SOUND ADVICE

May 1, 2004 12:00 PM

           
 

CYCLING '74

Ron MacLeod, creator of the legendary Poke in the Ear with a Sharp Stick series of sample discs, has produced the first title in Cycling '74's new Cycles series of Audio Source Libraries. Sustained Encounters ($99) is packaged on two discs: a DVD-ROM of 24-bit, 44.1 and 48 kHz WAV files, and an audio CD for easy auditioning.

Cycling '74 describes Sustained Encounters as “long evolving aural environments and unfolding atmospheres … an accumulation of years of film design and sonic exploration.” Its contents are divided into three main categories: Immersion, Other Realms, and Textural. All Immersion files are in 5.1-surround format, and Other Realms are recorded in stereo. Textural files, also in stereo, are divided into several subcategories: Atmospheres, Environs, Lifeforms, Textural Complex, Textural Events, Textural High, and Textural Low. Documentation for the Textural Low files warns that a subwoofer may be required. Sustained Encounters conveniently provides Excel and PDF files that list the contents of both discs. Cycling '74; tel. (415) 974-1818; e-mail info@cycling74.com; Web www.cycling74.com.

DISCOVERY SOUND

Several recent CD-ROMs showcase the diversity of samples offered by Japanese soundware developer Discovery Sound. Didgeridoo ($25) contains 97 phrases played on the ancient Australian Aboriginal wind instrument. A didgeridoo is traditionally made from a section of eucalyptus trunk hollowed out by termites. Using circular breathing, the player creates low drones and staccato tones that have become popular for ethno-ambient and tribal-trance styles of music.

Similarly, Shamisen ($25) focuses entirely on the traditional 3-string Japanese folk instrument. The disc contains dozens of phrases and loops played by Hisao Suginaka and ranging from one to eight measures long. Shamisen and Didgeridoo both contain Acidized WAV and REX2 files, but very little documentation.

Other new discs embrace the sounds of the Western world. One of these is 8 Bit Family ($38), a collection inspired by the video games of the early 1980s. In addition to Acidized WAV and REX2 files, the CD-ROM provides sound files and preset instruments for Steinberg HALion and Emagic EXS24.

Anyone itching for some scratched-vinyl sounds will want to check out Vinylism ($38). It features more than 300 samples that demonstrate the art of scratching in Acidized WAV and REX2 formats. Samples are organized by tempo: 75, 80, 90, 100, 120, and 130 bpm. Most of the sounds began as vocal recordings, but Vinylism also provides 30 drum scratches. Discovery Sound; e-mail overseas@discoveryfirm.com; Web www.discoverysound.com.

ZERO-G

Ian Boddy is a major British synthesist whose music has long influenced electronic musicians the world over. His forte is creating atmospheric soundscapes, and that's just what he's done in Morphology (Mac/Win, $199.95), a virtual sound module based on Native Instruments' Kompakt Instrument. Morphology is packaged on a single DVD containing over 3 MB of samples and instruments that range from Dark Drones and Abstract FX to Harmonic Loops and Industrial Feedback.

Morphology is 8-part multitimbral and offers a variety of synthesis and effects parameters. Most Instruments are single samples rather than multisamples, and all samples are 24-bit recordings. Morphology operates either standalone or as a plug-in that supports VST, DX, and RTAS in Windows; VST in Mac OS 9; and VST, RTAS, and Audio Units in Mac OS X. It requires at least a Pentium III/500 MHz with Windows 98, ME, or XP, or a Mac G3/500 MHz with Mac OS 9.2 or OS X 10.2. Zero-G/EastWest (distributor); tel. (800) 833-8339; e-mail sales@eastwestsounds.com; Web www.soundsonline.com.