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PSP Vintage Warmer Review

Did you ever wonder how your favourite producers get such a clean, clear and absolutely cranking sound out of just software? Well this Mac and PC compatible VST is one of our dirty little secrets.. Read on for my review of this awesome product.

What is the PSP Vintage Warmer?
Here's the scoop from PSP:

PSP Vintage Warmer is a high-quality digital simulation of an analogue-style, a single or multi band compressor/limiter. It combines warm analogue sound with a straightforward user interface, and comes with a rich library of presets. The plug-in processor is highly flexible and can be used for both single and multi-band compression, as well as brick-wall limiting. This makes it an essential tool for mixing and mastering engineers.

Careful attention has been paid to PSP Vintage Warmer's overload characteristics with the processor being capable of generating saturation effects typical of analogue tape recorders. PSP Vintage Warmer also incorporates professional VU and PPM metering together with accurate overload indicators thereby assuring professional quality results.

 
Here's what I think it is:

I work only with digital music, using Ableton Live and plenty of VST's. When I work in the Studio with my trusted engineer it is always a pleaser to run my tunes and recordings through a few of he's many vintage hardware units. I don't care what other producers say, but it is rare that a VST can sound as good as a hardware unit. A lot of them come close, but very few ever satisfy me.

That is where PSP Vintage Warmer is different. It looks like an old great sounding analogue compressor, and feels like one and most importantly it sounds like one! This plug in is not a nice to have compressor, I think it is absolutely essential.

The Interface

PSP Vintage Warmer features a brushed aluminum and wood interface with analog VU meters and several knobs and toggle switches. There is also a numeric display that shows the precise setting for each individual knob as you hold the mouse cursor over the knob.

Clicking on the PSP Vintage Warmer name displays the plug-in's "back panel", which lets you fine-tune the behavior of most controls. For example, you can adjust the ballistics of the VU meters or set the saturation ratios for the three frequency bands of the multi-band mode.

The largest knob on the front panel is the Drive knob, which controls the overall input level. When used in combination with the compressor section, you can achieve effects from slight tape saturation to full blown distortion. Add too much gain and you'll get harsh distortion, but adding a little can give a guitar track some extra bite.

The compressor/limiter section features controls that vary from the standard threshold/ratio/attack/release controls found on most modern compressors. Instead PSP Vintage Warmer has four controls named: knee, speed, release, and ceiling. Knee let you adjust the compression from hard knee (suitable for limiting) to soft knee (for more musical sounding compression.) It can also be used to simulate analog tape effects. The Speed knob is based on tape speed, and a slow setting represents a slow tape speed or a slow attack time in the compressor section. Fast settings do the opposite and give higher fidelity just as faster tape speed would. The Release knob adjusts the release setting for the compressor based on the Speed setting. The Ceiling knob functions like a Threshold control on a typical compressor.

Usage

Since PSP Vintage Warmer is a hybrid, it's controls are a little non-standard. Fortunately, it comes with a number of presets that cover a wide range of applications from individual tracks to whole mixes. It seems like a lot of care went into the presets as nearly all of them are useful, a lot of the time I am able to get the sound I am after without changing the presets around too much.

There are several mix and mastering presets. The generic "Mastering First Aid" setting can serve as a good starting point for most mixes. Especially helpful are four "Mix First Aid" settings, each of which concentrates on different frequencies, that can really help bring out certain elements of a mix. In addition, there are a number of presets for instruments like guitar, bass, and drums. There are also a number of multi-band compressor settings, and tape speed and saturation simulations. Using the presets is a great way to get a feel for how PSP Vintage Warmer works.

Sound Quality

I have used Vintage Warmer on a lot of my tracks. I find it most useful for getting some shattering kicks to come out of the mix without distorting or destroying the mix.

Basses, synths and vocals all sound amazing using this VST. It really is surprising how much vintage warmer can bring your elements out of you mix, and warm them up without distorting or noticeably changing them.

Overall

Overall, like I mentioned earlier this plug in is essential. I have never heard a VST plug in sound this good and I am looking forward to new PSP software in the future.

