RIFFS plug-ins...
Native Instruments RAZOR
baby
In typically original style, Native Instruments latest Razor modular synth plug-in offers a new way to create dozens of exciting new sounds… Words: D.P. Wilson
sound, Reverb per-partial – where the reverb tail follows pitch and a 34 band Vocoder! The programming scope is huge and impossible to cover everything here, the good news though is that the GUI is so well executed that the learning curve is very shallow. Anyone who has ever used an analogue style synth will find it very easy to get started, but spending a bit of time learning Razor will pay huge dividends.
SRP: €79.00
Contact: Native Instruments
www.native-instruments.com
With so many incredible products already existing in NI’s vast stable it’s pretty hard to imagine what could possibly be left for the German software maestros to come up with next. Somehow, though, NI continually come up with new stuff that is useful, interesting and always just a little bit different. This month we prize open the lid on Native Instruments’ latest software, the Razor Additive Synthesizer which runs inside NI’s Reaktor shell program. Just to clarify things, although Razor
needs Reaktor to operate, you don’t necessarily need to fork out more cash to get started. NI offer a free version of Reaktor known as ‘Player’ that will let you use this fantastic and strange modular synth/sound designer which can be used standalone or in all the usual plug-in formats.
System addict
Razor is a slightly unusual synth in that it uses Additive Synthesis, which basically means that all the sounds are generated by combining or ‘Adding’ differing Sine waves, with each new wave or partial affecting the response of its predecessor. Sounds can be constructed from scratch by combining up to 320 of these sine wave partials that literally handle everything from tone-generation to reverb and delay effects. Native Instruments claim that this method of synthesis delivers sounds that are uniformly clean, precise and a much higher resolution. Upon firing up within Reaktor it is certainly clear that some thought has gone into the GUI (Graphical User Interface), it is very clear in white and sombre grey and this
46 pickup
potentially complex synth plug-in provides very simple access which positively screams that you twiddle and try things. The white section includes the main programming guts (oscillators, filters etc) whilst the smaller grey section contains the envelope generators and LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators), which can be used to modulate pretty much everything. Another great looking touch is that all the knobs have a display ring that moves to tell you how exactly that control is being modulated. A graphical representation on screen displays the sound you are playing as an oscilloscope, which looks quite good when you’re just noodling about waiting for inspiration to strike!
Razor’s edge Before delving in to in-depth programming I usually prefer to start by trying out the various presets of which there are dozens! Fortunately they are helpfully organised into different types (pads, basses, leads etc.) At first Razor sounds very similar to many other analogue Synths or digital recreations but the sounds themselves have an extra depth that is difficult to describe. Everything sounds more organic and 3-D compared to a lot of the competition, which perhaps vindicates NI’s own declaration that Razor is HD quality. The other cool thing that we like about the presets is the sheer range of sounds on offer. Once mastered I really think you could pension off a load of Synths as Razor could probably cover the lot! When it comes to programming, Razor offers a huge range of options and it’s not hard to see why this thing can turn its hand to most things synthy. The various options include Creative filters, with variable slopes and boosts, Dissonance from modulating single partials to compressing the whole
Freeze please me The only serious issue I could aim at Razor is with Razor is that it’s a bit of a CPU hog. On my three year old 4 core PC some presets consumed up 30% of the PCs resources at a sensibly small latency. The good news is that you can switch between different quality settings. The lower settings don’t sound quite so holographic but you could always run in low quality when playing and then freeze or bounce the part in high quality? This high CPU usage is undoubtedly caused by the complex nature of the sounds and the fact that several hundred sine waves have to be combined! PM
Should I buy one? In a word... Yes. Especially if you factor in the bargain price and the fact that you can download Reaktor for free as well, which also includes some other sounds to get you started and demonstrate what Reaktor can do within its unique sounding framework. Razor is a versatile beast that can do squelchy acid basses, hot searing leads and gentle pads with ease and with a depth you don’t often hear unless you are very good with external processing. No apologies for being blunt (geddit?) but if you produce any sort of electronic music you really should check out Native Instruments’ Razor.
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