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Buzz
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Buzz is a full-on virtual studio with it's own sequencer, it's own sound generators/samplers, and it's own effects. It also has pretty nice integration of VST instruments and effects, as well as ReWire support, which makes it very flexible and very powerful. Buzz is very different from most of the other production programs out there, as it adopts a Tracker-like interface as were used to create old .mod files for PC Demo Groups and the like. This interface allows for extremely easy on-the-fly editing and loop creation.
You can download Buzz and any buzz machine, and find out more information on it here: www.buzzmachines.com. Buzz is something you'll either love or hate; if you hate it, move on to something else. If you love it, definitely play around with it because it's great for certain things.
Pros:
- It's FREE!
- Solid support for VST instruments, allowing for a lot of flexibility.
- ReWire support allows you to slave Reason and other rewire slaves to it, so worth playing around with if you're a reason user.
- Many of the downloadable machines and effects are quite useful, and there are a shitload of them.
- Interface allows for incredibly easy real-time editing, which is great for drum programming and other pattern editing.
- The Help File and tutorial is quite good for getting started.
- Multitrack exporting allows for easy porting to an external sound editor, like CoolEdit/Audition, SoundForge or Pro-Tools.
Cons:
- Machines are created by random people for free. As a result, you probably won't get any technical support.
- Bugs. There are some annoying bugs in Buzz, which can be easily worked around once you know them, but can cause a serious headaches when they creep up on you out of nowhere. Always make sure you save regularly.
- Since it's so unlike all of the other software out there you may feel on your own a little.
I'd highly recommend checking out Buzz if you haven't gotten beyond beginner level in any other programs. Additionally, though I don't use Reason, I can also see Buzz as being a really nice way of getting VST instruments into your Reason tracks by slaving Reason into Buzz. This will be a nice alternative to CuBase for those of you that don't have the cash or the warez hookups to get Cubase =P I'm not sure how many pro producers use Buzz, other than James Holden who still uses it to this day (for example, the crazy semi-reversed vocals in Holden & Thompson - Nothing (93 returning mix) were done in Buzz (with a lot of external processing too of course, but still)). Buzz is not at the same level as programs like Logic or Cubase as far as sound-quality and power, but despite that it is still an extremely powerful tool that I will personally always use for certain things, like loop creation. Once you're familiar and comfortable with the Buzz interface you'll really be able to do some cool things in a hurry.
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"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."
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... we were all noobs once
