Preview: SR5 Rock Bass Virtual Instrument from Prominy
(ctargia | Posted 2010-07-31)
As a bass player and a digital music composer I was really excited to see that Prominy Sound Solution has just released a fantastic looking virtual instrument SR5 Rock Bass. As I watched the product demo videos on their site, I must say I was stunned at the realistic sound and versatility of this instrument pack. I hope to be getting this sometime soon, and when I do you guys will get a full review on both the SR5 and the Kontakt 4 Player included with it. Here is a brief run-through of the SR5 Rock Bass’ features and why I can’t wait to give this a go!
SR5 Rock Bass enables you to compose and create natural guitar tracks that imitate real bass guitar playing with the true sound of MusicMan® StingRay®5 includes over 15 Giga-bytes*, approx. 14,000 samples.
As I said earlier, from what I had seen on their website the sound is dead on, I can’t wait to give this a try. Click here to see them for yourself. SR5 VIDEO DEMOS.
Kontakt Player 4 included - No sampler required!
Main Features:
- Incredible real-time playability - SR5 SPM (Super Performance Multi)
- Fretboard Monitor
- Auto Stroke Detection
- Realtime Legato Slide
- Assignable Key Switch
- The lower note samples (low B - low D#) are included.
- Direct signals from the bass guitar
- Perfect sampled sounds of all fret positions on every string.
- Picking noises are recorded on all frets and strings.
Data size: 8GB ( = 15GB* of ,wav files)
44kHz/24bit
* SR5 uses the Lossless Sample Compression format 'NCW' with real-time encoding. The data size after the installation is approx. 8GB that equals 15 GB of .wav files.
Fretboard Monitor The SPM automatically selects a proper string / fret position depending on the situation. You can also change the string manually by key switches. The Fretboard Monitor visualizes the current fret position / playing technique you are playing.
Anyone who plays bass or guitar will greatly appreciate this feature. This seems like a great way to visualize what you are playing on your keyboard to how you would normally play it on a bass. It also has a load of other features to show you exactly how your virtual instrument is being played and what techniques are being utilized. I foresee this to be a big plus compared to just a piano roll.
Autostroke Detection With SPM's Auto Stroke Detection feature, SPM automatically detects the current beat position and identify proper stroke direction (down or up). There are several stroke detection modes and you can also control stroke direction manually.
Nothing is more aggravating then having instruments samples that sound exactly the same for every time a note is played. This will add realism to the instrument and make it seem like someone is really picking properly.
Assignable Key Switch All the SPM instruments have Assignable Key Switch feature which enables you to assign any key switches to each SPM instrument. You can combine any SPM instruments to SPM multi as needed and assign key switches, and create your own SPM setting.
This seems like a very versatile feature to switch around different settings and playstyles for seamless transitions.
Low note samples included SR5 Rock Bass captures MusicMan® StingRay®5; one of the most popular 5 string bass guitar among bassists. SR5 includes the lower note samples (low B - low D#) and is suitable for a wide range of musical genres; Modern Metal, Death Metal, Nu Metal, Metalcore, Rock, Pop, and so on.
Don’t you just hate when you are using a sampled instrument and then you go below 40hz and poof, no sound. I know I do, growing up listening to late 90s Nu Metal puts a heavy influence on ones composition style. And clear low notes are essential for anyone playing Heavy Rock riffs, as well as many other genres.
Realtime Legato Slide With SR5's Realtime Legato Slide feature, you are able to get perfectly real expressions of the human finger's legato slide which can not be reproduced with slide emulation by changing pitch.
A lot of sampled instruments have legato slides but it always seem to just be a couple prerecorded slides, this really looks to me like you can slide from any note on the fretboard realistically.
Direct signals from the bass guitar You can make your own guitar sound so it suits the music genre you're working with by adding your favorite amplifier simulator.
Versatility is always a plus
Picking noises are recorded on all frets and strings Picking noises made while playing a guitar is one of the most important characteristics that identify a live guitar recording. That is why we took great care in capturing many variations of picking noises. Adding these noises, with consideration to timing and picking style, will make your guitar tracks sound natural. When you use picking noise sampled from a different position of the fret board than the one you're applying it to, the result is an unnatural sound because the noise will not harmonize with the original note's sustain sound.
Added these effects add indistinguishable detail to your sampled instruments and great legato hammeron-pullofs. I cannot wait to try this out!
Expansive number of playing techniques, extreme power of expression that no other bass guitar library has captured before.
About Prominy Sound Solution
Prominy Sound Solution is a Japanese company that makes realistic guitar and piano sampled virtual instruments.
