AUDIOREALISM BASS LINE 2
Jun 1, 2007 12:00 PM, BY JASON BLUM
AUDIO DETECTION
Thankfully, ABL2 does away with that by offering complete MIDI control over every parameter. Setting up external control surfaces is a breeze with ABL2's MIDI Learn mode, a convenient tool that allows you to quickly map any MIDI control in the software with a couple of mouse-clicks. I was able to lay out a complete control setup for ABL2 with my Novation Remote 37 SL without any issues and was happily tweaking away in just a couple of minutes.
Since the ABL2 is a VST/AU instrument, it includes the same comprehensive automation facility as any other quality plug-in. All of its parameters are available for easy graphic control from any compatible host sequencer — something that even the most heavily modified TB-303s could never hope to achieve.
One notable tool in ABL2 is its audio-detection facility. This unique ability analyzes audio clips of 303 riffs and attempts to extract pitch information from the file, providing a rudimentary basis for reconstructing the loop as an ABL2 pattern. It takes clean source material and some help from your own ears, but with a little patience, good results are possible.
Don't expect your swiped riffs to sound just like the source — ABL2 doesn't have any way of detecting variables like knob position or effects used, so you're on your own in that regard. However, audio detection could be a great tool for someone with a large sample library of 303 riffs who wants greater control over their tone or for anyone who has an original 303 and would like to copy old patterns into ABL2.
The 303's impact on modern dance music is truly staggering. Consider just a few of the classic songs built on its unique sound — Josh Wink's “Higher State of Consciousness,” Fatboy Slim's “Everybody Loves a 303” and pretty much everything Hardfloor ever did. It becomes clear just how important this little box has been to the dance scene over the past 20 years.
AUDIOREALISM
BASS LINE 2 > 95 (APPROX. $135)
Without a doubt, there's something about a real 303 that has a certain je ne sais quois, a vibrant sense of soul and personality, and duplicating that in the digital realm poses a daunting task. After closely comparing ABL2 with a genuine 303, it's clear that AudioRealism's virtual clone is a dead ringer for the real deal. The minor sonic differences are negligible; ABL2 offers unprecedented flexibility in programming and automation, and multiple instances run flawlessly from a single inexpensive plug-in.
I'll always treasure my original Roland TB-303; I won't part with that piece of history. I will put it safely in my closet, though. AudioRealism ABL2 is a near-perfect emulation that gives me all the 303 I'll ever need.
Pros: Impeccable 303 emulation. Improved filter and distortion quality. Audio pattern analyzer. Full VST/Audio Units automation. Can be programmed using step sequencer or via MIDI.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Cons: No stand-alone mode. Audio Analyzer slightly inaccurate. No swing function.
Contact: www.audiorealism.se
Mac: G4/1 GHz; 256MB RAM OS 10.3.9 or later; VST or Audio Units host software
PC: P4/1 GHz; 256MB RAM; Windows 2000/XP; VST host software
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