Unfortunately it is CPU hungry and that is the only reason I marked it down. It makes like a little hard to have to freeze tracks as soon as stick this beast on, but it is workable because it is more like a final touch anyway.

9.5/10

LennarDigital Sylenth1 VST Review

If you have been reading my reviews you would notice that all of the scores I have been giving out are rather high. There is a good reason for this! I really don't have time to sit here and write reviews for software or hardware that I don't think it, so everything that I review is software that I love and use everyday. Sylenth 1 no different! It is a VST still in it's infancy, but trust me, this is one synth that you really want to get on the bandwagon for and stop wasting your time! Read on to find out why...

What is Sylenth 1?
Here's what LennarDigital have to tell us

Sylenth1 is a polyphonic virtual analog synthesizer.

It has four unison oscillators which use an "innovate" synthesis technique that allows the generation of many simultaneous high-quality waveforms in real-time, using only minimal amounts of CPU resources. It also features two "analog sounding" filter sections, which can be taken way past the point of self-oscillation. These filters incorporate several non-linear saturation stages to produce harmonically rich sounds. Sylenth1's extensive modulation options offer possibilities to sculpture the sound, and it has a set of six built-in mastering sound-effects.

So what do I think it is?

I own a lot of synths, and I have tried nearly all of them at one stage or another. The synths I keep coming back to are Z3ta+, Vanguard, Massive, Pro 53 and Albino. While I do love all these synths as if they were real keyboards sitting in my studio, I realise that I love them all and not just one because they each have their own flaws.

Z3ta+ has great oscillators, but I find the filters annoying. Vanguard has a great soft electronic sound, but its low end just gets messy. Massive has some great features but has a constant digital sound.

Sylenth 1 is still in it's infancy and still have a lot of development happening so it lacks some of the nice to have features of the other big synths I have mentioned. However, even though it is still so young I have never heard the type of sound quality that Sylenth delivers in any other VST. Ever.

Sylenth rivals it's hardware brothers like the Virus or even the new Moogs. It sounds warm and analogue just as they promise and it is a synth not to be missed!

The Interface

Some may love it, but no one will hate it. I think it is quite nice, and it adds to the character of the Synth. When I was playing this instrument through my MIDI controller I felt like I was actually playing a real synth, which tells me that the interface is successful.

I think your going to see the interface improved quite a bit. It is quite big and I think they could hide a few areas with expandable buttons like on the Moog emulating VST.

Sound Quality

Sylenth is simply best analogue sound I've ever heard from a VST. I realise how a VST sounds is always going to be a subjective and contentious issue but I say this after comparing it with the best of today's analogue based VST's.

It doesn't have a huge amount of basic waveforms, and it doesn't have a huge amount of filters, envelopes or LFOs. It doesn't have a huge amount of modulation destinations. But - it has a huge, huge, huge amount of what you really want which is sound quality.

Take a look at some of the most successful hardware synths and you will see that it is not the complexity that make them great, it is their sound and how you can manipulate and sculpt that sound.

Filters are one of the main make or break features of any synth, and Sylenth's filters are just gorgeous sounding and overdriving beautifully. I've never found myself coming up against any frustrating limitations I have felt with other VST's. Sylenth, with it's simple and well laid out interface just invites you in to make fast and intuitive changes.

Overall

A newcomer to the market, and already is a top contender. If you buy one synth this year, make it Sylenth. If you only have one synth, make it Sylenth. If you can't afford a virus, buy Sylenth. You will not be disappointed at my new favourite synth.

8.5/10

 

M-Audio Torq Xponent Review
M-Audio has just released Torq Xponent which is a new integrated hardware/software DJ and production system. The Torq Xponent system brings traditional CD DJ-style control and mixing to the vastly expanding world of computer-based DJing.

Torq Xponent is a hardware/software system that can be used as an advanced MIDI control surface for Torq DJ software, and a four-output USB audio interface.

