UVI WalkerFX Library Review
REVIEW November 13, 2018 Baby Brown 0
Foot Fetishism
A foley Library like WALKER really needs no introduction. Any aspiring foley artists or Post-Heads out there will understand immediately why this UVI offering is important – it doesn’t exactly take a rocket surgeon to calculate the time savings WALKER FX will offer busy pros. But is there more than just
“…it doesn’t exactly take a rocket surgeon to calculate the time savings WALKER FX will offer busy pros.”
Love Handles
Above: Pick your surface
So why do we rate what WALKER offers over a static sample library? Love Handles, that’s what. No, not that second arse stacked on top of your original arse that’s barely contained by the belt around your overly tight, black, sound engineer’s jeans. I’m talking about adjustments, baby. Handles means one thing – tons of different things to adjust – it’s code for creativity and freedom.
“Handles means one thing – tons of different things to adjust – it’s code for creativity and freedom.”
Foley Plugins?
Above: Choose your mic
Let’s start with the mic selection module..! Choose from a U87 Cardioid, DPA Omni or the Rolls Royce of foley – a Schoeps CMC6. Beneath the selection windows on the left side of the GUI are some simple controls to keep the foley sounding varied.
Above: Excellent verb presets
“There are simple controls to keep the foley sounding varied.”
It’s easy to set the thresholds for pitch variation and volume whilst just beneath, the RESONANCE slider gives you access to dry, ambience free footsteps (to the left) or more open, sound stage ambience to the right or the DYN RANGE slider which gives you whisper quiet steps to the left or, if in the middle or to the right it allows you to use midi velocity through automation or your midi keyboard.
On the right hand side of the interface (under the FX tab) you’ll find a well stocked impulse reverb that’s perfectly suited for the job. It can ape almost any environment you may need to place your foot foley in and it sounds just right. Not too overblown – each preset is a legit starting point but presented a little on the ripe side but great for catching the vibe and then backing off to taste.
“Under the FX tab you’ll find
a reverb that’s perfectly suited for the job.”
Under that same tab you’ll also find both a sweet, three band equalizer with high and low cut sliders as well as an extremely simple compressor with just THRESHOLD and AMOUNT controls – this will generally be all you require to dial in your steps.
Above: Simple effects make sense
Making it happen
CLOTHING
Clothing is not the first thing you think of when talking footsteps but it’s another detail that will complete your perfect symphony of smoke and mirrors. The menu is both logical and surprisingly flexible.
VARIANCE
In this ultimate quest for realism it’s great to see a more in-depth menu of options under the advanced tab to the right of the plugin. There are micro-controls for both toe and heel on the left and right feet
We love that you can use the keys C2 and E2 on your MIDI controller to actually get a better sync in real time as you watch the action on screen. The keys B2 and E2 handle the scuffing or dragging of the feet in a highly realistic fashion and D2 is to stop. There is also an auto scuff function but it’s nice to be able to pull the whole shebangbang off manually. Likewise you have a STAIRS option to engage which inverts the standard heel then toe pattern to replicate… you guessed it; stairs.
“We love that you can use the keys on your MIDI controller to actually get a better sync in real time as you watch the action on screen”
CONCLUSION
By the time you exhaust all the possibilities, including the choice of different flooring, dirt, snow, concrete etc you’ll realize that WALKER FX is an extremely capable and deep foley instrument. It’s both fun and intuitive to use and it is 99.9% likely to be capable of getting the job done unless that job is something fearfully unique or leftfield.
“By the time you exhaust all the possibilities, you’ll realize that WALKER FX is an extremely capable and deep foley instrument.”
“WalkerFX is both fun and intuitive to use…”
Compatibility
Compatible on Mac OS 10.8 and above
VST, AU and AAX Native and Standalone
Compatible on Windows 7 or Later
VST and AAX Native and Standalone
.:Required Hard Disk Space:.
.UFS SoundBank 4GB
NB: Free iLok account and iLok License Manager are required to authorize UVI SoundBanks.
(iLok version 2 or 3 USB key is recommended but not required)
NB: For each purchase you are allowed 3 activations per license on any combination of computer hard drive or iLok dongle
- Flexibility
- Great presets
- Non Expandable Library
- Not a dedicated plugin
Baby Brown Publisher & Editor
Baby Brown is a Grammy Nominated Composer/Producer and guitar player. He’s privileged to have written, played, produced and recorded some of the coolest artists ever from Eminem to Xzibit, Mickey Avalon to Deniece Williams the Lady of Rage and C Murder – to name a few. His technology swag is strong and he’s happy to make friends with you on Instagram.
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