FXpansion Guru Loop Splicing Software
Intelligent Loop Slicer. Hands On Feel. Advanced Step Sequencer.
Overall User Ratings (based on 20 ratings)
Submitted April 14, 2006 by a customer from gmail.com
"Software Version of MPC - tight"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This is the first review I've written because I had been looking for an MPC alternative. In my opinion, Guru is it. Load up your own hits (or use the included kits) and go to work. You can also chop up acapellas and phrases to create quick fill in's for your tracks. I really cannot think of a negative aspect to Guru - if I had to say something it's that the slicer is not perfect by any means (it's no Recycle). Instead the slicer takes 16 of the "best" individual hits and maps them on the pads. Even so, you can go into each pad and edit the start/end points to make sure it's on point. I'm out...
Sound
The included sound bank sounds good especially is you tweak the sounds, however, in my experience creating your own kits from your own loops with your own sounds (via the slicing option) is great.
Features
Can mangle individual hits or edit 16 pads at once - combine with trigger finger or similar pad controller and you have an MPC (but more flexible and quicker).
Ease of Use
Very easy to use and, depending on how much time you want to spend editing each pad's loaded sound, you can create a beat with the step-sequencer in 5 minutes or a more commercial beat in a couple of hours.
Quality
No crashes and works perfect with trigger finger and Ableton Live (I imagine that it works fine with all of major sequencers).
Value
In my opinion, for the price, you have the ability to use Guru to replace and MPC (I know some will shiver at this idea)! However, it's true, try slicing on the fly and arranging drum patterns in minutes with an MPC - won't happen. I know MPC headz swear by the "groove" on the MPC. Guru has numerous groove settings that sound great and give you the feel you want.
Manufacturer Support
Fxpansion is a somewhat small company, but they are constantly on the musican's forums (e.g, KVR) with updates and they answer questions very quickly. The company is also receptive to new suggestions and ideas from users of the products. They stand behind their software.
The Wow Factor
It all depends on your own workflow. For me, I owned an MPC and wanted a quicker alternative to the whole drum programming side of beats (I do hip hop and R&B). I bought a tight drum pad controller and Guru and I was able to create hot beats in no time. I recommend you slicing your own loops and creating your kits since, in my opinion, the sounds that come with Guru are good but not suited for BOMB beats (you know what I mean).
Musical Background:
Hobbyist (hip hop)
Musical Style:
Hip Hop, R&B, etc.
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Submitted July 30, 2008 by a customer from aol.com
"its for damn sure worth it"
Verified Purchaser
zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.
Definitely worth the money. especially for the budgeted home studio heads.
Sound
Sound is official.
Features
So many more things to learn but the more you research it the more capability you have.
Ease of Use
May look sketchy to beginners but once you get used to it its a cinch. a lot of clicking and dragging. but well worth it in the end.
Quality
The best drum based program in my opinion.
Value
For the price....you get a hell of a lot more than you pay for.
Manufacturer Support
forgot my login info on the fxpansion website. sent a quick email...minutes later i was answered back. problem resolved in less than an hour...cant ask for anything better.
The Wow Factor
if you read up on it first and you know it will benefit your music its a no brainer...u must have it.
Musical Background:
Vocalist, recording engineer, producer
Musical Style:
Hip Hop/ Rap
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Submitted December 5, 2005 by m
"Hot Damn!!!"
This is the dream machine for me...
Sound
A huge library of quality bundled kits and loops and midi grooves
Features
Seem like they thought of everything - its the sampling drum machine to beat
Value
This is cheaper than any drum machine and has a great library to boot - well worth it (it would even be worth it for me without the included library)
Manufacturer Support
These dudes are small and receptive - they actuslly use this software to perfrom themselves.
The Wow Factor
Tres Sexy - to play with it is to desire its love...
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Submitted February 21, 2007
"Virtual MPC & 10 times better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
This has to be the only true and original sampler based drum machine with an excellent sequencer, and it does everything an mpc can and more, infact much more. This is the virtual mpc on steroids.
Sound
It sounds as good as what ever you import in or sample into it. Its clean and punchy and so i have no complaints at all.
Features
Every an MPC has except the continuous pad repeat. It can be done really easily though, just draw a line on the grid or tap it out on a pad contoller. It has a nice groove quantize engine, basically making everything groove just like the mpc but even better.
Ease of Use
Andvanced user program for drum programmers who know how to do it. It's a very complex drum machine, can do pretty much anything.
Quality
great quality, the only software drum sampler you will ever need. I had an mpc 2000 xl before this, and solid to my friend just becuase i found Guru much quicker to use. Plus it works great with Cubase and i can go on forever creating patterns like no other.
Value
Its worth the 2 and half bills, i would happily pay more.
Manufacturer Support
Propbaly the best support i have found from any company, they respond to all forum Q&A's and are honest enough to admit things.
The Wow Factor
great layout, easy on my eyes unlike my old 2000XL. The interface is really well thought out.
Musical Background:
7 years, producer / arranger
Musical Style:
HIP HOP RAP RNB CLUB
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