Refx Nexus 2 Hollywood Expansion 20: How to Make Epic and Cinematic Music with Orchestral Sounds

Refx Nexus 2 Hollywood Expansion 20: A Review

If you are looking for a way to spice up your music production with some orchestral sounds that rival those heard in big-budget movies, you might want to check out Refx Nexus 2 Hollywood Expansion 20. This is an expansion pack for Refx Nexus 2, a popular ROM synthesizer that offers a huge library of sounds for various genres and styles.

Refx Nexus 2 Hollywood Expansion 20

In this article, we will review what Refx Nexus 2 is, what the Hollywood expansion pack offers, and why it is worth buying. We will also show you some examples of how to use the Hollywood expansion pack to create cinematic, pop, and other genres of music. We will also list some pros and cons of the Hollywood expansion pack and answer some frequently asked questions. By the end of this article, you will have a better idea of whether Refx Nexus 2 Hollywood Expansion 20 is the right choice for you.

What is Refx Nexus 2?

Refx Nexus 2 is a ROM synthesizer, which means that it uses samples of real instruments and sounds that are stored in its memory. Unlike other types of synthesizers that generate sounds from scratch using oscillators, filters, envelopes, etc., ROM synthesizers allow you to access a large collection of ready-made sounds that you can tweak and combine to create your own music.

What is a ROM synthesizer?

A ROM synthesizer is a type of synthesizer that uses samples of real instruments and sounds that are stored in its memory. Unlike other types of synthesizers that generate sounds from scratch using oscillators, filters, envelopes, etc., ROM synthesizers allow you to access a large collection of ready-made sounds that you can tweak and combine to create your own music.

What are the features of Refx Nexus 2?

Refx Nexus 2 has many features that make it one of the most popular and versatile ROM synthesizers on the market. Some of these features are:

• A library of over 2500 presets that cover various genres and styles, such as dance, trance, hip hop, R&B, rock, pop, classical, etc. You can also expand your library with additional expansion packs that offer more sounds and styles.

• An intuitive interface that lets you browse, select, and edit presets with ease. You can also layer up to four presets to create complex and rich sounds.

• A flexible modulation system that lets you control various parameters of the presets with LFOs, envelopes, arpeggiators, sequencers, etc. You can also assign MIDI controllers to any parameter for more expressive and dynamic playing.

• An effects section that lets you add up to 20 effects to each preset, such as reverb, delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, distortion, etc. You can also adjust the order and settings of the effects to suit your preferences.

• A compatibility with various DAWs (digital audio workstations) such as FL Studio, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, etc. You can use Refx Nexus 2 as a VST (virtual studio technology) plugin or as a standalone application.

What is the Hollywood expansion pack?

The Hollywood expansion pack is one of the many expansion packs available for Refx Nexus 2. It offers a collection of orchestral sounds that are inspired by the soundtracks of Hollywood movies. It is designed to help you create epic and cinematic music with ease.

What are the benefits of using orchestral sounds?

Orchestral sounds are some of the most powerful and expressive sounds in music production. They can add realism, emotion, and diversity to your music by creating different moods and atmospheres. Some of the benefits of using orchestral sounds are:

• They can make your music sound more professional and polished by adding depth and dimension.

• They can make your music sound more dramatic and emotional by adding tension and suspense.

• They can make your music sound more diverse and versatile by adding contrast and variety.

What are the contents of the Hollywood expansion pack?

The Hollywood expansion pack contains over 130 presets that are divided into different categories based on the type of instrument or sound. Some of these categories are:

• Strings: These include violins, violas, cellos, basses, harps, etc. They can create warm and lush melodies or powerful and aggressive rhythms.

• Brasses: These include trumpets, trombones, horns, tubas, etc. They can create bright and majestic fanfares or dark and ominous drones.

• Woodwinds: These include flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, etc. They can create airy and delicate textures or quirky and playful motifs.

• Drums: These include timpani, snare drums, cymbals, gongs, etc. They can create epic and thunderous impacts or subtle and nuanced accents.

• Pianos: These include grand pianos , upright pianos, electric pianos, etc. They can create elegant and classical melodies or funky and modern grooves.

• Vocals: These include choirs, soloists, whispers, etc. They can create angelic and ethereal harmonies or haunting and mysterious effects.

