Here at Dancetech we like stuff that
'does what it says on the tin' -
"The ultimate freeware rhythm module for PC whether you are in dance music or any other style. Play your samples and enjoy the unique RM-Series quality"
And for once it's TRUE.. this really is a superb s/w you'd be well happy with even if you had to pay for it.. BUT IT'S FREE !!!
Here's a superb bit of freeware for your VSTi compatible sequencer host softwares, the Linplug RM-F drum sample module.. and it really REALLY rocks !! - The RM-F is full VST2 spec' & 24bit/96k compatible, offering superb quality sound playback of drum and any other samples from any of it's available 18 sound slots ! - sample time is only restricted by your pc's RAM so loops or drums etc can be loaded to drum 'slots' - .. You can layer two samples per 'slot' each with independant volume & note number setting, minimum & maximum velocity setting for the crossfade... and offset the start time of either sample to help offset strange un-natural artifacts when cross velocity switching between samples in a slot or to create drum crossfade fx etc.. use your creativity... also samples can be tuned in pitch up/down +/- 6 semitones and panned if assigned to stereo outs...
Key features
VST2.0 plug-in rhythm sample player for PC 18 polyphonic instruments (altogether up to 24 voices, cpu dependent), each with up to 2 samples for layering Mono and stereo sample support, 8 to 24 bit, up to 96 kHz, direct loading capability, WAV and AIFF Stereo out and 6 individual outs
Ok.. so 24 bit/96k quality, 18 samples x 2 per RM-F 'kit' with 24 voices at anytime!!... it loads LM-4 drumkits (max 2 samples/layers per drum-slot) and is NOT crippled in anyway... you can either load any LM-4 kits you might have, or it'll load and save it's own kits made up of .WAV or AIFF samples !! - samples 'slots' can be allocated to unique midi channels too !.. so you can have drums going from the same 'kit' on different channels.
Ok... sounds good so far eh?.. how about ADDING 8 outputs ! - yup.. stereo with pan + 6 additional outputs to your VST mixer for extra processing power & eq ability... this could be the only s/w drumbox you ever need, and certainly it is so good you feel that getting the registered 'full-version' RM-2 is well worth investigating as are Linplugs other EXCELLENT softs like the superb Raogine percussion sound synthesiser...
More - more - and yes... more!!!
ok... RM-F features more settings.. let's check it out closer... I lifted this from the on-line manual cos it was faster - to see more, get over and checkout the online RM-F manual for massively comprehensive spec's and everything you need - they've put more effort in than your average s/w indie house ...
| RM F has 18 instrument pads. So you can see the most important data of all instruments at once. |  |
| Output With this button you route the instrument to the stereo output or to one of the six individual outs. When the button is lit the signal is sent to stereo out and you'll find a Pan slider next to it. If it is depressed another six buttons will appear right of it allowing you to select the desired individual output. |
| Name You can give your instrument a descriptive name here. This makes it easier to keep track of your kit. |
| Pan When the stereo output is assigned you can adjust the pan position with this fader. On stereo samples, the pan slider balances the left and right channel. On mono samples it positions the mono signal in the stereo panorama. Holding down the Ctrl-key of your keyboard while clicking on it will center exact to the middle of the stereo panorama. |
| Level Adjusts the instrument Volume. If the instrument consists of two samples, both samples are affected. |
| Edit This button selects the instrument for editing. It is lit to indicate that additional instrument data is displayed on the top left area of RM F. |
| Tune Allows you to tune the whole instrument up to 6 semitones up or down. Special effort has been taken to keep the sample free of distortion and artefacts. The display indicates the relative tuning in semitones. | Choke This button let you select different choke modes:  | No Choke applied |  | Whenever this instrument is triggered the instrument left of it will be muted |  | .. the same for the instrument on the right |  | Selects this instrument for choke group 1. Whenever this instrument is triggered all other instruments in group 1 will be muted |  | .. the same for group 2 | |
| |
What more can I say... well... Linplug says:
"Sample processing is a key feature of the RM series! And the RM F features exact the same processing than the RM 2. Great care has been taken to keep the samples free from any artefacts or distortion. Every sample loaded will be analysed and processed in various ways to ensure maximum quality.You won't believe the quality of RM F's sound processing before you've heard it."
It really is true... 808 long kiks simply booooom smoothly and snares crack like a bastard !!... If i had to find just one drawback point with the RM-F it'd be the lack of 'decay' setting for the samples.. but you can always setup the decay in your sample editor for the raw samples prior to loading, so no big deal, and for Freeware some small compromise is bound to be there... considering what you DO get for Free, this lack of decay setting is really not much of a drawback is it!!... and after all, when you've tried this, I'll bet money for sure that you'll be reaching for the old 'flexible-freind' to get the bigger RM2 registered version...
Well, get over to www.Linplug.com and checkout the Full Monty for the RM-F with the superb online manual... and while you are there checkout all the other great music softs they do, all available for download as demo's... they do synths & other sampler/sample/drum etc players... lots of goodies, it's a great site, really well laid out and professional - the site reflects the quality of the s/w itself & the attention to detail that has been put into this gear -
Too often s/w writers come up with a s/w and rush a site together sometimes before the actual s/w is even ready in a working state !! ... and the whole thing becomes just and endless series of dissapointments & vapourware etc etc - Linplug have got it right - everything is in place, the whole show is 101% professional and i'll predict great things for this company in the future... once you've tried their other s/w's i'm sure you'll agree !!!...
10/10 - I'll vote them as Dancetech - 'Best indie company s/w site' - & - 'Best Freeware product 2001' I've seen so far.... excellent !!...
Read 36 comments
Add review/comment