Opinions about Krotos Reformer Pro, for anyone who might use it

[jp008]

So.. I've been watching some video demos and reviews of Krotos "Reformer Pro" and things don't seem to be very clear. What I'd like to know from anyone who might use it - is, how well does it blend with something like vocal tracks, for example ? I noticed it has a big ol' Wet/Dry knob for blending with their provided .wav sound effects library, but none of the demos I've seen are very clear as to how well things blend with a basic vocal track.. or other instruments for that matter. I've seen how the Krotos Dehumanizer II works with vocals, although I'm not interested in my vocal tracks or music sounding like a demon monster or an elf. I guess the demo does come with "leopard" sound effects though, but why would I want my vocals to sound like a leopard, right?

Seriously, is Reformer Pro really worth $399 then ? I get that it supposedly has a gigantor humongous hundred gigabytes sound effects library, but from what I've seen online, I'm not even sure it could really work some type of major mojo for anything useful, namely vocal tracks. If it did though, I think I'd maybe consider it - in another life time.

Regardless, I did install the free demo, but when I downloaded it, I wasn't told that it also requires iLok. So after installing the plugin, it obviously complained that it needed iLok and then crashed. I then downloaded iLok (under unwanted pressure), installed it at 285mb - along with some other weirdness without even asking, such as Apple Bonjour.. whatever that is. Strike two. Finally, I started the Reformer Pro plugin again only to find yet another complaint, this time from iLok saying I required a user account to login. Nope. Ain't gonna happen because my DAW doesn't get anywhere near the internet for security purposes. Strike three.

Opinions or experiences anyone ?

[whyterabbyt]

Seriously, is Reformer Pro really worth $399 then ?

It probably is, for the target audience. Which is sound designers. As in film, TV and game sound designers. Not everything is aimed at musicians.

Looking at this, or Dehumanizer, purely in the context of 'but why would I want my vocals to sound like a leopard, right?' is kind of missing the point of them being aimed at people who want to be able to control leopard sounds, or cloth and foley sounds, and the like with their voice.

[jp008]

It probably is, for the target audience. Which is sound designers. As in film, TV and game sound designers. Not everything is aimed at musicians.

Looking at this, or Dehumanizer, purely in the context of 'but why would I want my vocals to sound like a leopard, right?' is kind of missing the point of them being aimed at people who want to be able to control leopard sounds, or cloth and foley sounds, and the like with their voice.

I totally understand what you're saying, but can this software do subtle sound replacement for vocals, effectively? That was the point of my inquiry. Think of it in terms of something like Drumagog, where the different drums can be replaced by a .wav sample, especially in a subtle sense, not totally replaced, but just more enhanced in a creative way. So, would Reformer be able to do the same thing with vocals, professionally speaking? That is what I'm most curious about. I realize the plugin isn't specifically aimed at musicians..

[whyterabbyt]

I dont thin its really about 'replacement', though. Its more about using the voice (or some other signal) performatively to control/modulate foley and sound effect type sounds. Its going to be a lot easier to do dynamically, and in realtime when controlled by the typically rather expressive human voice than having to use using tons of traditional modulation.

Sorry, Im still not quite sure how you'd be thinking of using this... What sort of sounds would you be talking about replacing a voice with? I'd be more inclined to look at regular vocoding etc for that sort of thing. Also, spoken voice or sung?

I can certainly see its use for abstract sound design etc for music, but as voice replacement, then your comment 'why would I want to sound like a leopard' is probably even more relevant to 'why would I wasnt to sound like a ballpoint pen scribbling or a watermelon being slurped'.

[whyterabbyt]

Basically its a tool used to articulate sounds with the human voice because the human voice is so expressive, not a tool used to replace the human voice with another sound. Does that make sense?

[jp008]

I can certainly see its use for abstract sound design etc for music, but as voice replacement, then your comment 'why would I want to sound like a leopard' is probably even more relevant to 'why would I wasnt to sound like a ballpoint pen scribbling or a watermelon being slurped'.

If you were going to professionally enhance a vocal track (as in singing) with a sound replacement plugin, wouldn't you want it to sound more like a human, rather than a leopard? I think what I'm inquiring about is quite clear. I mean, 'professional vocal track' doesn't exactly sound like "watermelon being slurped", does it ?

[whyterabbyt]

I can certainly see its use for abstract sound design etc for music, but as voice replacement, then your comment 'why would I want to sound like a leopard' is probably even more relevant to 'why would I wasnt to sound like a ballpoint pen scribbling or a watermelon being slurped'.

