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All Reviews by Knoml


By Knoml
On 15th May 2009
Version: 1.01

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Togu Audio Line TAL-Elek7ro

TAL-Elec7ro is a great synth.

The user interface is simple and it looks good. It is capable of a variety sounds, as the presets of version 1.01 will demonstrate. Because all the basic waveform shapes are available, you can get everything from trancey crunk leads (saw leads) to chunky basses and it is capable of searing or smooth sounds. Be sure to check the KVR patch database as well.

It comes with envelopes, and LFOs with drop-down menus to sync the LFO speed to a variety of beat types (triplets and dotted note values are even available). LFOs come with intensity knobs, so essentially, it is "dubstep-wobble-ready". In fact, I would love to see TAL come out with an effects plugin that was just the filter and the LFOs, because of those features.

For me, I find it hard to use complicated synths with many knobs, as I'm not always sure what I'm doing, but this synth is not complicated. Due to its simplicity, it's easy to take a patch that someone else made and turn it into something unique. With every knob turn you can hear the difference you're making.

EDIT: I realized something that could improve Tal-Elec7ro. It would be useful if when you are changing the tuning of oscillators, if somehow you could see a number value for how many semitones and cents you are actually changing it. Right now you have to fiddle a bit with that.
 
Last edited : 21st May 2009     

By Knoml
On 23rd October 2008
Version: Summer08

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Krakli StringZ2

This synth attempts and succeeds to break new ground in sound. To be honest I haven't heard anything that sounds exactly like it, it has a unique flavor to it.

But mostly, it is packaged as a String-modelling synth, and its shiny user-interface is based on the wood you see in violins and cellos. For those looking for a realistic Orchestral VST for their studio, I must warn you, this synth gets close but does not sound exactly like your standard bowed string instruments. However, the sounds it creates are unique, rich and believable at times, subdued or leading, and it is definitely worth opening up and trying it out. When you consider how complex it must be to try and model a bowed string sound using a program, you can see that a lot of hard work went into this, and the result is quality.

This synth has character of its own and makes bowed instruments sounds that don’t exist in real life yet are close to realistic and it will find a place in your projects if you let it.

Something about this instrument that might be a pro or a con depending on how you look at it, is that on the user interface there is a keyboard with a line going across it that apparently allows you to make the filter and “overtone” react differently to different keys. While this is a neat feature, I’d love to see the ability to turn it off or an easy way to reset points on the line. StringZ2 is loaded with a variety of presets and some of the presets make great use of the keyboard-image filter.

So for features, it has a bit more than you expect, for example is the feature I just mentioned, but also there are 2 ADSR envelopes (one for volume and one for time). There are also reverb and a lot of other useful parts that are pleasant to look at and easy enough to navigate.
As for stability, you see, I’m running a dual core computer and this VST is made with SynthEdit. And as with all SynthEdit creations, I can’t run more than one instance at a time or everything gets buggy. But I believe this limitation is worth it, and those not on multi-cores should not have an issue.

As for cost? This is free, it's unique, and it’s great.
 
Last edited : 23rd October 2008     
Latest 2 reviews from a total of 2