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A lot of this looks like repackaged tech from their old instruments such as Vacuum, Hybrid, DB-33, and Velvet. Guess the legacy stuff is never going to get an update. And AIR should definitely provide an upgrade path for existing customers of their synth collection. These prices look too high compared to the current competition.

I think that the ease of setting frequency bands and adjusting stereo width for them independently, plus the mid/side control makes Spread very convenient. I have often heard that narrowing the bass frequencies spread can clean up some mud in a mix. This one knob thingy can deliver quickly!

Not free, but maybe worth a look. https://www.adsrsounds.com/product/software/dj-swivel-spread-one-knob-stereo-width-plugin/ "Unparalleled width, easy to use, SPREAD is the most powerful and usable multi-band stereo imaging plugin on the market. Spread includes additional useful features such as a Side Roll Off which takes advantage of mid/side processing, and a Tilt feature to balance your audio while preserving your stereo image. Make stereo tracks mono. Make mono and stereo tracks stereoooOOOHHH DAMN THAT’S WIDE!" $32.76 at JRRshop with discount code "group". https://www.jrrshop.com/dj-swivel-spread

Already have Mic Room from IK T-RackS...

3 drumsticks! EZD3???

Fathom is now updated from within the GUI. In settings, there is "check for update" button. If there is an available update, you just copy the download link to the clipboard. That part is very straightforward. In fact there are no longer any download links on the web page. But you still need your unzip password to unpack, then your email address and order # to activate the installer. Yep, that part is still a non-standard mess.

I hear ya! But last year I got annoyed that my current biggest controller only had 4 octaves (49 keys), and decided I wanted a really solid 61 key main controller. That 5th octave is handy with key switched sample libraries. I also missed the feel of my old 90's Rompler keyboards, all with 61 keys and built like a tank. Rather than the cheap plastic and rubber controllers that are dime-a-dozen nowadays. The cheap Arturia KeyLab Essential range of keyboards don't even have aftertouch. WTH! However the KeyLab Mk II feels like a real musical instrument that is built to last! Metal chassis, and a keybed like Arturia used on their hardware synth. With aftertouch. Very much like an old fashioned synth workstation, but with plenty of knobs and sliders for controlling virtual instruments.

Better yet, grab one of these if you can! KeyLab Mk II. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KeyLab2-61BK--arturia-keylab-mkii-61-keyboard-controller-black As low as $23/month with 24 mo. financing

In general, Arturia synths are not sample based, but a few of their modeled instruments were inherently sample or tape based, such as the CMI, Emulator II, Synclavier, and Mellotron. So it's only natural for those to have extra sample libraries to support that functionality. Did you know that you can even import your own samples into the CMI, Emulator II, Synclavier, & Mellotron? Trivia: Did you realize that the original Fairlight CMI II that Arturia based their CMI V on was priced at nearly $32,000 in 1982 dollars?

Yes, but I upgraded to Vital Pro anyway for the extra set of preset banks + unlimited "Text to Wavetable" access. Plus it's always nice to support indy developers if you can afford it. https://github.com/mtytel/vital/blob/main/LICENSE mtytel/vital is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 Permissions of this strong copyleft license are conditioned on making available complete source code of licensed works and modifications, which include larger works using a licensed work, under the same license. Copyright and license notices must be preserved. Contributors provide an express grant of patent rights. Vital_TTW_Demo.mp3

That's a definite plus in favor of Arturia compared to 200GB for IK Syntronik 2 MAX.🤪 So let's see, for Arturia that's 20GB divided by 28 instruments, so 714 MB average per instrument. Not too bad, considering the detailed artwork and scalable interfaces.

If you already have VM, that is probably a good add-on to VM, but it does require you to at least have the base VM, which can be had for free. https://www.jrrshop.com/cherry-audio-voltage-modular-nucleus Although if just starting with VM, the Voltage Modular Core + Electro Drums for $99 is probably the best way to go. https://www.jrrshop.com/cherry-audio-voltage-modular-core

I didn't catch the "ASLY" he clearly pointed out. Definitely got me! 🤣

Luftrum is an exceptional sound designer named Soren. I have some of his synth preset sound banks, as well as his Bioscape for Kontakt Player library. https://www.luftrum.com/bioscape/ Don't miss his free field recordings (samples). You can also get them as a full licensed 22GB sample library for a minimal donation to the World Wildlife Federation. https://www.luftrum.com/free-field-recordings/

Happy April Fools Day!!!

