Product Reviews by KVR Members

Introduction
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Let me revise my review (way too short to be helpful) for this pretty cool synth. It is a overhauled fully pimped 101 multiplied with 8 (8 layers featuring its completely independent 101). Still I'll keep my review short, since there are already good reviews, and concentrate on my point of view.

Features
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Huge amount of cool features. The most important ones:
-) 8 layers, each containing a polyphonic 101 plus FX
-) Layer can be stacked or split over the keyboard (e.g. bass in the lower keys, and a string on the upper keys)
-) Not comparing to a real one, it has a great analoguish sound on its own!
-) different GUI sizes
-) comprehensive sound design possibilities (that are not found on the original 101)

Sound
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The sound is very good and has analoguish character, not cold digital. It can emulate all the cool analog sounds, like fat strings and brasses. Deep huge basses and warm lead sounds. It cannot do the screaming very harsh sounds Massive is capable of. Even with the FX in the Lush101 turned on, Massive can still do harder sounds. Combining all layers, you can do sounds with extreme movements. Just try to combine 8 layers with different arpeggios on ;)

Compared to TAL Bassline 101 it sounds bigger, but TAL has more grit. Cannot tell you how both compare to the real one, because first I don't care and second I don't have a 101. I believe if the plugin sounds good for its own, I buy it.

GUI & Usability
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Here it comes. Albeit the bigger GUI, that already eased the usability, it's still a little tough to read thru the surface. Once you know where you can find the parameter, the signal flow is logically set up and then easy to work with. Older systems might have issues running this beast, because it needs some CPU. Especially when using 8 layers. Automation needs to be reworked, because automating e.g. 8 times the cutoff frequency is a huge PITA.

Presets
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The presets have good examples in it, but there are not many of them. For sound designers that starts all sounds anyway from scratch, that really doesn't matter. For producers (as me) that like to have a good starting point and save time, I wish there were way more presets.

Stability
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Definitely stable and no issues occured on MacOS 10.6.8 & 10.9.4 on Logic 8 resp. X.

Cons
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-) I wish there was a macro layer, where each control is cloned and controls all other layers relatively. Then this macro layer could be automated
-) I couldn't make some parameters work in Logic 8. Although highly probably my fault, DAW automation needs to be reworked and made easier.

Conclusion
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A great synth that still have a big potential to be even better. So I give an 8 out of 10. If you have to watch your budget, get TAL. If you need more possibilities get Lush. Check them both for their sound, then decide which one suits you better.

Still one of my go-to-synths. At least for "common" synth sounds like subs, noises and pads. Not so for lead sounds. That's a matter of taste though. It does also plucky sounds or percussions very well.

The overall sound is very good, although I wouldn't say excellent or outstanding. I'd say it doesn't have its own very unique character. That I find great for layering, because Albino never tends to overlay the original sound, but very often suits perfectly to the main sound.

The modulation matrix is great and gives a lot of possibilities. With all the modulators you can create very complex modulations and movements.

Another great feature is the vast preset library that ships with it. Unbelievably big! And it serves all kinds of sounds for all tastes and styles.

Great, when not best 32-bit bridge. Works flawlessly (at least with all my 32-bit plugins). Installation is simple and usage is very easy and almost self explanatory. Just open the program after installation and choose all 32-bit plugins you want to convert (it's called resurrect). Open DAW et voilà.

Automation and presets and saving presets within Logic X and within plugin works. At least I haven't yet encountered any issues.

Guess most of the old plugins will become sooner or later an overhaul to 64 or will be succeeded by a new version. At this point 32 Lives will become obsolete. Still there will be probably some old plugins you want to still use, so get 32 Lives.