w e i v Re In our last issue of Wusik Sound Magazine, I reviewed Applied Acoustic Systems' newest virtual instrument Chromaphone, which physically models all types of acoustic plucks, hits, clangs, wind instruments, and more. If you're not familiar with Chromaphone, then you can check out the full description and review in WSM at http://issuu.com/wusik/docs/wsmfeb2012/36. Soon after the release of Chromaphone, Simon Stockhausen of Patchpool released the first preset pack for it entitled ChromaZone. In this review, I'll be taking a deeper look at the sonic goodness inside. The Preset Designer Simon Stockhausen is the man behind Patchpool. If the name doesn't sound familiar to you, then you might be surprised to learn that you likely have some sort of connection to his work. If you own a copy of Absynth, type his name in the search box and you'll see quite a number of factory presets that were programmed by him. You'll also find his name quite a bit in the user libraries at Native Instruments particularly in the Absynth and should definitely check the Reaktor user libraries. Alternately, if you're overview of his impressive work familiar with avant garde music of the 20th at his biography on his official century, then you're likely familiar with the family name due to his well-known father, Karl page at http://www.simonstockhausen.c Stockhausen. om/portrait.htm. Simon's more than a preset maker with a wellknown pedigree, however. He's been a longtime musician and composer who has done a notable array of musical work in the realm of electronic music, film, orchestral music, theater, jazz, and performance art. You 16
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In 2009, Simon started his Patchpool site to sell some of his presets, sound banks, and musical creations. Since that time, the number of products
April 2012
has grown exponentially. Not surprisingly, his sound products, much like his musical endeavors, lean toward the experimental end of the spectrum. So, many of his products are for effects and synths like Absynth, Metaphysical Function (for Reaktor) and Alchemy that allow you to create unusual sounds, textures, and atmospheres.