Zero-G’s Analogue Sequencer Loops (ASL) is a sound library by Ian Boddy, a synthesist that carries the torch for classic 70’s Berlin-school style electronic music.

The library is presented in Native Instruments Intakt format, which means that it’s a pain to register, but compatible with just about anything (it supports VST 2.0, DXi, ASIO, AU, RTAS, Mac & PC). It combines over 1,000 loops with the power of Intakt, letting you take Boddy’s loops and mangle them with downsampling, filtering, distortion, delay effects and more.

The library is described as “100% pure analogue.” It’s hard to tell what that means anymore, when you’ve got digital samples of analog synths running through digitally-modelled analog filters. Nevertheless, with Analogue Sequencer Loops, Boddy and Zero-G capture the essence of classic analog synthesis, with an emphasis on 70’s Berlin-school sequencer sounds.

About the Audio Library

According to Zero-G, Analogue Sequencer Loops is intended to complement Boddy’s Zero-G Morphology virtual instrument, which features Boddy doing his thing with atmospheric soundscapes and effects. We didn’t have a chance to work with Morphology, but A.S.L. is an interesting and flexible collection by itself.

Boddy uses classic analogue synths and hardware analogue sequencers, and they are captured exquisitely in 24-bit sound. The audio loops are broken down into seven categories: Analogue Drums, Bass Sequences, Electronic Percussion, FX Loops, Hi-Hat & Noise Loops, Melodic Sequences & Sine & Pure Sequences. Within each category, loops are organized by BMP, ranging from 90-150.

ASL doesn’t immediately wow you, like some sound libraries. Because of the limited capabilities of old-school sequencers, the loops are all fairly simple. But Boddy does a great job of providing starting points for creating music with that classic analog sound.

Take one of Boddy’s bass sequences and mangle it a bit, like modulating the cutoff with a slow LFO, add a little distortion and delay, and you’ve quickly got something with a lot of life and interest to it.

Zero-G provides a great Berlin-school demo using ASL that gives you a taste of one way the library could be used.

All-in-all, it’s a very nice sample libary. It doesn’t offer the instant gratification of effect laden loops or construction kits, but it instead provides you with some great building blocks, packaged in a powerful virtual instrument that lets you easily take the raw material and manipulate it to your will.

Gear List

Sound Sources :

• Moog IIIC (extended) modular
• Roland System 100M modular
• Doepfer A100 modular
• Analogue Systems modular
• Analogue Solutions Concussor percussion modules
• ARP 2600
• Minimoog
• Moog Voyager
• Oberheim Xpander
• VCS 3

Sequencing:

• Moog 960 sequential controller x 2
• Roland 100M 182 sequencer
• Roalnd 100M 184 polyphonic keyboard arpeggiator
• Analogue Systems RS-200 sequential controller
• Analogue Solutions CV8 – 8 step CV sequencer x 2
• Analogue Solutions GT8 – 8 step gate sequencer x 2
• Analogue Solutions MC01- Master Clock with clock dividers
• Analogue Solutions FS01 – Fill In / Quad Switcher
• Doepfer A100 – various Seq Switch/Clock Dividers/Clock Sequencers

Supported Interfaces:

• VST 2.0, DXi, ASIO, Audio Units, Core Audio, RTAS, Mac & PC

Recommended Retail Price

• $199.95 US Dollars / 169 Euros / £114.95 pounds sterling)

Minimum Requirements

• Windows XP, Pentium III/ Athlon 400 MHz, 256 MB RAM
• Mac OS 10.2.6 or higher, G3 500 MHz, 256 MB RAM

Recommended System

• Windows XP, Pentium III/ Athlon 700 MHz, 512 MB
• Mac OS 10.2.6 or higher, G4 733, 512 MB

More information and sound samples are available at the Zero-G site.