Output Audio Signal review

Pulse engine Kontakt library

  • €176
  • $239
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The interface is effective and handsome

MusicRadar Verdict

Signal is dramatic and powerful, and limitless in rhythmic potential.

Pros

  • +

    Excellent presets. Effective interface. Lots of rhythmic options.

Cons

  • -

    Could do with a manual.

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Signal is a 40GB (compressed to 20GB) 'pulse engine' library for Kontakt, drawing on a range of multisampled analogue synths and acoustic and electric instruments.

"A good range of per-pulse and global effects are onboard, and a macro system enables custom performance setups to be built"

Two sound sources ('pulses') are combined in a patch, each controlled by two modulators and playback controllers, chosen from four available types: Wave (LFO-modulated), Step (step sequenced), Arp (arpeggiated) and Loop (Signal's own 'tape looping' engine).

These can be applied in parallel to a range of parameters (volume, pan, filter, etc), except for Loop and Arp, which only handle playback. A good range of per-pulse and global effects are onboard, and a macro system enables custom performance setups to be built.

The 500 tagged presets don't disappoint, and the interface is effective and handsome. On the downside, it lacks a manual (the onboard help doesn't cover it) and the whole 'pulse' marketing makes it sound more high-concept than it actually is. Minor complaints, though.

Computer Music
Computer Music

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