ONE-SHOTS
Mar 1, 2003 12:00 PM, By Dave Hill Jr.
Native Instruments Pro-53
SOFTWARE SYNTHESIZER
The success of Native Instruments' vintage line is not hard to understand. Who wants to lug around a Hammond B-4 and a Leslie speaker? With that in mind, Native Instruments Pro-53 provides Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 enthusiasts a virtual substitute for the original at a fraction of the price. Not only does this upgrade replicate the sound of the classic synth, but it can also receive SysEx (System Exclusive) preset dumps from an actual Prophet-5 or P-5 sound library. Add to that dummy-proof MIDI mapping and analog modeling down to the 440 tuning tone, and Pro-53 is a kindler, gentler and more-reliable Prophet-5.
But how does it sound? For starters, Pro-53's wisely added effects section (a deviation from the original) provides new dimensions to the already dreamy pads and effects sounds. In addition, the unison setting and voice-detuning options enable you to multiply your detuned layers while making some deep basses and definitive lead sounds in the process. If you feel like reminiscing, NI has cooked up a versatile core of factory settings to give you a running start. Pro-53 can run as a VST 2.0, DXi, DirectConnect, MAS or FreeMIDI plug-in, as well as stand-alone. You can also use the Pro-53 as an analog-style filter-effect plug-in. In testing, Pro-53 ran efficiently with no audible latency (about 4 to 5 ms). The provided manual — which includes step-by-step instructions for inserting Pro-53 into the all the usual suspects: Digidesign Pro Tools, Emagic Logic, Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo, and Cakewalk Sonar — cleared up any questions that emerged. Once again, Native Instruments has improved upon the past.
Product Summary
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS
PRO-53 > $199 (FREE DOWNLOAD FOR PRO-52 USERS)
At a glance: Classic sound with the ease of use of a software plug-in. Multiplatform support.
Contact: tel. (866) 556-6487; e-mail info@native-instruments.de; Web www.native-instruments.com
Big Fish Audio Hardcore Breakbeat Action
SAMPLE CD
Do sharp analog synths, swampy bass sounds and frenetic drum programming say hardcore to you? How about four CDs (more than a gigabyte worth) of “smack-your-speaker-up” rhythms and enough filter gymnastics to crane the neck of any dance-music snob? Although the word hardcore can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people, Hardcore Breakbeat Action (which comprises two audio CDs and two WAV-file CDs) delivers hundreds of loops and one-shot samples that will dirty up any production. Derivatively titled loops, such as the head-noddin' groove of “Method Machine Mix” and the gnarly synth-spanking “Rezanator Mix,” elude to a couple of HBA producers' influences — take a guess. With the fierce drum programming of “Dangerous Place” and the trance-influenced drum 'n' bass of “Hardcore Mix” or “Drumbeat Goes,” you have enough smashed-up drum patterns for a year's worth of white labels. All loops come with construction kits and their corresponding one-shot drum hits and samples, which make mixing-and-matching a snap. Regardless of how many Breakbeat permutations appear, Big Fish Audio (producers of Breakbeat 1, 2 and 3) has restated its love of beat-mincing with this darker, edgier release — a cry to the club crawler.
Product Summary
BIG FISH AUDIO
HARDCORE BREAKBEAT ACTION > $99
At a glance: Four-CD set with two audio discs and two CD-ROMs of corresponding WAV files.
Contact: tel. (800) 717-3474; e-mail info@bigfishaudio.com; Web www.bigfishaudio.com
Ilio Entertainments Stark Raving Beats
SAMPLE CD
Modern beat-making has evolved from the art of microphone placement to the choice of preamp and compressor settings to the era of, “Which VST plug-in are you using, dude?” That said, Ilio Entertainments' Stark Raving Beats collection boasts a veritable sonic showcase full of pre-, post- and over-the-top production techniques applied to progressive, big-beat and jungle-influenced drum-set grooves. Although the gear list is provided in the liner notes, these grooves never stray from the point: beats. Some producers may hear too much slickness in these gleaming and glossy beats, but Chris O'Brien and his production crew have canned a true labor of love full of cinematic beatscapes and his own original bombastic slate of trip-hop rhythms. Stark Raving Beats is a study in hi-fi percussion processing with 35 driving, multilayered kit and hand-percussion rhythms broken into 370 groove mixes for a hard drive full of layering options. The $199 version comes with Spectrasonics' infamous Groove Control data files, which allow you to align the original loop tempos (ranging from 105 to 170 bpm) to your track. Like a rave in another dimension, Stark Raving Beats is a true and defining original.
Product Summary
ILIO ENTERTAINMENTS
STARK RAVING BEATS > $99 (AUDIO CD); $199 (AKAI, E-MU, GIGASAMPLER)
At a glance: Drum loops, prebuilt kits and numerous mixes available in several popular formats.
Contact: tel. (800) 747-4546; e-mail ilioinfo@ilio.com; Web www.ilio.com
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