Arturia Storm 2.0 review:
Arturia's newest version of their software studio storm is in for review. Last time we had a glimpse of Storm was when we reviewed the platinum version that came with Audigy Platinum. The sound engine has been updated and some of the synths sound really different to the ones in version 1.5 , for you to hear we have a small loop on Storm 1.5 and this one is the same on Storm 2.0 you can hear the difference in the synth, the original loop was made on 1.5. Fortunately 2.0 still includes all samples from version 1.5, so at least sample only songs will sound exactly the same. 13 instruments, 11 effects and a hell of a lot of functionality The program comes with 13 instruments, most of them are emulations of hardware synths and there is even an emulation of a scratch deck. 11 effects which are truly excellent. And a hell lot of functionality that will be debated over. Starting out with Storm Storm is a good way to go for beginners too, Inside the package there is a manual of 141 pages to help you make most out of the studio. Also with 2.0 there is a new composition wizard that guides you through making different styles of music. Also with 2.0 there is a new internet feature called 'The Hall', it is a sort of a discussion board with news, tips&tricks , and you can download a fellow Storm user's song files, cool. On the bad side, not many Storm users are online, and I have been struggling to find a person to chat with.
The composition wizard The composition wizard is one of the new things introduced to Storm 2. It allows you to create music very quickly. Included inside the package are 5 wizards : Hip Hop, Dance, Dub, Jazz Funk and House plus there is Ambient that can be downloaded from www.arturia.com. The idea is that Storm loads up samples and patterns for the style chosen and then you make a song according to the instructions that are on the screen. The composition wizard almost seems like cheating - I told my friend that I had used a little cheat with one of the songs that I made with it.
Going deeper Going deeper into Storm is a trip you want to experience. Strom 2 includes lots of very interesting features including Kepler Module, Great analogue style synths, and lots more. Kernel... I mean Kepler ahead, sir!
Kepler module is one of the most intuitive modules of Storm, it is used to make a sequence of harmonies. The amount you can get from Kepler once you have programmed a great riff seems almost insane - just click the small circles and the harmonies change! How are the effects? The effects are a mix of traditional effects such as reverb and chorus. Some of the erm. "exotic ones" are sequence filter and ring modulator. Overall the effects are really good quality. The effects are best used with synths - route Arsenic through the Dual Delays, do a few harmonic changes with Kepler and usually the result is a very good piece. Just like the hardware Most of the synths in Storm are based on hardware equivalents - Bass 52 is a bass emulation, Scratch is a module for scratching your "virtual" turntables and Arsenic is a synth based on vintage synths from the 70's. Connectivity with other software One part that is vital for Storm is connectivity with other software - it is, because Storm seems more like an extension of instruments and effects rather than a full blown software studio. One of the reasons is that you cannot run any outside virtual instruments and the sequencing is limited to blocks of different patterns. But there is one thing that Storm excels, its connectivity with other software, not only can it be used as a VSTi but also through the Rewire protocol. Sounds great Whether you are just stepping in to the music making thing or you are almost a pro, one thing that you will agree with me is that you can quickly get a good sound out of Storm with a minimum of hassle. If you are given a job to make a ambient track for a TV commercial, you can just pop up the wizard make a few patterns, draw in some notes of your own and you have a decent sounding ambient track. Also most of the samples included are great, especially the "China sounds", I like. Also the patterns made for H30+ are brilliant and instantly available for your compositions. Overall Overall the Software studio is both good sounding and you can get a good sounding tune quickly. It is a very good buy for a beginner and a Professional alike. A professional can use the software as a VST instrument or through Rewire with his/hers sequencer of choice. The software has been updated with new online features, pity not many users actually use them - Seems like a lot of effort hasn't paid off. After all I think that Storm is a great add to anyone owing a VST or Rewire compatible software since Storm is best used with other software, not to say that it cannot be used standalone. I really love the way Storm sounds, I have made some fantastic tunes. The upgrade from 1.5 just adds a few new features, but in my opinion although a whole revamp has been done, although most of the features introduced don't help music making that much If someone asked me whether Storm is good or not, I would probably say that it depends on the music you want to make. However you look at it, the synths are aimed more towards making electronic music. With the new update of FL Studio 4.1 (Fruityloops), I would recommend it for those people that want to use lots of samples and play with them. Storm also does a decent job with handling samples, but the best of the program is not achieved until you try those sweet sounding synths. For users into electronic music with a little more cash I would suggest buying both and running them in harmony through VST. Pluses and minuses:
-Not a lot of users in the Hall
online features
8.0 - On the whole a very good music-making package with a set of instruments and effects that both amateurs and pros can make use of.
AWARDS: Reviewed by Aleksi Haapajoki
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