The Ultimate CD-ROM For All Cubase Users

The title of this offering from System Solutions smacks of the latest 
round of TV advertising for "The best Rock/Soul/Sixties...album in the 
world...ever!" So is it the ultimate? On first impressions, I would have 
to say that the answer is no.

Although the CD Rom is targeted at all Cubase users, a large portion of 
the disc is given over to audio samples in the AIFF standard used by most 
versions of Cubase Audio. That material is fairly useless to midi only 
Cubase users.

The CD comes in the usual kind of plastic box with a colour printed inlay 
card giving a rough guide to the contents - very rough. In fact, the guide 
is simply a list of paths and filenames with no clue being given as to the 
content. With, as the insert says, over 400 midi and *.ARR files, over 400 
professional loops, over 1200 AIFF recordings, software, Help, 
Information, Mixer Maps, and Devices, this is not a terribly helpful 
approach. I prepared myself in trepidation to start sifting through the 
information on the disk.

The first problem I hit is fairly fundamental - Cubase Audio Falcon will 
not recognise the CD Rom drive as a valid drive. This problem has been 
discussed at length on the alt.steinberg.cubase newsgroup on the internet 
and, as far as I am aware, there is no solution as yet. So, to hear the 
samples within CAF, you must first copy them to your SCSI hard disk. 
Fortunately, most of the samples are short enough to be loaded up by the 
demo version of Zero-x which is supplied in the software section of the 
disc, so I used that to audition the samples and loops directly off the 
CD.

I'm afraid to have to say that most of the samples were disappointing. I 
first looked in the brass folder, hoping to find some killer horn section 
snippets which could be slotted into one of my arrangements. Now, today's 
recording technology is so good that it is sometimes difficult to tell the 
real thing from the copy but unfortunately, most of the brass samples 
seemed to be taken from a keyboard which was already playing a brass 
sample! I don't think I would be alone in expecting the samples to be 
recordings of the real instrument, but this only seemed to be the case for 
some of the solo trumpet samples in the brass collection.

The same holds true for most of the sample collection - a lot of 
artificial, synthetic sounding samples interspersed with just a few 
authentic ones. One or two of the samples and loops provided are badly 
recorded, with lots of background noise and buzzing and some, like the 
bass guitar ones, have been inexpertly played, resulting in a messy sound.

Apart from one folder of drum loops which has a four or five word 
description for each file, the only guide as to what the files will sound 
like comes from the path and filename. On a disc listed at 70, I do not 
think that this is acceptable.

The midi file and *.ARR file sections tell a similar story. There is a 
selection of pieces by famous composers like Beethoven and Brahms, but no 
attempt has been made to make the files easy to play. Even a set of 
General Midi program changes would have given the user a starting point 
but you will have to read the track lists and set up your sound modules 
accordingly.

Also available in this section is a folder full of generic "style" files. 
These are each organised into small chunks which can be combined in 
different orders to make up whole songs. the programming is competent but 
not exceptional and I wonder why anyone would use these files rather than 
create their own.

The mixermaps folder is the first truly useful resource I found on the 
disc and it contains mixermap files for all sorts of equipment from Akai 
to Yamaha. You may well find something applicable to your setup here but 
it must be said that the collection is not exhaustive - for example, in 
the Yamaha folder there are maps for various versions of DX7 and also for 
the Pro 01 and DMP7 digital mixing desks but nothing at all for any of the 
popular SY series synths.

The Atari software section contains some 30 editor / librarian programs 
for a selection of different synths, 20 Cubase or music related 
accessories and a handful of commercial demo or public domain utility 
programs.

PC or Mac users are going to be disappointed in their software sections, 
however, with the PC folder containing 5 demo programs and the Mac folder 
only containing a demo of Cubase Score!

There is a huge amount of data on the CD Rom but unfortunately it is 
neither of a high enough standard nor well enough presented to make it 
truly useful. If you are interested in acquiring good sound samples, one 
of the many dedicated CDs on the market would serve your needs better - 
although you would have to convert them into *.AIFF format yourself.

Likewise if it is some spice for your midi creations you are looking for, 
then there are high quality files available, like the Twiddly Bits 
collection which I'm sure would prove to be much more valuable.

The word 'ultimate' may well prove to be the correct one in this case 
because if I had paid the full price for this CD, I think someone would 
have a very hard job persuading me to part with my cash for another one!

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The Ultimate CD Rom For ALL Cubase Users

Author:
Keith Turner-Cairns

Publisher:
System Solutions
17-19 Blackwater Street
East Dulwich
London SE22 8RS
Tel: 0181 693 3355

UK Price œ70 inc VAT

Pros
Collection of ready made samples for Cubase audio. Reasonable collection 
of Mixermaps, Device Drivers and Atari software and accessories. You are 
bound to find something useful on the disc.

Cons
It will take you a long time to find it! Virtually no documentation. Some 
samples not well recorded. Mid file collection not exceptional. High 
price.