ONE-SHOTS
Jan 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Jason Scott Alexander
FREEFLOAT TIËSTO ACCESS VIRUS SOUNDSET
SOUND LIBRARY
You may not be familiar with his name, but sound designer Mike Clark is the man behind many of the sounds you hear on Tiësto's Just Be (Nettwerk, 2004). A veteran and award-winning programmer who once worked for Korg and Roland, Clark was commissioned by the Dutch trance god to create new sonic material for the album using only an Access Virus, Tiësto's main axe. What users discover is that Clark created not one, but two complete sound banks — 256 patches in total — mostly consisting of so-so arps (over half of the library), dated-sounding pads and unimaginative effects.
I was disappointed not to find more in the way of aggressive new lead and bass sounds. In fact, I was disappointed with the déjà vu feel of the entire library: Many of the patches sound suspiciously close to Virus factory or public-domain creations I've come across over the years, only not nearly as exciting. Annoyingly, few patches have modulation or after-touch assigned, and I could not find one that made use of the amazingly fat Analog Filter Mode of Virus version 6.5. Several of the sounds have this uncontrollable life of their own in which subtle pitch drifts (no doubt added to give a euphoric trance feel) make fitting them to your work difficult. Volume levels among patches are also terribly inconsistent, sometimes differing as much as 35 dBs, so watch your speakers! Tiësto has been accused of sounding cliché, and this library obviously didn't take him into any new and exciting sonic territory. And given the library's lack of any edge or signature sounds to springboard into hit hook lines, it's not going to transport you either.
FREEFLOAT
TIËSTO ACCESS VIRUS SOUNDSET > $69
At a glance: Two sound banks (256 patches total) of Tiësto “signature sounds” for all models of Access Virus: A, B, C, Indigo, TI or PowerCore. Standard MIDI format.
Contact: Web www.freefloat.net
KAGI MEDIA MIX IT LIKE A RECORD
DVD TUTORIAL
DVD producer Jonathan Kagi and multi-Platinum, Latin Grammy — winning mixer and producer Charles Dye (Lauryn Hill, Ricky Martin) team up to deliver an exciting Digidesign Pro Tools mixing tutorial in this feature-packed new dual-layer DVD-ROM, Mix It Like a Record (MILaR). Focusing on a pop-rock song called “She Loves Me” that Dye recently mixed for the independent band eL, the three-hour DVD guides you through the entire mix process using the hybrid facilities of newly opened Miami-based Supersonic Studios on its maxed-out Pro Tools|HD Accel system and Icon D-Control work surface. Kicking things off are several introductory chapters that explain mixing basics, offer monitoring advice and provide background on analog and digital gear used in mixing throughout the years. Dye then gives a blow-by-blow account of how he mixed and automated the song, covering every instrument and vocal track with razor-sharp theory and practical tips on using popular TDM and RTAS plug-ins to get your mix sounding “like a record.”
The 1.8GB CD-ROM layer of the DVD includes a ZIP file that unpacks to reveal 40 Pro Tools session files optimized for HD Accel, Mix, LE and M-Powered systems, as well as Sony- and Waves-centric sessions. Each session follows a related chapter on the DVD, and every plug-in has a preset named after the track that it's on and the function of the plug-in (for example, Lead Voc DeEss), making it easy for you to experiment with parameters and get back to the original mix settings. While virtually sitting by Dye's side at the board, the vibe is casual, like being with an old friend. You not only get invaluable studio time with Dye, but also take trips across America with him as he discusses keeping mixes fresh, the importance of creating space, and more. Passionately delivered and inspirational, MiLaR is highly recommended.
KAGI MEDIA
MIX IT LIKE A RECORD > $149
At a glance: Mixing tricks of mixer and producer Charles Dye. Dual-layer, 180-minute DVD with 40 accompanying Pro Tools LE and TDM session files.
Contact: www.kagimedia.com
FUNK/SOUL PRODUCTIONS SOUL CITY
SAMPLE COLLECTION
Of late, I've been receiving funk libraries from the left, right and center. But one new release really caught my attention for delivering the groovy goodness of funk but with the laid-back cruisin' feeling that one can only obtain from soul. Inspired by the music of artists such as Isaac Hayes, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Macy Gray, Me'Shell Ndegéocello and Erykah Badu, Funk/Soul Productions has assembled a smoldering collection of soul construction kits on DVD featuring both live and programmed elements. Provided in Apple Loops, REX and WAV formats, the 27 nondescript kits are divvied only by tempo (75 to 115 bpm) and key in their folder names. With each kit containing 10 to 20 tracks, in mixtures of two-bar and four-bar phrases, you'll typically find a bass line, a main drum track with three or four variations, a guitar track or two, keys, horns, strings, synth lead and percussion (congas, bongos, wind chimes, tambourine and so on).
The kits are masterfully performed and contemporary throughout, and I loved the decision on some of them to combine acoustic drums with lo-fi drum-machine grooves or simple 808 kick and hat. Likewise, I found the slippy and wispy vinyl scratching made classic-sounding kits today-cool. One problem of note, however, is that the drums provide intros, pick-ups and fills but often with no endings or ways to get out of a groove. You'll have to put it together piecemeal from slices that can sound contrived at best and simply wrong when no slice element, such as a crash or snare decay, extends for more than a beat without something else cutting it off. Nevertheless sexy, sweet, smooth and seductive, for so few kits, the variety of material is surprisingly deep and will beautifully hold down your trip-hop, pop or hip-hop vibe. After all, you can never have too much soul in the city!
FUNK/SOUL PRODUCTIONS (DIST. BY BIG FISH AUDIO)
SOUL CITY > $69.95
At a glance: Groovin' collection of construction kits covering a variety of soul styles. Apple Loops, REX, WAV.
Contact: www.bigfishaudio.com
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