Two New Instruments for Pro Tools

[Jenre]

Some info on the new plug-ins. All taken from the latest (February'06) issue of Sound on Sound...

2 new plug-in instruments designed by Wizoo: Xpand! and Hybrid. Will be officially launched at NAMM.

Xpand!
FREE to Pro Tools users.
Apparently a lot in common with Hypersonic, which Wizoo designed with Steinberg.
"Over 1000 factory patches included, in 28 banks covering everything from acoustic pianos, drums, bass and strings to synth leads and pads."
Up to four patches per instance
Five synthesis methods: "analog-style subtractive synthesis, sample playback, wavetable synthesis, FM synthesis and tonewheel modelling."
Optimised for ease of use and cpu resources
Six 'Smart Knobs' pre-assigned to key parameters for each sound
Built-in arpeggiators and effects units
"Fully intergrated with Pro Tools for rock-solid reliability"
Installer CD-ROM includes 625MB of sample data - available free from Digidesign dealers or for a "nominal sum" in the Digistore (don't know how much)

Hybrid
NOT FREE - included in a Music Production Toolkit bundle for PTLE and M-Powered
Pricing to be confirmed
"The name is intended to establish the idea of Hybrid as a synth that combines the 'warm and powerful sound of legendary analogue synths' with digital technology. What this means is that it will have a fairly conventional subtractive synthesis architecture, but will incorporate oscillators that are capable of reading wavetables as well as reproducing basic waveforms."
Multisaw waveform, oscillator sync and cross-modulation
Filter design is 'revolutionary' - 23 filter modes
"Apparently capable of 'true saturation' modelled after the Memorymoog, and can be modulated at audio rates, for effects that will be familiar to owners of some analogue synths"
"Two effects processors... joined by a pair of analogue-style step sequencers"


I hope there wasn't too many spelling mistakes. I had to type that all out. I'll try and get a scan of the Xpand! synth up soon.

[Shaman]

Great news...looking forward to hear them

[pigpen]

me too

[Snarf]

Sweet. Can never get to many Virtual Instruments

[dub3000]

very excited... any more information on this "Music Production Toolkit bundle" ?

[Jenre]

Originally Posted by dub3000

very excited... any more information on this "Music Production Toolkit bundle" ?

Afraid not, but NAMM starts today so who knows. We could have some info by tomorrow.

[Jenre]

Digidesign are feeling more generous than usual: http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.p...ev=#Post944922

[dub3000]

ooo... the synths look good.

one utility wavetable synth with a big sound library, and one nice 3 osc synth with yummy filters. not sure if i want to pay 500 bucks for a pack with that second synth and the TL reverb, though (i don't think i'd use the other plugins)... wonder if they'll offer it standalone?

anyone know if the free one will be available locally in australia or if i'm going to have to send away for it?

--dan

[Jenre]

Originally Posted by dub3000

anyone know if the free one will be available locally in australia or if i'm going to have to send away for it?

--dan

I read in Sound on Sound that it should be free from your local Digidesign Dealer.