KVR Audio

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:31 pm

So, is Xpand! basically a conglomerate of Hybrid, Vacuum Pro, Structure, and Loom, lacking deep editability, but offering playable patches with superficial tweaks with smart controls and key/vel ranges for each of 4 parts?

kj.metissage · Post by **kj.metissage** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:37 pm

Well... It would have been great if it was XPand! 3 that was coming.

Version 2 could use some sonic improvements, especially with the acoustic sounds (acoustic guitars, pianos, brass, strings, woodwinds...), and also the electric guitars and basses which are a bit cheap sounding, whereas the synth stuff is decent, IMHO.

careyletendre · Post by **careyletendre** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:51 pm

EvilDragon wrote:So, is Xpand! basically a conglomerate of Hybrid, Vacuum Pro, Structure, and Loom, lacking deep editability, but offering playable patches with superficial tweaks with smart controls and key/vel ranges for each of 4 parts?

Well it's pretty much a four-part multi-timbral rompler with six smart controls, 2 adjustable predefined effects, arpeggiator and modulation per patch/voice.

Carey

basslinemaster · Post by **basslinemaster** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:59 pm

Maybe AIR will bring out an XPand! 3 which will be to Xpand! 2 what Hypersonic 2 was to Hypersonic - bigger and better samples, but most importantly, the ability to edit every part of every patch. That would really take the VST world by storm, a true follow up to Hypersonic 2.

careyletendre · Post by **careyletendre** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:55 pm

basslinemaster wrote:... a true follow up to Hypersonic 2.

HalionSonic?

basslinemaster · Post by **basslinemaster** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:58 pm

I don't think HalionSonic is much like Hypersonic 2, from what I've read about it - unfortunately.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 10:10 pm

Yeah it's not - XPand really is the follow up to Hypersonic - but unfortunately it sounds like without the deeper editing capabilities which tbh is a deal killer for me. Sounds like they have made it like Nexus - only authorised sound designers get access to the full version.

I'd still like to know if Hybrid has the same wavetable engine though because it's the wavetable synth that makes Hypersonic really special.

careyletendre · Post by **careyletendre** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 10:23 pm

HalionSonic is the spiritual successor to Hypersonic.

budweiser · Post by **budweiser** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 10:40 pm

EvilDragon wrote:So, is Xpand! basically a conglomerate of Hybrid, Vacuum Pro, Structure, and Loom, lacking deep editability, but offering playable patches with superficial tweaks with smart controls and key/vel ranges for each of 4 parts?

Not exactly. There is Hybrid samples in Structure, but it's not specified in xpand!2, and no loom or vacuum pro samples inside as xpand is older. It's not hypersonic 2, but a decent allrounder. Not sure you need it if you own the air bundle, but for $39...

bedjka · Post by **bedjka** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 5:52 pm

PAK · Post by **PAK** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 10:19 pm

careyletendre wrote:
basslinemaster wrote:This is amazing news! Correct me if I'm wrong, but XPand was created by Wizoo, the creators of Hypersonic 2!
Wizoo became AIR after being purchased by Avid in 2005.

Yes. And then they (being Peter Gorges, and eventually Paul Kellett) left there to form UJam years ago.. I think they're long gone from AIR instruments(?). So I don't think people should go into this one hoping for some sort of Hypersonic 2 revival..

zvenx · Post by **zvenx** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 10:38 pm

I like many here keep hoping for a hypersonic 2 successor. Halionsonic 1 or 2 isn't......... as someone said spiritual successor

..........

But listening to the youtube stuff above, these don't sound bad at all........And Honestly I don't think $99 is too much.... lord knows I spent that on a recent update of another workstation like synth that doesn't sound 1/4 as good...... However that there was a coupon recently for two others in this series, I think I will wait around for a few weeks or so hoping that a similar coupon is issued for this........... (Hint, hint Air Guy

)

Also wish a pro version would come out that would allow 16 channels (although that isn't huge) but certainly more edit-ability of patches.

rsp

dvnation · Post by **dvnation** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 9:05 pm

It's available for purchase NOW.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 9:12 pm

Cool! Waiting for my promo code as an AIEP owner

dvnation · Post by **dvnation** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 9:14 pm

And it's $49 instead of $39, for AIEP owners.

AIR XPand! 2 Coming To VST/AU