How to Use Air Xpand!2 and Why it’s Still My Favorite Virtual Instrument in Pro Tools!

I still love Xpand 2! I really think that it is all you need to create music in your DAW. It has drum loops, orchestra sounds, ambient pads, basses, synth sounds, and MUCH more. I use it in all of my music productions.
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Thank you for watching!
Dan
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[@soulmoonwriter7847]

The FEATURE HAS JUST SAVED ME HOURS!! It took me almost two years to find this VIDEO! Thank you!!!!

[@ProducerDan]

Hey Soulmoonwriter, yes, I was also happy when I found that feature! I’m glad that found the video and thanks for watching! Take care.

[@miner4ever]

bought it for like 10$ alongside with two other AIR instruments. Used to pirate it before, and fallen in love with it. Now that i have finally owned them for real this time, im glad that i can learn even more with this tutorial.

[@Bone1996]

I got this free like 5 years ago. I had just got a job, and got myself an MK3 Keystation 49 as my first keyboard. Came with this, MiniGrand, and Ableton Lite. Even though I prefer other VSTs for certain instruments (Mellotron samples, guitar and bass notably), XPand is still my go to for basically everything else; sounds great and is incredibly lightweight on my PC/DAW.

[@zb3485]

xpand is soooo versatile, i always come back to it, nothing i found so far could match it

[@ProducerDan]

Hello z b, yes, and there are so many sounds and instruments that I have not tried. And I like the fact that you can control the parameters and effects as well. Thanks so much for watching the video!

[@bryanstrom812]

I didn't know about that feature that goes through all the instruments! Super useful.

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you Bryan! yes it’s really useful. I like how you can set the time increments too. Thanks so much for watching the video.

[@jrn-olekjeldsen5688]

This was the best how to do it, I ever have seen. You are so good to explain this tool, slowly and clearly so me ( Danish) can understand this. Thanks so mutch.

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you! I’m glad that it was helpful for you and thank you for watching the video Jorn!

[@Scott-ki7bv]

I got Xpand and Hybrid plugins l use both of them, my two favorites.

[@ProducerDan]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@themusicaspect]

Absolutely FABULOUS ! I'm now all set to dive into Expand!2, Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you very much ‼️☀️

[@dhaferkoheji3572]

Thanks Dan for a clear and easy to follow tutorial. I bought Xpand2 right after watching your tutorial and you are right. it's a fantastic tool for getting the sounds that you need to start a project right away. 🙏Mucho gracias

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you Dhafer! I’m glad that you found my video helpful!

[@deablowest-nv1yb]

wat r the other 2 you bought and are they any good?price also? plzzz, im tryin to build me a studio i need some good vsts bought theyre so expensive, i got xpand 2 thru a keystation keyboard i bought, its the greatest i think, need some more tho

[@homeofcreation]

I have had it for years but never used it, but you convinced me to give it a shot. Thanks.

[@ronday4210]

Thanks - learned exactly what l needed. Always good to see that smile 🤙🏽

[@ProducerDan]

Thanks so much, and thank you for watching the video Ron!

[@jaybizm6562]

Best Pro Tools midi keyboard installation on KZbin!

[@hunterchartrand6646]

I LOVE Xpand!2, its my all time favorite plugin. Even if I don't have an objective I like to just mess around with it and see what I can create.

[@darrenhirst9900]

Lieutenant Dan. Loved this, thank you sir.

[@ProducerDan]

Hello Darren, Thank you so much. I’m really glad you liked it. And thanks so much for watching. Take care!

[@darrenhirst9900]

@@ProducerDan My pleasure Dan and thank you for your contributions.

[@djba]

Thanks very much for your video. I had gotten an email not long ago about a deal on an Air Music Technology bundle that included Xpand and when I saw your video I went and purchased the bundle. It looks like a great set of products. Thanks again.

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you Bill! I’m glad the video helped. It’s great that you got a deal on the plugins too. Thanks for watching the video.

[@djba]

Hi again Dan … do you know of a resource that tells the best presets to use to produce sounds like the ones used in classic 80s rock songs like “Africa” or “Jump”? Thanks.

[@danieldouglass7718]

@@djba Was the hybrid three synthesizer included with your bundle? If so I would go to that for awesome synthesizer/dance presets. There are probably some awesome 80s sounding presets as well. On expand2 I would look under the polysynths Presets folder.

