Steinberg releases Groove Agent 4

This version 4 of Groove Agent is quite different from version 3 ; indeed, Steinberg used the ergonomics of Groove Agent One from the latest versions of Cubase and the GUI now features pads instead of faders and knobs.

However, when Groove Agent One was only a Drum Sampler, Groove Agent 4 is a real virtual drums and can handle both acoustic drums/percussions and electro/hip-hop loops. Internal slicing is included and the software widely uses the engine and many of the components found in HALion. So the instruments seemed to be more powerful, but also more complex.

Main features:

• 3 agents: drums, beats and percussion, all can be combined into 4 slots
• 22 000 samples and 3 800 grooves & patterns for all music styles
• Acoustic Agent for acoustic drums
• “Beat Agent” drum sampler with a slicer and an intelligent slice manager (the software recognizes and organizes all the kicks, snares and hi-hats)
• Percussion Agent with more than 20 instruments
• Built-in pattern editor
• Style Player plays in the desired complexity and intensity, generates auto fills and more
• Jam Mode to create full tracks with intro, fills and outro
• Built-in mixer with 29 effects
• Full integration with Cubase (drag & drop, automation and automatic drum map exchange)

The other good news is that Groove Agent 4 is more affordable than ever, with a price of 179€ for the full licence and 99€ for the upgrade from GA 3.

See all the new features and download the trial version from www.steinberg.net. 

Following are two videos showing the rhythm complex/simplification system and the automatic slice organization, which will remind of the FXpansion Guru: