Mini Reviews
Icicle
Publisher Producertech
Price £29.95
Contact via website
Key Features
•• Drum ’n’ bass synthesis, mixing and arrangement tips
• Three hours of streaming video
• Uses Ableton Live, Fab Filter plug-ins, and NI FM8 and Massive
• Includes 9 Live projects and 100MB of d’n’b samples
• Written and presented by Icicle
Drum ’n’ bass production wizard Icicle has teamed up with Producertech for a tip-filled three-hour course on modern d’n’b production techniques. The tutorial is available to stream from the Producertech website and is divided into 16 chapters covering synthesising and processing drums, creating and resampling complex bass sounds, bussing and mixing techniques, and adding effects and automation. Icicle mostly uses Ableton Live, but also explores the Fab Filter plug-ins and NI’s FM8 and Massive, with some great tips on FM synthesis. You also get nine Live projects, plus a varied and decent 100MB folder of samples taken from Icicle’s Loopmasters pack. The quality of the video and spoken audio could be a bit better, but this is an excellent tutorial for anyone looking to learn d’n’b techniques from a pro.
MTF Verdict
Some great synthesis and production techniques from a d’n’b master who’s not afraid to explain how to break the rules to get a big, modern sound. 8/10
Deep Analog Tech
Publisher Loopmasters
Price £29.95
Contact info@loopmasters.com
Key Features
• 847MB of 24-bit loops and hits
• Arps, bass, chords, drums and percussion
• Recorded with a range of analogue hardware
• 123 sampler patches for NN-XT, Kontakt, EXS24 and SFZ
• Inspired by the Kompakt label
Sometimes a pack will tell you it’s been made on analogue hardware, but you struggle to hear it in the loops. However, Deep Analog Tech from Loopmasters wears its analogue heart on its sleeve, with a rich and varied collection of gritty loops and hits dripping with raw energy. Inspired by the Kompakt label and artists such as Gui Boratto and Agoria, sounds were created using a Roland Juno-60, MS-20 Mini, Roland RE-201 Space Echo, Elektron Analog Rytm and Korg Volca Keys. You’ll find folders of twisted arps, throbbing basses, haunting chord progressions and beats and percussion, crunchy drum hits, weird FX, and fat bass and synth hits. Although this pack is aimed squarely at tech house, there’s plenty of sonic variety and the quality is exceptional throughout.
MTF Verdict
A stunning pack of rich and characterful analogue loops and sounds with interesting quirks and details in every folder. 10/10
Terry Grant Dark Dub Odyssey
Publisher Loopmasters
Price £34.95
Contact info@loopmasters.com
Key Features
• 2.31GB of 24-bit audio
• Over 500 loops in WAV, Apple Loops and REX2 format
• 80, 100 and 120BPM
• Live bass guitar, drums, pianos, synth bass and pads
• Produced by Terry Grant
ong-time Loopmasters
