Wolfram comes with a sizable complement of preset patches, and they don't disappoint. Running the gamut from simple chorusing and echoes to crazed soundtrack-in-a-box atmospherics, we were reminded of Lexicon's classic Vortex effects processor: the more extreme effects have the same otherworldliness that we remember so fondly, albeit without the morphing. Other highlights include the wicked Fried Space Invaders, which sounds like a walk through an '80s video arcade, and the massive Mothership Landing, which produces a dull throb reminiscent of the ambient effect heard in the engine room ofthe Starship Enterprise. There are nifty rhythmic patches, too, such as the percolating Syncopate This, with its oddly enhanced low end; and the creepy Ping Pong Noise, which transformed our thumping drum loop into a tense sonar pulse. Very nice. Wolfram gives you a lot of power for the price. The effects are limited, yes (no reverb, for example), but what you get sounds great and is easily capable of mangling any sound beyond recognition. What it does, it does well. While more mod slots might be cool, part of what we like about Wolfram is its simple, direct approach. It fits a surprising amount of potential into a small footprint and manages to be manageable and accessible, which encourages you to tweak and play rather than simply dial in a preset. Inspiration is a priceless commodity, and Wolfram provides plenty of it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Additional Requirements Windows XP with Service pack 3, Windows 7, OSX 10.5.8 (Leopard) or later. CPU: Intel Core Duo or later, AMD Athlon or later. home.php?mod=space&uid=1&do=blog&id=1765 |