UFO Light

User Interface - In a word, Retro-cool. It looks like the dashboard of that ufo they say crashed in Roswell in the late 40's might've looked like. It's a unique interface/GUI, but it's layed out well, and overall not super complex in my opinion, although there is some depth there, and probably more in the full version. I'm going 7 here, since it is a hair unusual, and I rounded my 7.5 down, for the sake of people who like things more normal, don't want to be trying to fool ya here ha-ha.

Sound - Hmm, well, I don't know what *transmodal synthesis* is, but it sounds, (let's just talk presets here, there are somewhere a bit shy of 100 included I believe, and they cover a decent range), like a mutant cross between an electric piano and a physical modelling synth, (no need to name any names on the physical modelling synth part, let's just say it's the mega modular one I'm thinking of), in a good way. It has quite a range really, but seems to specialize in those physical modelled/organic timbres, you either love them or hate them, but that's what this one sounds like to me. I'm giving it an 8, I'd go 8.5, but K-v-R hates fractions and decimals I guess.

Features - Ufo light has I guess, 1/2 the parts of Ufo ? Anyways, it's got all the normal goods feature-wise, so no complaints. The in-side television screen monitors with their drag-n-pull modulation routings and adjustments are way cool, every bit as fun as knob twiddling for us mousers eh. Actaully, after looking at the Audeon site, there's a chart that shows the differences, and there's actually a few more goodies that the full version has that the *light* version doesn't. I think the light version is a great little synth in it's own right though, even stripped down a bit. I'm going 7 here, but that's just cause I know the full/pro version has more goodies, otherwise I'd give it an 8, and like above really feel it was an 8.5

Documentation - I hate this question, am I the only one who never reads the dang manual ?! Brb, gotta look at it. It includes a .chm file manual. Looks alright, lotsa pictures, it's in sections, like a real book/manual, seems pretty solid to me, that's a solid 8 at least.

Presets - As mentioned above, it comes with a bit under 100 presets I believe. Definitely a few that sound like repeats, or the same old same old, but, it's also got 10-20 standouts. If you aren't inpired to make a new track with this synth the first day of going through all the presets, then quit doing synth music now. This is quality over quantity here. I'm going 7 here, it was a tough call, but these days, as good as ya do with presets, someone always does better, so your being graded on a steep curve in that sense. But remember, this synth is about quality over quantity, so if that matters to ya, then my 7 should read more like a 9 in that way.

Customer Support - Not much of an idea here. I emailed them a question about how many presets it came with before I bought the light version, and a day later he replied. So far so good, but my knowledge here = limited to say the least. Let's go 8, and give them the benefit of the doubt, after all, they have a forum here on K-v-R, how tough could it be to get their attention eh.

Value For Money - If this were the full version at $139, I wouldn't be raving, but this one is stripped down to 1/2 the stuff as the full version, and it's still an awesome litle synth for what, like less than 1/6th the price of the full version ?! If you like unique, playable, inspiring synths, and you don't have at least the light version of this, then you missed out on the gem of 2006. This is a 10 value, period.

Stability - It has only locked up/froze once on me, on a Pc running WinXp etc. So overall, that's pretty darn good, what plug-in asn't had a problem once, sheesh, picky picky. I'm going 9 here, -1 point for the one problem I had, that's more than fair as a warning that it *might* not run 110% perfectly every time, but come on, 1 little problem so far isn't anything to worry about.

Final Notes - You cannot do better as far different-yet-good, for this $22 synth in 2006, can't be done my friends. You get a 30 free trial of Ufo light, after which you need to register it for $22. This is the one you missed in 2006, grab the 30 day trial, and see what I'm babbling about. *shrug*Read Review