Product Reviews by KVR Members
All reviews by Germ777
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Energy XT! The name caught my attention some time ago, but never really cared to download and try the app.
I was looking to learn a new host just to have something different to work with other than my regular pattern based host.
I downloaded the demo for Energy and was truly surprised at how well this little (small download size) application works.
I had never worked within a modular enviroment and this program impressed me so much with its flexibility that I bought the license the same day that I tried the demo.
Within minutes I had figured how to set up a basic template for working in a more linear way which was what I was looking for as oppossed to the pattern based way used in my other host.
Many will look at the main window and wonder why there is no "standard" sequencer or a regular mixer or more presets (actually there are many of those in the user forum). But I find this to be EXT`s main strengh. You can make it anything you want! EXT can be an amazing modular enviroment in which to display your keyboard controller prowess and chain many different components (Comps in EXT lingo ) included audio and MIDI comps and trigger them at will.Or a regular linear sequencer, or a live machine! Your imagination and talent are the limit.
You can also use EXT as a VSTi within you prefered host and tear down any barriers you host might have.
The program itself is rock solid and I have never had any crashes even though I always use the latest Beta. Jörgen the developer is also a one-of-a-kind half human/half robot type of person as he develops newer features faster than the user base can think of. He listens to every request and exchanges views on how to make the program more stable and useful to us.
The documentation is almost always lagging behind, but what can you expect of a program that has newer features implemented almost on a weekly basis? Still. Users like Darkstar, Caleb and others (sorry if I forgot anybody`s name here ) are always developing the docs and helpfiles to keep up to date with Jörgen.
The GUI is another great feature as it can be fully customizable to fit your personal taste. Proof of that are the many skins available in the user database and wikis developed by the users.
For the money. This is one hell of a program and I bought it as quick as possible as there is not any other program that costs this amount of money and yet can become so many things to so many people.
Try the demo, ask around and soon you will be hooked! The power of the Energy is far beyond many other hosts/VSTis costing 4 times as much!!!Read Review
I was looking to learn a new host just to have something different to work with other than my regular pattern based host.
I downloaded the demo for Energy and was truly surprised at how well this little (small download size) application works.
I had never worked within a modular enviroment and this program impressed me so much with its flexibility that I bought the license the same day that I tried the demo.
Within minutes I had figured how to set up a basic template for working in a more linear way which was what I was looking for as oppossed to the pattern based way used in my other host.
Many will look at the main window and wonder why there is no "standard" sequencer or a regular mixer or more presets (actually there are many of those in the user forum). But I find this to be EXT`s main strengh. You can make it anything you want! EXT can be an amazing modular enviroment in which to display your keyboard controller prowess and chain many different components (Comps in EXT lingo ) included audio and MIDI comps and trigger them at will.Or a regular linear sequencer, or a live machine! Your imagination and talent are the limit.
You can also use EXT as a VSTi within you prefered host and tear down any barriers you host might have.
The program itself is rock solid and I have never had any crashes even though I always use the latest Beta. Jörgen the developer is also a one-of-a-kind half human/half robot type of person as he develops newer features faster than the user base can think of. He listens to every request and exchanges views on how to make the program more stable and useful to us.
The documentation is almost always lagging behind, but what can you expect of a program that has newer features implemented almost on a weekly basis? Still. Users like Darkstar, Caleb and others (sorry if I forgot anybody`s name here ) are always developing the docs and helpfiles to keep up to date with Jörgen.
The GUI is another great feature as it can be fully customizable to fit your personal taste. Proof of that are the many skins available in the user database and wikis developed by the users.
For the money. This is one hell of a program and I bought it as quick as possible as there is not any other program that costs this amount of money and yet can become so many things to so many people.
Try the demo, ask around and soon you will be hooked! The power of the Energy is far beyond many other hosts/VSTis costing 4 times as much!!!Read Review
FL Studio All Plugins Edition
Reviewed By Germ777 [all]
October 26th, 2005
Version reviewed: 5.0.2 on Windows
I first came across FL Studio 2 years ago. I was looking for an entry level reocrding program that would allow me to learn the ropes of home recording and grow with me.
