An ever growing compilation of my favourite ever demo's. Some of these compositions have become evergreens in my household. It is incredible how good virtual instruments can actually sound when played by truly gifted composers and musicians. An inspiration really.

doc's favourite demo tracks by people who are actually talented

Hive 2
Sleek, streamlined, supercharged

Hive 2 is an easy-to-use synthesizer combining u-he’s famous sound quality with a low CPU footprint. The extra modulation features guarantee more fun than ever before.

Underneath its new face, Hive 2 lets you go deeper: Add life with the unique Shape Sequencer and Function Generators, layer traditional analogue waveforms with 2-dimensional wavetables, or control multiple effect parameters at the same time for the full-on, mindbending experience.

With its no-nonsense GUI, flexible signal routing and high quality effects, Hive 2 gives you the sound you want with a minimum of fuss.

Key Features:
- Low CPU usage, 3 different synth engines
- Resizable UI
- 2 oscillators with wavetable option, 16x unison, tunable sub-oscillators 
- Drag & drop modulation assignment
- 12x 2 matrix slots with modifiers for curvature, rectify, quantize, sample/hold, slew rate
- 4 user-definable XY control pads
- Arpeggiator, step sequencer with realtime recording
- Unique 8-step shape sequencer with 4 independent outputs
- 2 function generators can serve as extra envelopes, gate generators, LFOs, slew limiters
- 7 re-arrangeable effects: distortion, chorus, delay, phaser, EQ, reverb, compressor
- Panel presets for each oscillator, filter, matrix slot etc., with copy, load and save options
- Solo buttons for auditioning individual oscillators or filter signals
- Scope for viewing the audio output or any modulation signal, with zoom controls
- MIDI remote control via learn page with editable list
- Microtuning (.tun files)
- 2000+ factory presets by some of our favourite sound designers; many more available online

Requirements:
- Mac OS X 10.7 or newer, Windows 7 or newer, Linux beta version also available
- Host application for VST2, VST3, AU, AAX (PT 10.3.7 or newer), 32bit or 64bit
- Modern CPU (Sandy Bridge or newer is recommended)
- 250MB free hard disk space recommended
- 2GB RAM recommended
- 1000 x 600px or larger screen

Hive 2 Demo Tracks

Tatiana A. Gordeeva's demo is a mix using the sounds from Bentside Spinet blended with other libraries.

Introducing Bentside Spinet, A 17th-century Italian keyboard that produces a dark & quiet tone with an aesthetically stunning look that resembles a harp laid horizontally. The spinet has a rich and sustained timbre, but darker and less brilliant that the harpsichord.

Tatiana A. Gordeeva - Oblique

Tatiana A. Gordeeva - Oblique References - Soundiron Bentside Spinet

Official demo for the Habitat by Dominik Eulberg sample library from Orchestral Tools. All sounds come from Habitat with minimal processing (reverb added to one element).

https://www.orchestraltools.com/store/collections/habitat

Orchestral Tools

Into Spring (Orchestral Tools Habitat Demo)

Moth Holes - Lucie Treacher

Short piece showing Xsample Timpani & Strings played by Finale Human Playback

https://www.xsample.de/xsample_timpani.htm
https://www.xsample.de/xsample_complete_part_4.htm

Xsample Timpani & Strings

Hive2 Demo Void Nutrition

Hive 2 Demo Taron - One True Moment

Hive 2 Demo Oddvar Atmo

Hive 2 Demo NewLoops 2

Hive 2 Demo NewLoops 1

Hive 2 Demo Ned Bouhalassa

This track was exclusively created with 8Dio Products, including 66 Cellos which is used through out the entire track. 

More information at www.8dio.com

8Dio Legion Series 66 Cellos: "Open Your Eyes" (feat. Reid Perry) by Troels Folmann

Founded in 2001 by industrial designer and synthesizer fan Urs Heckmann as a one-man show, the Berlin-based audio software company u-he has since evolved into a tightly knit team of employees, active associates and 3rd-party contractors – with ambitious plans.

Known primarily for Zebra2 and Diva, u-he has released several other successful products over the years, and has contributed freeware plug-ins to popular music technology magazines. Despite their underlying complexity, u-he synths and effects are widely acclaimed for their ease of use.

The u-he team has been exploring new technologies for vastly improved analogue synth and delay emulation, as well as various "physical modelling" approaches to acoustic instruments and effects. All valuable groundwork for the Zebra3 project and other spin-off products - watch this space!
Especially well known for the Zebra2 and Diva software synthesizers, u-he has developed several other successful products over the last decade, and regularly contributes freeware to popular magazines (available as download or on cover discs).

Despite their underlying complexity, u-he synths and effects are widely acclaimed for their ease of use. This is often attributed to Urs Heckmann's background as industrial designer. Heckmann sees the seemingly unconventional decision to start an audio software company as a direct result of his equal love for industrial design and for synthesizers.

Most recently, u-he has been exploring concepts for analogue synthesizers, and the first results can be heard in the software synths ACE / Bazille (audio-rate modulation paths) as well as Diva, Presswerk and Satin (accurate simulation of electronic circuitry). Hive is u-he's first foray into the world of low CPU dance-oriented synths.