With major updates and Pro Tools AAX support, Cakewalk Rapture Pro ($149 MSRP) is a virtual instrument that comes with 5.5 GB of sounds and a great new interface. Besides AAX support, both Rapture Pro and Z3TA+2 synths now include VST3 versions for Windows and MAC’s El Capitan OS.
I downloaded Rapture Pro, D-Pro and Rapture Classic libraries, which at first glance seemed a bit daunting, but the Browser feature along with fast searching and the ability to preview made total sense after a couple min- utes. I liked the Instrument page that changes according to the particular patch you’ve selected in the browser window.
For editing, there is the Mixer window that has adjustable levels for each Element of the patch plus filters, delays and mix. I liked the Options layer and the separate Element editing sub windows too.
Rapture Session ($29 MSRP) is Cakewalk’s new synth that uses the same sound expan- sion packs as Rapture Pro including: Rapture Pro, Dimension Pro, Rapture and the Cakewalk Sound Center.
cakewalk.com/products/rapture
cakewalk.com/Products/Rapture-Session
BARRY RUDOLPH is a recording engineer/mixer who has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs and more. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contribut- ing editor for Mix Magazine. barryrudolph.com