If you were going to professionally enhance a vocal track (as in singing) with a sound replacement plugin, wouldn't you want it to sound more like a human, rather than a leopard?

Yes, which is why I wouldnt use a tool intended for doing the voices of creatures like leopards.

I think what I'm inquiring about is quite clear. I mean, 'professional vocal track' doesn't exactly sound like "watermelon being slurped", does it ?

No it doesnt, and that's my point. This is for watermelons.

[jp008]

Yes, which is why I wouldnt use a tool intended for doing the voices of creatures like leopards.

Uhhh.. dude, this plugin and Dehumanizer has a 3gb library of sound samples, so that can't be correct. Perhaps you should do some more research on it.

No it doesnt, and that's my point. This is for watermelons.

Incorrect, especially since the sound sample libraries are gigantic.

[mgw38]

Seriously, is Reformer Pro really worth $399 then ?

It probably is, for the target audience. Which is sound designers. As in film, TV and game sound designers. Not everything is aimed at musicians.

Looking at this, or Dehumanizer, purely in the context of 'but why would I want my vocals to sound like a leopard, right?' is kind of missing the point of them being aimed at people who want to be able to control leopard sounds, or cloth and foley sounds, and the like with their voice.

Krotos software is primarily aimed at sound designers, in particular for games. They have only recently opened up to a broader audience. Tools for sound designers tend to be fairly expensive which explains the price point. For music production, these are very much niche products.

[jp008]

Krotos software is primarily aimed at sound designers, in particular for games. They have only recently opened up to a broader audience. Tools for sound designers tend to be fairly expensive which explains the price point. For music production, these are very much niche products.

I'm assuming there aren't any human voices included in that huge 3gb sound library then. Hmmmm.. only sound effects and creatures ? Weird.

[whyterabbyt]

Yes, which is why I wouldnt use a tool intended for doing the voices of creatures like leopards.

Uhhh.. dude, this plugin and Dehumanizer has a 300gb library of sound samples, so that can't be correct. Perhaps you should do some more research on it.

Uh, dude, the size of library something comes with doesnt determine its purpose.

And I own Dehumanizer.

No it doesnt, and that's my point. This is for watermelons.

Incorrect, especially since the sound sample libraries are gigantic.

Yeah, whatever. For someone who asked 'is this tool suitable for purpose X' you seem really determined not to accept that this tool isnt suitable for purpose X., and you clearly have a problem with being told that, or understanding a simple explanation of what its purpose actually is.

[jp008]

Uh, dude, the size of library something comes with doesnt determine its purpose.

And I own Dehumanizer.

Uhhh.. if the sound library includes human voices, then it sure does determine it's purpose. Because that's what I'm inquiring about. So, then there aren't any human voices included in that huge sound library then? Only sound effects and creatures ? That seems a bit strange, doesn't it? Kinda like you.

Yeah, whatever. For someone who asked 'is this tool suitable for purpose X' you seem really determined not to accept that this tool isnt suitable for purpose X., and you clearly have a problem with being told that, or understanding a simple explanation of what its purpose actually is.

And you clearly don't understand what I'm inquiring, either that or you're just thinking whatever you want to think, rather than what is being inquired about. Don't you have something better to do then? Just let someone else answer me instead if you can't seem to understand my point. It's pretty simple. No need getting defensive.

[whyterabbyt]

Uhhh.. if the sound library includes human voices, then it sure does determine it's purpose. Because that's what I'm inquiring about. So, then there aren't any human voices included in that huge sound library then? Only sound effects and creatures ? That seems a bit strange, doesn't it? Kinda like you.

No, it doesnt seem strange. And it seems idiotic to say that its strange. Kinda like you.

[whyterabbyt]

Feel free to point out which category of the 3.8Gb (not 300Gb, you made that up) sound library included with Reformer Pro is the one that you think includes the vocal samples, though.

• Bengal Tiger
  Black Leopard
  Electronic
  Leather
  Fruit & Veg: Crunch
  Fruit & Veg: Squash
  Fruit & Veg: Stabs
  Polystyrene
  Gun Foley
  Sizzle

[jp008]

No, it doesnt seem strange. And it seems idiotic to say that its strange. Kinda like you.

It's idiotic to wonder why there are only animal voices rather than human voices included in a huge sound sample library for use with voice replacement? Wow.. and to think you paid $399 for that. Hahahah My sincere apologies. Yeah, I must be strange.