KVR Audio

fluffy_little_something · Mon Sep 01, 2014 1:58 pm

I like the new user interface design, but how big is it in pixels? Purity has about 750x600 pixels and is a bit exhausting on the eyes, not least because of the color scheme.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 2:02 pm

fluffy_little_something wrote:I like the new user interface design, but how big is it in pixels? Purity has about 750x600 pixels and is a bit exhausting on the eyes, not least because of the color scheme.

You can adjust the size of Kontakt so it depends............

fluffy_little_something · Mon Sep 01, 2014 2:12 pm

Ah, ok, sounds good

I have never used Kontakt before, or anything else from that company for that matter. Does Kontakt allow me to save my presets where I want or does it force a folder or directory on me? If I remember correctly, Steinberg stuff does that.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 2:41 pm

Anyway on to the review..........

I like Calliope. It reminds me of the Romplers I used back in the day. Roland U-220 and JV880, Korg 03R/W etc, but with better sample content. As always for me it's about the layering and Calliope offers four per instrument with global effects and some insert effects. There is per layer tuning, pan and key/velocity range.

I'm still going through the sounds but so far the Strings are nice as are the Choirs. Some of the Bass guitars sound promising as well.

For $50 I think this is a good deal and I like the fact that it installs as an official library and shows in the list with the factory library,retro machines etc...

I'll post more as I've had time to work further with Calliope..............

fluffy_little_something · Mon Sep 01, 2014 3:11 pm

Are there Simmons drums?

HaganeSteel · Post by **HaganeSteel** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 3:32 pm

Zoop.

fluffy_little_something · Mon Sep 01, 2014 3:40 pm

What does that sample offset thingy do?

Is the Purity GUI behavior gone that when you keep your mouse clicked on a control for seconds, the entire DAW window starts to flicker?

HaganeSteel · Post by **HaganeSteel** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 3:54 pm

Zoom.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 4:07 pm

HaganeSteel wrote:Calliope removes almost everything that's useless fluff.

Another way to look at it is that Calliope removes a lot of the cool functions and features of Purity. What you consider "useless fluff" others may see differently.........

There is no way Calliope should be compared to Purity. They both have samples....other than that they are two different beasts.

For $50 you get some nice samples in which to build layered instruments. For that reason I think it's a good deal. I've already got some nice layered instruments from just a few hours tweaking. I'll share them here when I get a few more done.

I have mentioned this to Sonic Cat but the Drums are set to respond an octave too high.......kick on note number 48 rather than 36 etc. This will be an issue if you use midi drum files which follow the GM spec. It will be an issue for me since all my other drum plagins are set at 36 so layering them with Calliope will require some adjustments. The reason for the offset is Calliope's drums are designed for 25 note controllers so keep that in mind. You can manually adjust the octave but the pads themselves are hardwired.

I'd also love to see Mute/Solo for the layers but perhaps that will come in a future version....and per layer Arps would be nice as well.

HaganeSteel · Post by **HaganeSteel** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 4:15 pm

Zoop.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 5:20 pm

HaganeSteel wrote: I can argue that you can compare them.

But then you give the perfect argument why they can't and shouldn't be compared......

HaganeSteel wrote:Purity is more of a synthesizer. Calliope is more about its samples.

HaganeSteel wrote: With Purity, they wanted to do too many things.

Too many things for who ? I think Purity's feature set is awesome.

HaganeSteel wrote:Calliope absolutely crushes Purity in terms of sound quality and usability.

I will agree that Calliope's samples are superior but as for usability that's your opinion and I wholeheartedly disagree.....

But again we shouldn't be comparing the two instruments just because they came from some of the same developers. Spectral and RM V both come from Linplug but comparing the two is just as pointless.

Anyway Calliope is worth the $50 and I think we can agree on that.......

fluffy_little_something · Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:29 pm

So, amp and filter share the same envelope and one can't change the filter type, or am I missing something? Looks like the U-NO-LX concept...
But since I did not see the basic waveforms in the preset list, I suppose it doesn't really matter as it is not so much a synth as a rompler.

Are the samples also extremely velocity sensitive as in Purity's case? Not being a trained piano player, I didn't like that, frankly.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:48 pm

There are basic Saw and Square Waves.

Touch The Universe · Post by **Touch The Universe** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:53 pm

Wow, something new from Sonic Cat!! Creators of beautiful ravity, must be good. No need for reviews

Just kidding

Thanks Teksonik!

HaganeSteel · Post by **HaganeSteel** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 7:18 pm

There is a reason I'm doing this.

Sonic Cat Calliope is out now.