Finally, vintage sounds we can afford (as opposed to the many, many we can’t).
Zero-G has released a massive sound library called Nostalgia. 1.3 GB, with 1,300 patches running on Native Instruments’ Kompakt engine for Windows/Mac. Synth enthusiast Steve Howell is behind the design.
Sure, part of the appeal behind vintage synths is their interface. But when you need a specific synth, beatbox, weird toy, drum machine, I’ll bet you can’t cram this whole equipment list in your place. (See the full drool-worthy collection after the jump.) My only objection to these sorts of things is they sometimes over-design the sounds rather than give you bread-and-butter stuff to build on, but Zero-G usually does a bang-up job. Stay tuned for a review.
Nostalgia [Sounds Online / East West]
The good folks at East West are just taunting us with the full list of equipment used in this sample library. They think that us gear-crazed music tech journalists won’t be able to think rationally when we see this list. They’re right:
INSTRUMENTS & SYNTHS: ARP 2600, ARP String Ensemble, ARP Pro-Soloist, ARP Odyssey, Casio VL-Tone, Casio CZ101, Casio PT-30, Crumar Performer, Chamberlin, Chapman Stick, Clavinet D6, Delicia Medlodica , Dubreq Stylophone, Ensoniq SQ80, Ensoniq SQ-R, Elektronika EM-25, Elka Synthex, Eminent 310, Emulator 2, Fairlight CMI IIx, Farfisa organ, Farfisa Soundmaker, Fender Rhodes, Gem DEX20, Gem S2, Hammond B/C3, Hammond M102, Hohner Pianet, Jen bass Pedals, Kawai K5000, Korg Prophecy, Korg Trident, Korg Wavestation, Korg M1, Korg MS20, Korg Polysix, Korg X5DR, Mellotron, MemoryMoog, MiniMoog, Moog Taurus Mk1, Moog Opus, Moog Voyager, MultiVox MX202, NanoBass, Novation SuperNova II, Modulus Monowave, Novation K-Station, Oberheim Matrix 12, Oberheim Matrix 1000, PolyMoog, Prophet 5, PPG Wave 2.2, RMIElectrapiano, S+S synths, System 100, TB303, VP300 Vocoder Plus, Alpha Juno 2, D50, Jupiter 6, MKS50, RS202, SH101, Sci-Fi, Suzuki SX-500, TI Speak & Spell, Wurlitzer EP200, Wurlitzer EP203, Vako Orchestron, Vox Continental, Yamaha CP70, Yamaha DX7, Yamaha CS1x, Yamaha CS5, Yamaha CS80, Yamaha CVS10, Yamaha SY2, Yamaha SY85, Yamaha TX81Z.
BEATBOXES/DRUM SYNTHS: Ace Tone ‘Rhythm Ace’, Akai XE8, Akai XR10, Alesis HR16, Alesis HR16b, Alesis SR16, Boss DR55, Boss DR220, Fricke MFB512, Kawai R5/R50E, Korg DDD1, Korg DDM110/DDM220, Linn LM-1, Linn 9000, Mattel Synsonics, MXR 185, Sequential Drum Traks, Sequential Tom, CR78, TR606, TR707, TR727, TR808, TR909, Simmons SDSV, Yamaha RX11, Casio RZ1, Emu Drumulator, Keytek MDP40, Korg ‘Mini Pops’, Linn Drum Mk2, Oberheim DX, TD7 V-drums, TR505, Sakata DPM48, Sound master SR88, Sound Master Stix, Soundtech Rhythm 12, Pearl DRX-1, Pearl Syncussion, Yamaha DD10