Audiomodern Soundbox - MPE sampler with advanced mapping editor

[jules99]

This has been out a couple of days and it looks pretty interesting as a sample platform, sampling instrument like Soundpaint, Decent Sampler or Kontakt, but also a way to create your own instruments. The base version is free, with three instrument packs available.

Fully customizable MPE sampler

It comes with a plethora of features and is entirely customizable allowing

A powerful combination of features make Soundbox the do-it-all sampler instrument that helps create anything you can imagine.

For macOS, Windows and iPadOS

Soundbox features flawless sound browsing, with genre and style tags,

It also includes a comprehensive audio and mapping editor, equipped with multiple velocity layers, a versatile group section

https://audiomodern.com/soundbox/

[Gamma-UT]

The base version is free, with three instrument packs available.

It's "free"...you have to buy one of the packs first.

I don't know why they've presented it in such a disingenuous way when they really don't have to given the entry price works out to be about 30 bucks. But it seems a daft thing to do given there are genuinely free sampling platforms out there and the main feature here is really just the vector mode.

[kinkajou]

The base version is free, with three instrument packs available.

It's "free"...you have to buy one of the packs first.
[...]

No, you don't have to!
Add any of the packs to the cart, then remove the pack and the "Soundbox" remains in the cart and it is free!

[whyterabbyt]

The base version is free, with three instrument packs available.

It's "free"...you have to buy one of the packs first.
[...]

No, you don't have to!
Add any of the packs to the cart, then remove the pack and the "Soundbox" remains in the cart and it is free!

Soundbox doesnt get added to the cart in the first place.

And they make it very clear that the license key comes with a library purchase.


And yeah, same as Gamma_UT, I found it a bit disingenuous. Was going to post about this yesterday until I realised it wasnt quite as 'free' as made out.

[Gamma-UT]

It's "free"...you have to buy one of the packs first.
[...]

No, you don't have to!
Add any of the packs to the cart, then remove the pack and the "Soundbox" remains in the cart and it is free!

You don't even have to do that. You can just download it from the product page - that was how I found out, as WR says, that you still need a licence key to unlock it.

[kraster]

It's also pretty barebones as an instrument. Comparing it to Kontakt is a stretch.

Despite the moaning Kontakt is a full blown sample based instrument with serious depth.

Soundbox has no envelopes besides the Amp envelope. (you can use the Lfos as a sort of envelope but there's no explicit one shot mode)

you can't even route the amp envelope anywhere else. Modulation is down to the four LFOs and a learned CCs and MPE controls. The LFO can be used in step sequencer mode which is fine, I guess.

Can't route velocity to anything nor turn it off.

Filters are part of the FX section and again very basic.

Most of the FX have very few controls. The Zynaptiq based reverb (while it sounds nice) is limited to the four presets and a wet/dry control.

The UI is pretty good if a little cluttered and the UX is generally fine.

The arp/sequencer is nice and the per layer feature is cool but not something we haven't seen elsewhere.

The preset maker is also well done and pretty frictionless.

i also don't have a massive amount of hope that things will improve with Audiomodern's track record on supporting their plugins after release.

Loopmix, for example is more or less useless outside of using the built in loops or expansion packs. No sample editing or trimming.

I have perfectly trimmed one bar loops and Loopmix always manages to f**k it up.

[Ah_Dziz]

Can't they just sell the sampler without their sounds? I'm not interested in their samples or patches. The engine seems like it could be fun. Is there a demo?

[Ah_Dziz]

Does it have any alternate playback modes like granular for instance? Or just resample based rep itching? Also does it do DFD streaming?

[Echoes in the Attic]

Not really interested in a sampler without any kind of time stretch but the interface seems cool. Hope they keep developing it.

[qtheerearranger]

ive been enjoying this sampler a lot for the last hour or so! It's certainly missing some things that kontakt has so I wouldn't call it the kontakt killer. But its a lot more inuitive then kontakt. a lot more user friendly with the modern ui. I think a lot of people will enjoy this one!

[jules99]

Sounds like there is a bit of a Minimal Audio launch disaster going on for this. If you read the comments, Audiomodern seemed to have been disingenuous about the free aspect and then went ballistic on the creators they paid for release reviews.

[Morty-C-137]

Sounds like there is a bit of a Minimal Audio launch disaster going on for this. If you read the comments, Audiomodern seemed to have been disingenuous about the free aspect and then went ballistic on the creators they paid for release reviews.

It was stated on their website though that it came 'free' with the purchase of any pack.

[Gamma-UT]

Sounds like there is a bit of a Minimal Audio launch disaster going on for this. If you read the comments, Audiomodern seemed to have been disingenuous about the free aspect and then went ballistic on the creators they paid for release reviews.

It was stated on their website though that it came 'free' with the purchase of any pack.

Guess who didn’t even get as far as watching part of the video or reading the transcript….or even reading the first comment:

Pinned by pelennor DSP
@DashGlitch
1 day ago
In the press release, we were told no hidden paywalls too, I clarified that it will be free because it's not my first rodeo. After the launch, I tried to contact them and warn them about what I had seen happen to companies who pulled this stuff and quite frankly they had a bit of a meltdown at me in the DMs. As someone who has been supporting and promoting this company since before music youtube was much of a thing, it was a huge stab in the back.

“Free with purchase” is at best weasel-wording things anyway, particularly as the site has the free download toward the top and the conditions way down below.

[Morty-C-137]

Okay

[morphex]

I use Audiomodern plug-ins and I appreciate them for offering so much of their software for free, including some effects and some of the expansions for their instruments. I can understand why they wouldn't want to just give away free licenses for a product that's probably been expensive to bring to market.

But upfront, honest, and clear communication for content creators and customers should be the absolute bare minimum when it comes to ethical business practices. So it's disappointing to see them treat Dash and others kind of dirty, especially when they're putting their own reputations on the line to support the company's product. I hope this gets ironed out, and soon!