* I can no longer remember when the first virtual sampler came to my attention. It was probably the EXS 24 that Emagic sold as an add-on to Logic 4 or 5, way back at the turn of the century. A lot has changed in six years. Almost every company that makes music production software has thrown some kind of soft synth or sampler into a very crowded market. High-end sequencing software like Logic, Cubase and even Pro Tools all include some kind of synth or sampler. Many other companies like Applied Acoustics, McDSR Native Instruments and countless others offer many varieties of virtual synths and samplers. Cakewalk has been including Dimension with its Project 5 Version 2 software, and now also offers Project 5 users the option to upgrade to its Pro version at a special price. Dimension Pro is also available on its own as a plug-in for any other sequencer. Dimension Pro, unlike other Cakewalk products, is now available for Mac as well as Windows, and works with any sequencer that supports AU, VSTi, or DXi.
At first glance there isn't much to differentiate Dimension Pro from the many other sampler/synthesizers out there. In brief, it is a multi-timbral synth and sampler, loaded with 1,500 presets. As a synth it combines sound generators with modulators, EQs, filters, and effects. As a sampler it comes loaded with 7 GB of .wav files, but any audio sample can be used. Its synth and sampler capabilities are fully integrated. Each program uses up to four voices, referred to as "Elements." An Element can be either a generated sound, one of the included sample sets, or any audio file.
The interface is refreshingly simple, especially compared to Sculpture, Apple's flagship Logic Pro sampler. The top line is for loading and creating programs, and changing MIDI and file settings. When selecting a program a separate browser window opens, which is a great time saving device. The bottom section is a mixer, where levels, panning and FX levels are changed for each of the four Elements.
The mid section is for selecting and modifying Elements. Pushing a button marked El, E2, E3, or E4 turns the middle of the interface into an editor specific to that particular Element. There is a subsection to the editor labelled "Modulator," which operates the same way, effectively using buttons to switch pages. So despite how simple the interface looks, deep editors can get right to the root of their sounds, while those of us happy to browse can simply move from one preset to the next.
Personally, I always enjoy scrolling through presets before I dive into a soft synth's editor, and many of the 1,500 programs that come pieloaded are quite remarkable. Those built from samples are especially great. The first thing that I checked out were the orchestra samples, and they are all very detailed. There is a selection of presets included called the Garritan Pocket Orchestra, which includes enough samples to put together a reasonably good sounding symphony. Many individual acoustic instruments, from upright basses to accordions, all sound terrific, although there are a few instruments that seem like a little filler. Of course, there is nothing wrong with having a selection of samples that are merely average when the Dimension Pro's editor gives you the option to turn them into something great.
The programs based on generated sounds are also good. The Dimension Pro includes many pads and atmospheres, sure to please sound designers as well as musicians. There are also drum samples, and loops included, although these are a little limited and probably exist only to show off what Dimension Pro can do.
Here are a few other things worth mentioning:
* Any program based on a loop can be edited in your sequencer, by dragging its icon onto the arrange page. Samples themselves cannot be edited in Dimension, but since you are using it in your high-end sequencer, you already have those tools.
* Doing the free upgrade from 1.1 to 1.2 got rid of most of my minor gripes, especially since the newer version allows parameters to be mapped to MIDI controllers.
* The Cakewalk website has lots of other great tips for using Dimension Pro, shedding light on just how versatile this software is.
Although this is a plug-in only, the Dimension Pro would also be a great live instrument. In fact, any audio producer or performer could benefit from this software. Visit the Cakewalk website to hear audio samples.
The manufacturer's suggested retail price for Dimension Pro is $249 US.
For more product information, contact: Cakewalk, FAX (617) 423-9007, sales@cakewalk.com, www.cakewalk. com.
Manufacturer's Comments
Dimension Pro's simple tagline "Amazing Sounds, Endless Possibilities" sums up our mission with this product. Dimension Pro achieves this creative ideal by combining realistic instrument samples with highly advanced synthesis. And Dimension Pro should not be confused with the ROMpler instruments currently crowding the market. Why? The thing that sets Dimension Pro apart from the competition is the unrivalled non-aliasing Expression Engine, a hallmark of the unparalleled sound quality found exclusively in the Cakewalk Instruments line. Also, at press time, we are pleased to make available the free Dimension Pro Expansion Pack 1, which contains 350 new programs and over 120 MB of new samples and wavetables.
Steve Thomas
Cakewalk
[Author Affiliation]
Jeff Pearce is a Toronto-based musician, producer, and recording engineer.
No comments:
Post a Comment