Version 2 of MOTU’s MachFive universal sampling instrument ($495; $195 upgrade for registered Version 1 users) is a major upgrade. MachFive V. 2 supports MAS, VST, Audio Units, RTAS and DXi plug-in formats, as well as stand-alone operation on both Mac OS X (with full Universal Binary support for G4/G5 and Intel CPUs) and Windows (XP and Vista, 32- and 64-bit).
It also offers 32 GB (four dual-layer DVDs) of sounds and loops, including a 24-bit/96kHz 8GB sampled grand piano; 96/192 kHz electric piano, guitars, basses, drum kits and percussion; and the VSL Orchestra MachFive Edition.
MachFive V. 2 opens and reads all major sampler library and audio file formats directly, including Giga 1/2/3, EXS24, Kontakt 1/2, Roland S700 Series, Akai MPC, Akai S Series, Kurzweil K2xxx Series, E-Mu, Ensoniq ASR, SampleCell II, MOTU Symphonic and Ethno Instruments, SoundFont and UVI soundcards, among others. No conversion is necessary.
The new version also lets users add unlimited parts to one instance of the plug-in (or the stand-alone application), eliminating the need to open multiple instances when more than 16 instruments or loops are needed. V. 2 also supports 256-note polyphony per part, unlimited sample keygroups, unlimited sample keygroup layers and up to 200 discrete audio outputs and 256 separate MIDI channels, depending on the host software.
Users can import, edit, synthesize, process and play multisample instruments, loops and phrases in MachFive’s environment. MachFive’s Sample Editor, Mapping Editor and Loop Lab Editor give users precise control of instruments and loops. All three editors can be expanded to fill the MachFive 2 window for detailed editing, or users can pop them out as a completely separate full-screen window, which can be positioned on a secondary monitor. All three editors feature unlimited undo and redo.
The Loop Lab lets users freely edit REX, ACID, UFS and Apple Loops, or create loops by simply dropping the loop into the Loop Lab, even if the loop has not yet been sliced. Loop Lab instantly maps slices, and finds or sets the tempo. Users can perform destructive or non-destructive sample-level editing. MOTU states that time-stretching can be applied with no artifacts.
Version 2 also offers a new graphics engine, a new modular synthesis architecture, a complete built-in mixer and 47 effects including convolution reverb.
For more information, visit www.motu.com.
