Ok what the...new REV Revolution ??

[arachnaut]

I enjoyed the videos and this seemed 'in tuned' with my warped mind, so I bought it.

To try it out I made the following fractal piece using 3 channels of 'R∃V' and a reversed sample 'MBira Array' track along with a 'de-construction mayhem track' using 'Le Cristal SFX' - 5 Kontakt tracks in all - no outboard processing, just the raw tracks.

"Tragedy in Tacloban"

http://soundcloud.com/arachnaut/tragedy-in-tacloban

[EvilDragon]

Btw, the problem is the multiprocessor handling - I think even though Kontakt has multiprocessor support, it is not really working with Logic, which uses it's own multiprocessor handling. I can max out one core with the active instrument - and still have 7 completely idle cores (at least that's what the CPU load display says).

Try having a different track selected when playing your project. I don't use Logic but that's what I read - if you have selected a track with the virtual instrument loaded, it will use only one core for that track, and if you have an audio track selected, the rest of the project gets spread over all cores. It might help.

[Ned Bouhalassa]

I bought it today: what a wonderful library!! This will be a key part of my soundtrack-writing toolkit for the winter. Truly inspiring, musical, top-notch.

[tq]

Hey Ned, long time no see. (Don't know whether you still remember me from the good old 'Big Blue Lounge'/OSX Audio days.)

TQ

[Ned Bouhalassa]

That sure is a lonnnnnnng time ago, my friend!

[tq]

That sure is a lonnnnnnng time ago, my friend!

You still look like back then.

I should probably upload my old Panda picture to be more instantly recognizable.

[Shabdahbriah]

Loved that Music and the whole Video Presentation......and after watching the walkthrough videos, I'm now really impressed........Great Job guys.

+1

Obviously, a lot of thought went into this. Well done!

[tq]

Try having a different track selected when playing your project. I don't use Logic but that's what I read - if you have selected a track with the virtual instrument loaded, it will use only one core for that track, and if you have an audio track selected, the rest of the project gets spread over all cores. It might help.

Yes, that's what I usually do. Works when you play back a song - Logic distributes the load then. However, it always puts the load of the active track (when recording/playing) on one core. I think Logic also doesn't spread the load of one single plug in over multiple cores, but just spreads the load of multiple plugs over multiple cores. But again, it's not a huge issue - I can play several parallel notes of the TMPro presets without a problem. It's just that you cannot play two-handed monster-chords...

[losan]

As this seems to be a big library...

Is the download one big file, or is it split ?
(I'm not on the fasted connection available...)

As it also doesn't seem to include that much sources - are those then multisampled, how's the quality of them (Piano etc.) and can they also be played "normal" (in a forward fashion )

And thanks tq for the review - appreciated, though I'm still not sure about
going for it...

BTW... I was also first thinking Meh..., but I usually first check
all infos available - and IMHO this company did a good job with their video walkthroughs - it would have been perfect, if they'd come up here in persona actually.
(Bad timing...)

Another thought... why come up with a Kontakt 5 player compatible version the first time entering the market - I don't get it...

You have to pay NI a considerable amount of cash for it - why not releasing a library for the full Kontakt 5 version first, which could be less pricey ?
(Kinda as an introduction to the company so to speak...)

Anyway...


Cheers

[elassi]

Still can't stand this statement: "Who had ever heard the sound of a piano in reverse looped to create a pad?" (from the blog)

Again, not judging the plugin here. I don't need/want it and therefore no comment on its features.

[tq]

Is the download one big file, or is it split ?
(I'm not on the fasted connection available...)

As it also doesn't seem to include that much sources - are those then multisampled, how's the quality of them (Piano etc.) and can they also be played "normal" (in a forward fashion )

It uses the Continuata Connect downloader. The files are split into several parts, about 1 GB each, and you can pause the DL and resume later. The compressed data is about 6 or 7 GB.

I think the sounds are chromatically sampled, but I am not 100 % sure about the underlying sampling process. I think the loops are also from the same sessions (as you have piano, rhodes, guitar loops etc.), and probably they also used snippets of these loops for the instruments, who knows. It really isn't that important, as most of this library is about designed sounds that resemble acoustic/organic sounds - but they are not a recreation of an acoustic piano (so you don't get a multisampled, multi GB piano library, if that's what you are looking for).

