Millennium Time Capsule/AC2000.BIN/disks/ac16disk/articles/reviews/ultim_cd/ultim_cd.asc

Text File | 1999-10-06 | 5.7 KB | 121 lines

The Ultimate CD-ROM For All Cubase Users

The title of this offering from System Solutions smacks of the latest
round of TV advertising for "The best Rock/Soul/Sixties...album in the
world...ever!" So is it the ultimate? On first impressions, I would have
to say that the answer is no.

Although the CD Rom is targeted at all Cubase users, a large portion of
the disc is given over to audio samples in the AIFF standard used by most
versions of Cubase Audio. That material is fairly useless to midi only
Cubase users.

The CD comes in the usual kind of plastic box with a colour printed inlay
card giving a rough guide to the contents - very rough. In fact, the guide
is simply a list of paths and filenames with no clue being given as to the
content. With, as the insert says, over 400 midi and *.ARR files, over 400
professional loops, over 1200 AIFF recordings, software, Help,
Information, Mixer Maps, and Devices, this is not a terribly helpful
approach. I prepared myself in trepidation to start sifting through the
information on the disk.

The first problem I hit is fairly fundamental - Cubase Audio Falcon will
not recognise the CD Rom drive as a valid drive. This problem has been
discussed at length on the alt.steinberg.cubase newsgroup on the internet
and, as far as I am aware, there is no solution as yet. So, to hear the
samples within CAF, you must first copy them to your SCSI hard disk.
Fortunately, most of the samples are short enough to be loaded up by the
demo version of Zero-x which is supplied in the software section of the
disc, so I used that to audition the samples and loops directly off the
CD.

I'm afraid to have to say that most of the samples were disappointing. I
first looked in the brass folder, hoping to find some killer horn section
snippets which could be slotted into one of my arrangements. Now, today's
recording technology is so good that it is sometimes difficult to tell the
real thing from the copy but unfortunately, most of the brass samples
seemed to be taken from a keyboard which was already playing a brass
sample! I don't think I would be alone in expecting the samples to be
recordings of the real instrument, but this only seemed to be the case for
some of the solo trumpet samples in the brass collection.

The same holds true for most of the sample collection - a lot of
artificial, synthetic sounding samples interspersed with just a few
authentic ones. One or two of the samples and loops provided are badly
recorded, with lots of background noise and buzzing and some, like the
bass guitar ones, have been inexpertly played, resulting in a messy sound.

Apart from one folder of drum loops which has a four or five word
description for each file, the only guide as to what the files will sound
like comes from the path and filename. On a disc listed at 70, I do not
think that this is acceptable.

The midi file and *.ARR file sections tell a similar story. There is a
selection of pieces by famous composers like Beethoven and Brahms, but no
attempt has been made to make the files easy to play. Even a set of
General Midi program changes would have given the user a starting point
but you will have to read the track lists and set up your sound modules
accordingly.

Also available in this section is a folder full of generic "style" files.
These are each organised into small chunks which can be combined in
different orders to make up whole songs. the programming is competent but
not exceptional and I wonder why anyone would use these files rather than
create their own.

The mixermaps folder is the first truly useful resource I found on the
disc and it contains mixermap files for all sorts of equipment from Akai
to Yamaha. You may well find something applicable to your setup here but
it must be said that the collection is not exhaustive - for example, in
the Yamaha folder there are maps for various versions of DX7 and also for
the Pro 01 and DMP7 digital mixing desks but nothing at all for any of the
popular SY series synths.

The Atari software section contains some 30 editor / librarian programs
for a selection of different synths, 20 Cubase or music related
accessories and a handful of commercial demo or public domain utility
programs.

PC or Mac users are going to be disappointed in their software sections,
however, with the PC folder containing 5 demo programs and the Mac folder
only containing a demo of Cubase Score!

There is a huge amount of data on the CD Rom but unfortunately it is
neither of a high enough standard nor well enough presented to make it
truly useful. If you are interested in acquiring good sound samples, one
of the many dedicated CDs on the market would serve your needs better -
although you would have to convert them into *.AIFF format yourself.

Likewise if it is some spice for your midi creations you are looking for,
then there are high quality files available, like the Twiddly Bits
collection which I'm sure would prove to be much more valuable.

The word 'ultimate' may well prove to be the correct one in this case
because if I had paid the full price for this CD, I think someone would
have a very hard job persuading me to part with my cash for another one!

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The Ultimate CD Rom For ALL Cubase Users

Author:
Keith Turner-Cairns

Publisher:
System Solutions
17-19 Blackwater Street
East Dulwich
London SE22 8RS
Tel: [phone]

UK Price £70 inc VAT

Pros
Collection of ready made samples for Cubase audio. Reasonable collection
of Mixermaps, Device Drivers and Atari software and accessories. You are
bound to find something useful on the disc.

Cons
It will take you a long time to find it! Virtually no documentation. Some
samples not well recorded. Mid file collection not exceptional. High
price.