Magic Russ

I've actually had some good success with the animator in Session Horns, but it has taken effort and I don't know how well that counts. Otherwise, I can't say that I have used any.

Unfortunately I get this message attempting to apply the coupon: Coupon codes are not available for this product (Bitwig Studio 4 Upgrade)

Did they update that recently? I checked earlier this week and I was getting $68 for CV-1 despite owning the modeling collection.

I recently downloaded Rigid Audio's Drum One library. The basic drum sounds are mapped an octave higher than where you would expect them to be, according to the GM standard. The obvious thing to do would be to adjust the transposition on the track (Key +) up an octave. I did this and everything I played from the keyboard sounded fine. Then I tried auditioning some midi drum loops. The keyboard display in Kontakt was showing that the unmodified notes were being played. I copied the same loop into the Matrix, and it was transposing correctly. The same was true when I copied the loop to the track. It seems this issue with not transposing is limited to auditioning files from the browser.

This has some pretty good sounds in it, but... 1. The basic drum sounds are mapped an octave higher than where you would expect them to be, according to the GM standard. In the octave where you would expect to see the drum sounds they have a feature that lets you play pitched and repeating versions of any drum piece. It's a cool feature, but I think they should have mapped the drum sounds according to GM and put the auto flam sounds higher up on the keyboard. Now I know that you can set the input key on the track, but it seems that when you audition midi loops from the browser, this is ignored. If you trigger the same loop from the Matrix or the track, it works ok though. I'll have to take this upstairs. 2. Certain keys have an auto-flam feature on them. For example, F# is a hi-hat, and G# is the same hi-hat with the auto-flam applied. If you are trying to audition drum loops, this can be an annoyance because you might expect to be hearing a single note but get a bunch of repeated notes. Yes, you could get around this with a drum map, but I don't really want to set up a mapping just to get a library to work the way it should have in the first place. 3. The time of the auto flam feature is dependent on velocity. For example if you hit it at one velocity, it will repeat at 16th notes. A little harder, and the note repeats at 16th note intervals. I don't find that particularly practical.

Also Kontakt 5 reads that format, or you could convert them to another format using Extreme Sample Converter.

Guitar Rig allows you to modulate various parameters on any of the flangers with a step sequencer. MRhythmizer does step filtering similar to the ZVex Seek Wah. Amplitube has a ZVex Seq Wah model available in the custom show, as well as their own step filter.

Don't forget the Deals page on KVR, which lets you sort by expiration date. https://www.kvraudio.com/deals.php

I also added line about how I won't buy another delay, eq, or compressor.

Along with their Solid series and Transient Master.

It would be interesting to see how many hours were spent developing that vs the features that could have been developed during that time.

That's a better strategy for Windows users than Mac users.

I believe their plan was that Synth Master 3 would combine SM2 with Synth Master One.

Although I was reading that the new CEO for the combined NI/iZotope company Mark Cattini, is described as having "a knack for focusing and accelerating SaaS businesses in ways that other executives often overlook". https://www.kvraudio.com/focus/native-instruments-and-izotope-unify-leadership-teams-53193

There's a fine line between 'no brainer' and 'heavily discounted crap', though.

My strategy is pretty much the same as previous years Pick up a few SynthMaster presets in the November sale Get whatever EZ Keys module is going for $29 this year. Same for the EZKeys Midi packs that have been on sale for $10. Look to see if there is a good deal on the AAS Modular synth. Get all the freebies which sound useful, in particular the ones from Arturia, NI, and the annual free soundpack from AAS. Skip the freebies which duplicate stuff I already have. Remind myself I already have more than I need, in fact more than I could have dreamed of having when I was starting out. And I am not going to buy another delay, compressor, or eq. Look at my PayPal account and reassure myself I didn't go that much farther over budget than I expected. As for wishlists: I really would have liked EZ Bass to have come down a bit more.

bumpworthy. Plus here's the link (edited to go to page 1): https://vi-control.net/community/threads/tiger-the-frogs-categorized-alphabetized-list-of-november-2021-sales.116454/

Echoes is great, and totally worth EUR 17. "Normally €112" seems like a bit of a stretch though. Right now most vendors have it at $99.

I hope this doesn't take the place of their regular holiday freebie.

It looks like I will have 7 slots left, and all to choose from will be Sampletank titles. I picked up Spaceport 77 and the Cinikinetik series. I also have all the stuff that came in SampleTank 3. Any recommendations for the remainders?

The vast majority of the effects in the Drive and Vibe pedals are very much emulations of old gear with a few bells and whistles added. Names like Cat, Muff Fuzz, Phasor 9, and Fox Phaser kind of give that away. The delays model tape and analog delays and the reverb pedals model springs and plates, These are definitely models of old gear, although not always based on a specific piece of gear. They want to get into the hardware pedal market, and realized that it's a selling point that you can have the same sounds on your pedalboard as on your computer, thus Amplitube integration. People may complain about the price points, but compare the delay pedal to Line 6's DL-4, both of which are priced at $300.

Not me, but I might consider trading the other IK tapes for these.

Regarding the Joe Satriani, it gives you an updated version of the 5150 amp, a Rockman, and the Satch VM. The VM is actually fairly versatile. There's a freaky octave fuzz in there, the Boss overdrive which isn't part of A5, and the Chandler tube driver. A few decent drives if you don't want to go full metal. Many people who like JC-120s will tell you that the one in CFH is really good. I haven't played the Randall much, but if I remember right, it's good for really clean or heavy grind and the points in between are best skipped over. I think the standout in that package is the MXR Flanger/Doubler, and the noise gate is pretty decent. As far as the X-Drives go, they aren't just a repackaging of Amplitube effects. In some cases, the models are improved. For example, the Cat in X-Gear is much better sounding and more versatile than the Pro Drive from Amplitube. I'd say the same thing for the Big Muff model. Of course there are some X-Gear models that they don't have in Amplitube, especially in the reverbs and delays. The X-Vibe is probably the least essential as many of its effects are covered with Amplitube.

Are you sure you shouldn't just be leaving it on at this point?