Making Music
  Computer Music Software and Hardware

Welcome to the Matrix

To control the way effects are applied to the loops, radiaL uses a Matrix. This essentially lists the loop displays along the top with the effects down the side, and the intersection points control the amount of signal being sent to the outputs. Levels are controlled by clicking on horizontal sliders that looks like toggle switches and dragging up and down. It's certainly different.

As for the outputs, radiaL is extremely flexible in this department with the ubiquitous 99 possible outputs which also appear in the Matrix offering further possibilities - or complexity depending on how many outputs you want to use. The outputs also have their own window complete with flicking VU metres where you can control the output level. There are saturation and limit controls here to warm-up the sound and help prevent the volume trashing your gear.

Over usage

Other controls include a panel that displays the tempo - changeable, of course - along with the current CPU and memory usage. Keep an eye on these.

A Files window offers quick access to files such as loops, settings, recordings and plug-ins. A Clue window displays a brief description of the item the mouse pointer rests on but it's very general and doesn't 'give you a clue' about what the different sections of the main loop display window do.

Loop addict

Once you get into radiaL, you'll likely find it quite addictive. A simple exercise would be to load the same loop into two loop displays and use the controls and effects to change them vis a vis each other. Consider working with four, six or more different loops and you'll get some idea of the complexity and variety of sounds the program can produce.

What a performance

You can save your work by recording the audio output to hard disk in real time. However, for a performance instrument, radiaL has one major omission - there's no facility to record or edit the sequence of events you use to create a piece. You may have worked out what settings you're going to tweak during the performance but one false move and you have to start again.

The manual is generally well done although it could be more helpful in places and some instructions aren't correct - it gets hopelessly confused the pitch and time section, for example.

As the saying goes - if you like loops, you'll love this. There's nothing else on the market that lets you get so far down and dirty with loops, and all without a cut and paste function in sight. But although radiaL is easy to use at a basic level, some of its functions are quite complex and it will take time and dedication to become accomplished with the program.