MusicRadar Verdict
An expansive array of vintage instruments that is, for the most part, a retro riot.
Pros
- +
Drums sound great. Large selection. Sounds live.
Cons
- -
Melodic instruments let it down.
MusicRadar's got your back
A hefty (11GB) collection of multisampled instruments from the 60s and 70s (plus a few from the 80s and 90s), Vintage Vibe offers an expansive array of drum kits, basses, guitars, keyboards and percussion, with a preset library taking full advantage of Kontakt's built-in effects processors.
"The kits have been beautifully sampled, and the scripted interface enables proper multichannel mixing"
The drums are the highlight for us. With manufacturers including Rogers, Ludwig, Slingerland, Gretsch and Zildjian, the kits have been beautifully sampled, and the scripted interface enables proper multichannel mixing (DI, overhead and room mics), and remapping of individual drums and cymbals.
It's clear that every effort has been made to keep the sonic character of Vintage Vibe raw, energetic and 'live', and on that score, it's a total success. Some of the melodic instruments let it down - they can be bland and a touch 'GM', even with keyswitching - but this is mostly a retro riot.
Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

“I really thought I was going to die... and it absolutely was so freeing”: Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus talks surviving cancer and his band’s resurrection

“From the very start of his social media rise Giacomo has been using other people’s compositions”: Social media guitar influencer Giacomo Turra accused of using other musicians’ arrangements and passing them off as his own

“We finally buried the hatchet!!!”: 20 years after he accused her of miming and called her “a fairground stripper”, Elton John and Madonna are speaking to each other again