They also recommend having at least 2 gigabytes of RAM.Īfter you load it into your DAW, you’re greeted with the main display of Xpand!2. They also recommend having at least 2 gigabytes of RAM.įor the Mac, you’ll need OS X 10.8 or 10.9, a Core Duo processor, and a Core i5 or i7 is recommended. They recommend a minimum of a dual core 2 GHz, and an Intel Core i5 or i7 is also recommended. However, the AAX version is available in the AIR Creative Collection, but it is only included with Pro Tools.įor the PC, you’ll need Windows 8 Professional, Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional, or Windows Ultimate and Service Pack 1. Xpand!2 is compatible with the AU and VST formats only. Internet access is also required for download and authorization. The installation of Xpand!2 is simple as it uses a serial number for copy protection, but it does install PACE drivers as well. The four parts can either be triggered separately, or any number of them can be set to the same MIDI channel. Each patch can also have different settings that affect the presets that are loaded in to it. There are over 1,200 presets you can load into any of the four parts, and there are a total of over 2,500 patches waiting to be used in your next production.Ī patch can use up to four presets at once. Xpand!2 has a very large number of presets, and you’re able to easily manipulate the sounds. Some people are just not into preset design, and really love presets that are ready to go. What it does do is let you get to work quickly and work without a lot of complication getting in the way. Unlike Hybrid 3, this isn’t a synthesizer plugin in which you have a multitude of controls, giving you access to some complex sound design. What is Xpand!2 all about? In a nutshell, it is a four-part multitimbral workstation. Just recently, AIR decided to release it as a plugin that can be run in your DAW of choice. The original Xpand! was previously only available for Pro Tools users. In this issue, I will covering another product of theirs called Xpand!2.

In our last issue of SoundBytes, I reviewed AIR Music’s Hybrid 3. SoundBytes continues its coverage of AIR virtual instruments with a look at Xpand!2, a four-part multitimbral workstation with a straightforward user interface that gets you up and running in no time.

Xpand 2 vst