 Click to Zoom  Click to Zoom  "Extremely flexible. Great variation between patterns, nice separation of instruments within loops, great sound & very real. Like having your own percussion players at the studio" - Rafa Sardina Beats Working in Cuba Demo (Real Audio) Beats Working in Cuba Demo (Windows Audio) Beats Working Cuba Sample 1 (WAV) Beats Working Cuba Sample 2 (WAV) Beats Working Cuba Sample 3 (WAV) Beats Working Cuba Sample 4 (WAV) Beats Working Cuba Sample 5 (WAV)
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BEATS WORKING - IN CUBA, a 9Gb plug-in Virtual Sound Module powered by a custom version of the Native Instruments INTAKT Sampler (VST 2.0, DXi, ASIO, AU, RTAS, Mac & PC)
LATEST NEWS: The NI-powered plugin version of this title is NO LONGER AVAILABLE from Zero-G. All existing stocks have now been sold to distributors, and no more will be manufactured. In response to demand we have now made the complete BEATS WORKING IN CUBA sample library available as a downloadable WAV/Kontakt sample library - that's just the 24bit WAV samples together with their KONTAKT (.nki) patches, and without any accompanying NI software interface. This downloadable version allows you to use the WAV samples with any software, or use the Kontakt patches with Kontakt (version 1.5 or later). These are the same .nki files that were in the DVD plugin version, so you get every loop in sliced form, etc, when loading them into Kontakt. For info on the download version,click HERE. The following information is for the discontinued plugin version, which may still be available in music stores worldwide who have remaining stocks.
"In use, the considerable lengths to which Zero G have gone in the recording process really do pay off. While the audio quality is very good, most importantly so are the grooves. I particularly liked those in the Bolero section, which had a lovely slow, lazy (even sexy) feel. In contrast, the more up-tempo Mambo loops had plenty of flair and a much 'hotter' vibe. I also enjoyed the Son Montuno and Congo Habanera grooves, although in truth there was little not to like - these types of rhythms are just made to dance to, and if this collection doesn't make you want to dance around your studio then, frankly, you should take up stamp-collecting or train-spotting!.. There is no doubting either the quality or authenticity of the material itself. Beats Working In Cuba was obviously quite a significant undertaking for its producers and that, and the quantity of sample material, explain the fairly hefty price tag... Those specialising in Cuban music styles and who want their samples to be as close to the genuine article as possible will probably find this an essential purchase."
SOUND ON SOUND MAGAZINE, UK
"...And what a brilliant job they've made of it... Vibrant, highly infectious rhythms... Meticulously recorded in 24-bit multitrack format... The musicianship is truly superb... The bundled version of NI's Intakt sampler provides endless sound-shaping possibilities... A fine, authentic Cuban percussion samples library provided as a virtual sound module. Rated 9/10 - and awarded the MUSIC TECH RECOMMENDED AWARD."
MUSIC TECH MAGAZINE (UK)
"...great grooves and 24-bit recording quality, comprehensive documentation, and excellent packaging (check out the included 12+ minute video on the making of the library)... The sound library (8.2GB) is nothing if not exhaustive, and Native Instruments’ Intakt is a fine, highly editable sample playback vehicle.."
EQ MAGAZINE (USA)
"...the secret weapon I’d been looking for... The playing is superb, ridiculously infectious, and the true source of the recordings is unmistakable. The flexibility that is provided by the multitracked instruments and separate microphone feeds is invaluable in conveying the realism... I dunno what could possibly beat working in Cuba!"
REMIX MAGAZINE, USA
"...Having each instrument available for independent use allows you to easily create your own rhythms and adapt these sounds to any style of music. Beats Working in Cuba has the potential to inspire a Latin-American flavor that, if adequately used, could add a raw traditional sound to your tracks. I like the fact that they focused on just Cuba for this one product..."
RECORDING MAGAZINE (USA)
"...besides authenticity, the most important elements in a sample library of ethnic music is recording quality, attitude, and a lively groove. Beats Working in Cuba offers all of that in spades... The grooves are the most masterful examples of the styles I've yet to hear... several of the players have worked together for years, and it shows... A beautifully recorded, passionately played, creatively open collection of loops... The beautifully recorded performances breathe fire and deserve room to develop... Beats Working in Cuba should rightfully find a prominent place in every groove enthusiast's sound library."
ELECTRONIC MUSICIAN MAGAZINE, USA
BEATS WORKING (IN CUBA) - the ultimate Cuban percussion virtual instrument. Zero-G and Schtum Ltd (joint creators of the Key Buy Award-winning BEATS WORKING 5.1-ready drum sample library recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London) are proud to present the first complete and utterly authentic library of Latin percussion performances recorded entirely in Havana, Cuba, featuring the country's very finest players, and presented in multitrack format to provide the user with complete flexibility in both tempo and the selection of instruments. The styles covered include the 12 prime Afro/Hispanic rhythms of the Cuban music culture, including: Cha Cha Cha, Danzon, Son Montuno, Bolero, Pilon, Son Traditional, Guajira Son, Guaracha, Mambo, Songo, Timba, Conga Habanera (Carnival), and Conga Moderna. There are also additional variations in some of the performances to enable the user to select Modern or Traditional arrangements. "This is not just a loop library, it documents a musical genre... If you are looking for a definitive library of Cuban rhythms, Beats Working in Cuba will blow you away." (Virtual Instruments magazine, USA). "This is a first class sound library, which is worth every penny. Rated 9/10" (www.soundgenerator.com - click HERE to read their detailed review).