The Xponent's controls enables DJs to perform a variety of tasks from a single surface, eliminating the need to adjust most onscreen parameters with a touchpad or keyboard. The unit's mixer section allows users to deliver a dynamic DJ performance with the same feel and response as a standard hardware mixer. As you can see from above, it is super stylish, taking the look and feel of some of the most popular DJ CD players, and Mixers.

The Torq DJ software works for both Mac and PC and was disigned to be fully compatible with Xponent. Every single Xponent control is mapped to its corresponding Torq function by default as soon as you take it out of the box.

Xponent includes two touch-sensitive scratch wheels for scratching, speeding up and slowing down the playback of digital files. For in-depth control over Torq, Xponent adds 64 assignable backlit buttons (including Play, Cue, Seek, Loop, Key and Sync controls), two volume sliders, eight assignable knobs for effect control and two 100mm pitch sliders. The built-in touchpad is a X/Y controller that gives users command over the mouse or the effects in Torq, so they never need to take their hands off the unit in the middle of a performance. Level and progress LED meters round out all the pro features that DJs expect.

Torq Xponent also has built in VST effect compatibility and easily assignable hardware controls make it easy to turn plug-ins into expressive live performance tools. Throw in a flanger or a phaser, crunch it out with Camel Audio's Camel Phat3 or add some spice with Camel Space... you get the idea.

M-Audio Torq Conectiv Review
M-Audio is well known for affordable and pro-quality audio gear, Trigger Finger and Xponent come to mind as two great M-Audio products. M-Audio have been moving more and more into the DJ spotlight and have teamed up with SynchroScient to bring out Torq. So how does it fare compared to the other DJ and time coded vinyl solutions on the market?

M-Audio are now competing directly with Serato and Stanton, the two biggest Time Coded Vinyl solutions out there, Just like the other solutions, Torq Conectiv is really two products designed together: Torq is the DJ software package like Traktor, and Conectiv is the USB hardware interface pretty much like a FinalScratch ScratchAmp, or more simply a USB soundcard. They must be used together as a complete package.

Hardware

The Conectiv interface is a USB powered audio device that has two RCA inputs and outputs (thats one for each vinyl or CD deck), a headphone input and a mic input. The most prominent feature on the face are a pair or big knobs, these are used to either switch from time coded vinyls or acutal vinyls, or according to M-Audio can be used as some kind of effects wet/dry knobs. Conectiv can be used as between turntables or CD players and Torq with special control vinyl or CDs that are included. You can also use Conectiv as a soundcard, It is even compatible with the M-Powered Pro Tools but I doubt you will find it useful as it's latency for audio application makes it pretty much useless for anything but DJing. It is clearly designed to be cheap but well built. It's not going to win any beauty contests, but it does the job. It is simple, minimal and very strong.

 

 

Software

 

Torq is similar to programs like Traktor, as it has two DJ decks and all the regular trimmings, as well as a track database and playlist. But Torq also has some great new unique features like, VST plug-in support, an iTunes integration, Can be run as a ReWire slave and also has a 16 cell sampler and the. Torq also easliy runs with any MIDI controller (and also has auto-detect with M-Audio's controllers).

Interface

The interface is very basic in design. It looks like a lot of thought has clearly gone into its features, but I still felt that Torq feels like it should be in beta. It lacks the finished feel of Traktor or Deckadance. I do like the skinning options and the colours used are good for use in the dark.

I also like the MIDI learn functions which means I can plug in a Midi controller, hold down the SHIFT key and quickie teach Torq which control I want to use for a specific command.

Having set everything up, and put a track into one of the decks and a vinyl on a real deck it does however play very nicely. The Vinyl is responsive to the MP3 and the wav images move smoothly and correctly to the vinyl I am playing. It certainly doesn't feel cheap and runs very well.

 

 

Song Database

 

Torq has its own database of MP3 files (also support wav's) which is accessible through the browser interface on the lower portion of the screen, which unfortunatly can't be moved or controlled by MIDI yet. When you load a track into one of Torq's decks for the first time, it will be analysed by Torq to generate the waveform display and calculate the BPM. This process can be a little slow and sometimes can result in stuttering playback while the analysis runs. You can analyse them all at once, but i found that following the guid on my website to increase your laptop proformance can make a huge difference. You can find that here. Once your tracks are in the Torq database, you can search or sort them by the usual colums, Name, Artist etc. You can create playlists as well.

