• Mac: G4 1GHz or faster, 1GB RAM, Mac OS 10.4 or higher, DVD drive. • PC: P4 2.5GHz or faster, 1GB RAM, Windows XP SP2 or Vista, DVD drive. Both platforms require an iLok key (not included). Reviewing these wildly disparate sound libraries gave me the opportunity to get more familiar with the Play audio engine.

EastWest Voices of Passion (Serial Download). EastWest HollyWood Choirs + Voices Of The Empire Gold Bundle (Serial Download).

The absence of on-screen multiple sound slots gives the erroneous impression that it's a single-instrument player, but in fact one instance of Play can handle multiple instruments operating independently on up to 16 MIDI channels. To create a multi-channel setup, you load a selection of instruments (choosing the 'Add' option rather than 'Replace'); their names are then listed in the Instrument window, and clicking on one reveals its individual screen display, where you can select the instrument's MIDI channel (which may be set to 'omni') and/or alter its volume, pan, ADSR and effects settings.

It's a simple, flexible and effective system that enables you to quickly build complex setups without having to continually look at a cluttered screen. Stormdrum 2 contains 16,000 samples, and I don't even want to think about how long it took to record the countless performances in Gypsy and Voices Of Passion. There's a sense of devotion about these projects, the long months spent recording and programming seeming to go well beyond the call of duty. As a consequence, each of the three Play titles is an artistic success. Sample libraries don't get much better than these, and any composer with an ear for sound will find much inspirational material in them. EWQL Gypsy, Voices Of Passion & Stormdrum 2 pros • Gypsy's instruments offer plenty of musical and timbral choice within their ethnic niche.

• Voices Of Passion is a great source of atmospheric female vocal performances. • Stormdrum 2 is imaginative, varied and astonishingly powerful, and its MIDI files are a great bonus for the cinematically minded composer.

Cons • While Gypsy covers the popular bases very well, its instrumentation doesn't offer total authenticity for all gypsy-related music. • A few phrases in VOP could do with re-tuning to fit concert pitch. • Since everyone will be using Stormdrum 2 on their soundtracks for years to come, there's a danger the samples might become too recognisable! Summary Once again, EWQL demonstrate a knack for filling gaps in the film-composer sound-library market. Anyone with a sense of rhythm will get a kick from Stormdrum 2 — its exciting sound design elevates it into the highest echelon of sample libraries. Gypsy and VOP are more specialised, but both contain lovely material with lots of useful variations.

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