UVI PX WaveFrame is a brand new sample-based digital instrument that brings the sounds of the WaveFrame AudioFrame digital sampler from the Eighties to your DAW – evaluation
When discussing samplers at present, we consider {hardware} (Elektron Digitakt, Octatrack, Roland SP-404) or software program (NI Kontakt 8, UVI Falcon, a DAW…) Nonetheless, sampling has a protracted historical past. One of many first gadgets that made digital sampling doable was the very uncommon WaveFrame AudioFrame.
It was a digital audio workstation (DAW) with a sampler, exhausting disk recorder, and digital mixer. UVI’s sound designer staff revived the sounds of this retro machine within the new PX WaveFrame digital instrument, which is the successor to the preliminary WaveFrame library.
UVI PX WaveFrame
Putting in the PX WaveFrame digital instrument is simple, however downloading it takes time. At 10.14 GB, it isn’t a small instrument. You want the UVI Portal desktop app and iLok software program. Although I want any software program launch with out iLok chains, I had no issues because the software program model. Not right here both.
As soon as downloaded, the UVI PX WaveFrame instrument may be skilled in two methods: within the flagship synth UVI Falcon 3, as in my case, or the free UVI Workstation plugin.
Whenever you open it, you’re greeted by a stunning, retro pc GUI that takes you again to the Eighties. It has 5 faucets: predominant, edit, mod, FX, and arpeggiator.
PX WaveFrame is a dual-layer instrument with unbiased sound choice and controls for every layer. Necessary: it’s not an emulation of the retro WaveFrame sampler engine.
Major
On the primary web page, you may set the sound supply for every layer utilizing a drop-down menu. You’ll find right here a big number of multi-sampled sound sources: keyboards, guitars, basses, solo strings, brasses, woodwinds, mallets, uncooked waveforms, and extra.
The sounds have been multi-sampled uncooked from the WaveFrame AudioFrame {hardware}. An SFX mode presents another model of the chosen pattern that has been processed to satisfy at present’s sound requirements. So, you may flip between tremendous retro and extra “trendy retro” – a neat possibility. As well as, every layer presents quantity and pan management.
PX WaveFrame has two unbiased layers, every with a multimode filter and two devoted ADSR envelopes (filter and amp). Settings may be set for every layer individually or each concurrently. The filter has cutoff and resonance controls and 4 choices: OFF, lowpass, bandpass, and highpass. From the sound design perspective, the choice to disregard the filter is welcome.
Edit
Like on the primary web page, you may apply the parameters on the edit web page per layer or in dual-layer mode. “Edit” appears like a variety of sound design enjoyable right here, but it surely options very fundamental controls.
You possibly can set the voicing (poly/mono), the instrument’s pitch, and a stereo mode with varied modes (unison, alternate) and some parameters. Beneath, you may route three controls to the mod wheel: vibrato, tremolo, and filter. Sure, once more, per layer or each on the similar time. This lets you play every layer otherwise with the mod wheel.
It’s a disgrace which you could’t freely select which parameter you need to path to the mod wheel. This can be a bit too restricted.
Modulation (Mod)
Modulation may be discovered on the mod web page. It hosts a step modulator and a multimode LFO. The step modulator has 16 steps, together with velocity management, delay, rise, and smoothing. The amplifier and the filter of every layer may be managed with it. A bit weak to me. Identical for the LFO.
UVI PX WaveFrame presents a single multi-wave sync-able low-frequency oscillator with a retrigger and legato possibility. You possibly can modulate every layer’s amp degree, pitch, and filter. If you happen to route the sign to each layers, you may modulate as much as six parameters concurrently.
That is greater than sufficient to deliver motion into the sounds. However suppose you need to generate complicated modulations or animate extra parameters. In that case, you’ll shortly attain your limits right here except you’ve got UVI Falcon 3, the place you’ve got full entry to the parameters.
Results
PX WaveFrame has a multi-FX processor with an EQ, drive, Thorus (refrain), ensemble FX, phasor, delay, and reverb to refine or finalize your sounds. These are top quality and based mostly on the results of the UVI Falcon 3 flagship synth. A small minus level goes to the lacking world FX on/off swap.
Arpeggiator
Additional, the brand new PX WaveFrame digital instrument hosts a 16-step arpeggiator with three playback instructions for every layer. The arpeggiator can run independently or in hyperlink mode and sequence unbiased notes or chords.
It allows you to set the speed, tie, observe/chord mode, semi-tone, pan, gate, and CC (CC 1) per step. This offers you a lot flexibility, from easy arpeggiators to complicated sequencer-like melodies.
Sounds
UVI PX WaveFrame is a colourful, versatile digital instrument for macOS and Home windows. You’ll find acoustic appears like guitars, orchestral sounds corresponding to flutes, violins, and choirs, and bread-and-butter artificial sounds corresponding to synth bass, leads, pads, and extra.
It has 351 presets and 151 layers (sound sources). Every is top of the range and may be mixed with different sounds as desired. You get right here a really retro, cheesy-sounding digital instrument that can instantly make you are feeling nostalgic.
An outline of the patches may be discovered within the linked sound demo. Synth Anatomy Patreon supporters ($1/per 30 days +) get one other 10 minutes + further sounds.
UVI PX WaveFrame Evaluation
UVI PX WaveFrame shouldn’t be a robust digital instrument or isn’t at a flagship synth degree. In no way. Nonetheless, it’s a very targeted digital instrument that places the sounds of the retro AudioFrame WaveFrame DAW + sampler into the DAW.
The included patches are pleasant, motivating, and pleasing to the ear. They evoke the attraction of classic rompler sounds for me. If that isn’t adequate, you may effortlessly craft your individual sounds utilizing the Falcon-powered engine.
It’s disappointing that the modulation engine has some limitations concerning locations. Moreover, there’s no world FX on/off swap, and customers lack unrestricted entry to the uncooked samples. Total, the UVI PX WaveFrame digital instrument presents a stunning retro vibe that lovers of such sounds will recognize.
UVI PX WaveFrame is obtainable now for 79€ and runs as a 64-bit VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Home windows. It requires UVI Falcon 3 or the free UVI Participant, and also you additionally want an iLok account (software program or {hardware} dongle).
Extra info right here: UVI
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