EQ Magazine - February 2008 - (Page 46) ROMPLER ROOMS location, as any updates might be written to the current location, thus making it difficult to keep file structures in sync— although you can create a path to your own custom content.The instrument’s documentation should mention any considerations involved in moving content. Streaming vs. Loading into RAM Fig. 2: SampleTank 2.5 comes with 33 effects, including a convolution reverb. Some workstations can stream long samples from the hard disk, while others are restricted to what you can load into RAM. While using RAM is generally faster and smoother, you’re not going to load a 30GB piano into a computer with 2GB of RAM. Streaming often needs to be enabled—sometimes for Software-Based Workstations Here are thumbnail descriptions of some common softwarebased workstations, listed alphabetically by manufacturer. Apple EXS24.This is available only as part of Logic. While showing its age a bit, the EXS24 broke open the virtual sampler market. Big Fish Vir2 instruments. Based on the Native Instruments’ Kontakt Player engine, these offer effects, mixing, streaming from hard disk, and other features derived from NI’s flagship sampler. Cakewalk TTS-1. Available only within Sonar, this basic (and CPU-friendly) workstation is useful for blocking out parts while songwriting. East West Colossus.While originally offered as a sort of overachieving General MIDI set, this Kontakt player-based instrument contains an excellent assortment of high-quality sounds. E-mu Emulator X2.This brilliant sampler boasts excellent sound library support and innovative features, such as SynthSwipe for sampling older synths. It’s a good choice for those wanting to go beyond basic workstation applications. IK Multimedia SampleTank, Miroslav Philharmonik, Sonik Synth, SampleMoog. These are all characterized by large sound libraries, and offer a comprehensive set of effects. Korg Digital Legacy Collection.This set of virtual instruments includes a software M1, but it’s not your father’s M1.The sound is much cleaner, and it comes with all the M1’s expansion card sounds. MOTU MachFive 2. The latest version includes advanced features such as beat-slicing, REX file importation, convolution reverb, the ability to import samples in just about any format, and a 32GB sound library. Native Instruments Kontakt 3.This ambitious sampler includes features not found elsewhere, such as MIDI scripting (think of it as MIDI plug-ins you can write yourself). It also has highly developed slice-oriented beat-machine functions. Propellerhead Software Reason. While not a workstation per se, the ability to ReWire it into any major host is compelling, and you can insert as many instances of the included synths and samplers as your computer can handle. Sonivox Muse. Based on GigaStudio technology, this isn’t as editable as some of the “pure” samplers, but it has a ton of sounds, and it fulfills the concept of a hardware ROMpler brought to software. Steinberg HALion and Hypersonic. HALion is a traditional sampler that can stream samples from hard disk and offers multitimbral operation. Hypersonic resembles a keyboard ROMpler—it’s less editable than HALion, but is faster to set up and easier to use. TASCAM GigaStudio.This darling of the movie-scoring crowd was the first sampling system to stream from hard disk, and that process has been refined to the point where the program can play back really long samples and do so very efficiently. Ultimate Sound Bank PlugSound Pro.This workstation also handles loops and beats well, with excellent time-stretching options. Optional-at-extra-cost “virtual soundcards” are available for expansion. “Whether my recordings are analog or digital, I use ribbons to keep the signal as warm and real as possible . My Royer’s are all over everything I record guitars, drum overheads, trumpet, sax, even percussion and strings. They never get harsh or unnatural on the top end, and they find a home in the mix very easily.” Joe Chiccarelli (Producer/Engineer/ Mixer: The White Stripes, The Shins, Morrissey, Mika, Kurt Elling, Beck, U2 ) Royer Ribbons 818.847.0121 s Burbank, CA. www.royerlabs.com EQ FEBRUARY 2008 46 www.eqmag.com http://www.royerlabs.com http://www.royerlabs.com http://www.eqmag.com
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