160 dB ReFill for Reason - Remix Magazine, USA

As if Reason 1.0 wasn't cool enough, AMG has unleashed 160 dB, the world's first batch of funk, trance, techno, and drum 'n' bass sounds in the ReFill file format, giving Reason users more sounds, greater loop flexibility and some ready made patchwork for only $49.95.

Technically, 160 dB is a re-release of AMG's Catalyst series Vol. 2, but with the addition of over 70 NN-19 multi-samples, 40 Subtractor synth patches, and 10 ReDrum Drumkits, this CD will add healthy production power to your Reason 1.0 jam-station. Several hundred clean, yet creative style-specific Rex formatted drum and music loops are also built into this package. Rex files make time-stretching and real-time sample previewing a reality, as fans of Propellerheads.

Recycle 1.X and Reason 1.0 programs are well aware. Other additions in this ReFill 160 dB package, are five stylized Reason songs (RNS format) to ease the pain of setup: "Dark", "Jazzy", "Jumpup", "Tek" and "Trancy" allow you to get right to composing with effects and instruments pre-routed (patched). Each of these RNS files is 16 bars of minimal, yet stylistically authentic, programming to get you up and running. The total ReFill file is almost 210 MB, which should be completely installed on your hard drive to speed up shuffling between patches and sounds.

The most obvious reason for enlisting 160 dB to aid your drum 'n' bass creation process, are the 100+ Rex beats and breaks, which work in Reason's Dr. Rex. Grooves are categorized as either "Breakbeats" or "Live Drums". The "Breakbeats" are a mix of acoustic and electronic kits with some percussion mixed in. These loops tend to be funkier, punchier, and tighter than the "Live Drums" batch. "Live Drums" has about a 50/50 split of "James Brown style" funk and hip hop with a score of expertly trashed out rhythms to round out the group.

Stylistically speaking, these rhythms will work easily in acid jazz, hip hop, funk, R&B, as well as drum 'n' bass. Not only are there heaps of head nodding grooves, but AMG has included a number of slick and musical upright bass, Fender Rhodes, saxophone, and FX loops, all in the Rex file format. By using Dr. Rex's flexibility in terms of different LFOs and filtering parameters, I found these loops to be easily shapeable in terms of feel and sound (because of their excellent initial sonic quality).

Also, by using Reason's sequencer feel enhancements, like shuffle quantization, or imposing user-groove feels, these Rex loops will form fit your music in a way rarely possible with traditional sample CDs. My only complaint is that producer's N-Jay stopped where they did (at 210 MB). However AMG has assured us good things are on the way by launching www.reasonrefills.com, and simultaneously releasing a REX2 (stereo Rex files) re-release of the deeply talented ex-Level 42 drummer Phil Gould, called (what else?)

Phil Gould on Drums. I can't imagine other sample CD companies waiting too long to jump on both the Rex2 and the ReFill format. It sure makes our loopy lives a bit easier.

Overall Rating (out of 5) :4.5

160dB: The Drum&Bass Interface - Mixed-mode audio CD/CD-ROM for Reason

Pros: Eminently usable d&b synth and sampler patches. Convenient song templates. Plenty of evocative, gritty textures that can be applied to more than just drum & bass.

Cons: Ambient FX/atmosphere samples aren't looped. Sampler bass patches employ only a single sample per patch.

Bottom Line: I could blather about how great this library is, but second listener Greg Rule sums it up best: "From the evocative pads and wicked synth basses to the expressive instrumental riffs and edgy loops, there are loads of club-ready components for launching a track. I defy any electronic music lover to give this library a test drive and not walk away buzzed."

Many popular titles are available for a number of sampler formats, but Propellerhead's ReFill format for Reason is much more than just another format. Because it can include patches and loops for all of Reason's instruments, the ReFill format can boost a library's bang-for-buck factor exponentially.

AMG's ReFill version of their 160dB: The Drum&Bass Interface is a perfect example. The original 160dB (reviewed Feb. '00) includes audio tracks and REX files for playback in Cubase or other REX-compatible programs. But 160dB ReFill takes advantage of all the instruments Reason has to offer, which translates to 40 new synth patches, 70 sampler patches, 10 drum kits, and all the REX files from the original library. The included song templates have instruments and patterns pre-loaded according to sound or style (jazzy, trance, dark, etc.) ? a big help for kick-starting new ideas.

160dB gives you a cross section of tones and textures that nail drum & bass and its sub-genres. The loops themselves may be a year old, but with the addition of the ReDrum kits, built-in effects, and sound shaping tools of the REX player, fresh twists on "last year's sound" are easy to come by.

A few of the synth and sampler patches are throwaways, but most are full of character, such as Bass 03, which barges in with a steep filter sweep, then quiets down into a spastic LFO gurgle. Green Reason programmers can learn a lot from these patches and patterns. JOHN KROGH

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