MINIREVIEW: LOOPMASTERS BROKEN BREAKS
Sep 26, 2006 1:13 PM Jason_Scott Alexander (Writer)
The value-marketed Loopmasters soundware doesn't typically shell out the largest bounty of samples per disc around, but the quality of the series makes up for this. Broken Beats absolutely knocked me out from its first spin. The two-disc set (audio and data) features more than 260 exhilarating breakbeat loops in tempo folders ranging from 80 to 170 bpm, largely in the higher speed limits. Loops come as REX2 and Acidized WAV files and cover such progressive styles as broken beat/glitch and nu-jazz inspired lounge, hip-hop, electro, drum 'n' bass, heavy soul and more. From those styles, the producers have further woven original and wonderfully eclectic-sounding subgenres that defy nomenclature altogether, save to say that they're downright inspiring.
All loops last four measures and, more often than not, feature deep syncopations, groovy shuffles and experimental swing patterns that fuse together fantastically when layered. Each tempo folder is thematically assembled with soulful-sounding acoustic loops side by side with their quirky electro cousins. Saturated and explosively blown-out kicks, crunchy filtered snares, flanged hi-hats, ominous vocal hits and heady drones with vinyl-lifted authenticity are all on tap. The beat-production skills are second to none and processing is outrageously slick and refined. As is also typical of this series, Loopmasters has included a massive collection of 450 single-hit drum samples (effects intact and assorted by the tempo category they were used to program), all painstakingly premapped into kits for use in the most popular samplers, making it a simple matter to augment the loops or trick out your own grooves.
For more information, visit www.bigfishaudio.com.
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