I tried every demo I could get my hands on and as soon as I opened FL and started working thru the manual and help files. I realized I had a very powerful tool in my hands.
The lay out is very intuitive and it made a lot of sense to me. The way the play list and pattern work makes it a breeze to set up a main theme a chorus and bridge and then play around with variations and combinations of each one of them.
The amount of effects included with the application are of top quality and Gol´s coding ability makes the whole program run smooth and easy on your PC.
The interface´s color and lay out is easy on the eyes, specially after many hours of sitting in front of the pc screen composing and mixing to your heart´s content.
It´s automation capabilities are astounding and extremely flexible. Any parameter can be automated either with automation clips or in automation patterns within the playlist.
Having free lifetime updates is a great feature too as you get every new update for free. We are talking about updates not upgrades as these are 2 different things. I started with version 4. something and I am now waiting on my free update to V 6 with newer plugs and features.
Customer service is top notch too. I never had a software related problem, but when I had any kind of "user created" situations where the program was not doing exactly what I wanted. Tech support helped me get out of the situation with patience and ease. Response is very quick within reason and direct to the point.
FL is beleived to be mainly for Tech styled music, but I have done anything from jazzy to straight out Heavy Prog Metal tunes and it has behaved like no other program. So there is really no limit as to what FL can do.
To me. FL is one of a couple programs that I can truly say it was worth every single cent I forked out for.
A top notch program for a very reasonable price that can grow to any of the available tastes to fit your budget and can expand when you are ready to take the next logical step in your growth as a home recording artist.
EDIT; This edit is only to answer an error in the review before this one.
The documentation in FL is excelent. Obviously the person doing the mentioned review has not checked the help files within the program. There is a book named the FL Bible, but it is only a printing and recopilation of all the help files and a few tips available in the user forum. It was done by Image line as a request from the user base and you don`t really need to buy the book to have a complete user/help manual.
The GerminatorRead Review
I tried every demo I could get my hands on and as soon as I opened FL and started working thru the manual and help files. I realized I had a very powerful tool in my hands.
The lay out is very intuitive and it made a lot of sense to me. The way the play list and pattern work makes it a breeze to set up a main theme a chorus and bridge and then play around with variations and combinations of each one of them.
The amount of effects included with the application are of top quality and Gol´s coding ability makes the whole program run smooth and easy on your PC.
The interface´s color and lay out is easy on the eyes, specially after many hours of sitting in front of the pc screen composing and mixing to your heart´s content.
It´s automation capabilities are astounding and extremely flexible. Any parameter can be automated either with automation clips or in automation patterns within the playlist.
Having free lifetime updates is a great feature too as you get every new update for free. We are talking about updates not upgrades as these are 2 different things. I started with version 4. something and I am now waiting on my free update to V 6 with newer plugs and features.
Customer service is top notch too. I never had a software related problem, but when I had any kind of "user created" situations where the program was not doing exactly what I wanted. Tech support helped me get out of the situation with patience and ease. Response is very quick within reason and direct to the point.
FL is beleived to be mainly for Tech styled music, but I have done anything from jazzy to straight out Heavy Prog Metal tunes and it has behaved like no other program. So there is really no limit as to what FL can do.
To me. FL is one of a couple programs that I can truly say it was worth every single cent I forked out for.
A top notch program for a very reasonable price that can grow to any of the available tastes to fit your budget and can expand when you are ready to take the next logical step in your growth as a home recording artist.
EDIT; This edit is only to answer an error in the review before this one.
The documentation in FL is excelent. Obviously the person doing the mentioned review has not checked the help files within the program. There is a book named the FL Bible, but it is only a printing and recopilation of all the help files and a few tips available in the user forum. It was done by Image line as a request from the user base and you don`t really need to buy the book to have a complete user/help manual.
The GerminatorRead Review
