| 10 May 2012
How would you like to win the brand-new (and awesome!) Filter Research 3 Reason ReFill? Step right up and enter the contest! One lucky winner will receive Filter Research 3, while if we get more than 50 entrants there will be an additional prize drawn for Pantheon III.
There are 2 ways to enter:
1) Follow @NucleusSoundLab and retweet this message:
Win Filter Research 3 Reason ReFill! Follow @NucleusSoundLab and RT to enter. Prizes drawn on May 15th. More info http://bit.ly/K0T61z
2) Like the Nucleus SoundLab Facebook page, and post a comment under the contest post.
The winners will be randomly drawn from all entrants on May 15th, 2012. Only one entry per person. Good luck to everyone!
| 05 May 2012
Today Nucleus SoundLab has released the incredible third ReFill in our Filter Research effects series: Filter Research 3. This is a ReFill I'm extremely proud of on all levels - but I will let the product speak for itself! Check out the mp3, video and Demo ReFill content and decide for yourself!
| 15 April 2012
App Store Link: Figure, $0.99
iOS Music Apps Galore
One of the original reason's I bought an iPad was to try some of the innovative new music apps coming out on the iOS platform. It seems like every major developer in the music industry is bringing an app to iOS - whether that's Native Instruments with iMaschine, Yamaha with their Tenori-On port TNR-i, or Camel Audio with Alchemy Mobile. Propellerhead Software has also been riding this wave of iOS music goodies for awhile already, with their April 2011 re-release of ReBirth as an iPhone app.
Nearly a year later, Propellerhead has served up another iOS music treat with their latest app - Figure. I've been using Figure since its release 12 days ago, and I'd like to share my impressions on what makes it so amazing - and what is holding it back from even more greatness.
Tech Specs
First, let's look at exactly what Figure offers from a technical perspective. Propellerhead has outfitted Figure with three sound channels, a mixer, and a mix compressor. The bass and lead channels are served by Propellerhead's awesome Thor Polysonic Synthesizer from Reason. Yes, it doesn't look like Thor, but behind the new interface, Thor is indeed driving the audio engine of these channels. So that means they sound bloody awesome! 32 Bass presets are included, as well as 46 Leads. The selection is a mixed bag, but there are truly some gems in there: I love DS8 MK IV lead, and Chrome Pole is a great and unique bass.
Now, let's move on to the drum channel. This channel is driven by the Kong Drum Designer from Reason - and more specifically its NN-Nano sampler engine. So all drums are apparently sampled, not synthesized. That's totally fine by me in this type of product, as long as the samples are good - and they are very good indeed. 13 kits are on offer, and I really like some of them like the powerful Hornstull and the classic Elektro. Each kit features four elements - kick, snare, hats and a fourth element which varies between kits (used for toms, zaps, derps, blips and more!). Most of the elements actually contain at least two different samples, sometimes three. So it seems a kit holds from four to twelve different samples. How are different samples accessed? That will be covered in the sequencing section.
Finally, there is the mixer and the compressor. The mixer is a basic 3-channel model with mute controls and volume sliders. The compressor takes a sidechain input from the kick element on the drum channel, and compresses both the bass and lead. This effect is good for a nice pumping dance-feel, but with just a single rotary control, its not useful for any other compression effects. The mixer works fine, but there is the downside that users can't sequence any mutes or volume changes there.
Super Sequencing
We've established that the sound generating pedigree of Figure is extremely solid. But what makes Figure a truly unique musical app, is its approach to sequencing these elements together. Propellerhead has created an interface that is groundbreaking in that I believe literally anyone - musical background or not - can create music with it. The basis of this interface is essentially XY pads. To write a melody with the lead channel, just click record and 'draw' a melody on the lead XY pad. Pitch is interpreted from the X axis and another sound design element such as filter frequency is interpreted on the Y axis. On the drum channel the X axis selects between different samples (such as closed, semi and open hi-hats), and the Y axis is volume. But shouldn't this sound like a mess - the touchscreen equivalent of a theremin? Figure handles this elegantly by quantizing the timing of notes, so nothing is off-time. And then, it maps notes to a specific scale so its not possible to play something off-key. It's possible to configure the range of the XY pad's pitch as well as the amount of notes it covers, so even though it sounds like everything is automatic, there is still tons of room for customization.
The next major feature of Figure sequencing is the rhythm wheel. This controller selects between 16 pre-defined rhythms, that will start running while a finger is held on the XY pad. By combining these rhythms, with the rhythm of the user's touchscreen motions, its very quick and easy to get a unique and interesting rhythm for all three elements in Figure. Its not an exaggeration that 2 minutes is all it takes to get started on something really tasty.
Once all the elements are sequenced, users can then record tweaks (automations, basically) with separate XY pads that control unique parameters depending on what patch is chosen. For example, the En Bas bass patch has two XY tweaking pads - Timbre (X = Harmonic, Y = Phase Mod) and Wobbler (X = Rate, Y = Amount). Its also possible to play two or more tweak XY pads at the same time by using multiple fingers on the same pad! Insanity!
Updates, Suggestions and Performance
So, all this for 99c? What the hell? There has to be a catch. And like most anything in life - there is. The main catch is that currently there is no way to save loops, nor is there any way to export them and load them into Propellerhead Reason on PC/Mac. The good news is that Propellerhead is already working on these limitations, and they will be addressed with free updates. In the meantime, Figure is best suited for live performance, and general experimentation (since saving isn't possible).
Beyond those basic additions, I would personally like to see some features make it into future Figure versions:
- Configurable loop lengths greater than 2-bars.
- Ability to chain loops together to create songs (similar to how Blocks work in Reason)
- A second lead channel. Two leads would be enough for basic harmonizing and counter-melodies.
- Mixer automation sequencing.
- More flexible FX - maybe a send effect or two?
- More sounds! (surely coming via IAP!)
Obviously its a fine line Propellerhead have ahead of them with Figure. Keeping the ease-of-use and casual appeal of the initial app, but also adding complexity to make the app more useful for experienced musicians is no easy feat. That said, I have confidence that future versions of Figure will gradually find a satisfying balance between these competing concerns.
Before I wrap up this review, I'd like to mention the performance of Figure on a range of iOS devices. While Figure is technically an iPhone app, it runs wonderfully on my iPad 2. Using 2x scaling mode, somehow Propellerhead has eliminated the blockiness that is usually inherent in upscaled iPhone apps. It looks great, and the large XY pads on the iPad screen are a joy to use. The oldest iPhone supported by Figure is the 3GS, and I'm happy to report it runs Figure just fine. While the larger iPad screen is nice, Figure is still very easy to use on the 3GS 3.5" non-retina display. The interface on the 3GS is slightly laggy however, but this is nothing that interferes with the functionality of the app.
Summary
Overall, I love Figure. There is nothing else like it out there right now, whether on the App Store or on PC/Mac. Its extremely fun and easy to use, and sounds incredible when piped through headphones or a stereo! Yes, it has limitations right now, but those will be ironed out soon hopefully. Personally, I'd pick it up for 99c as soon as possible in case Propellerhead decide to raise the price after some major updates!
Finally, I've recorded a short demo on what Figure sounds like. Its just a basic pattern with some live jamming - while switching patches to give a sense of what's included and what Figure actually sounds like. Nope, I'm not a DJ, so don't expect the next club hit please ;). Have a listen, and enjoy!
App Store Link: Figure, $0.99