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In-Depth Audio Tech Reviews
  • thepalaliasthepalalias

    Over the years, I've contributed to Wusik Sound Magazine but last year much of the staff moved to a new magazine at www.soundbytesmag.net. Writing there has given me a chance to go really in-depth with my reviews, generally exceeding 3,000 words and sometimes over 8,000. I figured I would start providing links to them here in case they prove of use to the community.

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  • thepalaliasthepalalias

    May Issue 2014

    Kaotica Eyeball (Microphone Isolation Accessory) (Includes demos!)

    http://soundbytesmag.net/kaoticaeyeball/

    Sonokinetic Minimal

    http://soundbytesmag.net/minimalbysonokinetic/

    July is also an unofficial "Strings-Stravaganza" month for SoundBytes Magazine so let us know what reviews you would like to see!

    Here are the string related products that we have started reviewing for the issue.

    • Embertone Blakus Cello 1
    • pocketBlakus (legato and spiccato versions)
    • Prague Solo Strings
    • SimpleSamSamples Signor Paganini
    • VSL Solo Strings I Full
    • Cinematic Strings 2.11
    • XSample Chamber Ensemble
    • Acoustica Audio Stradipad

    What other string or solo string libraries would you most like reviews of?

  • thepalaliasthepalalias

    Between the July and September issues I reviewed 11 more string libraries (plus an additional FX plug-in to enhance string sounds) for http://www.soundbytesmag.net

    Today the November issue is out and I reviewed Berlin Strings with EXP A+B as well as EastWest's Hollywood Orchestral Percussion. You can find both at http://soundbytesmag.net/reviews/

    To recap for anyone that missed the last couple issues, here are the string libraries (and a related plug-in) that got covered.

    • Spitfire Audio BML 309 Mural Vol. 2
    • Signor Paganini Solo Violin
    • XSample Chamber Ensemble
    • CineStrings CORE
    • pocketBlakus (free cello library)
    • Embertone Blakus Cello and Friedlander Violin 1.5
    • VSL Solo Strings I Full
    • Stradipad Platinum Collection
    • Prague Solo Strings
    • Cinematic Strings 2.1
    • 8Dio Adagio Strings Bundle (the Agitato bundle gets a review next issue)

    At this point there's only a small number of major string libraries on the market that we haven't covered yet (and I'm working on that) so I'm starting to expand into drum, percussion and synth libraries as well as the rest of the orchestra.

    Next issue there will be reviews of Spitfire Audio's Hans Zimmer Percussion line (all three released volumes), Berlin Woodwinds, 8Dio Agitato and more, so keep your eyes peeled.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    @thepalalias

    Big work.

  • thepalaliasthepalalias

    @Vitaliy_Kiselev Thanks, the magazine's hit our 150th review this issue (after starting in May of 2013) and I think it was the 18th one for me. I'm 52,000+ words in at this point (the majority of that's strings) and it feels good to be approaching the process differently than other magazines.

    Basically, a lot of other magazines try to talk about each product in isolation and specifically avoid mentioning other products (other than a few notes in an "other options" section or the like). For the reviews I do, I try to reference the other options for each stage as they come up. Often even in reviews that are overwhelmingly positive for a product, I'll mention parts where other products meet or exceed it.

    My take on it is that the easiest way to end up frustrated is to buy a product because it got a "good review" and then realize that the reasons for that review weren't important to you - and then find out there's another product that gets those things right.

    So hopefully these reviews can help. The site hasn't run any ads since we started in 2013 so we don't make anything when people visit - it just makes us happy to be able to work with the products and share our experiences.

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