XILS L: XILS 3 LE
reviewed by John Baccigaluppi
This “matrix based modular synthesizer” softsynth, based on the EMS VCS 3, was an impulse purchase for me on AudioMIDI.com’s eBay store – one of their “No Brainer”...
Gear Reviews
Virtual Instruments
Camel Audio: Alchemy soft synth
reviewed by Alan Tubbs
There are many jobs for which hardware still rules the music roost. But there are some that software does better - synths, for example. Though no software will replace my analog Minimoog, many...
Spectrasonics: Stylus RMX 1.9 virtual instrument
reviewed by Brandon Miller
Stylus RMX has been on the music scene since 2004 and has been and continues to be a "go to" tool for good reason. There simply hadn't been anything before it that could manipulate real audio files on...
Sonoma Wire Works: DrumCore 3.0
reviewed by Scott McChane
feature offers huge flexibility for tailoring dynamic rhythms or accents to really fit the mood of the composition; and using the grooves as a MIDI template, it's easy to substitute the triggered...
ProjectSAM: Symphobia Symphonic Ensembles & Effects
reviewed by Will Severin
In my composition work, I have spent countless hours assembling a virtual orchestra using a variety of libraries and numerous MIDI channels for each of the individual instruments that make up each...
Dan Dean Productions: Solo Strings Advanced (NI KONTAKT2)
reviewed by Dave Hidek
Strings are notorious for being the least life-like patch in any sample library, and as of a couple years ago, I believed that I would never work with a realistic string sample without taking out a...
GForce Software: M-Tron Pro keyboard plug-in
reviewed by Will Severin
Over the holiday season, I added a handful of new software instruments to my audio arsenal, including M-Tron Pro (an update to GForce's well-known M-Tron plug-in). M-Tron Pro includes both standalone...
Spectrasonics: Omnisphere virtual instrument
reviewed by Brandon Miller
I've never been one to jump to the last page in a book, and I generally don't like to hear what happened at the end of a movie before I've seen it, but in some cases (like an opera or a good Broadway...
WaveMachine Labs: Drumagog 4.11
reviewed by Garrett Haines
In some circles, purists scoff at the idea of replacing drums. As a drummer and a microphone addict, I understand. But the fact remains there are times when you need to augment or fix poorly-recorded...
Arturia: Analog Factory Experience
reviewed by Allen Farmelo
As an integrated system with hardware controller and soft-synth designed together, Analog Factory Experience may just be the first "hybrid synthesizer". The controller is an exact physical...
XLN Audio: Addictive Drums 1.1
reviewed by Will Severin
There's nothing like hiring a great drummer with a quality kit, recording it with a selection of killer mics, and processing the tracks through an assortment of world-class outboard gear....
EastWest Sounds: Quantum Leap Goliath
reviewed by Brandon Miller
EastWest has really made a name for itself in producing great sounds. Its Symphonic Orchestra libraries have set a high standard and are considered a must-have by an enormous number of composers...