Zero-G Epica synth library review

6

Yo what’s good fam!

Finally back in the swing of things after a huge reorganization of my setup.

Anyway, today I’m checking out a huge synth library for Kontakt from Time+Space called “Epica”

Let’s check it out!

Epica_boxSo what is Epica?

This is a huge collection of patches created with various analog synths, digital synths, and hardware effect units.

There are something like 600 patches ready to play in it’s own custom interface for Kontakt Player.

There are some useful knobs for tweaking and manipulating your sounds as well, and the entire interface is really simple to navigate.

The creator of the library basically made this  library as it’s own living, breathing, synthesizer complete with it’s own character direct from the sampling stage.

Quick Specs

How does it sound?

Reel to Reel Tape RecorderI like that the sounds were captured in a way they sounded best.

Some were captured with hardware reverb, and others with their natural filter sweeps direct from the hardware units.

Overall their is a nice raw quality to the sounds, the pads sound smooth and evolving, the basses are deep, the leads cut through like they should.

There is also a nice collection of sound/sci-fi fx that can be very useful.

With so many patches you would think there would be some overlap but I really didn’t find that to be the case, there is a huge variety of sounds covering all types of styles from thick analog to pretty digital and anything in between.

Pulling up the multis also give you something else to experiment with as the sounds are layered and modulated in various ways providing even more creative content.

So what’s the bottom line?

Overall this is a very solid product that feels like an instrument with tons of content ready to be tweaked or used as is.

4subsI give Epic 4 out of 5 subs, the quality of the sounds is appreciated and the quantity will definitely keep you busy for a while.

I always find it interesting to see each sound designers take on what makes a great synth, or a great synth library.

Some choose to totally recreate the source they are sampling, others capture it in a way that makes sense to them for how they would use the instruments themselves.

This library feels like one that focuses on capturing the sounds in a useful context and no so much a “recreation” of the various synths and instruments used to create the library.

Checkout the interview with the designer Sam Spacey for more on how he created the library: http://blog.timespace.com/2013/11/epica-producer-sam-spacey-on-the-making-of-zero-gs-new-virtual-synth/

Or go on over to Time+Space and check it out for yourself: http://www.timespace.com/product/EPICA-1/6/epica/zerog_epica_virtual_sound_module.html?

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think

 

6 Comments

  1. Hi,

    cheers for the cool review, always nice to see how peeps use my products. Any issues drop me a mail and I’ll do my best to sort it out.

    Regards

    Sam

    Reply
  2. Hello,

    I have been following many of your music product reviews. You do a great job and cover the features and sounds very well. This product does have allot of great sounds.

    May I ask in this video, what is your pad controller that you are using near the end of the review. Looks like a great controller.

    take care,

    DT

    Reply

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