Native Instruments Giant Piano (Video Review)

Native Instruments has introduced The Giant – a new piano virtual instrument:

Sampled in amazing detail, THE GIANT is a unique instrument with an extremely strong low end, crystalline highs, rich overtones, plenty of punch, and a colossal sonic spectrum – from the devastating to the sublime.

This powerful sound is easily enhanced and modified to fit your productions. 40 meticulously-tweaked presets provide production-ready starting points, and detailed control features let you precisely shape the sound in every dimension, making the instrument supremely versatile, whatever the project.

THE GIANT is two instruments in one. A dark, cinematic alter ego, effectively a separate instrument alongside the main piano, offers an irresistible playground for sound design and dramatic effects. Create your own mix of unconventional, individually-sampled sound sources – overtones, resonances, plucked strings, release sounds and special techniques such as piano hits, kicks, sweeps or scratches – all directly and instantly playable from the interface, delivering professional results with a fast workflow.

These avant-garde sounds are also enhanced with detailed control options and a dedicated FX convolution engine with over 100 special piano effect impulse responses.

The original instrument is the Klavins Piano Model 370i. The ‘i’ stands for integrated – this huge upright piano is built into the wall of a room, effectively securing the soundboard. Over three meters high and weighing over two tons, the Klavins Piano Model 370i provides a soundboard that’s roughly twice the size of a typical 9′ concert grand piano soundboard.

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Arturia Wurlitzer V Piano Review

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Arturia recently introduced Wurlitzer V, described as ‘a high end software recreation of the classic Wurlitzer 200A electric piano.’

Wurlitzer V’s physical modeling engine reproduces the acoustic properties of reeds, key action and amplification, in order to deliver realism, while offering maximum flexibility on sound.

Russ Hughes of Pro Tools Expert takes a look at Arturia Wurlitzer V in this video review. He calls Wurlitzer V “an excellent emulation” of the original Wurlitzer 200A.

Arturia Wurlitzer V is available now for Mac OS X & Windows.

Pricing:

  • Box: USD 129.00 / EURO 119.00
  • Download: USD 99.00 / EURO 99.00

If you’ve used Arturia Wurlitzer V, let us know what you think of it!

Tone2 Saurus Review – ‘It’s A Beast’, But Doesn’t Hammer Your CPU

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Tone2 recently released a new software synthesizer for Mac & Windows, Saurus.

According to Tone2, Saurus is ‘not just another synthesizer with character, but one that truly represents the analog sound.’

Does it deliver?

Here’s a video review of Saurus, via JK Swopes of Sounds & Gear. His bottom line?

“This thing is a best! It doesn’t sound like one specific analog synth, it really has it’s own sound, but that sound is definitely analog.”

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UVI Emulation II & Drumulation Review

drumulator emulator reviewRob Puricelli has been working with the new UVI Emulation II Sample Library, which recreates the 80s sounds of the Emulator II and Drumulator.

He’s impressed:

So, is this one of the best Emulator emulations out there? I’d have to say yes.

I’m an Emulator fan. I’m an 80?s fan. I’m also a big lover of simple yet powerful interfaces that support the creative process, not hinder it. If you plonk me in front of an over elaborate, beautifully scripted interface, I’ll marvel at it’s beauty but will be stumped by the complexity.

I’m here to make music with sounds. I want power and control but I don’t want to read a 6 inch think manual or require a degree to operate it. I want clear, attractive controls, simple intuitive navigation and above all else, superb sonics and patches that inspire.

On all these counts, Emulation II, and it’s free drum based partner, is a hands down winner.

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Tone2 Saurus Synthesizer Review

Tone2 Saurus is a new software synthesizer for Mac & Windows, that its creators say is ‘not just another synthesizer with character, but one that truly represents the analog sound.’

Does Saurus sound as great as the gratuitously sexy 3D rendering, above, suggests?

Tom Shear at Waveformless has an early review of the new synth, and he came away pleasantly impressed:

Saurus is proof that your first impressions aren’t always correct.  The abundance of modern sounding presets Saurus ships with mislead me to think this was just another bog standard virtual analog. If you know what you’re doing, though, you’ll find there are lots of convincing analog tones in here waiting to be discovered.

So how does it compare to other contenders, such as Strobe or DIVA?  I’d say it’s not quite at the level of those two, but it’s damn good, cheaper than either of those, and less of a hit to the CPU.

See Sheer’s full review for the details and the Tone2 site for audio examples or to download the demo version.

iZotope Iris Synthesizer, The Photoshop Of Samplers, Reviewed

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In this video review, Russ Hughes takes a look at the new iZotope Iris software synthesizer. The review takes a look at the unique visual editing tools within Iris and offers lots of audio demos of what the new synth can do.

“Until you’ve used, Iris you simply can’t imagine working with sound in this way,” says Hughes, “Hearing what emerges from what I can only describe in some cases as ‘audio graffiti’.”

“It puts sound design and synthesis in the hands of the masses, not by dumbing down, but by making an elegant and wonderfully powerful interface so damned fun and intensely gratifying,” adds Hughes.

You can download a demo version of Iris at the iZotope site.

via ProToolsExpert

Grain Science For iPad Review

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Tim Webb takes a look at Grain Science, a new software synth for the iPad from Wooji Juice.

Grain Science is easy to get to grips with, but offers lots of depth to explore: instead of offering one or two LFOs, almost any parameter in the system can be programmed to vary over time in complex ways.

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iSynth iPad Synthesizer Review

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iPadLoops’ Jason Donnelly offers his take on the new iSynth software synthesizer for the iPad.

iSynth is a virtual monophonic analog-synthesizer for the iPad, designed and optimized for live performances. (MIDI support is missing in action).

Donnelly notes:

It’s pretty much your basic monophonic dual oscillator synth for the iPad. I did not like how the knobs behaved. They were difficult to control. I also did not like the fact that this synth can not be flipped horizontally.

iSynth is $1.99 in the App Store.

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Epic Synth For iPad Review

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Remember when Epic Synth, a new iPad synthesizer, was released and we ranted that an epic synth needs an epic demo?

A lot of readers agreed.

Since then, though, we’ve found out that, not only is developer Jean-Pierre Martineau listening and responding to Synthtopia readers – but reader Tim Webb, aka discchord, has responded by putting together this review & demo.

Webb is new to doing video synth reviews and says that he’s open to feedback:

Critiques are welcome, Synthtopia is 60% of the traffic for my two videos that have made the frontpage, so I am all ears when it comes to finding out what you want to see!

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Addictive Synth For iPad Review

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This is a video review, via Dischord, of VirSyn Addictive Synth – a new iPad software synthesizer:

The depth of this synthesizer is both taunting and inviting. With so many morph and modulation options there is a lot of fun to be had.

The bottom line? Addictive Synth is addictive as advertised.

Addictive Synth is $5.99 in the App Store.

If you’ve used Addictive Synth yourself, leave a comment with your thoughts on it!