Digidesign AIR DB-33

I had no problems installing Digidesign AIR DB 33, nor did I have any compatibility issues with my machine. It was easy to install, and I have installed and used it both on a Mac and a PC. I use it as a standalone plug-in and in Logic. I don't a manual for this as it is straightforward enough where I didn't need it.


SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I run the B4 on a Mac Book Pro lap top with a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB or RAM. I have also used it on a Hewlett Packard lap top with a 3.0 Ghz processor and 2 GB of RAM. It has almost run smoothly on both machines for me. I only used it as a stand alone on the PC, but on the Mac have run it successfully in both Logic and as a stand alone. I only run one of these at a time to play on usually, but it can also be used as a plug-in effect that can be really cool sometimes!


OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the AIR DB 33 for two months nw. It provides me quick and easy organ sound that I can play with my MIDI controller. The AIRE DB is quite a realistic organ sound, and while it definitely doesn't match a real B3, it is just as good as most organ sounds on synthesizers, if not better and more versatile. I haven't used any other virtual organs like this one, as this fit my price range and I liked it from the get go. I try to use a real organ whenever I have a recording that needs organ, but when that is not possible the DB 33 comes in handy. It is easy to use and is also great for getting down ideas before you go to dub with a real organ. Overall, the AIR DB 33 suits my needs and I would definitely recommend looking into it.

Digidesign's AIR (Advanced Instrument Research) DB-33 is a virtual organ that comes with Pro Tools 8. The virtual instrument is basically a digital replication of a Hammond organ. It installed when I installed Pro Tools 8, so there wasn't anything else that I had to do to get it installed. The interface of the software is quite user friendly and easy to navigate around. It isn't complicated, and has the look of a real organ. It has all of the parameters you'd expect with a real organ, containing draw bars and vibrato and chorus effects. A manual isn't necessary, but I haven't seen one so I can't say anything about it's make up.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I have run the Digidesign AIR DB-33 on an Apple Quad Core desk top, running Pro Tools HD 8. I haven't had any issues at all with this software, both when using it with a MIDI controller and when using it as an effect. It doesn't seem to be the type of plug-in that takes up too much processing power, so I think that even if you have Pro Tools 8 LE, that you'll be okay with running it, granted that you have an adequate computer to run Pro Tools cleanly.

OVERALL OPINION

While I like the sound of the organ itself when using it with a MIDI controller a good deal, I end up using the Digidesign AIR DB-33 mostly for Leslie and other effects, applying them on other instrument tracks. I find that you can get some pretty awesome sounding vibrato and chorus tones on vocals, guitars, and keyboards with the DB-33. I can't really say that I'd recommend this one way or another, as it is a free piece of software that comes with Pro Tools 8, so you either have it or you don't. But if you do have it, I'd definitely encourage you to get familiar with it if you haven't already.