Mac (UB) and Windows (XP and Vista) compatible, Play is available as a standalone and a plugin in AU, VST, RTAS, the latter Mac only (PC to come) and needs an iLok protection key.

The concept: a player whose graphic interface and parameters change according to the loaded instrument or library. Play can only use specifically designed libraries (no import or reading of other formats), whose instruments are made up of samples with different velocity layers and articulations, the latter being selected by keyswitches. There are two kinds of presets: Elements, which have only one active articulation and Masters which use all. Play is multitimbral and multi-channel. The upper part of the interface groups together pull-down selection, Control and Instrument menus. The EW logo is flanked by two buttons: Settings (audio, MIDI, streaming settings, etc.) and Browser. You’ll be able to recall the 10 most recent presets in Control.

Channel Source allows you to read various versions of a preset: stereo, mono (L/R sum) and mono from either Left or Right. You’ll find a Pan and a Stereo rotator, whose use varies according to the loaded library: in Fab Four for example, it lets you simulate a stereo signal from mono samples (you can hear two distinct samples, maybe in the same way that Virtual Guitarist works, reading and directly transposing samples that are one semitone away from the played note). In other libraries, it widens the stereo signal while delaying one of the audio channels of a stereo signal, such as recordings made with two different mics (voices in VOP). You should avoid tweaking this setting while playing in real time or by automation, because it produces audio artifacts.