ONE-SHOTS
Mar 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Jason Scott Alexander
LINPLUG OCTOPUS
DUAL-MATRIX SYNTHESIZER
Not your typical synth, Octopus is an additive FM/sampling hybrid that contains one matrix for oscillator/filter frequency modulation and another for general modulation. In keeping with its name, Octopus has a bedazzling eight main oscillators per voice. Those are truly exciting in that they create additive waveforms made up of 32 harmonics each. Discrete amplitude and phase-edit “scopes” allow you to draw in peaks, valleys and notches with the resultant waveform appearing in the adjacent oscillator spectrum window. The sonic results of that are simply awesome; you can really dig in and fine-tune the harmonic content of a wave quickly and easily. Carefully applying small amplitude spikes to a simple sine wave, for example, yielded an earthy and edgy club-bass sound, while slightly more drastic amplitude and phase tweaks put some hairy funk on an otherwise pretty lead sound in just one or two clicks. It's also possible to load small sample files, analyze them and convert the wave data into a spectrum that the oscillators can use.
Another standout feature is the set of 32 envelope modulators. The powerful envelope editor allows drawing complex multipoint shapes — rather than standard ADSR curves — for immense modulation control. Chorus, delay, reverb, EQ and dual 32-step sequencers make Octopus really dance.
LINPLUG
OCTOPUS > $149
At a glance: Additive FM/sampling synth with dual-matrix modulation and distinctive sounds. VST (PC/Mac) and Audio Units.
Contact: www.linplug.com
WAVE MACHINE LABS DRUMAGOG 4.0
DRUM REPLACER PLUG-IN
Drumagog has enjoyed critical success for half a decade, but in DirectX only. Version 4 adds formats and remixer-friendly features that should justify placing this real-time drum replacement plug-in in everyone's VST, RTAS or Audio Units folder. Drumagog automatically replaces any audio that exceeds a definable threshold with selected drum samples. It comes with a huge library of kicks, snares, toms and cymbals that define sampled realism and are capable of accurately mimicking the subtlest of nuances intended by a drummer using random and positional multisamples. You can also import WAV, AIF, SDII and GIG samples. The magic comes thanks to extremely flexible sensitivity and resolution controls that allow you to fine-tune the plug-in's response to virtually any source track. A kick track recorded in a fairly wet room, for instance, was no challenge to Drumagog; I was able to dial into just the attack without the reverb tail having adverse jitter triggering effects, as is common with other drum replacers. Beyond multitracked drums, a resonant-filter section allows you to pinpoint an individual percussion instrument in a submix or loop, and the roll-off filter eliminates false triggers from rumble, hum or other extraneous noise. For that, the Advanced Visual Triggering page is a blessing, with its sensitivity vs. resolution crosshair that lets you hone the attack threshold and replacement resolution graphically, so you can set the degree of “ghost” attacks let through (ideal for snare drum). It's most fun, though, for quickly contorting loops with bizarre sample-trigger syncopations. New adjustable sample-pitch and phase controls, as well as support for host automation and plug-in delay compensation, round out this must-have tool.
WAVE MACHINE LABS
DRUMAGOG Pro 4.0 > $199
At a glance: Flexible drum-replacement plug-in with advanced timing and feel parameters. VST/RTAS/Audio Units for Mac and PC.
Contact: www.drumagog.com
BUNKER 8 HYBRIDIZER 2
SAMPLE COLLECTION
Fortunately, the producers at Bunker 8 Digital Labs are as creative at sound design as their marketing people are at describing those sounds with imagery: “Not unlike the distant raging child of some preborn dreadnought of rage, the beast has spawned again” aptly describes what lies inside this 4.3GB follow-up collection of nightmarish creations. The DVD opens to folders of REX files, Acidized WAVs and bass and electric-guitar multisamples in Kontakt and Reason NN-XT formats; Reason NN19 sampler and ReDrum kits; Hybrid Hits (one-shots of key Hybridizer 2 material including percussion, bass stabs, guitar shots, chorded keys, whacked distortions, vocalized hits and so on); and 45 construction kits with bpm values of 65 to 145.
The kits, as gratifying as they are, allow you to mix and match from the individual instruments' loops folders for even greater flexibility. The DVD includes a Web-style interface for rapid sound searching and auditioning capability, which was useful given the more than 6,500 different pieces of sonic mayhem offered. As a bonus to Reason users, all kits are conveniently provided as a single ReFill. Trashed drum loops, thrashed metal guitar riffs/scrapes and amphetamine bass lines are thrown against a backdrop of effected distortions, atmospheres and other twisting realities that are dark and often demented. Scores for up-tempo video games, extreme sports and action flicks come to mind listening to Hybridizer 2, but the raw, hard-assed nature is soothed somewhat with manically pleasant piano, synth and keyboard riffs, making the collection extremely palatable for nearly any electronic style.
BUNKER 8 (DIST. BY BIG FISH AUDIO)
HYBRIDIZER 2 > $99.95
At a glance: Construction-kit journeys of manic depression and rage, but they're fun, too. NNXT/Kontakt/REX/WAV/Acid.
Contact: www.bigfishaudio.com
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