[@djba]

Hi again Dan … yes, Hybrid 3 is in the bundle. I will take a look there to see what I can find. Thanks for the tip.

[@artistic-wordplay]

The company must make Xpand!2 multi-timbral.

[@xboxfi9901]

Simplicity and GENiUS😎

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you Xbox ‼️

[@ratnacomposerstudio]

i have been using protools for nearly ten years now, did not know about the increment setting in expand. Am glad i found it, always was a pain to change it via mouse click. Also i was googling if there was a viola and cello instrument in expand. I could not find it in strings section in expand, thats how i bumped in to your youtube channel. Kindly do let me know if there is.

[@SeanArteaga]

Thanks! Great introduction to it! And a fantastic sample of your work!

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you Sean. It was really fun putting that together! Thanks for watching the video.

[@cobusprinsloo]

Thanks, I think I’ll buy it!

[@tiborhaake9479]

You have a great voice!!!

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you Tibor!

[@derekhodges9426]

Excellent 👍

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you Derek 👍

[@najinelson6742]

Best VST instrument ever

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you for watching the video Naji.

[@kingofdjembe]

Lol let's not exaggerate. It's very basic.

[@alexkairis3927]

Man.... I saw Keyrig in there..... I miss that vsti suite. I mean..... I can get it to load in OpenMPT but not my DAW. at the cost of needing to load every preset from a file every time you open the file.

[@philippebackprotips]

Love Xpand2

[@ProducerDan]

Yes, Xpand2 is awesome. Thanks for watching Philip!

[@dbzy_cjk]

So I got the Akai MPK Mini and I when installing the software I found xpand!2 to be installed and asking for an activation code but there wasn't any that came with the controller.

[@ProducerDan]

Hello, maybe when you register your keyboard on the Akai it might show in your products list?

[@dbzy_cjk]

@@ProducerDan I’ll give it a shot! Thanks for the reply

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Just bought the air pack for $9 Only bought it because 1 It was on sale, 2 it's old so will work good on My crappy 2018 laptop, 3 because I see it being used by a youtuber.

[@ProducerDan]

👍 Thanks for watching the video. Have fun making music 🎵

[@Mr.MarlonRiver]

RightNow is $99.99 in ADSR BOUTIQUE , and don't have several features like others , lfo osc etc, cheaper ,,my respects Sr but to me already I tried and definitely I don't waste 99.99 99 in this vst never , there's a lot of vst

[@ProducerDan]

Yes, I understand. I did the video because it is included free with pro tools. Thanks for watching the video ☀️👍

[@davidsprivate5609]

You can get it cheap several times a year.

[@krismolina]

Thanks 👍

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you 👍

[@Form465]

THANK YOU SO MUCH ❤❤

[@Unleashurvoice]

Thank you!

[@ProducerDan]

Thank you for watching!

[@SWEESH.OFFICIAL]

I just bought it but all the download links are not working and their support is not responding, anyone who can assist me, please

[@toyobeats1580]

For the instrument 3 Trumpets Crescendo (under Brass + Woodwind), is there a way to extend the length of the crescendo?

[@ekowapeja]

Thank you kind sir

[@ArtofReggae]

Is is possible to assign after touch? I want my controller's after touch to connect to vibrato on nearly all of my sounds. Is it possible to make this happen? If so, how? I'm using Ableton.

[@prod7sighs]

is it possible to bend legato notes or do like slide notes with xpand?

[@sirmagicfingers76]

Great video! Is there a way to save a layered sound you have created?

[@yishihara55527]

I like it too, but why do the percussion sounds sound so low in volume even if I turn up the volume and raise up the faders? It doesn't make any sense.

[@ProducerDan]

I never noticed that. I have used some of the exotic drum sounds in the past, never noticed the lack of volume. I hope you found a workaround. Thanks so much for watching the video Atako!

[@yishihara55527]

@@ProducerDan There were some cases when using sound modules that I could barely hear the timpany sound but already in the red on the fader. Puzzling.

[@JayTheLane]

I really like Xpand but the ui so tiny on large screens.

[@ProducerDan]

Yes, agreed. that small green text is so hard to read sometimes. Thanks for watching the video Jay!

