Tag: sound recording

u-he’s Hive 2 wave table capable synthesiser is a beast

After having reviewed Zebra2 Legacy, I decided to have a go at Hive 2.1, u-He’s third synth plugin on the home page of their website. It looked like Hive would be complicated to master and it indeed took me a while to understand some aspects of it. That’s not because of a convoluted interface but of some features I have yet to see in other synth plugins. Hive 2.1 was used for the movie The Matrix Resurrections with Howard Scarr being a major sound design force.… Read More u-he’s Hive 2 wave table capable synthesiser is a beast

E. Vlietinck, DoBsLeave a comment

u-he Zebra2 Legacy: if Hans Zimmer loves it, who are we to doubt?

A synthesiser for 99 Euros that is used by one of the most famous composers of our times? Is that even possible? Zebra2 Legacy is a special offer from u-he, the company behind the Zebra and Hive synths. Zebra2 Legacy is actually a bundle containing Zebra2, Zebralette, a number of Zebra effects and ZebraHZ, a special version the company developed at the request of Hans Zimmer. In addition, you get close to a whopping 4000 presets. When I read the greatest composer of film music of our times actually used a mildly modified Zebra2 for some of his movies, I had to try it out, so I purchased a licence and started experimenting. I tried both Zebra2 and ZebraHZ, the latter which this review covers.… Read More u-he Zebra2 Legacy: if Hans Zimmer loves it, who are we to doubt?

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Playfair Audio’s Dynamic Grading plugin is better, faster and more intuitive than the best compressor/expander

When your music has been recorded — or created if it’s all synths — the daunting task awaits of mixing and mastering. Mixing ensures that those tracks or instruments that you want to make sure are fully present in your end result are brought to the fore. The 149 EUR Dynamic Grading plug-in promises to make that a lot easier and better all around.… Read More Playfair Audio’s Dynamic Grading plugin is better, faster and more intuitive than the best compressor/expander

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Music and motion picture, regardless its format or distribution medium, go hand in glove – here are some tracks you might find appealing

Since the day the silent movie was replaced by “talkies”, and even before that, producers have alwaysused some kind of musical underscore. In our age, the “soundtrack” of some blockbuster movies is as important as the visual production itself. If I say “Blade Runner”, for example, I’m sure you’ll answer “Vangelis” and/or “Deckard’s Dream”.… Read More Music and motion picture, regardless its format or distribution medium, go hand in glove – here are some tracks you might find appealing

E. Vlietinck, DoBs

FabFilter Pro-R, the massive reverb with natural sound

FabFilter Pro-R is an algorithmic plug-in, which means it is not based on Impulse Responses (IR) of existing spaces. Nevertheless, Pro-R is one of a handful of reverbs I’ve tested that are true to nature and still capable of a massive effect. What attracted me to the FabFilter Pro-R reverb are its one-of-a-kind 6-band Decay Rate and 6-band Post EQ.… Read More FabFilter Pro-R, the massive reverb with natural sound

E. Vlietinck, DoBs1 Comment

FabFilter Pro-Q 3 Equalizer plug-in: massive dynamic range and 5-30kHz frequency range (and contrary what you might think, that is useful)

The two most important plug-ins you must have access to in your DAW are EQ and reverb. Of both, you can find free ones as well as average ones all over the Internet. For YouTubers and hobby sound engineers, it’s fine to use those. For projects like movie, TV series and documentary post-production, though, only the best will make you win awards.… Read More FabFilter Pro-Q 3 Equalizer plug-in: massive dynamic range and 5-30kHz frequency range (and contrary what you might think, that is useful)

E. Vlietinck, DoBs1 Comment

Orchestral Tools Drones review

Sample library developers Orchestral Tools have released their latest sample collection — Drones by Alexander Hacke. Designed by Sascha Knorr and Timo Loosli, Drones explores the titular musical effect through a series of instruments chosen specifically for their atmospheric and evocative qualities, providing lengthy (some over a minute) sonic textures ideal for sound design, avant-garde composition, and film and game scoring.… Read More Orchestral Tools Drones review

E. Vlietinck, DoBs