• Others: These include guitars, synths, pads, sound effects, etc. They can create various sounds that complement or contrast the orchestral sounds.

How to install and use the Hollywood expansion pack?

To install and use the Hollywood expansion pack, you need to have Refx Nexus 2 installed on your computer. You also need to have enough disk space to store the expansion pack, which is about 8 GB. The steps to install and use the Hollywood expansion pack are:

• Download the Hollywood expansion pack from the Refx website or from a trusted source.

• Extract the zip file to a folder of your choice.

• Open Refx Nexus 2 and click on the "sys" button on the top right corner of the interface.

• Click on the "import data" button and browse to the folder where you extracted the Hollywood expansion pack.

• Select the "Hollywood.nxp" file and click "open". The expansion pack will be imported and added to your library.

• To use the Hollywood expansion pack, click on the "lib" button on the top left corner of the interface and browse to the "Hollywood" category. You will see a list of presets that you can select and play.

What are some examples of using the Hollywood expansion pack?

The Hollywood expansion pack can be used to create various genres and styles of music that require orchestral sounds. Here are some examples of how to use the Hollywood expansion pack to create cinematic, pop, and other genres of music.

How to create cinematic music with the Hollywood expansion pack?

Cinematic music is a type of music that is used to accompany visual media, such as movies, TV shows, video games, etc. It is usually composed of orchestral sounds that create different moods and atmospheres depending on the scene or story. To create cinematic music with the Hollywood expansion pack, you can follow these steps:

• Choose a theme or a concept for your cinematic music. For example, you can choose a genre (such as action, horror, romance, etc.), a setting (such as medieval, futuristic, fantasy, etc.), or a mood (such as suspenseful, sad, happy, etc.).

• Choose a tempo and a key for your cinematic music. For example, you can choose a fast tempo and a minor key for an action scene, or a slow tempo and a major key for a romantic scene.

• Choose a main melody for your cinematic music. You can use a piano preset or a string preset to create a simple melody that captures the essence of your theme or concept. You can also use an arpeggiator or a sequencer to create a rhythmic pattern for your melody.

• Choose some supporting sounds for your cinematic music. You can use other presets from the Hollywood expansion pack to add harmony, texture, and variation to your melody. For example, you can use brasses to add power and drama, woodwinds to add color and detail, drums to add impact and tension, vocals to add emotion and expression, etc.

• Choose some effects for your cinematic music. You can use effects from Refx Nexus 2 to enhance and modify your sounds. For example , you can use reverb to add space and depth, delay to add echo and movement, chorus to add richness and width, distortion to add grit and edge, etc.

• Arrange and mix your cinematic music. You can use your DAW to arrange and edit your sounds in a timeline. You can also use your DAW to mix your sounds by adjusting the volume, panning, EQ, compression, etc. of each track.

Here is an example of a cinematic music track that was created with the Hollywood expansion pack:

You can listen to the track here: [Cinematic Music Example]

How to create pop music with the Hollywood expansion pack?

Pop music is a type of music that is popular and mainstream, usually featuring catchy melodies, simple chords, and danceable rhythms. It is often influenced by various genres and styles, such as rock, R&B, hip hop, EDM, etc. To create pop music with the Hollywood expansion pack, you can follow these steps:

• Choose a theme or a concept for your pop music. For example, you can choose a topic (such as love, party, friendship, etc.), a mood (such as happy, sad, angry, etc.), or a message (such as empowerment, motivation, inspiration, etc.).

• Choose a tempo and a key for your pop music. For example, you can choose a moderate to fast tempo and a major key for an upbeat and cheerful song, or a slow to moderate tempo and a minor key for a melancholic and emotional song.

• Choose a main melody for your pop music. You can use a vocal preset or a synth preset to create a catchy melody that expresses your theme or concept. You can also use an arpeggiator or a sequencer to create a rhythmic pattern for your melody.

• Choose some supporting sounds for your pop music. You can use other presets from the Hollywood expansion pack to add harmony, texture, and variation to your melody. For example , you can use strings to add warmth and richness, brasses to add brightness and energy, drums to add groove and punch, pianos to add elegance and clarity, etc.