[@philippebackprotips]

I have 2 screens: a 4K one for my StudioOne and a 1080p for whatever is not easy to read, like Xpand and Hybrid3 (another true gem!!)

[@russ254]

@@philippebackprotips extremely clever!

[@herineuprecindo1854]

I want to buy Xpand!2 , do you know the oficial page to buy, please ler me know. (I use logic on Mac Pro 19)

[@ProducerDan]

Hello Herineu, yes you can purchase Xpand!2 at airmusictech.com under virtual instruments for $99.99 I believe you need the AU version for Logic on your mac. Be sure to read the system requirements as well. thanks so much for watching the video!

[@herineuprecindo1854]

@@ProducerDan thanks for answering, i Will try

[@herineuprecindo1854]

@@ProducerDan I've goto it, thanks

[@davidsprivate5609]

Wait for it to come on offer from one of the vst marketplaces

[@Fidem.777]

cant buy it help me

[@Kingsleychim]

pls tell me how did you get the preset folder button. I can't find it on mine. thanx for the video

[@ProducerDan]

You are the second person that said they couldn’t find the preset folder. I don’t know why that is. I am sorry.

[@davidsprivate5609]

The preset button is only accessible in protocols. I use reaper and there's no way I've found.

[@davidsprivate5609]

Protocols lol. Meant to type ProTools

[@anthonybuckner202]

When I open Xpand!2 in Reaper, I don't have that area above the plug in that has the folder(3:48) of this video. Is there a way to enable that?

[@ProducerDan]

Hello Anthony, when I open, expand!2 in ProTools on my Mac computer, it opens with all of those folders as you see in the video. I looked to see if there was a way to remove them and there isn’t. perhaps the difference is this version is an AAX plug-in that came with ProTools?…and I’m not sure if the version on reaper is the same. Maybe the difference is Mac or Windows?. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help. good luck to you! Thanks so much for watching my video. maybe someone reading the comments might have an answer for you

[@anthonybuckner202]

@@ProducerDan thank you for the info I did learn a lot from your video

[@davidsprivate5609]

No, there isn't

[@yjxoxo]

Is there anyway to make the next preset arrow bigger?

[@danielsdilemma]

How do I hook my keyboard to this?

[@ProducerDan]

Hello Daniel, you need to open the plug-in in your DAW on an instrument channel. Then make sure your middle keyboard is hooked to your computer it should recognize your midi keyboard and allow you to play the plug-in good luck!

[@dansmit491]

Hi Dan! Just downloaded the newest Protools Artist on a Mac mini M1 and my Xpand!2 is not working. I downloaded it from Avid Marketplace and it's still not showing up in the session. Thoughts? Anything I may be missing to connect?

[@ProducerDan]

Hmmm, The only reason I can see that it wouldn’t show up on an instrument track is if you were loading a mono plug-in. Make sure you choose a multichannel plug-in and it should be in the instrument list other than that I really can’t say. The website states that it is included with the ProTools artist version. Are you seeing the other virtual instruments in your choices? You say you download it from the avid marketplace… Did it give a choice of AAX version or VST version when you downloaded expand? ProTools uses AAX

[@bgrommesh]

Mine took a few days to start working for some reason. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@ProducerDan]

Well that is strange…? I’m glad it started working for you. Thanks for watching the video Brook.

[@tommysalami9]

@@ProducerDan Yes I just downloaded protools and Xpand!2 is missing. Any thoughts?

[@danieldouglass7718]

@@tommysalami9 really not sure. I hope you worked it out without having to completely reinstall! Thanks for watching the video Tom

[@richardpress9551]

Too many sounds? How can that be a bad thing?

[@ProducerDan]

You could spend weeks checking out all those sounds! Thanks for watching the video Richard ☀️

[@juliosososa]

Can I make a beat out of the Arrangement you have there?

[@ProducerDan]

Hi Osososa, thanks for watching the video. Let me ask the songwriter and I’ll get back to you.

[@ProducerDan]

Yes, go ahead and make a beat from that orchestra piece, sounds cool and you have the ok from The songwriter Vicky Andres as well. Have fun with it. And thanks so much for asking.

[@juliosososa]

Thank you. I’ll send it to you once I’m done.