Fabian from Amoretro's review translated into English:
With the "Dream Blaster " achieved this year (2014 ) a brand new wavetable module market . " As brand new, but the standard is already outdated years ? " You may ask . Yes , he is what the Belgian developer Serge Defever has not deterred for experimental purposes to design a standard for Wave Blaster compatible daughterboard and finally to bring to market.
The heart of the tiny with 35x34mm module is highly integrated SAM2195 wavetable synthesizer chip of the well-known French synthesizer Schmide legend . Synth , effects processor and instrument storage are housed on the small fingernail-sized BGA IC . By the dimensions of the module is also suitable for Aufstekcen on sound cards that are not capable of full-size modules such as Yamaha , Roland or Korg .
According to the data found in large 0.5MB ROM of the well-known CleanWave soundfont that has been around since the 1990s in modules of 1MB - gave 4MB size . However, the Clean Wave - sample set used here seems to have nothing except the name in common with the old , the sound is completely different. About mediocre to sometimes very weak sounding instrument samples did not skimp on the use of reverb and chorus effects , so that some inadequacy can ignore safely in a rippling harmony . Looking at the individual instrument groups for itself , it quickly becomes clear that it is not possible in 2014 ( compressed ? ) Samples to squeeze in high quality 0.5MB ROM . Although the module has a perfectly crisp acres with its powerful drums and strong bass output , but the wind sound like various string sections clearly synthetic than on most other modules that I 've heard so far . Plucked instruments such as the harp are running away . However, it did the sound designer , very harmonic tune the samples to each other , so that the inexperienced listener might once did not notice that the instruments do not sound as they should . Highlight absolutely positive is the good signal level - the module is loud and at the same time very low noise .
Should I free shipping from Belgium now recommend this module for 29,95 € to buy ? It is difficult for me . Although I rate the push to develop a new module is very positive , the quality is settled total mainly due to the small size of ROM today ridiculous sounding 0.5MB far below the standard in the 1990s fidelity.
By coherent effects, the module still is for "Easy Listening " and thus for all , the appropriate DOS games with better background music will enjoy as OPL3 FM music , but the investment in some cases significantly more expensive wavetable modules ( maybe for now) yet shy . Who does not attach great importance to authentic-sounding instruments , can be satisfied with this module thoroughly , even if contrary to the true sense of a Wavtablemoduls to allow instrument faithful music reproduction .
On the other hand, provides as an AWE64 Sound Blaster sound card that is currently in the same price range ( Housed price ) as this module is , a higher sample quality with more realistic sounding instruments and is certainly preferable as All- in -One solution to this plug-in module .
I thank the developers of this module you for the easy deployment of the test pattern .
