SOUND ON SOUND
***** 5/5. Zero-G have reworked the entire contents of their extensive library into a single, three-CD Refill package for use with Reason, providing over 9000 individual samples.
Ethera Soundscapes includes 14GB of sample content spread across three different elements: a vocal library with both male and female vocal samples, a range of atmospheric ambience elements, and a wavetable-based synth-engine.
5 stars ***** Two audio and two Acid-ready Wave CD-ROMs of drum loops and basic construction kits.
Following on from the huge success of Ethera and Ethera Soul Edition, Zero-G has super-charged its third Ethera release by combining three libraries in one package.
Ethera is meant to sound ethereal, and it can’t be denied that Clara Sorace, whose vocal performances were sampled to create this 3.4GB Kontakt library, definitely leans more towards Enya than Aretha...
These days, if your sample library is going to be a success, it seems you've got to release it with a virtual-instrument front-end. Analogue synth fanatic and long-standing sample-library producer Ian Boddy does not disappoint with his latest creation...
Miriam Stockley is the first well-known singer to undergo the Vocaloid sampling technique, allowing anyone with a PC to install her as a virtual instrument. But how well does it work in practice?
Sample and loop libraries have come a long way from being delivered on a humble audio CD — the most recent trend is to include a specific playback front-end for easy integration with your sequencer.
If you are seeking material to give your next score a genuine flavour of the music from countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey or Iran, then this library may well be a relatively inexpensive place to start.
We check out more sample libraries on the block: Analog Archive ***, Cycles ****, EZ Rollers **** and Notre Dame de Budapest *****