Torq's also tightly integrates with iTunes and lets you browse your iTunes library natively in Torq.

DJ Effects

The effects features in Torq are impressive. Each deck has a dedicated effects rack located just beneath the waveform display. You can add up to three Torq effects and one VST effect. The Torq effects include basic delay, flanger, phaser, filter, distortion, strobe, reverb, reverse and brakes. They are quite basic, but they are all you need and they sound impressive too. You can also add in your expensive VST's. After telling Torq where your VST plug-in folder is located you can select a VST plug-in from a drop-down list.. You can then tweak the settings as you would in any other VST host.

However be warned, if you have a bunch of killer VST's that are based on syncing with the tempo of the host, or are time/delay based effect they might crash the software!

Overall

Some might find the interface a little cluttered, or amateur looking. Some might like that aspect. I personally think the interface needs a lot of work, as does the VST compatibility issues.

There were several times when I have been using Torq and it has crashed on me for no reason. I spent time in the support forums seeking to fix it, but mostly the only responses I got where that it worked fine for most people. Great! But it doesn't work for me! It seems like a lot of the folk over at the Torq forums love the software because even the slightest negative comment of how it might be Torqs fault that it crashes on my system is a quick way to get flamed.

I think the software has a lot of potential but even if it only crashes on the rare occasion that is too much to be used seriously.

Score
6/10

reFX NeXus VST Review
Nexus is a self titled Next Generation VST. The interface was designed by Vanguards reFX, and the sound sets where personally hand crafted by the highly respected Vengeance. With names as big as those two, Nexus should absolutely grand. I have had a chance to get my hands on Nexus so let's see if truly be the Next Generation VST...

 
What reFX say about NeXus

NEXUS is a next generation rom synthesizer of highest quality that will make your dreams come true. Forget about the usual bread & butter ROM synthesizers whose sounds are boring, stale and lacking punch.

NEXUS explores new territory and delivers complex, ultra-fat and up-to-date soundstorms that could not sound any better from the most expensive and best hardware - all at the tip of your fingers.

NEXUS provides you with everything you need to create the new hit. Do you need the most powerful dance leadsounds to become famous in your club or a Gregorian choir to create the atmosphere of the next trance hit? Whatever you need, NEXUS will supply you with what you have always been longing for.

Features like the freely programmable arpeggiator, the versatile trancegate or the factory-library optimized for the most popular genres make this the best ROM synthesizer on the market.

Even though the sound is first rate, your CPU is spared. You can expand NEXUS with new sounds by installing genre-specific expansion packs or customize the look of the GUI with our themed skins.

Are you ready? You better be.

After placing your order, you will receive an email with a license-file attachment. You will also receive a DVD in the mail a few days later which you need in order to install NEXUS. On that DVD is a PDF with installation instructions

At a Glance

So lets get things straight first. reFX Nexus is not really a synth, it is a Rom Synthesizer. Every single patch has been hand crafted by Vengeance yes, but you won't be able to change any of these sounds except for a filter and a few built in effects.

The Interface

The interface is quite pretty, and the downloadable skins can make it even prettier. My personal favourite skin is the Kill Bill. The interface is clean, uncluttered and simple, I like the digital screen in the middle because it adds a nice feel of a modern day real synth.

There are two things I don't like about the interface however, one is the knobs which just don't feel tight, new or comfortable. It feels like they are on a strange angle and they are a little annoying to use with the mouse.

The second thing I don't like is that it can be a little difficult to navigate around the middle digital screen to figure out how to load in banks, set up arps ect.

Is the interface Next Gen? sorry reFX, as much as I love your synths there is nothing Next Gen about this interface. It is good, but it not quite what I would class as Next Generation material.

 
Patches

The sounds a synth makes are much more important then how it looks and feels. Vengeance is my absolute favourite sound designer so I was expecting big things from he's NeXus sound set, and he delivered in a big way!

