EQ Magazine - January 2009 - (Page 58)

GEAR HEAD plug-in insert slots compared to five, and for DSP, LE has 17 options—less than half the 40+ DSP processes in other Peaks. But the essentials are there; the only function I really miss is “Find Peak,” which I use in mastering to locate “rogue” peaks so I can bring down their levels. There are also no restoration tools (e.g., repair clicks, SoundSoap LE). What you get that you didn’t expect: First up: Peak’s superb sample rate converter made the transition to LE; although quality is limited to five out of 10 for offline editing, performance is the same as Pro’s for realtime playback. Editing features are also unexpectedly complete, and there’s a lot of bundled content: WireTap Pro (captures Internet/system audio), SFX Machine LT, sixmonth Broadjam.com membership, sound effects, audio loops, and more. LE also supports 14 formats— including QuickTime with video playback—lacking only the RAW and DDP 2.0 file formats. And although there are also a few limitations in playlist/CD creation (e.g., no graphical waveform editing— although of course you can do that outside of the playlist), LE can convert that playlist into a fully-compliant Red Book CD. LE even does CD Text, automatic PQ code generation, ISRC and UPC codes, and the like. Furthermore, LE supports podcast publishing (no additional software needed) and has a handy ducking feature to lower music during voiceovers. And in a nod to consumer-oriented applications, you can export audio directly to iTunes from the playlist. NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GUITAR RIG XE AND SESSION ($119 AND $249) Not only DAWs have lite versions: So do plug-ins. Guitar Rig XE isn’t just a “teaser” for the full version, but more of a “Guitar Rig’s greatest hits” that stands on its own. What you don’t get: For about 1/3 the price compared to Guitar Rig 3, you get about half the amp models, effects, and tools. Although the full version includes six more amps, interestingly XE includes the amps I use the most: Lead 800, Twang Reverb, AC Box (AC30), Gratifier, Citrus, and Bass Pro. GR3 has 44 effects; XE has 21 (including the two modulation sources). While XE has all the basics—distortion, compression, EQ, phaser, autofilter, noise gate, wah, chorus, flanger, etc.—it doesn’t have some of my GR3 favorites: the Psychedelay with its wonderful backward delays, octave divider, harmony synthesizer, synth lowpass filter, and rotating speaker. (The remaining GR3 effects tend to be variations on EQ, delay, octave divider, filters, noise reduction, and the like—good for broadening your palette, but not as “essential.”) Modulation sources lack the envelope, step sequencer, and analog sequencer, making it difficult to do AdrenaLinn-type synced effects. As to accessories, you get the two “tape decks” that can record/play back riffs and final outputs, tuner, and metronome, but no loop machine, split (essential for parallel effects), or crossover—another powerful tool for parallel processing. There are also only 150 presets compared to 500. What you get that you didn’t expect: The models and effects included in XE are the same as those in GR3—not junior versions. They even have the “advanced” parameters for tweaking parameters like Sag and Bias on the amps. XE also includes the same drag-and-drop, 58 EQ JANUARY 2009 www.eqmag.com http://www.royerlabs.com http://www.Broadjam.com http://www.royerlabs.com http://www.eqmag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EQ Magazine - January 2009

EQ Magazine - January 2009 Contents Talk Box Sounding Board Punch In Bob Dylan The Killers Guitar Trax Bass Management Key Issues Drum Heads Vocal Cords Mix Bus Cheat Sheet Microsoft Windows Vista Apple Mac OS X "Lite" Software Roundup "Lite" Software Gadgets & Goodies Sounds Room With a Vu

EQ Magazine - January 2009

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