AiR Xpand!2 only for 1,00€

[fluffy_little_something]

I wonder why they always include synth sounds in romplers. Would make more sense to include only acoustic and electric instruments and that at a better quality. Typical synth sounds sound better on real synths, anyway.

And acoustic and electrical instruments (like guitars and pianos) sound better on real guitars and pianos.

A rompler like Xpand!2 is a one-stop-shop for the whole sound palette, more geared toward the casual users than the experts.

Indeed, many of those samples could be better. The level is good enough for my humble needs, but just so. I still have to use Hybrid to make good strings for high notes, for instance.

I like some of the acoustic guitar patches, after optimizing them. The pianos are also ok. With those sounds the lack of parameters doesn't matter so much, but with synth sounds it does matter in my view.

[sjm]

Workstations are for people who are looking for an all in one solution. They don't want to have multiple synths. They want one thing that will give them everything that they need.

There's also people like me who want to be able to call up both traditional instruments (or emulations thereof), either to add something to a song or in a band context. A lot of the time, a 4GB multi-layered Kontakt instrument is simply overkill. In these cases, I want something that will load quickly and just do the job.

That said, I'm not a fan of synths in these things either, and I never use the guitars (I play guitar myself), but I understand why people like them. Not everyone is a synth-head or guitarist/multi-instrumentalist and the workstation concept is meant to cater to a lot of different needs in one "box".

[Jorgeelalto]

Well, if the synth patches in Xpand!2 are just that, presets, and the plugin has a synth engine so the synth don't have to load samples, they are great.

[fluffy_little_something]

I think it includes various synth engines, but what is the point if one can hardly access the parameters that surely are there deep inside.

[Teksonik]

Again for me the power of Xpand is in it's layers which can be as simple as a supersaw with adjustable detune or a complex as a evolving pad sound or loop. Each preset that can be loaded into a layer has a few adjustable parameters which vary depending on the preset: cutoff, detune, internal fx level etc so you do have some control. Each layer can have it's own Arp/Gate which allows for some complex sounds. Sure I'd love to have much more control and obviously whoever did the factory layer presets did have a version that allowed much more access to parameters.

If you buy Xpand just for solo acoustic pianos or guitars etc you might be disappointed but if you like more complex sounds I think you'll be surprised by what it is capable of creating........

[Teksonik]

I think it includes various synth engines, but what is the point if one can hardly access the parameters that surely are there deep inside.

I prefer to focus on what it can do rather than what it can't........did you buy it yet ?

[fluffy_little_something]

That is basically what I would like to have, a rompler with studio-quality samples of key classic real instruments (piano, Rhodes, electric bass, strings, wind, drums and percussion). Xpand is full of samples that I just can't use, maybe 95%, unfortunately.

I had the same problem with the M1 and the Korean thingy, don't even remember the name. Strings seem to be the biggest problem. In the Korean rompler one could hear the looping, while on Xpand there is ugly noise.

[fluffy_little_something]

I think it includes various synth engines, but what is the point if one can hardly access the parameters that surely are there deep inside.

I prefer to focus on what it can do rather than what it can't........did you buy it yet ?

Of course I bought it, months ago at a much higher price, which is why I feel kind of cheated upon now.

[Numanoid]

Of course I bought it, months ago at a much higher price, which is why I feel kind of cheated upon now.

We all win or lose in that regard, c'est la vie

I bought a serial second hand last year for $15

[Teksonik]

That is basically what I would like to have, a rompler with studio-quality samples of key classic real instruments (piano, Rhodes, electric bass, strings, wind, drums and percussion).

Then Xpand is probably not for you. I'm surprised you bought it. Since I prefer more complex sounds I'm happy with it...........

[aMUSEd]

That is basically what I would like to have, a rompler with studio-quality samples of key classic real instruments (piano, Rhodes, electric bass, strings, wind, drums and percussion). Xpand is full of samples that I just can't use, maybe 95%, unfortunately.

I had the same problem with the M1 and the Korean thingy, don't even remember the name. Strings seem to be the biggest problem. In the Korean rompler one could hear the looping, while on Xpand there is ugly noise.

Have you tried Halionsonic? I would say that's probably the highest quality workstation in terms of samples particularly.

[fluffy_little_something]

That is basically what I would like to have, a rompler with studio-quality samples of key classic real instruments (piano, Rhodes, electric bass, strings, wind, drums and percussion).

Then Xpand is probably not for you. I'm surprised you bought it. Since I prefer more complex sounds I'm happy with it...........

Well, I do like it much better than the other two I had. So it was a step in the right direction. Given I am not a pro musician, I did not want to spend hundreds of $ on giant libraries I couldn't even download, anyway.
I am also happy or at least content with many of the sounds that I do use.

[fluffy_little_something]

That is basically what I would like to have, a rompler with studio-quality samples of key classic real instruments (piano, Rhodes, electric bass, strings, wind, drums and percussion). Xpand is full of samples that I just can't use, maybe 95%, unfortunately.

I had the same problem with the M1 and the Korean thingy, don't even remember the name. Strings seem to be the biggest problem. In the Korean rompler one could hear the looping, while on Xpand there is ugly noise.

Have you tried Halionsonic? I would say that's probably the highest quality workstation in terms of samples particularly.

No, never tried that, too big to download and also too expensive for me. But who knows, maybe in the future...

[nineofkings]

Passable at both dance and smooth jazz https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/898 ... 20Jazz.mp3

[Teksonik]

Thanks for showing what can be done with a $1 plugin...........