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Dimension Pro
by Cakewalk
47 members are watching Dimension Pro for news
Product Dimension Pro
Developer Cakewalk
Primary Type Synth (Wavetable)
Price (MSRP) $349
Plug-in Formats
Instrument(s)VSTDirectXAudio Unit
Operating System Availability
Operating
System
Latest
Version
Download Is it
Available?
Windows 1.2 / 1.2.215 -Released
Mac OS XMac OS X Universal Binary 1.3 -Released
Miscellaneous Information
Copy Protection Serial Number
Supported Sample Formats include REX, REX2, sfz
Banks & Patches Download Banks
Average User Rating Average rating - 9.500
Compatibility Unknown
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Dimension Pro

Dimension Pro offers an abundance of sounds that range from pristine realistic acoustic instruments, thumping basses, cutting leads, to complex, evolving atmospheres. This wide tonal range can be attributed to both advanced sample mapping and the physical modeling of components, such as piano body/damper simulation and speaker cabinets, along with a powerful sound-sculpting engine with analog sound generation that lets you mutate and recompose any sound you might imagine with flexible, graphical Envelope Generators, tempo-syncing LFOs, and vector mixing.

Feature Highlights:

  • Two DVDs of multi-samples and grooves with over 1500 sound programs including: guitars, grand pianos, basses, synth basses, analog-style leads, pads, atmospheres, electric pianos, orchestral strings, dozens of evolving textures, and more. Dimension Pro also includes a large library of production-ready drums with groove programs, which can be dragged into the host application as a MIDI file for further manipulation and control.
  • Powerful synthesis capabilities:
    • Waveguide generators and wavetable oscillators generate analog-style sounds.
    • Each program provides up to 20 graphical Envelope Generators for intuitive yet precise control of your sound envelopes.
    • 20 host tempo-syncing LFOs per program, each with 21 shapes, ensure musically useful modulation over all parameters.
  • Expressive features:
    • Multiple velocity and keyboard switching and crossfading.
    • Advanced sample playback techniques, multi-looping, sample switching, and legato on MIDI Continuous Controllers.
    • Enhanced acoustic simulation is achieved via physical modeling components, such as piano body/damper simulation.
  • Multi-stage effects sections and filters: insert and send effects for each part including:
    • Bit reducer and Decimator.
    • 16 filter types.
    • 5 tone drive modes.
    • 3 stackable parametric EQs.
    • 6 delay types.
    • 3 chorus types.
    • LFO filters.
    • Autopan.
    • Room simulation and modulation effects.
  • Mix and layer up to 4 stereo parts per program.
  • Vector Mixer for real-time sound morphing: can be controlled by mouse or MIDI, lets you morph sounds by gliding between the different elements of a program.
  • Drag-and-drop MIDI into host application for groove manipulation.

RSS FeedAll KVR Audio news items relating to Dimension Pro.

Cakewalk announces SONAR 8 Producer & SONAR 8 Studio 22nd September 2008
Cakewalk announces $99 DAW Synth Upgrade Offer for Dimension Pro and Rapture 29th August 2008
Chicken Systems announces seven new Translator Special Editions 1st July 2008
Cakewalk updates Dimension Pro for Mac to v1.3 1st February 2008
Cakewalk announces Dimension Pro v1.3 and Rapture v1.1.1 updates 17th January 2008
SKYLIFE announces SampleRobot 3 (includes Dimension LE) 16th January 2008
Cakewalk releases E-MU Proteus Sound Modules for Dimension Pro and Dimension LE (+Get LE for free) 23rd November 2007
Cakewalk announces Pro Suite 5th October 2007
Cakewalk releases SONAR 7 Producer Edition and SONAR 7 Studio Edition 19th September 2007
Cakewalk releases Dimension Pro v1.2.215 (VST only) 31st August 2007
Cakewalk releases Expansion Packs for Rapture and Dimension Pro 29th June 2007
Galbanum releases Architecture Waveforms Cakewalk Edition 19th May 2007
Cakewalk releases Project5 v2.5 25th April 2007
Cakewalk announces Holiday Giveaway Extravaganza 7th December 2006
Cakewalk releases second Expansion Packs for Rapture and Dimension Pro 1st November 2006
Cakewalk releases free Expansion Packs for Rapture and Dimension Pro 17th July 2006
Cakewalk launches MusicTeq 2006 Synth Mastery Tour 15th May 2006
Cakewalk releases Dimension Pro v1.2 7th April 2006
Cakewalk announces Dimension Pro v1.2 (incl. Intel-Mac) 29th March 2006
Smart Loops Launches SL Sample Sets (Drums) 9th February 2006
Cakewalk announces Dimension Pro v1.1 (+GPO Content) 19th January 2006
Cakewalk announces Dimension Pro (Mac & Win) 7th October 2005

User Reviews by KVR Members for Dimension Pro.

CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR REVIEW


By torhan
On 6th January 2006
Version: 1.10

Read all reviews by
torhan


9 of 9 people found
this review helpful.

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  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
The main reason I bought this synth was to replace my Trinities. So, my review will be based on this premise -- as I'm sure many people have been looking for "cheaper-than-Colossus" solutions. I do mostly electronic stuff, but every once in a while, I'm called upon to do a project that requires these types of sounds.

Installation/Registration: The installation, from 2 DVDs, went smoothly. Registering is easy -- just a web-based form at Cake's site. Then they will email you an auth code. However, I've registered more than 5 days ago, and have yet to receive my email; I have contacted Cake regarding this, so hopefully it will be resolved before the 30 day period ;-)

GUI - The GUI is very clean. Clicking on the Program name launches the Program Browser in a floating window -- this is great! You can quickly use your computer keyboard arrow keys to move to the next preset (which are grouped by category) and load by pressing the enter key. And just found out that the right arrow will expand a category and the left arrow will collapse it, nice touch. Clicking on an Element name, launches a typical windows "open file" dialog.

At the top, there are icons for saving/loading Programs/Elements, options, show/hide Midi and VectorMixer matrixes (the latter 2 also floating windows).

Each element's settings are clearly displayed: keyrange, vel range, transpose, etc.

Choosing settings, you can either click to move forward (through possible values), or right-click to move backward; or click on the 'drop-down arrow' for the pop-up showing all possible settings. Turning knobs, enables a tool-tip style display of current values.

There are 'tabs' for each of the envelope generators and LFOs assigned to pitch, cutoff, resonance, pan and amplitude.

I'm not much of a tweaker, but there seems to be no "undo" function, no indication of original values and no "compare" feature. There is also no "cancel" button when loading programs -- however, they load very quickly, so not exactly a problem.

One thing I did find a little different (say .vs Kontakt) is the tempo-sync values. A "1" represents a quarter note (not a whole note as in Kontakt). Therefore a setting of "1/2" = 8th note; "1/4" = 16th note, etc. So, to get a dotted 8th note delay, you need to actually set "1/2d" and not "1/8d."


Sounds: I went through a lot of sounds and compared them w/Trinity's programs (not combos). Here's how they stacked up to me. Obviously it would take too long to go over each category in detail, so I'll try to highlight some.

Many of the patches in the "Dimensions" category are geared toward atonal/soundscapes/ambient/sound fx... showing off what can be done with the synth.

Pads - If you go preset for preset, it seems Trinity has a little more presence. But with some tweaking, I found DimPro to stack up nicely. For example, I compared two basic Saw Pads. In order for DimPro to sound as good as the Trinity, I easily copied an element and pasted it to the 3 open slots, panned and detuned each element, sprinkle a little chorus + reverb, and good to go!

I would say DimPro has the definite edge in most categories, like: Guitars, Real Basses, Strings, A Pianos, Saxes, Synths/Leads/SynBass, Ethnic, Woodwinds. Other categories are just as good.

Where DimPro may be lacking, IMHO, is in the vocal/choir , brass, organs (I love Trinity's selection) and e-pianos (not that they're bad, just maybe need more e-piano layered patches?). Just not enough variety in these categories. Some nice Orch Hits would've been nice too.



Features: So much great stuff. 16 filter types, 5 tempo-synced LFOs and drawable Envelopes (w/looping) per Element, Drive and LoFi modules, 3 EQs per element, you can even apply a filter to only the "wet" signal of the delay FX. Midi Matrix -- any source can control any destination.

Docs: Typical Cakewalk manual, which is a good thing.

Presets: Very good. With 1500+ to choose from, how can you go wrong! I think some of the presets aren't taking advantage of all 4 Elements...but nothing that a simple copy/paste can't handle!

Support: Rene is active here as well as Cake's Instrument forum.

VFM: Superb. I paid $206+tax = $0.137 per patch.

Stability: No problems. System: WinXP, 2.6 PIV, 1 GB RAM, Sonar 3P, Motu 2408mkII, MidiSport 2x4.

To summarize: I think this could definitely replace my Trinities (with the exception of good organs, but I don't use those sounds too much). There are soooo many presets, there should be something for everyone. I think I could easily mimic my favorite patches on DimPro. As there is so much more under the surface (the sfz format), I'm sure there are tricks I've yet to uncover. Knowing that there will be some 3rd party libraries coming, that's icing on the cake(walk).
 
Last edited by torhan on 7th January 2006    Report
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