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Virtual Instrument

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    MOTU Ethno

    World Music Software Instrument [Mac/PC]

    This new software instrument majors on lively and evocative loops and phrases that can be flexibly combined to create convincing world-music atmospheres.

    Reviews Dec 2006
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    Terratec Komplexer VST

    Wavetable Soft Synth [Windows]

    Old synths never die, they get reproduced as virtual instruments. So it is with Waldorf's Micro Q, which forms the heart of Terratec's impressive wavetable-based soft synth.

    Reviews Nov 2006
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    Kong Audio Chinee

    Chinese VST Instruments [PC]

    Five new evocative sampled Chinese instruments in virtual instrument form at a seriously low price.

    Reviews Oct 2006
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    Steinberg Halion Symphonic Orchestra

    Software Instrument [Mac/PC]

    We find out how well Steinberg's new take on the virtual orchestra conducts itself...

    Reviews Oct 2006
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    Music Lab Real Guitar 2L & Steinberg Virtual Guitarist 2

    Virtual Instruments

    There have been some famous twin-guitar line-ups in rock history and, even if you can't strum a note, you can now have the virtual equivalent — both of these software instruments will play on time and in tune, and won't want a solo in every song! But are they both equally good?

    Reviews Sep 2006
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    Garritan Stradivari Solo Violin

    Virtual Instrument [Mac/PC]

    Gary Garritan's powerfully expressive solo violin instrument features some impressive technical innovations. Will it create a new generation of virtual Paganinis?

    Reviews Aug 2006
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    Way Out Ware TimewARP 2600

    Software Synthesizer [Mac/PC]

    Can this in-depth software emulation of the ARP 2600 improve on Arturia's existing 2600V?

    Reviews Aug 2006
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    AMG One

    Software Loop Player [Mac/PC]

    Working with musical loops is now a well-established part of the musical mainstream. Could you do with One more tool to get the job done?

    Reviews Aug 2006
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    Cakewalk Rapture

    Software Synth [Mac OS X /Win XP]

    Cakewalk's latest virtual instrument takes traditional subtractive synthesis as its starting point, but offers a degree of flexibility that is unimaginable in any hardware instrument.

    Reviews Aug 2006
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    Emu Emulator X2

    Software Sampler [Windows]

    Not content with adding a huge raft of improvements to their already comprehensive Emulator X soft sampler, Emu have also removed the need to use it with their own soundcards, so now everyone can get in on the fun.

    Reviews Aug 2006
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    AAS Ultra Analog

    Modelled Analogue Synth [Mac/PC]

    Like the analogue modelling of AAS's Tassman but don't need its complexity or fancy its price much? The far more affordable Ultra Analog could be right up your street...

    Reviews Jul 2006
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    VSL Vienna Instruments

    Virtual Orchestral Instruments [Mac/PC]

    The Vienna Symphonic Library are well known for their amazingly detailed collections of orchestral sounds, and now they're providing them as virtual instruments. Will this take the VSL concept to a new audience, or is it a step too far?

    Reviews Jul 2006
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    Arturia Brass

    Brass Software Instrument

    Manufacturers have sought to provide expressive computer-based simulations of real instruments by releasing ever larger and more detailed sample libraries. But whatever happened to the idea of modelling instruments using synthesis techniques? Arturia haven't forgotten...

    Reviews May 2006
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    Native Instruments Bandstand

    General MIDI Soft Synth [Mac OS X/Windows]

    General MIDI synths are rarely glamorous, but there's no reason why they should not sound as good as more professional alternatives — that, at least, is the thinking behind NI's Bandstand soft synth.

    Reviews May 2006
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    Steinberg Hypersonic 2

    Virtual Workstation Synth [PC/Mac]

    The new version of Steinberg's virtual sound module brings more and better instruments, without sacrificing convenience or ease of use.

    Reviews Mar 2006
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    Applied Acoustics Lounge Lizard EP3

    Modelled Electric Piano Instrument [Mac/PC]

    Most recent electric piano virtual instruments have been sample-based, but in Lounge Lizard, AAS continue to fly the flag for their physical modelling technology; version 3 offers an improved fork model, plus modelled electromagnetic and electrostatic pickups...

    Reviews Mar 2006
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    IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik

    Virtual Orchestra [PC/Mac]

    Miroslav Vitous's orchestral library was the first of its kind, and more than 10 years after its launch, has been reinvented as a self-contained virtual instrument. Is the original still the best?

    Reviews Mar 2006
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    Korg Legacy Digital Edition

    Virtual Instruments [Mac/PC]

    Korg are continuing to develop virtual instruments based on their hardware synths. This time, it is 1988's classic M1 workstation that has been rendered in software...

    Reviews Feb 2006
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    Ueberschall Liquid Instrument Saxophone

    Virtual Sax Instrument [Mac/PC]

    Sample libraries with virtual-instrument wrappers are nothing new, but Ueberschall's new Liquid Instruments have an extra twist — the front end is derived from Celemony's Melodyne, offering you complete freedom to change the pitch of the phrases in the library.

    Reviews Feb 2006
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    VSL Vienna Instruments

    VST/AU Orchestral Plug-ins [PC/Mac]

    VSL, makers of the world's largest orchestral library, have unveiled their next phase of development. SOS were at the launch...

    Reviews Feb 2006
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    Native Instruments B4 II

    Modelled Drawbar Organ Software [PC/Mac]

    Since its launch in 2000, NI's B4 has been the software instrument of choice for those who want realistic tonewheel organ sounds from their computer. But NI are clearly convinced it can be better...

    Reviews Jan 2006
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