BTV Solo: Beat Making Software Review
I had heard of BTV Solo from a producer friend while in the studio one day. We discussed some of the gear we were currently using and I talked about the lack of inspiration I was experiencing lately, maybe it was time for a switch. A little about me, I grew up as a Dj and naturally moved into production, I've been around the music industry for about 20 years now, mostly as an engineer. Back when I was focused more on beat making, I used an MPC but in those days it was much more simple than the chopping that goes on today. (Some of these producers out here today got crazy chops). Being exposed to some of the talent that comes through my studio daily, I didn't know what to expect from a new beat making software.
So anyway, I knew BTV Solo wasn't even out yet but I made a couple of calls and was able to score a review copy in return for my honest opinion on the program. I get it home, load up and figure it’s going to take some set up and manual reading before I get it going. I was already into a second instrumental track over the drum kit (STOCK!) that had my neck snapping from the first sound before I even realized what I had started.
Excited already, I start browsing the instruments, opened up some keys and found some real classic sounding stuff. What gets me is I’ve shelled out for single vsti’s just to get one of these sounds vs. the the entire library BTV Solo is practically giving away for the same price. I keep moving around and find more and more quality as I go. I really like that they offer you both unaltered synth patches to mod at will, give your own take on the sound, as well sounds with a live feel with those movements only real musicians can give you. (If you like the sample style, add the vinyl effect and you can make it sound like you lifted it right from a record)
The kits are given names like "EAST-Illadelphia" and "DUBSTEP-Extravagent", "R&B-Soulfood" and "HOUSE-Chicago-hard" allowing you grab whatever style is in your head at that moment rather than going through "Kit-01 through 143", losing your vibe and forgetting what it is you were going to do in the first place. Sometimes it's 4 a.m. and a I wake up from a dream with a riff in my head and I need to get it out that moment, this makes it so much easier to do.
As any good program will have, they give you easy to remember key commands, I love my short cuts, it streamlines the session and save all kinds of time. It makes it so easy to save all your own presets (yes, you can make user kits on the fly! I love it) and the beauty of the presets, kits and sounds in BTV Solo, the load time is unmatched. I love being able to audition the sounds as I play without that "loading" sign, slowing down my energy while I'm creating as I go.
Onboard mastering, auto-chop, real time sequencing, recording your own samples or importing, everything is so easy on this program yet so dope. I'm still exploring and I can see my inspiration has shown back up to the party. I really didn't know what to expect from BTV Solo but I'm glad that I gave it a go, I even already picked up the expansion pack offer they got going on, now it's interchangeable with my other workstations. Love it.
Get your copy of BTV Solo here at BTV ZONE along with videos, exclusive offers and everything else you need to get started on making industry ready tracks today.
No comments:
Post a Comment