Anyway, you can reverse the sounds and play them forward. There is actually the option to play them normally (= reversed) as a wet and a dry version, forward, and as a pad (a looped version; which is pretty nice for the acoustic sounds - for example, you get pads that somewhat resemble a piano or a guitar).

The sound sources are limited to about 30 instruments (which can be loaded into each of the 2 layers of an instrument via a pull down menu), but they just build the foundation of the sound design. In principle, this is a bit like Omnisphere: You get two layers, and you can process them individually, for combinations of sounds. When it comes to the actual presets, you get tons of variations - and really, some of the variations do not sound like its 'base' sound source. The main categories are fundamentals (usable, but simple reversed sounds), simple and complex pads, pulsating sounds, swells, plucked sounds, Tron-like sounds, Slings, simple sounds, more experimental 'sound design' sounds, and stutters. In each category, you get dozens of presets.

What's also nice about the library: You have a pretty cool and deep FX system, which can be triggered via MIDI (like NI's The Finger), and the presets can be saved separately from the sounds themselves. That allows you to change the basic sound, but keep the sound shaping or stutter effects intact. It's actually pretty easy to tweak - the GUI designer came up with a really nice, clean & usable interface.

Anyway, it's certainly not a standard library, but something very special. This doesn't mean it's limited to exotic, supercool, but useless drones - actually, the pads, synced and rhythmic sounds are *very* usable. However, despite being very versatile and usable, it offers a specific organic 'aesthetic' and 'character'. If you like the sound, then it offers tons of presets with that aesthetic. If you don't like it, then it's probably not for you. (Listen to the demo videos - they give you a really good impression of the overall tone.)


... hm, actually these guys should pay me for explaining their product in so much detail.

[losan]

...so you don't get a multisampled, multi GB piano library, if that's what you are looking for...

Well, not actually - I was just wondering, why the lib has to be about 15 GB (uncompressed)

... hm, actually these guys should pay me for explaining their product in so much detail.

Indeed... they should offer you something in return

Well, from me... Thanks for taking your time to go into detail !

Best and Cheers

[Shabdahbriah]

Anyway, it's certainly not a standard library, but something very special. This doesn't mean it's limited to exotic, supercool, but useless drones - actually, the pads, synced and rhythmic sounds are *very* usable. However, despite being very versatile and usable, it offers a specific organic 'aesthetic' and 'character'. If you like the sound, then it offers tons of presets with that aesthetic. If you don't like it, then it's probably not for you. (Listen to the demo videos - they give you a really good impression of the overall tone.)

Well said.

[elassi]

Well, not actually - I was just wondering, why the lib has to be about 15 GB (uncompressed)

Reading from EvilDragon's statement that no time stretch algo is used for identical length of sounds across pitches it seems that tq is right with his guessing of chromatically sampled sounds. This explains the huge lib, too.

[BBFG#]

It uses the Continuata Connect downloader. The files are split into several parts, about 1 GB each, and you can pause the DL and resume later. The compressed data is about 6 or 7 GB.

Anyway, it's certainly not a standard library, but something very special. This doesn't mean it's limited to exotic, supercool, but useless drones - actually, the pads, synced and rhythmic sounds are *very* usable. However, despite being very versatile and usable, it offers a specific organic 'aesthetic' and 'character'. If you like the sound, then it offers tons of presets with that aesthetic. If you don't like it, then it's probably not for you. (Listen to the demo videos - they give you a really good impression of the overall tone.)

Personally, I like "exotic, supercool" and sometimes seen as "useless drones". Organic is always a plus, although the definition of that seems to change from person to person. But I'm a easy close on weird, exotic, different and even what is considered useless by many.

Anyway, the demos are very nice, I liked your comparison to Spectra as something that might be the perfect fit for those of us that lack the more usefull parts of Omni without having to load up the HDD with 'burning instruments'... ... I already have quite a few deconstructed, abused and neglected instruments for Alchemy. This seems like it might be a nice compliment, or an expensive venture into effective overlaps in the mix.

It has a very seductive looking GUI though and these guys should do quite well with the overall package.

I noticed on the site that it was listed as an 'introductory price' though. Any clue on whether that means an increase is around the corner? And if so, how much and when?