i will review the platinum version.
This virtual studio comes with :
ULTRAN - WAVE MORPHING SAMPLER : huge stereo pads and ambient textures (4 osc synth, 3 env and 2 lfo).
TOMCAT - DRUM SYNTHESIZER : percussive monophonic synthesizer for electronic drum sounds (3 osc, 3 env and 2 filters).
SAMPLER - support of AIF, AKP (akai S5000/S6000), KRZ (KurzweilK2000), RX2 (recycle), SF2 (soundfont) and WAV.
integrated Groove Slicer and Program Editor (with pitch detection) (3 env and 2 lfo) and up to 16 outputs.
WASP - VIRTUAL ANALOG SYNTH : FM and ring mod (3 osc, 3 env and 2 lfo), unisson mode, distortion and easy programming of note slides.
DRUMS GENERATOR : load wav and LM4 kit has a step sequencer and 4 outs
MONOBASS - VIRTUAL ANALOGUE : TB303 with accent and slide programming
XR-909 DRUM SYNTHESIZER : 8 vintage drum sounds, with a step-based loop programming and 10 outs (optional)
WAVEFUSION : WAVETABLE SYNTH (ala waldorf PPG) but with 3 osc, 3 lfo and 2 env.
SCREAMER - VIRTUAL ANALOG SYNTH : (ala MS20) 2 osc with attitude
PLUCKED STRING
and MIDI OUT
35 effects and a band fx to split the signal in 3 band and assign 6 effects to this 3 bands.
some effects support audio and midi side chain.
SEQUENCER : comes with Parameter automation, arpeggiators, Microtuning (support of Scala files), Groove Templates, Pluck Templates
MIXER : 4 bands EQ, 4 inserts, 4 sends, and a master mixer with 4 effect busses and 4 submix busses.
PLUGIN SUPPORT: VST and DX, The VST instrument support the genetic preset feature to create a new preset from 2 existing presets.
finaly, Orion Platinum supports :
Vsti and DXi synth
Vst and DX effect
Low-latency ASIO output
Audio Tracks
Multitrack audio recording
ReWire2 Master+Slave
it's possible to bundle all the samples used in a project to easily collaborate with others musicians
it's the most intuitive sequencer i have seen, it works like a real studio around the central mixer.
Sequencing in Orion is pattern-based, every instrument has 64 patterns and each pattern can have a different length.
One of the most important thing is the sound of the filters they just scream and make you dance around tweaking your cut-off and resonance knobs all the night (and you will not be the first).

Orion Platinum (OP)


Things I like about OP:

* Sequencing is excellent (very, very easy).. especially if your favorite "midi controller" is your mouse.

* I really dig the Sampler module in OP. It supports Akai S5k/S6k, Kurzweil K2k, Wav, Aiff, Soundfont2, and it's own .OSP format. On top of that, it can break wave files into segments ala recycle (aka Groove Slicing) which it can paint onto the piano roll.. nice!

* Arpeggiator is built into each VSTi or DXi Instrument you use (click the OPT button) and the arps are text editable.

* Drums module is easy to use and comes with a load of drum sets to get you started!

* Event (parameter) editing is easy to use/view.

Things I don't like about OP:

* Built-in FX. Some I think are nice.. but many of them lack critical parameters to really tweak the sound, making them not so useful. Others I find are lacking sonically... Some of this has been corrected as versions have increased; usually not by updating the old plugins, but creating new ones.. resulting in a ton of various built-in effects when a few could do the same thing.

* Sample set, while large, is less than inspiring.
Wavefusion instrument and Ultran instrument(which uses soundfonts) sound a lot alike to me (glassy and buzzy)

* Broken songs. If you make a song with a VST or DX Instrument or effect, and for some reason uninstall it... loading up your songs can be a task.

an example would be..

I had the old dbTempodelay (v1.0 no colorful gui) and saved a song or two with it. Uninstalled it when I got the newer version.. tried to load up the song that made use of dbTempodelay 1.0 and OP begged for me to find this plugin :x if one doesn't find the plugin and clicks 'cancel', then a 'filter delay' plugin will take it's place - regardless of the plugin. I wish it was just a pass-through plugin that didnt alter the sound any.

* Volume/Levels seem a bit unusual to me. Theres some sort of overdrive ability that can sound nice, but at times I wish wasn't there.


All in all:

I really like Orion Platinum.. It has really come a long way since I first reviewed it some 4 years ago.

It is the most easy to use sequencer I've ever seen. Which encourages it's use. Try the demo for yourself and see!

As of writing, there is a 7.5 version in testing.. which will include, among other things, multi-core support and a very nice sounding chorus. 8)

edit: updated my review from 4.086 to 7.1