One-Shots
Dec 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Jason Scott Alexander
EQUIPPED MUSIC NUJAZZ FUNK/BREAKBEAT JAZZ/LOUNGIN' HOUSE
SOPHISTICATED TRIO
Fully compatible with any WAV or REX2 compatible software, each title in this bundle delivers 4 GB of 24-bit loops arranged into folders that are formatted to drag-and-drop onto a SAGE Converter or load into a Refill Packer. Though not in a construction-kit style, loops are conveniently presented as complete drum grooves and individual percussion tracks (so every single element can be treated individually in the mix), with a separate folder of music and FX phrases that can be mixed and matched effectively with just about any groove and sound great. One shots of drums and instrument chords are also provided for sequencing flexibility. Stylistically, the three titles range from a live instrumentation with jazz-house beats combo (think St. Germain) to the more Squarepusher-esque fusion of acid jazz. NuJazz Funk has a distinct Brazilian sophistication, serving up syncopated and broken Latin disco beats mixed with cascading jazz-Rhodes, fusion synths, electric guitar, sexy Moog bass and more. I imagined old Nuyorican Soul performances while auditioning this disc. Breakbeat Jazz is more into the kind of experimental vinyl resourcing that would make DJ Shadow proud. The loops, licks and phrases are filled with tons of bombastic soul that could easily slide into a smoove R&B or hip-hop track. I loved the fluttery flutes, beatnik saxes and “destroyed” solo kick tracks provided for backdrops. Loungin' House pulsates with bobbing bass lines; filtered, stuttered and delay-repeated vocal effects; swirling keys; vintage vinyl strings; and curtains of techno ambience swimming around some of the most solid, Martini-sippin' house beats you'll ever find. All in all, a brilliant collection worthy of attention.
EQUIPPED MUSIC
NUJAZZ FUNK/BREAKBEAT JAZZ/LOUNGIN' HOUSE > $169.95 EACH; $399.95 AS BUNDLE
At a glance: Massive collection of fusion styles for late-night intelligence. WAV and REX2 files.
Contact: www.bigfishaudio.com
TOONTRACK DFH EZ DRUMMER
SUPERIOR IN MANY WAYS
More than merely a light version of the company's flagship DFH Superior, DFH EZ Drummer features the same multimicrophone recording technique but adds an integrated MIDI library and player for auditioning groove presets. As an added bonus, Toontrack has included the marvelously clubby sounding Yamaha Jordan Cocktail Drum Kit (a free EZX Expansion Pack) consisting of bass drum, snare, two toms (5-by-8-inch and 5-by-10-inch), 14-inch Zildjian hi-hat and Mikaelsson Custom ride. The user interface is beautiful, simple and intuitive. Clicking on arrows at the bottom of each drum or cymbal calls up menus from which you can select alternate instrument models (where available) and choose between brush or stick and ambient or tight kit miking. An internal mixer allows stereo and multitrack routing to host, giving you control between direct, ambience and overhead mic levels and leakage. Clicking on the Open Grooves button at the bottom of the UI superimposes an expanding MIDI Loop Browser window that reveals thousands of drum patterns, including straight 4/4 pop/rock, funk/rock, Motown and ballad rhythms with fills and alternates, as well as more interesting time signatures, shuffles and stylistic variations. Simply by dragging-and-dropping these into your host, you can quickly build a killer arrangement and use the adjacent velocity sweep and humanize knobs to caress all sorts of dynamic swings and even wonderful slop into the tightest of patterns. With several EZX Expansion packs already available (Latin, Drumkit from Hell, Vintage) and more certain to come, EZ Drummer is a fast, fun and affordable acoustic-drum solution that has no rival.
TOONTRACK (DIST. BY EAST WEST/SOUNDS ONLINE)
DFH EZ DRUMMER > $179
At a glance: Compact multimicrophone drum-sampler instrument derived from DFH Superior. Audio Units and VSTi.
Contact: www.soundsonline.com
XFONIC/ZERO-G FIRESTORM
SCORCHING, STRIKING DRUM 'N' BASS KITS
Presented by DJ Stakka, a veteran producer in the drum 'n' bass scene, Firestorm is a 24-bit, 1 GB DVD that opens to folders of bass loops, breaks, FX, drum kits and percussion, 14 multisampled pads and a specialized folder called Rave Candy, which contains hundreds of computer blips and synth/piano/FX stabs of various lengths. All loops weigh in at 175 bpm — a comfortable common denominator to mix and match everything on the disc without worrying about time stretching. The construction kits are certainly the center of attention, as the multitude of folders containing the discrete samples aren't exactly inspiring to pour through on their own; the nature of this collection is that it lacks much melodic content. The 15 construction kits are well-produced and act as a smoldering hot ignition to the rest of the content. Wading through the thematic kits, moods range from the crystalline atmospheres of Ambient Places to the vocal mischief of Dub Step and Junglist and the whirling synth arpeggios in Trance & Bass. Though complete, these kits wouldn't fulfill my desire for building a competitive track strictly on their own. Once the road is paved with a basic vibe from the kits, however, the bulk of the disc's discrete content folders begin to make sense, and you can then piece together the rest of an arrangement. Although slim at only 950 samples, Firestorm's concentrated high-quality provides enough fuel to cause major damage; you just have to dig a little to get things stoked initially and then work a little harder to fan the flames.
XFONIC/ZERO-G (DIST. BY EAST WEST/SOUNDS ONLINE)
FIRESTORM > $99.95
At a glance: 24-bit drum 'n' bass construction kits. Acidized WAV, AIFF, Apple Loops, RMX, REX2, Reason Refill, Kontakt, EXS24, HALion.
Contact: www.soundsonline.com
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