Review: Retromod LoFreq-C Retromod & LoFreq-M by Tracktion
These two libraries offer all the low-end firepower you will need to round out your Retromod collection and produce top of the line hip hop, trailer, and EDM tracks.
Jump to the Videos of Retromod LoFreq-C
& Retromod LoFreq-M by Tracktion
Jump to the Demos of Retromod LoFreq-C
& Retromod LoFreq-M by Tracktion
Review: Retromod LoFreq-C & Retromod LoFreq-M by Tracktion
loFreq Classic Browser
The latest additions to the retromod series, LoFreq-C and LoFreq-M, are sampled from a total of 22 different classic and modern synths that were released over a span of 44 years. These two libraries offer all the low-end firepower you will need to round out your Retromod collection and produce top of the line Hip Hop, trailer and EDM tracks
loFreq Modern Browser
Retromod LoFreq-M sells for $79.00 from Tracktion
Thoughts
This review will cover two different LoFreq products with a number of common features, so I will be addressing these similarities first before covering the unique characteristics of each library. As with the other entries in the Retromod series, they share the same style GUI, effects, and menu pages. This consistency across the board makes it easy to jump right back in and use the new synths without any learning curve. Both of these libraries have their sounds grouped on the presets page by the synths they sampled and both of them still contain the same select/deselect irritation I mentioned in my original review. This presets page is laid out simple and if all the sounds didn’t have generic names like Bass 01, Bass 02, etc…it would be a breeze to find the sound you’re looking for. The generic naming convention is actually quite frustrating when each of these libraries has about 11 source synths and all of the sounds are called Bass. This makes it really difficult to go back and find a particular one that you liked even if they give you the ability to change the names. It just leaves you with the feeling that they didn’t want to put in the extra work, so they left it up to the user to do. The Macro controls page features the same global, DCO, VCF & VCA, master sections, and the same XY pad as described in my previous Retromod review.
LoFreq C Oscillator Page
LoFreq M Oscillator Page
The effects page contains the usual run of the mill onboard effects and features distortion, compressor, phaser, chorus, 17 filters, multiple reverbs, and a delay.
LoFreq C Effects Page
LoFreq M Effects Page
LoFreq-C
One of the great things about the Retromod series is that the source instruments are all legends in their own right. This tribute to the greats of yesteryear continues with LoFreq Classic. They included a plethora of classics in this one library in order to give you all the bass sounds you can handle. You get an Oberheim SEM, a Yamaha CS-30, an Arp Odyssey, a Korg MS-20, a Roland SH-2, a Realistic MG-1, a Roland TB-303, a Roland SH-101, a Novation Bass Station R, a Doepfer MS-404, and a Roland CMU-810. I found myself having a sense of nostalgia while reviewing this library and actually discovered that some of the synths here were used in a number of my favorite songs growing up. These synths sound great on the low end, but I was actually surprised how good a lot of them sounded in the higher registers and is the reason I think Tracktion did themselves a disservice by naming all of the presets Bass. There is so much to work with here just using the presets and their full ranges, not to mention the effects and arpeggiator, it’s easy to see that this library does what they intended it to do and does it very well. I really loved how original each sound was straight out of the box and felt that a good variety of bass sounds was exactly what the Retromod series needed. LoFreq-C can be purchased for $79 from the Tracktion website.
LoFreq-M
LoFreq-Modern is the twin sibling of the classic version but with a focus on more modern synths. It features 11 synths, like the LoFreq-C, starting from 1996 to the present. With Modern, you get an Eowave Magma, a DSI Evolver, a Waldorf Pulse, a DSTEC Original Syn, a MFB Synth II, a Vermona Mono Lancet, an Arturia MiniBrute, a Waldorf Pulse 2, a Dreadbox Hades, a Behringer Model D, and an IK Multimedia UNO. One of the main differences to me between this one and the Classic is that this one doesn’t seem as strong in the higher registers. LoFreq-M has the same generic naming convention but it works better here because this library does bass really well. I really loved how the XY pad worked with this library and the changes from smooth to gritty were instantly noticeable. When you couple this with the unison voices, filter, and effects, it’s incredibly easy to get the exact bass sound you’re looking for. I would definitely recommend this library to anyone working in EDM or trailer music. LoFreq-M can be purchased from the Tracktion website for $79.
LoFreq-C and LoFreq-M are a great addition to the Retromod series and this focus on the low end is exactly what the series needed. Each of the Retromod libraries are able to stand on their own two feet and contribute something to your compositions, but the true magic happens when you get the complete set. This series plays really well together and offers the user a complete range of sounds to work with that was taken from some of the most iconic synths of the last 40+ years.
Facts
LoFreq-C is 3.4 GB, contains 358 presets, 13,500 samples, and is available in AU, AAX, and VST.
LoFreq-M is 4.6 GB, contains 323 presets, 12,000 samples, and is available in AU, AAX, and VST.
Retromod LoFreq-C sells for $79.00 from Tracktion
Retromod LoFreq-M sells for $79.00 from Tracktion
Demos of Retromod LoFreq-C & Retromod LoFreq-M by Tracktion
Videos of Retromod LoFreq-C & Retromod LoFreq-M by Tracktion
Contributor T. M. K. Davis reviews Retromod LoFreq-C &
Retromod LoFreq-M by Tracktion
“These two libraries offer all the low-end firepower you will need to round out your Retromod collection and produce top of the line hip hop, trailer, and EDM tracks.
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