KVR Audio is the Internet's number one news and information resource for open standard audio plug-ins. We report new releases, product announcements and product updates (major and minor) for all VST Plug-ins, DirectX Plug-ins and Audio Units Plug-ins (and RTAS too). We manage a fully searchable audio plug-in database (updated daily), and offer many free member services including user reviews, product update notifications and a very active discussion forum. We also host official support forums for many plug-in developers plus the official Receptor support forum.
Plug-in Database: Virtual
Instruments, Effects & Hosts Plug-in
Ranks Banks & Patches
Download & Upload Plug-in Ratings
by KVR Members Wiki: Tutorials,
Audio Lexicon, ... Listen to Music
by KVR Members Search
KVR

Google Powered Search:

in new window

KVR Powered Plug-in Search:

All Reviews by loggan2


By loggan2
On 7th August 2008
Version: 1.0.0

Was this review
helpful to you?
Yes | No
  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
Wusik WusikGrooveBox

I just moved back to Windows, been a MAC user for quiet some time. And I'm happy I did, as I'm using mostly Wusikstation and this new GrooveBox solution on all my songs.

CPU usage is just extremely low, I'm really impressed by that.

Its very easy to quickly create grooves and drum-tracks with this program. There are some videos provided to help you along, just visit the products page to see them. I bet wusik will release more in the future.

I'm using mostly my own sounds in WAV format. So I load each sound on a new layer. Having 6 layers really helps. As I can process each sound individually. For instance, my snare drum I add a Gate Reverber, right inside the program, using the INSERT option.

I can also filter and EQ each layer, which is very nice.

Since it uses the same engine as wusikstation, they offer an integrated version. What does that mean? That you can actually use Wusikstation for everything. Using only one program for both solutions.

I'm doing that, so I always add ws to my tracks, and decide what I will do next.

Each step has a shift option, so you can make a step delay a bit or just play ahead. This is handy, so you can keep things at 1/16 of time per step and make adjustments as you go. The swing option is also great, to make the patterns play more like an human drummer. I usually leave it off, as I like to do my own shift-per-step options. Having a FLAM option per step is also nice, to create more dynamic grooves.

I'm not using the bass/synth options much, but from the video I see from wusik's site, it seems to be very easy.

The program is very stable, haven't had any crashes yet. Suport is top-notch, as I had to request a new download url due to some local problems, and williamk replied me in 5 minutes. Impressive. I had some problems with wusikstation before, and williamk found a solution in a few hours. I see that he's been on the forum a lot, so you can always reach him.

Right now, from what I see, the program only come with one set of drum-sounds. But since I use my own sounds, its not a problem. And today I read from Wusik's site that they will offer more free sounds to current users, so that's a plus.

Value for the money? I would say, SUPERB! 50 bucks for new users, or you can get with a membership, which I did, for free!!

I'm still learning my way around the program, but its very simple to use after you watch the videos they provide.
 
Last edited : 7th August 2008     

By loggan2
On 18th March 2008
Version: 4.2.4

Was this review
helpful to you?
Yes | No
  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
Wusik Wusik Station

recently got Wusikstation and I'm already impressed with everything,
specially support. At the company forum here, I asked for some info
about multi-layer crossfading using an external controller. To my
surprise, it was possible only to modulate two layers, not three or
more. But even more surprised I was when the author released a beta
version with the option to crossfade any number of layers. I never saw
this before, but again, I don't own many other VSTs.

Still, using Wusikstation is very easy, I get everything I need right in
front of me. Each layer's parameters are there to be used, there's a
Master area, FX areas and file-browser to handle all files.

It works like those old-school workstations, not like SF2 files I'm used
to. But this is not a bad thing to be honest. You get, for example, to
keep your sound file in one folder, and have multiple programs using
that same sound file for several programs. Yes, you can do the same with
a SF2 file, BUT, if you want to add more programs to it, you need to
edit the original SF2 file. Not to mention that with SF2 files you don't
get to make a program where you use sounds from different SF2 files.
With Wusikstation you can. Since Programs are one file-type, and sounds
another.

Its handy that is reads WAV files directly. But still, the Sample-Editor
that came with it is simple to use. Many users won't even bother about
that, but since I do a lot of sound-editing of my own, I had to use it.
Again, the author was nice to reply to some of my questions via the
support thingy.

I couldn't make it crash yet, so stability has been 100% for me.

Documentation was OK, not great, but OK. It had everything you would
need to start. The youtube video-tutorials are GREAT, those helps a lot.
Specially when getting started. They even got an intro video at their
site, under the product's page. That's one reason I got it, since I
could test it out and also see it in action even before downloading a
demo version.

The demo version was nice, as I could test it, but loading new sounds
was a bit strange at first, until I knew what I was doing exactly. You
have a folder where you keep your sounds and another for your presets,
as I said above. It wasn't too clear at first, but I noticed some info
at the bottom of the sounds-page, and after reading a bit the manual, I
was able to figure things out. But this shouldn't scare new users at
all. The worse case scenario, you would contact the author and he would
guide you, as he did with me on other areas.

Sound wise its very good. It will sound as good as the things you input
it with, since its basically a sample-playback engine. It also works as
a normal additive synthesizer, and has the ability to sequence waveforms
in real-time. (aka wavesequencing, the old Korg Wavestation was famous
for that)

But you really start to go nuts once you get to know the
modulation-matrix and the different filter-types. They sound very
analogish in my humble opinion. There's a SMOOTH knob that will take the
zipper effect out of transitions when using an external controller. It
doesn't work very well when using with modulations, but still, its a
very nice touch.

I had some sound problems with the original version, but after I updated
everything was normal again. (I forgot to install the latest update
after I installed the main SETUP, doh!)

I got 4 DAW computers in the same room, so I asked the author if I would
need 4 licenses. He said that if all computers are operated by me, it
wouldn't be a problem, one license is enough. Try asking this to other
companies...

One of my computers has only 512 of memory, which wasn't a problem as
this vst features direct-from-disk-streaming. (or whatever you want to
call this) Yes, CPU usage did increase by 20% when I activated it on the
other computers, but its still nice, since I could load more instances
at the same time. Specially pianos and strings on a project I was
working on.

It came with mostly synth sounds, but the pianos really stroke me, they
are very good and not too big. Compared to other libraries. I like
mostly sampled pianos, as they tend to sound more alive to me.

This is not the best synth out there, but its sure amongst the top ones
I use on a daily basis. Be prepared to expend a lot of money on extra
sets by other companies, you will be addicted in no time! (but that's
another good thing about it)

Not sure what else to say, if I remember something else, I will edit
this on another time. Hope this is not too long, I'm used to writing for
the local newspaper, so I tend to write too much at times...

lg
 
    
Latest 2 reviews from a total of 2

Receptor Videos