KREATE the Techno, Dance & Minimal Environment

KREATE Sounds Library Software Review

For those who are maybe new to the genre or just getting started, Speedy J is the genius behind monster techno tracks such as Tunox, Seven_Trak and more recently the great Drippelzimmer and remixed the likes of Vanguard’s – Feieralarm  and Adam Beyers – Ignition.

Speedy J has always embraced technology and sought out newer and better ways to help uncrack the code of his ideas and translate them to audio.  So it comes as no surprise to find out that he’s the man behind Fixed Noises’ KREATE.

On the box KREATE promises to deliver over 4 GB of sounds and 500 instruments (instruments designed by none less than Speedy J himself) and includes all the elements you’ll need to create your own Techno/Dance/Minimal track.

After installing KREATE I couldn’t wait to dive in and browse the library; and the special version Native Instruments Kontakt player 2 that’s included make this really easy.  All sounds and instruments are arranged into categories: FX, Kits, Konstrukt, Loops, Sequence and Tones.

At first I was cursing like mad, I was so disappointed by the sounds and instruments, each one had this distorted grainy effect to it that was driving me mad, thought what’s the point of having a sound library that has effects applied to it already??  But then I soon calmed down after I realised it was either my sound card or system config as once I loaded it into Acid (I chose Acid for it’s simplicity allowing me to concentrate on the raw sounds and instruments themselves rather than spend hours of fun changing them in something like Reason) I got to hear the beast that this library truly is and was really impressed by the sounds and instruments.

Fixed Noise have been totally modest in the description of what they’re selling to you, What you’re actually buying is a monster lurking in a box ready and waiting for you to command it to terrorise and strike fear into the hearts of people or an angel waiting to spread calm and spiritual thoughts through the power of a chilled track.

And there lies the beauty of this sound library.  The variety of sounds is so expansive that you can bend and mould it into your own particular taste of music with very little effort.  From the deepest dirtiest bass notes to chilled melodic atmospherics, it’s all there waiting for you.

Then comes the price tag.  The RRP on this is $199.99 which at the moment works out to be about £108, in my opinion that makes it a bargain and a worthwhile addition to any collectors sound library.

Win A FREE COPY of KREATE

Enter our FREE COMPETITION for a chance to win a copy of the excellent KREATE sound library software.

To enter the competition all you need to do is correctly tell us which famous techno artist produced the KREATE sound library?

Send your entries to freecompetition@buzzinmedia.co.uk with ‘KREATE Competition’ in the subject line with your answer, full address and contact telephone number.

The Buzzin Electronic Music KREATE Competition ends on 31 October, 2008. The editor will randomly choose one lucky winner.

The editor’s choice is final.

KREATE offers over 4 GB of sounds designed to inspire and awe those in the electronic music-world, whether it be the fellow DJ/producer, film composer or pop artist looking for a cutting-techno edge.

This personal collection of Speedy J’s sounds includes the dance and minimal electronic rhythms for which he is notorious as well as fluid pads that offer an atmospheric sensibility.

The library is composed of drum kits, individual hits/tones, loops, sequencer-based instruments, fx and konstrukt instruments. The library is made up of over 500 instruments mapped out in Native Instruments’ Kontakt Player 2. The Kontakt Player allows the user to create with the powerful and popular Kontakt interface without necessarily owning the full version.

“My intention was to design a collection of sounds that is fun to play with and inspires the creation of music. The goal is to provide a broad set of carefully sculpted distinctive elements which can be used in many ways,” says Jochem Paap. “In my own productions I always try to use sounds in unexpected ways by pushing the limits of my tools. KREATE is designed to provide an organized and easily accessible collection of tools which will inspire users to take the same approach but make it less of a hassle.”

KREATE is Fixed Noise’s second software instrument. “We are thrilled to release KREATE,” says Fixed Noise founder, Jo Ardalan. “The pressure was on after OTTO [the debut product] to create something as sonically distinctive. Jochem succeeded in creating an instrument that not only stands alone sonically but feels endlessly creative.”

Speedy J aka Jochem Paap released his debut album, “Ginger,” on Warp Records. He has since released many records like “Public Energy No 1 [Mute],” “A Shocking Hobby [Mute],” “Loudboxer [Mute],” and also collaborated with artists such as Chris Liebing, Depeche Mode, Bjork, the Shamen, Mike Paradinas, Pete Namlook, George Issakidis, and Adam Beyer. In February, 2008 Paap and visual artist, Scott Pagano, released ‘Umfeld’ an audiovisual production designed specifically for 5.1 surround with rave reviews. His is currently releasing his records digitally through his own digital label Electric Deluxe.

KREATE will be released in late July, 2008. A list of distributors is available on www.fixednoise.com.