ONE-SHOTS
Jan 1, 2005 12:00 PM, By Jason Scott Alexander
TOONTRACK DFH SUPERIOR 1.3
VIRTUAL-INSTRUMENT PLUG-IN
A sequel to the best-selling multisampled drum library DFH (Drumkit From Hell), DFH Superior is not so much an update to the series as it is a complete rebuild. Superior is a full-fledged software instrument that installs as three separate plug-ins: Drummer, Percussionist and Cocktail (a cozy Yamaha “jazz” kit) — each complete with an elaborate GUI and custom VSTi-, ReWire- and Audio Units — compatible (but not stand-alone) audio engine for Mac and PC. Weighing in at 35 GB, the collection comprises more than 85,000 single-hit, nonlooped sound files. The obesity is greatly attributed to Toontrack's ambitious drive to replicate a real studio-session environment by capturing close, ambient and overhead location samples for each instrument, using 11 microphones in all. Amazingly clean and flexible throughout, each instrument was recorded free of any pre- or postprocessing or EQ (thank you!) in numerous velocity layers (upward of 45 in some cases), using various hitting techniques.
Obviously designed with the discriminating mix engineer in mind, each instrument's microphone bleed can be customized via the elaborate leakage-control matrix. With overhead and ambience signals mixed in, the results can make a percussion aficionado's hair stand on end. Although all three plug-ins can demand way more than 2 to 3 GB of RAM when fully loaded, a smart Cache mode — plus the offline ability to bounce your completed discrete drum tracks to WAV or AIFF files for import into your DAW — makes working on even a 1GB machine practical.
Product Summary
TOONTRACK (DIST. BY EAST WEST)
DFH SUPERIOR 1.3 > $299.95
At a glance: The most complete, realistic and best-sounding drum and percussion software instrument available for VSTi, ReWire and Audio Units hosts.
Contact: www.soundsonline.com, www.toontrack.com
ULTIMATE SOUND BANK ULTRA FOCUS 1.0
VIRTUAL-INSTRUMENT PLUG-IN
Clearly looking to knock a certain dream synth off the block as the only plug-in worthy of your dollars, the folks at USB have crafted one of the most beautifully simple and fun-to-play-with graphic front ends in the process. Ultra Focus 1.0 is based on an updated version of the company's popular dual-layer UVI-Engine whereby it has added four synchable LFOs, multimode filters, layer modulation and vocoding, “timbre” cross-filtering and a new effects section with 29 effect types that can be synched to host tempo and more.
Delving through the truly brilliant presets (all 2,000 of them!) is both fun and musically exhilarating. The 24,000-large sample vault covers every single note of virtually every well-known (and some lesser known) synthesizers from the past 30 years: subtractive, FM, wavetable, vector, additive, PCM, analog modeling and even tape-based sampling (Mellotron). The choice of waveform material from each is meticulously thought out and includes many classic analog presets. With that combined with UF's dual-layer synthesis structure, you can crank out some wicked hybrids and lush stacks. Default polyphony is 16 notes per plug-in instance, but this can be increased to 64, processor allowing. My main gripe is that UF has to be automated using MIDI controllers, as there's no native implementation. Still, Ultra Focus scores huge as a quick and inspirational at-your-fingertips sound source to an entire industry's most killer sounds.
Product Summary
ULTIMATE SOUND BANK (DIST. BY ILIO)
ULTRA FOCUS 1.0 > $399
At a glance: Sample-based virtual instrument plug-in with more than 8 GB of historic source material for VST, DX, RTAS, HTDM, MAS and Audio Units hosts.
Contact: www.ilio.com, www.usbsounds.com
PINKNOISE STUDIO ORANGE2
SAMPLE COLLECTION/REASON REFILL
Nearly three years ago, Pinknoise Studio released the original O.Range ReFill for Propellerhead Reason. The library was critically acclaimed and rejuvenated appreciation for one of the most colorful (literally) and eclectic-sounding synthesizer designs in history. Orange2, a 650MB ReFill on CD (or DVD as a ReFill plus WAV multisamples), is the latest offering from the Pinknoise sound chefs and is completely independent from O.Range. Orange2 is designed specifically around the NN-XT sampler. Because the NN-XT is capable of unlimited layers, it allowed the Orange2 programmers to break down the sounds of the Microwave to basic waveform elements rather than stick you with prelayered multisamples. This means that you can combine and rebuild sounds within the sampler in much the same way that you would the wavetables of the original Waldorf. Drawing from more than 3,000 individual samples, there are 66 Complex and 185 Simple Oscillator elements, each containing 12 WAV files rooted from note C2 to A6. Based on these, more than 200 dazzling NN-XT presets re-create the distinctive swirly, sweepy, squelchy, digital-analog grittiness of the MicrowaveXT.
The sampling is impeccable and the programming top-notch throughout, with velocity splitting, alternate and release triggering (for randomly varied sounds), mod wheel and aftertouch all put to good use. Detailed, tempo-synched LFOs make the arp and pad multisamples come to life and sound burblingly PPG-authentic. Basses are tight and right on the money while pads and atmospheres are pure, silky Waldorf heaven. I had pleasure finding room for Orange2 in everything from dry German-style techno and minimalist electro to fuller ambient and pop material. In short, this is an exquisite collection of signature sounds.
Product Summary
PINKNOISE STUDIO
ORANGE2 > 52 (APPROX. $69.50; REFILL PLUS WAV); 40 (APPROX. $53; REFILL ONLY)
At a glance: Eclectic sounds of the Waldorf MicrowaveXT available in NN-XT ReFill for Reason and WAV formats.
Contact: www.reasonbanks.com
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