"Extremely flexible. Great amount of variation between the patterns and nice separation of the instruments within the loops. The sound is great and very real. It's like having your own percussion players at the studio" - Rafa Sardina (who has produced for Macy Gray, Stevie Wonder, Dr Dre, Dru Hill, Jessy Moss, Mariah Carey, Luis Miguel, Sheryl Crow, Soul Coughing, Marc Antoine, Angie Stone and Alejandro Sanz, among others - for Rafa's website click HERE)
"I have found Beats Working in Cuba an extremely useful tool in the writing, arranging and production of my music - finally some authenticity in the digital domain!" - Alex Wilson (solo artist, producer, arranger, pianist) www.alexwilson.net
The recordings were made at Estudios Abdala, Havana. The producers, Barry Sage and Gonzalo Lasheras Garcia, are both well known in the Latin field of music, with credits including Jorge Drexler, Luis Edurdo Aute, Silvio Rodreguez, Duncan Dhu, Esclarecidos, La Oreja de Van Gogh, Melon Deisel, Mariela and Solar. Barry Sage has produced various projects in Cuba for Virgin Records. They were assisted in Havana by Raphael Santos and Marisol Alfonso Perez.
The performances are provided with each instrument separated out, and the whole library is presented within NATIVE INSTRUMENTS' stunning new state-of-the-art plug-in interface which is specifically designed for rhythmic loop playback, manipulation, and mayhem. The convenient one-screen interface is a version of (and provides all the sound manipulation tools of) NI's new INTAKT sampler, and features tremendous sound shaping abilities without disrupting the creative flow, including a first-class multimode filter, an envelope follower, two LFOs, effects, and more.
The instruments playing in each groove were miked separately and each mic output sampled. The resulting multi-track loops can be automatically synced to tempo via the Beat Machine or by using the Time Machine controls. The Beat Machine has loops divided into their individual hits (slices). Each instrument (i.e. every track!!) of each loop is sliced - which means any combination of instrument loops can be played at a wide range of tempos without change in pitch or audio quality!! This degree of flexibility is UNRIVALLED in any other percussion loop library we know of. It also allows the user to give each hit individual settings for pitch, playback direction, pitch envelope, amp envelope, distortion, delay, and more; a MIDI file of each loop can be easily exported so that groove, accent, and feel can be manipulated in any host sequencer. Alternatively, the Time Machine time-stretches or compresses loops in real time.
Not only can you sync, stretch, and pitch the loops, but also filter, effect and modulate them as well! A powerful sound-shaping filter, flexible envelopes, syncable LFOs, and distortion, syncable delay, and lo-fi effects can inject even more energy and individuality into the loops. Since the software interface is based on the KONTAKT audio engine, working with it is fast, easy, and sounds great!
Features
- Huge library of world-class Latin percussion groove performances, recorded in Havana, featuring Cuba's finest percussionists,
- Impeccable sound quality in 24-bit,
- Over 8 Gb of data,
- Access to individual instruments and individual hits within loops (instruments playing in each groove were miked separately and each mic output sampled to provide multi-track loops, then EVERY TRACK was sliced),
- Easy and intuitive user interface (a version of NI's superb INTAKT sampler)
- Package includes two installation DVDs crammed with over 6,000 Intakt Instrument patches and grooves, plus a special third DVD-Video disc (NTSC Format) containing a documentary movie that takes you behind the scenes in Havana and follows the recording and production process.
- Engine is based on KONTAKT audio engine, the world's finest software sampling engine,
- Loops use one or more of the three sampler-modes: Beat Machine with ISE (Individual Slice Edit), Time Machine and standard Sampler mode,
- Easy synchronization of loops to MIDI tempo,
- MIDI file export permits groove, accent, and feel manipulation in any host sequencer,
- Integrated effects: Group filter including low-pass, high-pass, band-reject or band-pass modes, global filter, lo-fi, distortion, syncable delay,
- Modulation section provides AHDSR envelope, two individual syncable LFOs, envelope follower and a DBD pitch envelope
- Total Recall
Supported Interfaces & Standards
VST 2.0, DXi, ASIO, Audio Units, Core Audio, RTAS, Mac & PC.
- Sound Library can also be loaded into other Native Instruments samplers including KONTAKT, for even greater flexibility and more options for working with the material. This means that Mac INTEL users who have Kontakt software can load the sample library from this plugin version into KONTAKT on their Intel Mac.
Recommended Retail Price: $299.95 US Dollars (249 Euros / £174.95 pounds sterling)
Minimum Requirements
- Windows XP, Pentium III/ Athlon 400 MHz, 256 MB RAM
- Mac OS 10.2.6 or higher, G3 500 MHz, 256 MB RAM (not compatible with Mac Intel)
Recommended System
- Windows XP, Pentium III/ Athlon 700 MHz, 512 MB
- Mac OS 10.2.6 or higher, G4 733, 512 MB (not compatible with Mac Intel)
All product specifications are subject to change without notice.
LATEST NEWS:
The sample library (without the Native Instruments Intakt plugin) is now available to purchase as a series of Download Packs in WAV/Kontakt format which can be used with Kontakt or with any music software that can use WAV files. More information HERE.
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