KVR Audio

Caine123 · Post by **Caine123** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:22 am

as you may know it's on sale and it's really cheap for 2000 presets i guess. can you also change the unison, the phasing, panning etc. in each sound like in their other libraries like Emulation 2?

and what are your opinions about this product? worth it? i sold the beast from them, wasnt impressed, but emulation2 had more nice synths sounds for my taste, some i dont really have with DIVA, Synth1 etc. or am not capable to reproduce

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Caine123 · Post by **Caine123** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:17 pm

No one?

syncII · Post by **syncII** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:25 pm

I've got it and like it. Good range of sounds. Don't use to too much to be honest.

UltimateOutsider · Post by **UltimateOutsider** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 6:23 pm

It's pretty cool. The library has three basic parts: There are direct samples of classic synths (I don't know how many are sampled presets versus originally programmed patches) which are categorized first by synthesis type and then patch type, there are sampled waveforms of all synths used, and finally there are the "Ultra Focus Master Presets" which are layered, original patches that mix and match other sounds from the collection.

There's also an additional "Categories" folder that basically sorts the entire collection by instrument type, rather than synthesis type.

Here's an example of how sounds are sorted:

All patches respond to velocity, but none of them have velocity layers. For the patches that are just direct samples of classic synths, they are just a single layer made up of anywhere from 4 to 11 samples, depending on the instrument. All samples are looped where appropriate, and they seem to be done pretty carefully. Here's an example of one patch built on 4 samples:

The "waveforms" collection is much more deeply sampled, one-sample-per-note for five octaves, with only a single sample for the higher and lower extents of the keyboard. Here's what I imagine is a Jupiter 8 waveform:

The Ultra Focus collection is kind of cool. They broke it up into virtual A and B banks, like you'd find on an 80s-era synth, and many of the patches sound pretty good. They're all two layers, as far as I can tell. Here's a bell patch that mixes sounds from two synths. The two layers contain different numbers of samples.

They have to do the same naming dance that most other sample library publishers do, so you never see the complete name of any synth (or preset names, I expect) listed, although many of the patches give you hints (a "DX" here, a "WS" there). This isn't meant to be every factory sound from a certain collection of synths, so I guess the "Anthology" name is appropriate; it's selected works versus the complete catalog. It's a collection of mostly usable sounds that showcase the strengths of the various instruments used in the library's production.

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 6:35 pm

It's not bad, but I would rather save the money and buy some other UVI stuff.

Main downers:

-I'm not sure if the patches are multi-sampled, many of the arp sounds change pitch and speed when played over the keyboard, typically of a single sample patch

-There is no custom GUI like for the newest UVI releases, so it's not as hands on as it should be.

Caine123 · Post by **Caine123** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 6:59 pm

Thx a lot. Thinking of getting it cause its on for only $60 atm.

UltimateOutsider · Post by **UltimateOutsider** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:48 pm

Numanoid wrote:-I'm not sure if the patches are multi-sampled, many of the arp sounds change pitch and speed when played over the keyboard, typically of a single sample patch

-There is no custom GUI like for the newest UVI releases, so it's not as hands on as it should be.

I haven't found any yet that have fewer than four samples, but you can certainly have the same problems with four that you'd have with just one, just less extreme.

You also bring up a good point about the UI. Like most (all?) of UVI's libraries that are based on the older "Ultimate Sound Bank" products, this is an unscripted library. It's purely samples and layers and no custom UI controls (there is some internal sound design other than just layering samples, though- some patches use the sample engine's filter and LFO, etc.) . The UVI Workstation plugin automatically displays some default controls for unscripted instruments, though, so you will have instant access to this stuff:

If you use MachFive instead, you don't get those handy patch-level controls, but you can make your own macros and tweak the patches all you like.

Caine123 · Post by **Caine123** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 9:53 pm

but for some nice retro 80s sounds it still a nice collection for $60? mostly for synthwave i wanna use it

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UltimateOutsider · Post by **UltimateOutsider** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 12:30 am

Caine123 wrote:but for some nice retro 80s sounds it still a nice collection for $60?

Absolutely. Go for it!

K-Bee · Post by **K-Bee** » Thu Jan 25, 2018 12:53 pm

I know this thread is ancient and it's been like 5 years since the last post but.........since then UVI came out with Synth Anthology 2 and at €149 it does looked feature packed. Sadly I missed their latest sale when they priced it at €99

Anyone have the Anthology 2? Is it still lacking the velocity layers is it actually worth the price. I only have one other UVI product, Digital Synsations. Compared to Vintage Vault at almost 3 times the price, it looks like you're getting a lot for your money. ?

UVI Synths Anthology, opinions?