So I finally took the plunge and got some Vengeance samples.  I tended to stay away from them because they tend to have a lot of loops that I basically never use, I’m only looking for single shots.  I have to say the single shots are amazing.  You really can’t beat them and I’ve got quite a few packs.  Club Essential Vol 4 has a good amount of single shots.  Lots more than you get with Deadmau5 XFer or anything else for that matter (waves complete by alchemy is also a great pack and just single shots, only pack I’ve seen with more).  So although the pack is more expensive you really are getting value for money!

Two drum packs the current pop, electronic or dance producer shouldn’t be without in my opinion.  Vengeance Club Essentials Vol. 4 and Waves Complete by Alchemy

http://refx.com/products/vengeance/samples/

I tried out the vengeance samples quickly yesterday on the following remix contest to see how they felt.

http://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/papa-roach-still-swingin-contest/submissions/142943

10 More tracks on the playlist!! Mostly tunes from a few years ago this week.

TH2 - Quick Look!

So I recently got TH2’s guitar amp modeling system and figured I’d do a quick little review on it.  Listen to the attached audio.  First guitar loop is just the line in guitar then the second loop of each sample is with TH2 on.

http://soundcloud.com/radicalacademy/th2-quick-look/s-dCRx8

For simplicity I just used some pre sets to give you an idea of it’s sound with some editing, a couple I made from scratch.  And there are no extra fx on it appart from those within TH2.

The interface is very clear and makes it very easy to see the routing direction of the audio signal.  You can actually imitate putting the guitar through two separate amps at the same time by using the splitter to split the signal which can give a really nice big sound when panned hard to left and right.  Although if your using pre-sets they will need to be changed quite a bit to get them sounding their best (but that’s the same with almost anything).

The sound is very nice, as with most modelling software you will most likely want to use it as a layer to beef up your live amp recording rather than a stand alone guitar sound.  I recently used it on a recording where we had recorded the main guitars in the studio then needed to over dub a new solo, however we didn’t achieve the same sound as in the studio, putting it through TH2 got us to where it needed to be rather than having to go back into the studio to re record.

All in all, a great amp modeller with great flexibility, a good sound and very simple to use!!  Try the demo, http://www.overloud.com/products/th2.php!

My remix of Alberta Cross - “Money for the Weekend”, for a private opportunity with Mercedes Benz.  They paid me a demo fee for it but sadly never used it.  So here’s a free download!! Seems to have been going down well and been posted on blogs such as http://www.tophousemusicblog.com/.

Enjoy!!

z3ta+ 2.  A big improvement on Z3TA sound quality wise but still no match for NI’s soft synths, but that’s just because it takes a bit more time to get where you want to be with this synth.  It’s quite complicated to use but once you understand it you understand how any synth works, and there are plenty of youtube tutorials out there to get you going!! Well worth putting the time into it if you purchase it.  Probably one of the most flexible soft synths for under £100.  http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cgbp/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=10-CWZ32.00-20E

This is my first ever remix contest win, about a year and a half ago!!  ”At nearly nine minutes, his reworking of our tune slowly develops and unfurls itself in small quantum packages, like episodes, playing with silence, distance, and closeness.” - Freelance Whales

Here’s an interview I did with indabamusic.com about the experience!!  http://blog.indabamusic.com/2011/05/winners-interview-with-radical-academy/

NI’s Razor, synth!  Nice sound, as with all things NI.  Bit clumsy interface, but easy enough to get over once you understand what the hell each segment means.. If you think of it as reading left to right it helps.  Presets are cool, most need quite a bit of adjusting to sound nice, otherwise they are a bit fizzy or tinny on the ears if you know what I mean.  Great for the big pads and the dirty oscillating basses.  Starting from the “init” setting and building on it is the best way to go!! As with most soft synths.

So. I will add 10 new songs each week to this playlist, made up of music I am listening to at the time.  Please subscribe!  This weeks was a bit rocky!! Feeling the drums in this Arctic Monkeys tune “R U Mine?” great production and mix.  Sound of the drums are epic.

I’ve just upgraded to Sonar’s X2 Producer, and at first look it’s very similar to X1 Expanded.  As usual with sonar’s included plugins you have everything you need!  The pro channel is now smoother and the automation lanes are a massive improvement.  The only gripe I have with it at the moment is the smart click, it seems a bit counter intuitive to how I want to use my mouse and find myself having to resort to hot keys to flip between the controls. The new BReverb 2 is a great go to reverb and R-Mix seems open to some really creative filtering fx. All in all, Sonar just continues improving and for the price you can’t beat it!!

Good to see one of my favourite DAWs getting stronger and stronger.  Mad props!