• Choose some effects for your pop music. You can use effects from Refx Nexus 2 to enhance and modify your sounds. For example, you can use reverb to add space and depth, delay to add echo and movement, chorus to add richness and width, distortion to add grit and edge, etc.

• Arrange and mix your pop music. You can use your DAW to arrange and edit your sounds in a timeline. You can also use your DAW to mix your sounds by adjusting the volume, panning, EQ, compression, etc. of each track.

Here is an example of a pop music track that was created with the Hollywood expansion pack:

You can listen to the track here: [Pop Music Example]

How to create other genres of music with the Hollywood expansion pack?

The Hollywood expansion pack can also be used to create other genres of music that can benefit from orchestral sounds. Here are some suggestions of some other genres of music that you can create with the Hollywood expansion pack by using different presets, effects, and techniques:

• Rock: You can use strings, brasses, and drums to add power and drama to your rock music. You can also use guitars, synths, and vocals to add melody and edge.

• R&B: You can use strings, woodwinds, and pianos to add smoothness and soulfulness to your R&B music. You can also use basses, drums, and vocals to add groove and emotion.

• EDM: You can use strings, brasses, and drums to add epicness and intensity to your EDM music. You can also use synths, pads, and sound effects to add movement and variation.

• Classical: You can use strings, brasses, woodwinds, drums, pianos, and vocals to create authentic and realistic classical music. You can also use effects such as reverb and delay to create a spacious and reverberant sound.

What are some pros and cons of the Hollywood expansion pack?

The Hollywood expansion pack has many pros and cons that you should consider before buying it. Here are some of them:

Pros

• It offers high-quality sounds that are recorded from real orchestral instruments and singers.

• It offers versatility that allows you to create various genres and styles of music with orchestral sounds.

• It offers ease of use that lets you access and edit presets with a simple interface and a flexible modulation system.

• It offers affordability that lets you get a large collection of orchestral sounds for a reasonable price.

Cons

• It requires a large amount of disk space to store the expansion pack, which is about 8 GB.

• It offers limited customization options that do not let you change the samples or the synthesis engine of the presets.

• It depends on Refx Nexus 2 to run, which means that you need to have Refx Nexus 2 installed on your computer and updated to the latest version.

• It may not suit your personal taste or preference, as some of the sounds may sound too generic or cliché for some users.

Conclusion

Refx Nexus 2 Hollywood Expansion 20 is an expansion pack for Refx Nexus 2 that offers a collection of orchestral sounds that are inspired by the soundtracks of Hollywood movies. It is designed to help you create epic and cinematic music with ease, but it can also be used to create other genres and styles of music that can benefit from orchestral sounds.

The Hollywood expansion pack has many pros and cons that you should consider before buying it. Some of the pros are its high-quality sounds, its versatility, its ease of use, and its affordability. Some of the cons are its large size, its limited customization options, its dependency on Refx Nexus 2, and its possible lack of originality.

If you are looking for a way to spice up your music production with some orchestral sounds that rival those heard in big-budget movies, you might want to check out Refx Nexus 2 Hollywood Expansion 20. However, if you are looking for more control and creativity over your sounds, or if you are not a fan of orchestral sounds, you might want to look for other options.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Refx Nexus 2 and/or the Hollywood expansion pack with brief answers:

• Q: How much does Refx Nexus 2 cost?A: Refx Nexus 2 costs $249 USD. You can buy it from the Refx website or from authorized dealers.

• Q: How much does the Hollywood expansion pack cost?A: The Hollywood expansion pack costs $60 USD. You can buy it from the Refx website or from authorized dealers.

• Q: How many expansion packs are available for Refx Nexus 2?A: There are over 50 expansion packs available for Refx Nexus 2, covering various genres and styles. You can see the full list of expansion packs on the Refx website.

• Q: Can I use Refx Nexus 2 and/or the Hollywood expansion pack on multiple computers?A: Yes, you can use Refx Nexus 2 and/or the Hollywood expansion pack on up to four computers that you own. You just need to activate them with your license key.

• Q: Can I get a refund if I don't like Refx Nexus 2 and/or the Hollywood expansion pack?A: No, Refx does not offer refunds for any of their products. You can try the demo versions of Refx Nexus 2 and some of the expansion packs before buying them to see if they suit your needs.

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