PinkNoise Studio

Maia Orange Edition is one of the most exciting thing in Reason for me> I'm mainly Ableton Live user but I'm also owner of Reason 10.
I did use Reason and it's synths/devices quite a lot in A. Live through rewire but some time ago it's just stopped working. I can't really figure it out why (some annoying MIDI issue) and because I don't have much time for 'problem solving' I just leave it as it is and waiting for some good upgrade deal for the standard version of Reason 11 so that I can use them in A. Live again with the plugin. However Maia Orange edition is one of the few reason I open Reason-yeah I know..:)- in standalone mode. It's just can't stops amaze me. I feel like almost the exact same way like I felt 20+ years ago when I got my first synth>(KORG MS 2000) The only difference now is that I know what ADSR or Filter Envelope /etc. stands for. (...) The sequencer is quite smart and the different random options brings real MUSICAL ideas not like in some other devices.With other words the random mode is not TOO random...I can use it as a MultiFX (just like the MS2000) and I think the only thing I would wish for in future updates is the ability to add my own samples. That would be insane! Absolute worth every penny.

I'd been hovering around Virology for awhile and finally decided to get it. I wasn't disappointed. Purchase was easy enough using Paypal. You have to wait for a link and a registration number to be sent to you, and the website states 'within 24 hours'. I got mine 4 hours later. Understandable, since he's on the other side of the world.

The library itself is almost 3 Gb, so it's best to have a fast internet connection to download. They also recommend using a download manager, but on a cable modem (of which mine is regulated slower than normal) it took about an hour and a half.

The unpacked without a hitch and once placed in your Kontakt folder becomes immediately playable. The file itself states: Virology for Kontakt 3. It's unknown to me whether it works in v5, but I have v4.2 or whatever the last update before 5 was.

The sounds are laid out in categorised folders, with over 350 of them. There's lots here. Pads, leads, Fx, drums, monosynths, anything you could possibly need.

Sounds: 10 out of 10.

Pink Noise has taken great care and edited these meticulously. You have control over almost every parameter. The arps are well done, and there's different arps for different sounds. The scripts included for the delay and reverb are wonderful. The monosynths glide into each note, just like it were a real synth. There's also a whole folder dedicated to different variations of other patches. Not one sound overlaps with another.

Value for money : 10 out of 10.

I've bought quite a few 'Virus' sounds, and this is the cleanest, easiest to use, and will defintely end up in a future track. If you can't afford an actual Virus or a Virus TDI, this is a great substitue.

GUI: 10 out of 10. The GUI is a flame red with everything clearly laid out. The knobs are well labeled and easy to use. The separate parameters are clickable slots at the bottom of the module.

One thing I love about Pink Noise is the generous demo banks. This was a major influence on my purchase. I fully intend to make more. Would love Analogue Monsters, because the demo blew me away, but don't have the space on my hard drive.

Give it a test drive. An excellent value for the money. Two big thumbs up for the creators of this. Quite an ear. Quite a talent.