Sample Libraries

This Adobe Premiere plug-in has now been ported to two different real-time plug-in formats: VST (for Mac OS 9, OS X and Windows) and Apple's new Audio Unit standard (for OS X).

Flatpack contains a large selection of patches and sample sets for each of the modules in Reason v2 and, though largely electronic in character, it steers clear of catering for any single, specific style or genre.

Considering the kinds of cutting-edge dance music styles that are usually associated with Reason, the idea of a General MIDI Refill might appear to be a bit of a strange one...

Cinematix Vol. 1: 3* • James Johnson Spektral Minimalism: 5* • Robert Rich Ambient Atmospheres & Rhythms: 4* • Numina Emotional Peak Sounds For Cinema: 5* • Orchestral Series 3: Cinematic: 4*

**** While you might think that the large number of high-quality sampled pianos already available would cater for most musicians' needs, there has always been a breed of piano largely absent: namely, upright pianos...

***** Following their excellent SAM Horns title comes a Giga set dedicated to a three-trombone section, augmented by a fruity solo bass trombone.

**** Programmed and produced by Lukecage in the heart of LA, Ultra Magnetic Beats is AMG's latest hip-hop sample library

5 stars ***** Two audio and two Acid-ready Wave CD-ROMs of drum loops and basic construction kits.

4 stars **** Homegrown Sounds have eight sample CD-ROMs available, each offered either in Soundfont format or as a combined NNXT, Halion, EXS24, Kontakt and Wave set.

**** Dirt Bag by Simeon promises "hundreds of grungy, fresh and inspiring dance samples", and that's a fairly accurate description of what's on offer here...

4 **** Rizing Drum & Bass is an extensive collection of drum & bass samples, presented as audio...

The Vienna Symphonic Library is more than just a sample library — it's a tool that aims to help you create true-sounding orchestral performances of your own music. But are we talking Berlin Philharmonic or Portsmouth Symphonia?

• Solo Brass **** • Solo Woodwinds ***** • Solo Strings ***

****** 6/5 stars! Dave Stewart is a skilled musician and composer who's been reviewing sample libraries in SOS for years. With so much experience in this area, Dave has produced a library of his own, and rather than sampling conventional instruments, he's focused on a collection of unique instruments built up over many years.

Steinberg and Wizoo's latest collaboration aims to provide high-quality string sounds at an affordable price, with a software interface to make string arranging so easy that even drummers can manage it. Have they succeeded?

PMI's second Grandioso library takes a thorough approach to capturing every nuance of a Bösendorfer Imperial 290 concert grand piano.

5***** We check out the mighty Fender Rhodes 73 Stage Piano, brought to you in a new 3GB sampled version by the Danish company Scarbee.

An awful lot of blowing went into Dan Dean's new orchestral release - but is this the wind of change, or just a great deal of hot air?

Score = ***** 5/5 stars. Garritan has released GOS Lite, a three-CD version of GOS available in either Akai or Giga formats using samples from the full library.

Score = **** 4/5 stars. Named after Waldorf's Microwave synth of the same colour, Orange consists of 216 NN19 presets, 12 Redrum kits and 65 REX2 loops on a single CD-ROM.

**** Score = 4/5. Many libraries offer a French horn ensemble within their menu of brass sections, but this is the first horns-only release we've come across.