Rick-rolled, LOL! 🤣

Nice integration is a bonus if you have one of those! I got my KeyLab MkII last year. Switch to "Analog Lab" mode, and you are good to go.

Grabbed it today! 6 free add-ons are also automatically added to you library. The free Assembly Kit add-on needs to be added separately.

That's hilarious!!! 🤣

Yup!

The distinction between them is not all that useful IMO, unless you are seeking an MPE instrument that was designed by the MPE controller manufacturer to assure the most compatible integration possible, e.g. ROLI Equator & ROLI Seaboard. That's probably not a bad idea with such a new "standard". But since MPE is a new "standard", the virtual instrument developers can add MPE later to existing instruments to make them compatible. So at a minimum you at least need the controller and instrument to be MPE compatible, plus if you plan to use these in a DAW, that also needs to support MPE (not all do). So it's still apparently the bleeding edge of new technology. First adopters will be the pioneers that smooth the road ahead for everyone else. Then there is the Osmose keyboard with 3D controls in every key, coming soon from Expressive E for $1800. https://expressivee.happyfox.com/kb/article/188-osmoses-current-state-of-development/ It has an embedded sound engine, and is also an MPE MIDI controller. "Osmose embeds Haken Audio’s unique EaganMatrix sound engine: From virtual analog to FM synthesis, physical modeling and everything in between, never has a synth engine provided so much potential for expressive control. Explore an infinite landscape of incredible acoustic and electronic sounds." https://www.expressivee.com/2-osmose

Agree that no emulation will ever be perfect. Arturia did go to great lengths to get them close, and added a few new things where software made it possible to improve on ease of use over the original hardware. I have never played the originals except for the Casio CZ (which I still have), so I cannot compare them except to recordings made with them over the years, and to my ears they are close enough for anything I am doing. Plus the detailed graphics are inspiring! I think that the most contested emulations per the so-called purists are probably the Moog Mini and ARP 2600. Plenty of words spilled on these over at KVR, as there are clones from several developers to compare them to. But I don't pay them much attention. These sound good to me, which is what matters most. I also picked up the IK modeled Hammond B-3X in a IK Total Studio Max crossgrade a couple of years ago. That one is authorized by the Hammond factory, so I believe it sounds authentic. I would probably give it a slight edge over Arturia's, but not by a lot. So now I have both and probably won't mess with Arturia's version much, but it did come with the bundle. So at $249, you are getting 28 instruments for about $8.90 each. So for that price it's ok not to use them all! I also got the entire KORG Collection 3 (10 classic synths) for a cheap upgrade from KORG M1-LE, that includes the Triton and Triton Extreme. That collection is also a nice mix of classic analog and digital synths. Who better to model the original circuitry than KORG itself? Though just as with Arturia, it's best to buy the bundle rather than a la carte.

Well, I have 4 of them...

Disclaimer - I don't have an MPE controller yet, so I cannot comment on the accuracy or reliability of this info. But since I do have some of the listed compatible instruments I have been watching the market for an affordable controller. The choice of instruments started out meager, but is steadily growing. Agree that the choice of controllers is still meager. List of MPE controllers: https://www.soundonsound.com/sound-advice/mpe-midi-polyphonic-expression Best MPE synths include Arturia Pigments, ROLI Equator, Audio Modeling SWAM, and several by U-he [Hive, Diva, Repro, Bazille]: https://www.idesignsound.com/best-mpe-vst-synths-samplers-effects/ Many other synths include MPE now, such as various Cherry Audio synths, Surge, Synthmaster, Dawesome Abyss, Serum, NI Reaktor, UVI Falcon, etc. Not aware of many MPE samplers yet, other than Steinberg Halion, but SWAM has physically modeled real instruments that cover some of that ground. MPE Compatibility Matrix | Keith McMillen Instruments: https://www.keithmcmillen.com/matrix/#software List of compatible software from ROLI here: https://support.roli.com/support/solutions/articles/36000037202-compatible-synths-daws-and-instruments

Big GUI???