Product Reviews

No sooner had Apple announced Soundtrack as a standalone application than AMG, the company behind countless sample CDs over the past decade, set to work recompiling some of its most popular titles to take advantage of the new Apple Loops format. We lent an ear to the first fruits of this enterprise.

Not really knowing what to expect from 2Step Ahead,

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we were pleasantly surprised to discover a selection of imaginative electronic loops. Comprising 13 Groove Kits split into numerous Beats, Hi-Hat and Kick Snare Loops, plus Synth Bass options, there's plenty of robotic rhythmic content here.

Set this against a clutch of groovy clavinet, electric piano and organ riffs, as well as dozens of weird processed loops with a very twitchy edge, and you've got all the makings of a thoroughly modern club classic.

All AMG's Apple Loops titles are licensed for use in Soundtrack or any 'AV-synchronised musical compositions' only. The loops will work as AIFF files, but buy the audio version of the title if you want to use them in standard songs. All three CDs are solid collections of professional-sounding loops collected by genre, although mixing and matching loops across genres is a rewarding exercise. The quality of the samples is excellent, and which one you go for depends on your tastes.