You can tell from the built in standard soundest packs that Vengeance has taken a lot of time to produce these on some serious hardware. Each sound has been carefully crafted and recorded note by note.

The basses, pads and synths impressed me a lot, they sound thick and fat and crunchy, especially on the really low end of the keyboard which is often hard to get sounding right when you are just using soft synths.

I really enjoyed the new Electro styled soundest available on the NeXus site, and the other sound sets I like are the minimal house and Perpetual Motion. These are some seriously pro sounds!

I do have two small issues with the sound sets, the first being their size, each one from 400- 700 meg each. I know that a lot of data is kept in them, but for each sound that is brilliant there is a sound that could have been left out. For most people space is not an issue, but personally I really enjoy working on my notebook sometimes and my sample library is starting to get really taxing!

The second problem I have is the loading times for each soundest which can sometimes be a little annoying. We all know how many presets we need to go through to find that right sound, and while it is very easy to navigate through Nexus, waiting for each path to load in is quite annoying.

Built in Effects and Filters

One of the main selling points for Nexus is that its "Next Gen" statement. It was designed to be the perfect mix of a sample player and a synth. To achieve this, reFX have given the player a Filter, delay, reverb and an amp mod.

The amp mod, Reverb and Delay all work exceptionally. I really like the sound of the Reverb, it is bright, clean and simple. The Filter however is the weakest point, especially for electro producers.

Electro bass relies on the filter for its squelch, ripping sound but in my opinion the NeXus filter is too weak for this and not flexible enough. A couple of LFO's would be great too!

Overall

NeXus is not the Next Generation of VST's, not even close. It is however an exception sampler, with an exceptional sound library.

If they truly wanted to make it a Next Gen VST, I personally would like to see more FX, a matrix to assign filters and mods to the sound, morphing and a much stronger filter.

However, even though it falls short in the VST department the sounds are so well designed that I would use them anyway and I truly looking forward to each Vengeance update.

M-Audio are the reliable company behind the Oxygen 8 keyboard, Axiom Keyboards and a heap of other great controllers, sample CD and Professional Audio Hardware. I have got my hands on a new X-Session Pro DJ MIDI controller, have a read of how it fairs up when I apply the pressure to test it out.

What is it?

The XSP is a brand new MIDI controller set to replace the "X-Session" MIDI device, and attempts to replicate the standard 2-4 channel audio mixers with which most of us are familiar with a few more buttons and knobs to do various things inside your DJ software.

First Impressions

After opening the box my first impression was that the actual unit is a lot smaller then I suspected, in length, width and height. A smaller unit is easier to take with me, but I really like to use my space when I am DJ-ing and sliders too close together might be an issue.

The unit is solid, but it does have looks and feel a little plastic-y. There is nothing worse then using DJ gear that feels like a three year old should have one in their toy box. Luckily for M-Audio, the X-Session is solid enough to pull it off, just.

On the positive side, all the sliders feel nice as they move along, and all the knobs are quite satisfying to turn. They certainly do have a much better feel then most of the other DJ Midi Controllers I have used in the past.

Practical Usage

The X-Session was probably the most simple controller to set up I have seen. Plug in the USB, open Ableton (or any other DJ app). Use It. Simple.

In Ableton Live it is quite easy to go into MIDI Edit Mode and simple move the X-Session Pro sliders on the highted controls you want to use X-Session Pro for.

M-Audio Torq is also just as easy to setup, like before to go into MIDI Edit Mode and simple move the X-Session Pro sliders on the highted controls you want to use X-Session Pro for.

Deckadance even has Native support, so all you need to do is plug it in and away you go, no setup.

After the initial setup, X-Session Pro works really well. Latency is minimal and the controls are responsive. The unit feels like it has been well designed and thought out.

Overall

X-Session Pro is a great little unit. It works flawlessly as promise, looks nice and feels great. I think it is a little small, the controls could do with a little more room but for $129 US it is easily the best bargain out there.

Click here to buy the M-Audio X-Session Pro USB MIDI DJ Mixer Controller

9/10