFO. Most users will quickly learn how to jump between the different settings while playing or spinning. Switching from hall to Flerb while playing back a layered pad creates an excellent decay/sustain that works well as a transition or an ending to a track. But the real beauty of the unit is the number of sounds that it can produce; the flexible routing is also a benefit for studio work.
— Robert Hanson
Electro-Harmonix; e-mail info@electro-harmonix.com; Web www.electro-harmonix.com
AMG O.Range Microwave XTension
REASON REFILL
Like a religious cult, certain synthesizers can amass a devoted band of followers. One of the more swami-like synths, the German-made Waldorf Microwave, has been pushing analog-subtractive synthesis to a bold new level. In an effort to preserve this neoclassic — and possibly profit — AMG has handpicked the best Waldorf Microwave characteristics, patches and banks to spawn yet another brilliant ReFill for Propellerhead's Reason. The O.Range Microwave XTension ($59) single CD contains 216 Reason NN-19 sampler presets, 12 ReDrum drum kits and 65 REX2 synth loops, which range from the infamous to the eclectic. For maximum wow factor, check out the 31MB Tibet bank or the mountain of analog Everlast (both in the Atmosphere folder). Other standouts, such as the granular Oxygen or the classic CS-80 pads, are beautifully edited. These offspring capture the analog flavor that can define a recording, as well as a crisp bite that can carve out a mix. Keep in mind that although a few loops are present, this is an instrument CD with playable sounds, tweakable presets and pure-blooded analog hype. After all, ReFills are not merely old sample CDs reincarnated, but a whole new viable platform that is big on content and minimal on disc space and price.
— Dave Hill Jr.
AMG; Web www.reasonrefills.com or www.midiman.net
Sonic Foundry Ma Ja Le': Saturn and Elsewhere
SAMPLE CD
Ensuring that all bases are covered, Ma Ja Le' (www.majale.com) has titled its new Sonic Foundry release for space enthusiasts, Saturn and Elsewhere ($59), and subtitled it for the ethno-electro-musicology crowd Ethereal Textures and Psychotropic Rhythms. These new Acid loops demonstrate Ma Ja Le's expertise in creating sci-fi ambience and delay-heavy space-scapes. Take, for instance, the disc's 26 organic-sounding flute loops, on which simple and hypnotic melodies are recorded with the perfect amount of reverb and decay. For more futuristic elements, the loop groups Guitartronics and Soundworlds deliver Ma Ja Le's planetary intention in the form of EBowed guitars, slowly sweeping synthesizers and more than a few multilayered electro loop gems. As for the disc's beat component, the folders Otherworldly Rhythms and Noise Percussion are packed with muffled-sounding synthesized drums, synth sound effects and some acoustic world percussion experiments. Most of these sounds were created with the infamous Korg Wavedrum. All in all, the disc's ambient-meets-world-music sound invokes a feeling of another time and place that gives producers plenty of vibes to sink their teeth into.
— Dave Hill Jr.
Sonic Foundry; e-mail customerservice@sonicfoundry.com; Web www.sonicfoundry.com
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