Surface

This is one of the coolest percussion plug-ins around because you can make it sound organic or you can tweak it into total glitchdom. With the right rhythms, the sounds from this little machine can mesmerize you.

It is based on physical modeling modules, and I tend to use it as an unusual frame drum emulation. By positioning the X-Y GUI control at or near the center, you can achieve a full bodied membrane sound, and with the octave shift, push it so low your skull will rattle. There are other controls for manipulating the type of mallet/hand sound you want as well as a host of other clearly labeled knobs for tweakers.

It has some temporal controls for making notes shift in pitch (like a talking drum) and it is velocity sensitive according to your desired amount. The "vary" feature can be used to randomize the "snapshot" of each hit, making it an effective humanizer. I don't use that feature a lot, but for those wanting to make hi-hats and the like, it would be indespensible.

Add a touch of reverb or delay and this VSTi is perfect.Read Review