UVI – Quadra €149

> Most FM reviews for UVI soundware focus on their ever-expanding range of instruments aimed at capturing rare or classic hardware.

However, UVI cover a lot of ground - the latest of their products that defies categorisation is Quadra, or ’Quadra – Muted and Harmonics’ to give its full title. As always this comes as an instrument library in their free UVI Workstation software (in standalone and plugin versions) or as an expansion to the Falcon 2 hybrid synth.

Quadra, as the name suggests, is based around a 4-part sound engine, and UVI’s description of it as a ‘multi-instrument and sequence designer’ neatly sums up its focus. Each layer is assigned a sound from a comprehensive list of acoustic, electric and synthetic sources – these are based around nicelycaptured multi-samples, and explains the hefty 6GB (compressed) install size. Even before any further treatment, there is some excellent content here. However, once each of the four parts is layered, sequenced and processed by the internal effects, the results take on a whole new character. The sequencing of each layer is independent and while described as an arpeggiator it includes chord detection and scale quantising alongside some sophisticated tools, such as the so-called Euclidean Emphasis section (for adding octave, velocity and volume side-chain accents) and MIDI Effect (which is for generating additional sequenced harmonic lines).

The interface is up to the usual high standards of UVI’s previous instruments, and there are many excellent presets to get you started. Quadra is fun and inspirational to play, and would find plenty of use across the full spectrum of styles. uvi.net

Bruce Aisher VERDICT 9.0