ONE-SHOTS
May 1, 2005 12:00 PM, By Jason Scott Alexander
SAMPLELAB ANALOG ARCHIVE
SAMPLE COLLECTION
Although it may seem somewhat oxymoronic to digitally sample analog synths, sampling is the most accurate and therefore respectful method of reproducing the classic designs featured in SampleLab's latest 24-bit multiformat library. This new collection contains the sounds of more than 20 landmark synths with a strong emphasis on early modulars and polyphonics. Some of the more exotic gear featured includes the ARP 2600, Roland System 700, Moog 3C Modular, Oberheim 8-Voice SEM, E-mu Modular, Sequential Circuits Prophet-VS, EMS VCS3 and Waldorf Wave. The sounds are broken into eight generic categories (short notes with attack, short with filter/modulation, sustained, effects, percussion and so on) and largely comprise single notes.
The samples honestly capture every ounce of warmth, grunge and raw power, ensuring that the full character of the original equipment is retained. Using the filters, envelopes and LFOs of your soft sampler makes the most of this library, and in doing so, I was able to torque and breathe a whole new level of excitement into the raw material. If you need genuine, uncompromised analog sounds, skip the modeling synths and check out Analog Archive.
SAMPLELAB (DIST. BY EASTWEST)
ANALOG ARCHIVE > $99.95
At a glance: Sampled vintage synths available in audio, WAV, EXS24, HALion and ReFill formats.
Contact: www.samplelab.com or www.soundsonline.com
SCARBEE VINTAGE KEYBOARD FX
EFFECT-EMULATION PLUG-IN
Created with electric pianos, organs and Clavinets in mind, this PC-only VST plug-in brings classic backline- and stompbox-inspired tools to a single-window, unified rack interface. Broken up into eight configurable blocks, effects include stage piano preamp with EQ and stereo tremolo, nonlinear optical-style compressor, advanced auto-wah, phaser, chorus, overdrive, delay and tube amp with reverb modeled on the 2512 Fender Twin. Top-down signal flow can quickly be reconfigured by simply dragging modules into place; unused modules can be switched off to conserve CPU resources. The master section features typical meters and controls, as well as sophisticated file-management options that allow you to save or load individual module presets for mixing and matching groups of modules or a whole rack setup. VKFX can sync to host clock or its own master clock, or each module can run independent to re-create the sonic anarchy of '70s and '80s stompboxes that weren't designed to run with synched LFOs.
This plug-in is built on fun and deep expression: The Auto-Wah goes way beyond traditional with its lowpass, bandpass and highpass filter modes; sweeping LFO; and envelope and polarity controls. Rich and exceedingly funky, the filters really dig in and bite. The phaser is a shimmering chip off the old four-stage MXR and UniVibe block, and the chorus nails the Boss CE-1. If you've never used these stompers on vocals and guitars, then you don't know what you're missing. Terribly addictive, it's easy to get carried away — thankfully, the undo and redo buttons allow you to travel through your edit history. A comprehensive PDF manual is launched from within the plug-in, and Scarbee has graciously provided a total of three installs per purchase.
SCARBEE
VINTAGE KEYBOARD FX > $299
At a glance: Virtual rack packed with models of vintage-keyboard-style analog effects. PC VST. Download only.
Contact: www.scarbee.com
TASCAM ACOUSTIC DRUMS
GIGASAMPLER DRUM LIBRARY
Featuring Pat Mastelotto on skins, veteran producer Larry Seyer designed this library with GigaSampler 3 specifically in mind, carefully tailoring 115 distinct-sounding kits around the sampler's new features. The kits are provided in four different performance configurations — each available as 2-, 5- and 7-channel surround formats — for a total of 1,380 workable GSI kits. Using GS3's “stacked instrument” feature, you can nondestructively switch out individual kit components and create custom kits from the more than 169 user-selectable kicks, snares, toms, cymbals and so forth. Seyer has also included 13 new GigaPulse rooms, each having 18 player locations and seven channels of output, as well as the unique Trash Room colorization impulses for more bizarre effects. As if that weren't enough, 1,444 MIDI files turn this into a flexible drum-loop library. More than 7.3 GB of samples and 10,000 files must be copied from the two-DVD set for a full install, which you should reserve a good hour or so to do.
I was immediately impressed by this library's openness and dynamics; the attention to acoustic details like hat sizzle and tom color is breathtaking. Each drum and hi-hat was struck in as many as eight positional zones; in 16 velocity layers; and with sticks, rods, mallets and other strikers. Seyer meticulously recorded all material in 24-bit stereo and programmed enhanced control into each and every instrument. GS3's new Round Robin mode is also used to avoid sample redundancy during rapid playing — the effort has paid off! Although pricey and demanding of the CPU in 7.1 mode, this is easily the most electrifying and musical-sounding kit collection in my stash. Brilliant instrument and microphone choices, close attention to phase and time alignment, programmer-friendly keymapping and powerfully dynamic signal paths make Larry Seyer's Acoustic Drums a class act.
TASCAM
ACOUSTIC DRUMS > $399
At a glance: Massive multiambience acoustic-drum sample library for GigaStudio 3.01 or higher.
Contact: www.tascamgiga.com
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