taka_kazuki's Reviews

My Must Go Studio Headphone for Mixing

I managed to get these during a period of very low sales, and honestly, I was skeptical at first. I had my doubts, thinking they would just be another overrated headset, similar to Audio-Technica. After using them for a certain period, however, I found them surprisingly easy to mix with.

In today’s headphone market, it is hard to find something that delivers a flat yet clear sound signature suitable for mixing at such a low price. These headphones genuinely surprised me with their balanced sound and clarity, making them an excellent value for the money.

An Appetizer Towards the Club Standard

Pioneer DJ/ AlphaTheta introduction of the DDJ 400 is gear which provide the answer for those who want to get their hand down in the world of DJing. With a layout similar to the CDJ setup, user can easily get familiar with all the core function of how a CDJ layout out looks like.

Even so, the only down side I would think of for the DDJ400 would be the effect button, I would have prefer that they implemented the knob instead so that switch effect would have been much more easier.

Still a strong budget MIDI contender

After years of using the Akai MPK Mini MK2, i finally replace it with the updated white edition. Even though the the budget MIDI Keyboard market has expand in recent year, Akai MPK Mini MK3 still holds it strong position due to it primary function and portability.

Legend But BETTER

I used to heard a lot of good things from the V-Moda Crossfade M-100. After V-Moda have merge Roland, they have made the V-Moda Crossfade M100 Master even more better with deeper bass and more color with the mid and high, give the music more attention to details.

Using it along side with my Sennheiser HD25 give me a more detail idea on minor detail adjustment and mastering for my production. All I can say that after owning a V-Moda M100. it will always be in my headphone collection and I definitely be using it on my live performance setup

Nothing can go wrong with Kontakt

As the titles says it all, I been a long time user of Kontakt especially a few of the sample library which are most commonly found in my music like The Grandeur, Symphony Series.

One thing I would heavily recommand to other is the use a SSD while running Kontakt to ensure your audio wont get cut off during the exportation

BEST MIDI Controller I Ever Had

For launchpad, all of them are technically the same except the better version has more fancy RGB and maybe a few more button. Back then the launchpad mini cost like $80 so getting it as my first MIDI controller was like the best thing ever.

From drum making session to Live DJ Session, it is still my all time favourite controller

Powerful controller with One of the best software bundle

I gotten this as a gift from someone and it has became my main workstation.

After using it for quite awhile, I have to say this controller is a beast. For home producers who doesn't care much of the key feeling, its gonna be more than enough to take you down the road for a long time as well as the software bundle.

One of 2 features that this controller stand out is DAW Control. The Arturia Keylab Essential Series has one of the best DAW control which is able to cater toward different kind of DAW compare to other MIDI Controller in the same prices range.

Another one would be the software bundle Analog Lab, Ableton Live Lite and Steinways Piano Model D Plugin. I been using Analog Lab Lite for quite sometime and I really love most of the preset that they have and are great competitor against other industries synth plugin like Spire, Massive, Nexus and Serum if you are using the full version. Ableton Live Lite is provided standard like most other MIDI Controller within the same price range.

Steinways Piano Model D Plugin actually caught me by surprise because most piano plugin doesn't seem to emulate a very nice and almost realistic piano sound. As a person who is also very picky on piano sound this one has actually became part of 3 piano that I use on my main production.

Best budget MIDI Controller with a twist

In the earliest day of my music production, I have been looking for a budget 25 keyboard MIDI Controller as a foundation of learning music production. Back then there are a lot of choice such as the Novation Key, Alesis V25 as well as Arturia Keylab Mini, M-Audio back in 2017.

After much research I narrowed down to the Novation LaunchKey 25 and the Akai MPK Mini Mk2. But because I already own a Novation Launchpad Mini which has the same software, I went of the Akai MPK Mini MK2 instead.

But still I have to agree that the Akai MPK MIni MK2 is consider the king of budget MIDI Controller of a specific function which stand out a lot from other competitor, the Arpeggiator function which I'm still using it often until today.

Other than that, this controller is also part of my DJ Setup until today

Main sound design

As a EDM Producer, it without a doubt that spire is one of the best known virtual synthesizer out there. Nowadays, Spire sound can be found in most of track as it has become part of my workflow during my production.

And also the plugin does not heavily untitled CPU processor which is a plus side especially if you like layering a lot of sound in a track With the v1.5 updated on the sound selection GUI, it makes everything more organized and easier to find the perfect sound for my track.

My Primary Studio

For 6 years, FL Studio has been my main setup in music production because of the its flexibility workflow as well as the interface which is very straight to the point compare to other DAWS which required more time to understand before jumping into the actual production.

Another thing I do like to point out is the free updates which make its stand out against other DAW which requires an additional fees in order to updates to the latest version

Good but beware CPU usage

Since I'm a big fan of iZotope stuff, I bought this plugin during the iZotope Summer Sales from Plugin Boutique which come bundle with 4 expansion drum Kit.

In a way, this plugin has it own pros and cons. Its has a unique ways of create weird drum samples in which you might want to try experiment new sound especially with the synthesizer option in each lane and also the huge amount of freedom to work on individual steps.

On the other hands, it takes time to learn how to use the plugin. It would nice if the layout is much more user friendly to cater towards new producer who are interested in getting themselves some high end plugin like this during a sales, and also it uses a lot of CPU As a music producer who use a lot of Kontakt, it might be a problem especially I packed to much plugin in the same project. Audio will drop out once awhile

If you are willing to spend some time experimenting, it would serve as a good investment in a long term run especially you bought it during a sales like me

Another Masterpiece

When it come to iZotope Plugins, you know things are gonna get serious!

Very surprised that iZotope partnered up with Plugin Boutique to give this out for free last November 2020. As a company who does mostly effect plugin, I didn't have much expectation while trying it. But I was so wrong with it after playing around for a week.

I was mostly impressed that I'm able to layer up to 4 different samples which is a plus side because I wont need to used other plugin which save up some CPU power. Again another masterpiece from iZotope!

Serum Alternative

As a EDM Music Producer who always heavily depend digital synth, I always like to expand my synth library especially during a sales and experiment with them to get some sweet sound.

Bought this plugin from Plugin Boutique during the Music Day Special Sales and I must say, this plugin is one of the the best I seen which is close to being a Serum Competitor especially it unique wavetable to create harmonic melody. For this, definite worth the buck!